Once a die-hard showjumping rider, American Beatrice Marienau began her dressage career training quarter horses and believes that every horse will benefit from dressage training, regardless of its competitive discipline or breed. Aboard the Grand Prix schoolmaster Stefano (by Gribaldi), Marienau is now making her mark in the international dressage arena.
"When I originally started to ride English again and after swearing never to get back in the show ring, I kidnapped my husband's Ranch Horse, which turned out to be the most versatile and willing partner ever," Trixi told Eurodressage. "She is today a school and ranch horse for everyone."
Dressage in straight translation really means "training" of an animal. "In our case I consider that to be from correct gymnastics right up to the high level tricks, which are built on the correct foundations of the training pyramid," Trixi explained. "Dressage (Training) will improve any horse in any equine discipline to build a more athletic and anatomically correct frame, allowing it to perform at it's best in any sport."
With some promising results at the 2013 CDI Burbank on 22 - 24 February 2013, Trixi was placed 6th in the Grand Prix with 62.298% and 4th in the Special on 63.583%. She was very pleased with what her new ride is already producing in competition. "For where I am at in my training, experience, and relationship with my horse Stefano, who has been with me since May last year, I had the best rides ever," she said. "Therefore, I was more than thrilled with the results. The scores and placings are obviously based on what the international judges see at the time and not on the knowledge where I come from."
Marienau has only competed in 20 Grand Prix tests and two Grand Prix Specials so far in her life and is happy to be gelling with her schoolmaster, the 1999 born Dutch warmblood gelding Stefano (by Gribaldi x Actueel). As the horse is still very tense in the actual ring, Trixi and her trainer believe this attitude has to do with his past as well as a little with Trixi's nerves. "The last reason is also a big part of the overall outcome of this show. Ergo, I need more ring time, but with the continued support of people like Jenifer Zakhary and her husband, I know I have more test runs to come," she said frankly.
Given the opportunity in 1992, in the middle of her show jumping life, to spend a year in a dressage barn in England, Trixi felt the awakening of her spirit for dressage. She knew then the sport would be in her future. "After that I had a pause in my english riding until 2005, I started on a little Quarter Horse mare BQH Charmin (Indy) we bought from a breeder in Wyoming. I started her at Training Level and began my dressage experience, not really knowing where it would lead me," she admitted.
Her real dressage career started when she had her first clinic with Stephan Kiesewetter in 2008. Lifting from second level up to Grand Prix in a very short time, Trixi achieved her first USDF Gold Medal and rode her first Grand Prix in 2010. "I did not know I would ride the Grand Prix that first weekend and I was prepared for Inter II, but my trainer surprised me and my Horse "Reve de Neige"," she reminisced. "That same show I received the scores for one of my Life Goals, the USDF Gold Medal."
Building her career on the quarter horse, Trixi likes that most of the breed have a great work ethic. They are very sporty, come in a manageable size, with easy gaits and an amazing calm and approachable mind. "It is hard for them to compete against the warmblood world, but if the rider understands to be judged in comparison and just give their best in a correct way, then the Quater Horse will stand up and out in there own successful way."
Riding and training all breeds of horses, Trixi cherishes her current partner Stefano. The bay gelding was trained and competed at Grand Prix level in The Netherlands by Bart Veeze, who reached a career highlight when he won the bronze medal at the 2010 Dutch Grand Prix Championships. Trixi discovered the German on a horse shopping trip in Europe in December 2011. She spotted the horse with her trainer at the time, Stephan Kiesewetter, who works with Sportpferde Wintermuehle in Anspach, Germany.
"It was a trip of four days all over Germany, day and night, driving, riding a lot of horses, me sick as a dog," she remembered. "The last horse on the List was Fino. Honestly I fell in love with him just when he entered the aisle. He looked like my old show jumper and then of course after seeing him move, I was sold. There was a lot in his training though that had to be changed and worked on, so Fino stayed in Germany with my trainer until the beginning of May 2012. Then I finally had him with me!"
Trixi continued working with Kiesewetter up until the end of 2012, when she began training with her current trainer Lilo Fore. " In the winter I am training at Lilo Fore's place in California and in the summer I am training at our place, Hideaway Ranch Equestrian Center, Oak Creek, Colorado. All the trainers that I have been working with use the classical training of dressage, based on the training pyramid. "
With two of her own horses in work and two of her husband's at times, Trixi is busy but gets help from her husband who rides western while she jumps on to do the Gymnastic work based on dressage. Trixi describes Stefano's great personality as "loveable, pushy, fiddling, amazing, warm, feisty in
the stall and incredibly loving and athletic. He always wants to please," she said.
A mixture between Dennis the Menace, John Travolta and Fozzie Bear, Trixi believes Stefano has found his calling in life and knows what he would say if he could talk to her. "Mom, first give me my treats, then calm down and let me do my job," Trixi joked. "I believe Stefano will provide me with deep insight and I am certain he loves me for the life he has now!"
Hoping to get more experience and mileage in the CDI ring, Trixi wants to lift her scores to the point that she may qualify for the Festival of the Champions in October 2013. "I know that is a long way away. If it happens though, then I might approach Florida for a spring season and then we will see. A dream, which lies in the stars, is to represent the United States in a team."
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © Astrid Appels - private
Related Links
Scores: 2013 CDI Burbank
Gal Prolongs Grand Prix Champion's Title at 2010 Dutch Championships
Scores: 2010 Dutch Dressage Championships