Cindy and Eliza Sydnor: A Family Dressage Venture
By Amber Heintzberger

Working With Others in the Sport

Sometimes they find it easier to go to an outside instructor who can give them an unemotional outlook. Eliza explains, “When a student works with an instructor that she doesn't have a personal relationship with, then it is just business. But when my mother tells me to do something that I don't agree with I feel totally comfortable telling her that I don't agree with it! So, sometimes it is easier to go to an outside trainer that we both really respect to get advice. We both try to get into ‘business mode’ rather than ‘mother/daughter mode’ but sometimes that line gets blurry.”

Cindy continues, “From a business point of view, it is good, because we trust each other completely and want the best for each other. When I don’t have the time for a new client, I refer them to Eliza, and I’m sure the reverse will happen soon as Eliza becomes more popular. Another advantage is that we help each other in our daily training and riding. Eliza is very good at teaching and coaching, and I appreciate her corrections. Everyone needs a ground person. Everyone.”

Eliza’s riding goals are to continue training and showing her horses up the levels and continue to help her students progress as well. Her big goal is to compete her horse Lancer at Grand Prix next year. “I have taken him from pre-training level through Intermediaire 1 with my mom's help, and he is so close to the Grand Prix I can taste it!” she enthuses.

Eliza also has many young horses that have been competing at the lower levels. Prince Hopeful, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding owned by The Hopeful Group, LLC, is an exciting young prospect that she is hoping to compete in the FEI 5-year-old tests next year. The stallion Wilmington is a 2001 Hanoverian (Waikiki/Fabriano) owned by Lucile Broadley of Honey Locust Farm in Chapel Hill, NC. This is a Hannoverian breeding farm where Eliza also works starting young horses under saddle. “He’s a super young horse who has done very well this year at First level and I hope to continue working with him for many years to come,” says Eliza.