A Bit About Me and my Horse(s)

I have been riding since the age of 6 and I have over 30 years experience as an equestrian. Before specializing in dressage I’ve been involved with hunters, 3-day eventers, race horses, draft horses and western pleasure; however, dressage is the sport that captured my heart and became my passion. Over the years I have studied with such great trainers as Gretchen Mello, R. Dennis Stickley, Ruth Sarkunas and Jean Luc Cornille.

In my youth I showed extensively at New England Dressage Association and Rowley Riding and Driving Club horse shows. later as a young adult I competed in the Tri State Horseman’s Association dressage shows , I did well at showing taking many 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards but simply chalk it all up to experience I would need later in my career. I am currently an active member of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF ID # 5039065). I moved to Florida in 1991 and was an active member of the Region 3 United States Dressage Federation GMO: STRIDE it was there that I met USDF judge Charlotte Trentelman, Charlotte bolstered my passion for dressage and was a great inspiration in my dressage career.

In 1996 while living in Florida, I was in training for the Olympic qualifying trials for the 2000 Summer Olympic games in Sydney, Australia (I was simply hoping to make the long list for the USA), but suffered an injury to my right leg and ankle, it was an injury that left me in a cast for over a year, during that time I lost my trainer and horse as I was unable to ride and compete, I was devastated!, during that time period I began to loose all hope of my Olympic dream, depressed and unable to bear weight due to my injured leg I gained weight, having two children and not being able to ride any longer made matters worse. In 2007 after a near 11-year hiatus from riding my dream was rekindled when I met Sandy Hobbs and began working horses and riding again at Sandy’s barn Victory Stables in Apollo, PA and I have been training there since 2007 and Victory has become a second home to me , Sandy has allowed me almost unlimited access to her horses and her facility to ride and train daily.

I am a member of the United States Para Equestrian Association, I have been a para equestrian since mid 2012 after being diagnosed with Poly-Osteoarthritis and early onset rheumatoid arthritis which have left me with limited range of motion in my joints and weakness in hands.The damage to my joints is irreversible and therefore has left me permanently disabled.

I face many obstacles on a daily basis, not only am I a para equestrian, I'm also plus size and as such my balance changed from my days as an able-bodied professional rider in my 20’s, I am now a middle-aged, plus size adult professional rider working and training with riders a quarter of my age and half or more of my weight. I have faced quite a bit of ridicule and more than my share of unwanted and unwarranted cruel comments but I push through and persevere, I have a goal and a purpose that no one’s words will take that from me! Horses are more than a hobby for me they are my career, they are in my DNA, in every fiber of my being, they are the very air I breath.

As a competitive mid to upper level rider I have the opportunity to expose your brand to a vast viewing audience. I have the ability to put your logo front and center on all stall banners both home and away, as well as my truck and horse trailer plus show cooler, saddle pad and of course programs.

I am seeking sponsors both corporate and private and offer an extensive and competitive sponsorship package. Please visit my website for more details on sponsorship.
www.lorigilmangailbreath.com

Country

USA

Website:

http://www.lorigilmangailbreath.com

Do you have any pets?

I have a very anti-social,tiny Chihuahua named Bell, a big black and white Pitbull named Thor (who is a big baby and gets beat up by my 4 pound Chihuahua on a daily basis) and an orange white tabby cat named Buddy (he's Thor's best friend!)