Nelms riding Gustav in a dressage competition. Nelms traveled all the way to Germany to find her perfect horse. (photo submitted)
Gustav just the right fit for dressage rider Daryl Nelms by Barbara Childs
ed about learning something Tryon resident Daryl Nelms new. What I didn’t realize was had put her love of riding to that this would be a difficult the side as she began her fam- and sometimes frustrating ily, which now includes three endeavor,” Nelms said. “I active sons. rode hunters for 15 years and But when the youngest one after an 11-year break with began first grade she felt a riding, I thought my old ways pang for her old love. Look- were forgotten. I was wrong. ing to begin My muscles and riding again, balance struggled Spotlight Nelms turned to to change. Also, her sister, Joy on Local I had a horse that Baker, who was nothing, so Equestrians knew heavily devotit was the blind ed to dressage leading the blind and riding and – big mistake! I wanted a competing in this classical fancy horse, and the only way discipline. I could have one was to buy a “ J o y e n c o u r a g e d m e t o young hopeful.” do the same. I knew nothing After 10 years struggling about dressage but was excit- with poor matches, Nelms and
“Gustav was patient and bombproof. He was also young and this gave me the time I needed to catch up to him and his training.” -- Daryl Nelms
her sister traveled to Germany to find her dream horse. “This week in Germany changed my path in riding. With Joy’s expertise as an equine veterinarian and Grand Prix dressage rider, we found a very special horse,” Nelms said. In 2004, Nelms shipped Gustav from Germany. He was a 16.3 hand bay Hannoverian gelding. He was also 7 1/2 years old and training well
Appointments • August 2011 • p. 13
in Prix St. Georges. Nelms bought him from a professional who had trained and showed him. “Gustav was patient and bombproof. He was also young and this gave me the time I needed to catch up to him and his training,” she said. “He had three very good reliable gaits for the demanding dressage work, and he (Continued on page 14)