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At Trilogy Saddles, President Debbie Witty hand-selects each Ambassador. These riders represent the very best in equestrian sport, with an emphasis on the welfare of the horse and the epitome of horse/rider partnership that our equipment stands for. We hope you enjoy reading about our Trilogy Ambassadors!
Trilogy Saddles Ambassador Dressage rider and trainer Shannon Dueck is a veteran of the Pan Am Games and World Equestrian Games, but says as a youngster she could barely be bothered with dressage, despite her mother’s involvement. “My mom was really influential in bringing dressage to Canada and America’s Pacific Northwest; even today she’s an S rated judge there,” she says. “She bought me my first horse when I was 11, and I had access to great trainers, but I wasn’t very interested,” laughs Shannon. “Instead, I wanted to jump, so I evented that poor little dressage horse!” Although she was born in Austin, Texas, while her father was in graduate school, the family moved back to their native Canada when she was three and raised her near Vancouver, British Columbia. Following her own university education, Shannon lost her nerve for eventing, but it wasn’t until age 30 that she became a serious student of dressage. “I went to Germany to be a working student; they couldn’t believe I was willing to do it at that advanced age, but I loved it,” she says. Her passion for dressage is still evident, according to Trilogy President Debbie Witty. “I love seeing the soft, beautiful smile Shannon gets on her face, and the pleasure she takes in riding her horses. Plus, she’s one classy girl. There’s something about the way she rides, and the way she presents herself, that’s truly elegant and beautiful,” says Debbie. Shannon’s horse Korona was the mount that took her to silver in the Pan American Games as well as built her experience in top international Grand Prix competitions, but she says she also picked up a thing or two from him. “As I trained him to Grand Prix, he taught me many valuable lessons,” she says. While Korona is still teaching riders (he’s currently with an adult amateur in Michigan), Shannon reports he’s coming back to her for retirement, saying, “He has a huge place in my heart.” Today, her young Grand Prix horse is named Ayscha, and while Shannon says she believes the mare has enough talent to win at the Olympics, she takes her role as the horse’s guardian and caretaker seriously. “It’s a big responsibility to develop her in a way so she enjoys her work and lasts for a long time,” she points out. “You have to nourish a horse’s talent and not take advantage of it. My own goals can’t take a more important role.” Debbie concurs, saying that Shannon’s approach is very generous in spirit, whether she’s training horses, or riders. “It’s never about Shannon, never centered on her and her accomplishments,” she says. Debbie says she’s seen firsthand how Shannon communicates with Ayscha, and that she has a way of keeping the mare happy and volunteering to do whatever it is Shannon wants. “When I watch the two of them, I can see when Ayscha makes a mistake, but from the viewer’s perspective, you don’t see Shannon making corrections,” says Debbie. “She has a really soft way of communicating, and a sense of compassion that’s remarkable.” It’s apparently the same with riders. “Shannon is able to push her students through their comfort zone, but does it in a way that gets them to do more than they thought they were capable of,” says Debbie. Since Shannon is what some might call a ‘tall drink of water,’ she’s had challenges with saddle fit in the past, but says Trilogy saddles fit her physique perfectly. “I’m 5’11”, and I have this crazy long leg. The Verago saddle allows my leg to lie flat without any interference in front, and yet it gave me support immediately.” She says it’s easy for her to get deep and around a horse with the Verago’s moderately deep seat, but even better is that the saddle fits her mare as well as it does her. “My mare has a high wither and a very big shoulder, and Debbie made it fit her beautifully,” she says. “My chiropractor told me Ayscha’s back is the best it’s ever been, so I believe she’s finding the saddle a good fit as well.” |
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