Thursday August 4, 2005

2005 Dressage North American Young Rider Silver Medalist - Dani Judy: A Rising Star

By Stacy Gormley

For Dani Judy, success will be a normal feeling throughout her lifetime. The 21 year old senior at San Diego State University in California has a lot to look forward to. Dani was born in San Diego and has lived there all of her life. She started riding at age 8 and has been addicted ever since. Dani’s father is a vet, so she spent most of her childhood riding in the truck with him to make farm calls. Dani began her riding career on paint horses and converted to dressage at the age of 13. It wasn’t until April of 2001 that she rode and owned a warm blood for the first time.

Dani saw Anteaus, at the time a 7 year old first level horse on a video and knew immediately that she had to have him. Anteaus is now an 11 year old 17 hand high bay Oldenburg gelding by Akzent II. She bought him off the video and got right to work. She soon discovered that “Anty” has some significant confidence issues. Dani remembers needing to have a person on the ground lead him around the dressage arena everyday.