Lucia Rapalyea Dressage

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Lucia Rapalyea has been fascinated with dressage since her early days as a Pony Clubber. She grew up in Salisbury, New Hampshire and graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a bachelor’s degree in Equine Business Management.

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She spent a year as a working student in Holland for Dutch Olympic rider Bert Rutten and upon arrival, selected a 3-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding named Pascal. He was her first international prospect, which she trained herself from lower levels to Grand Prix.

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In 2008 Lucia purchased a new dressage prospect, Amani. Lucia has brought Amani up through the levels, and they are currently competing Intermediare-1.  In 2016, this small tour developing pair earned many honors, including USDF Region 7 I-1 Freestyle Champion, which garnered them an invitation to the U.S. Dressage Finals in Kentucky. Lucia & Amani look forward to advancing to Intermediare-2 during 2020 with the ultimate goal of Grand Prix competition in 2021.  Lucia also has a young dressage prospect named Journey (by Koss), which Lucia purchased from her long time coach Bert Rutten. Journey shows great promise for the future and has already proven himself in the arena, earning many scores well into the 70%’s.

Lucia is a USDF Bronze and Silver medalist, and has also earned the USDF Bronze Bar for Freestyle. She is currently the head trainer CreekSide Equestrian in Yucaipa, California and also trains at Kim Christy Show Horses in Winchester, California. Lucia offers dressage training and horse riding lessons to all levels of riders at both facilities.  Lucia believes that, to be true competitors, she and her equine partners must work daily to build a trusting and positive relationship. That belief is the basis of Lucia Rapalyea Dressage, and is the fundamental philosophy behind her teaching. 

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