This Week on In Stride Sinead Halpin-Maynard sits down with legendary dressage rider and coach Lendon Gray for a discussion about legacy, learning, and growing the sport for future generations. Meet the Guest: Lendon Gray Lendon Gray is an American dressage rider, instructor, and author who has had a significant impact on the sport both in competition and education. She represented the United States in international competition, competing at the 1988 Olympic Games and qualifying for the 1980 Olympic team, and has also competed at World Championships and other top events. Beyond her competitive career, she is the founder of Dressage4Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides educational and competitive opportunities for young riders while helping develop the next generation of horsemen. In This Episode, Sinead and Lendon Discuss: The extraordinary journey with Seldom Seen, a “pony” who became an icon at a time when only big, fancy imports were expected to succeed and how their remarkable partnership challenged the norms of dressage Navigating setbacks and pushback from both national and international powers as Lendon Gray paved her own path, and what it taught her about resilience and belief in the “average” horse Making the leap from rider to teacher, and the inspiration behind founding Dressage4Kids, an organization now offering a wide range of educational and competitive opportunities to young equestrians The evolution of dressage in America, why foundational horsemanship still matters, and how Lendon is preparing the next wave of trainers, professionals, and lifelong lovers of horses for success beyond the show ring Episode Sponsor Connaway & Associates The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. - Visit www.connaway.net or call 501-868-8084 to explore your options. In Stride Is Brought to You by Ride iQ Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches. Members also get: - Weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts - Exclusive podcast episodes - Dressage test prep resources - A supportive learning community Start your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com Looking for More? Want straightforward, expert advice on keeping your horse sound and thriving? Dr. Erica Lacher’s Horse Health Essentials eight-part program is available now. - Save 35% with code POD35 at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health. Ask An Expert is your go-to podcast for practical, real-world advice from top equestrian professionals. - Listen anywhere: https://pod.link/1776969830
