Global Dressage Festival Presents Founding Sponsor - Chesapeake Dressage Institute

Wellington, FL -  Any athlete at the top of their sport usually has a secret to success.  For the dressage horse and rider team, that secret is a destination dedicated to elevating not only their physical prowess but their winning state of mind.  The Chesapeake Dressage Institute is a not-for-profit educational institution founded in 2003 which operates at the 88 acre Waters End Farm in Annapolis, Maryland.  Their mission is to take the dressage horse and rider to the next level to improve not only their competitive position but their health and well being.  Equestrians know that many elements combine into a winning equation and the Institute is dedicated to that discovery.The Chesapeake Dressage Institute is a proud founding sponsor of the Global Dressage Festival.  Janet Richardson-Pearson, Founder and President of the Chesapeake Dressage Institute, states, "The reality of the Global Dressage Festival is such a wonderful addition to the Wellington horse community and dressage in America. Finally, dressage has its own home, where we get to show in Wellington with all the other equestrian sports."

On the opening event of the Global Dressage Festival Janet commented, "There was so much excitement in the air - it was great.  It felt like opening night of an amazing play."

Janet Richardson-Pearson came late to the sport of dressage, starting at age 35.Her passion has increased ever since. She states her impetus for founding the Institute, "I wanted to have an equestrian training facility that I was interested in as a person and as a rider. I wanted to have really qualified professionals giving clinics - those known for their teaching ability as well as their performance ability. We created some clinics mounted and some unmounted. Our mission is education about the classically correct way of training. We're not rushing things. We're not cutting corners.  We're teaching riding the correct way that's best for the horse and the rider."

These clinics focus on horse and rider and such subjects as confidence to overcome fear after an accident, performance anxiety, proper horse nutrition and how diet affects them, Pilates for equestrians, proper trailering to help horses on long trips, and even stem cell therapy.  They consult with vets to find out all the newest information.

Richardson-Pearson explains, "We're all about education and constantly learning -- for the horse as well as us to be the best we can be. People say they want to come back as one of our horses because they have chiropractors, acupuncture, a dentist, a farrier, horse massage, nice turnout, and proper nutrition.  All the things which make a horse happy and healthy.  We're also looking at new research on the mind-body connection."

For Richardson-Pearson the creation of the Chesapeake Dressage Institute has been an amazing journey, "I'm an adult amateur rider, and I never sat on a horse until I was in my 30's.  After I retired from working full time I really got into it.  I wanted to be a better rider, and all these things came down my path.  It got me involved with the whole idea of positive thinking.  It's fascinating, and I'd never have been involved in them if I hadn't been riding."