Dressage rider Gardy Bloemers schooling Crusedor. PHOTO BY ANNAN HEPNER
Dressage Rider Gardy Bloemers Finds The Perfect Fit In Wellington
By Emma Miller
With both of her horses competing in Small Tour, Gardy Bloemers, a competitive dressage rider and wealth management advisor for Merrill Lynch, recently wrapped up another successful season in Wellington and found the perfect balance between her professional career, riding and volunteer work. Originally from The Netherlands, Bloemers started her career at a young age, riding ponies and trail riding on her family farm. Throughout college and her early professional career, which involved significant international travel, Bloemers had the opportunity to ride on a diverse range of horses until she settled in the United States and purchased a horse of her own. That path led her to the sport of dressage, a passion that still holds her in its grasp years later, not only through her personal endeavors, but in her lead-
ership roles in several dressage organizations. “Dressage becomes addictive because you can always improve,” Bloemers explained. “There is so much to achieve, and for people who tend to have Type A personalities, it’s the perfect kind of sport. It’s really fun, and I love the competitive aspects associated with showing.” Experiencing Wellington’s one-of-akind winter equestrian environment for the first time in 2014, Bloemers became enthralled with the area and quickly saw what a great fit it would be for her
professional and personal lifestyle. “I realized that Wellington is a perfect environment to enable me to excel in dressage and my business,” Bloemers said. “I found a groove, so I decided to increase my stay each year in Wellington to get the most out of the experience.” During the winter season, Bloemers rises bright and early to drive to Blue Marlin Stables, located in the Little Ranches community, to ride her two horses, Crusedor and Chios KK, before her work schedule begins for the day. This winter, she successfully competed in the national show ring at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival under the watchful eye of her trainer, George Williams, president of the United States Dressage Federation. wellington the magazine | june 2017
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