GREENGATE FARM AWARD ADULT AMATEUR NATIONAL

The Greengate Award, established in 2019 by Rachel and Warren Ehrlich of Greengate Farm, honors the breeder of an American-born horse that is a high-score winner at the US Dressage Finals at the National and FEI levels.

Before finding Dark Knight (Donnerwetter x World Class/ First Class) in late 2021, Lysa spent the previous five years with her recently retired KWPN gelding, alternating between success at the lower levels and periods of increasingly dramatic and unpredictable explosive behaviors under saddle, ending with Lysa’s decision to retire him and search for her next sport partner.

After a 40+ year riding career, Lysa was struggling to overcome her newfound fears and was looking for something that would allow her “to go from literal pony rides to getting back to competing at the US Dressage Finals, a tall task in any market, but especially in the insane horse market of fall

2021,” reminisced Lysa on her search.

Deacon was the last appointment scheduled before a search hiatus. He passed Lysa’s trainer, Heather Mehal’s tests, so Lysa cautiously got on. “Embarrassingly, I could barely get him to walk, much less trot. I was on the verge of tears, but also terrified of what he might do, since I didn’t know him at all. Everything felt terrible at the time, but Deacon just stood there and waited for me to get my act together. We eventually made it all the way up to canter that day, which is something I’d barely done in the last year,” admitted Lysa.

Lysa’s relationship with Deacon and confidence in the saddle grew slowly and was solidified when Deacon failed to turn tail at a herd of deer jumping into the arena during a lesson. Deacon didn’t flinch,” said Lysa, “and just acted like he was saying, ‘Hey Bob! The family looks good!’ We call Deacon ‘The Mayor’ because he’s constantly on the campaign trail shaking hands and kissing babies everywhere he goes.”

Lysa had success at the various fall championships in 2022, less than a year into their relationship, securing Region 1 Regional Champion at Training Level and Reserve Champion at First Level. From there, Deacon and Lysa earned two invitations to the US Dressage Finals in Lexington, Kentucky. Despite the memorably challenging weather at Finals, “Deacon felt amazingly safe and focused,” said Lysa, taking home Reserve Champion at Training Level Adult Amateur and eighth place at First Level Adult Amateur.

At home, Deacon often resembles “a Thelwell pony, with a shaggy mane and pot belly,” laughed Lysa. “He does this perfectly slow and methodical pachyderm shuffle around the pasture, but when he’s ready to show and all put together, he’s just stunning!”