Stat Box
Racing name: Zoe Lion
New name: Zoe
Sire: Silent Landing
Dam: Timely Weather
Age: 10
Height: 16
Color: Dark bay
An English lit grad and former captain of the UMass Dartmouth equestrian team finds one of the hardest lessons these days is making a circle.
Intellect and athlete Meghan Bilz says she has a renewed respect for that curvaceous geometric shape, and for that matter, the straight line, when riding in a dressage saddle on her off-track Thoroughbred (and study partner) Zoe.
“I’ve got a hunter/jumper background, and I always thought a circle was just a circle, and how hard could a straight line be, anyway? Then I started riding in a clinic with a Grand Prix dressage rider,” Bilz says. “I’ve been doing a lot of homework ever since, incorporating books and videos into my training with Zoe.”
What a Team—Zoe and Meghan this fall
The full-time grant writer with a New Hampshire nonprofit spends her time out of the office bringing Zoe back from a minor bowed tendon injury by building muscle strength and soundness through dressage work.
“With dressage, you are so much more connected with legs, seat and hands” than as a hunter/jumper rider, she says. “It’s really quite challenging, but also quite rewarding. You get these four or five steps that are perfect, and that can make your one-hour ride.”
She jokes that dressage training is perfect for the Type A personality.
“It’s the relentless pursuit of perfection that you will never achieve. You never stop learning,” she says, adding, “It’s very humbling.”
Prior to the training, her horse tended to go inverted, and resisted using her back muscles. By combining dressage lessons and walks and trots up and down hills, her horse is becoming an elegant little mover. “She’s learning to elongate from head to tail, and she’s swinging through her back,” Bilz says.
Getting it Right—Cantering at a show
An equestrian since age 6, Bilz jokes she has “tried to quit” a number of times. Riding through her undergraduate days at UMass, and working on a farm while in grad school at University of Connecticut, she just couldn’t shake her horse habit.
To defray costs, Bilz mucks out stalls on weekends and never loses sight of her goals for Zoe.
“There’s a perception that Thoroughbreds can’t do dressage. I believe any horse can,” Bilz says. “My plan for Zoe is to bring her to first and second level.”
What a nice mover. Those big dressage warmbloods have nothing on this horse!
Wow, Zoe and I are famous! 🙂 Thank you for shining a light on all of these talented horses and riders! Thoroughbreds are such a willing and versatile breed and not all are the hot, fast creatures some seem to think they are! It’s true that you don’t see too many in international-level dressage where the warmblood breeds are king, but the TBs athleticism and desire to please makes them a wonderful partner for the art/sport of dressage. I think they also like the challenge and diversity that comes along with a well-rounded dressage education! I know that Zoe’s sensitivity, intelligence and forwardness are a great asset as we work together. I look forward to continuing to learn with her and hope that other dressage enthusiasts- competitive, recreational or otherwise- will give the Thoroughbreds a chance when selecting their next partner!
Well, almost famous. I’m so impressed with what I see in the short clip, and with your dedication to the breed and your discipline. I can’t wait to hear more about your future pursuits together.