6 minute read

essie Bonneau Equestrian Extraordinaire

from Elite Equestrian Western edition fall 2023

from Elite Equestrian Western edition fall 2023, page 40

Ty Murray: with

Born in the USA, raised in France, Jessie’s first experience on a horse was at the age of 2 years old. She started riding in a Pony Club at the age of 6 and then trained in the South of France. From a young age, Jessie was very interested in the different horseback riding disciplines such as Dressage, Jumping, Eventing (she competed at a high level in all 3 disciplines) Vaulting, Horseball and Spanish riding (Andalusian and Lusitano dressage show and events). She wasn’t a big fan of Dressage at first when she was a kid (boring circles and too slow compare to jumping and eventing). She was doing well in eventing competitions but realized the importance of the Dressage part to win a show. So, she started to refine her skills in Dressage.

Jessie went to the Sport University in France; she graduated with a Bachelor of Sport Management and Marketing and became an independent Horse Trainer.

In 2007, Jessie moved back to the United States. She rode and trained as a jumper in Wellington, Florida for a year. In 2008, she moved to Las Vegas. Jessie got a great opportunity to be the head trainer for 3 years for a famous Medieval Show “The Tournament of Kings” at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas, mixing Western riding skills with jousting, sword ﬁghting and javelin.

On the side of working at night at the Medieval Show, Jessie built her business “JB Horse training”. Her business involved teaching kids and adults, pleasure and competition, beginners and advanced riders, special needs kids; training horses, working on different disciplines such as Dressage, Hunter/Jumper, English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Western Dressage, Horseball, Vaulting, Young Horses. She also competed in Dressage, Hunter/Jumper, Arabian Shows, Western Dressage, English and Western Pleasure. Jessie specializes in training rescue horses. Her own horse, Skies the Limitt+/, is a rescue stallion.

Jessie came all the way up to Grand Prix Dressage, since acquiring her stallion,Skies the Limitt+/ in less than 7 years of showing. Jessie has earned the following accolades for her riding skills.

2023 USDF Gold Medalist

2023 AHA Region 7 Champion Western Dressage Level 5

2023 AHA Region 7 Champion Western Dressage level 4

2023 WDAA Lifetime Point Bronze Medalist

Jessie not only accomplishes, but somehow manages to stay on top of anything and everything equestrian while training her clients and their horses on a rigid six day a week work schedule. So much so, Jessie is slated to embark upon a 1,200 mile journey across the US in late September in order to support four of her clients (plus herself) in their upcoming quest to compete at the 2023 WDAA World Championship, held at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, OK. As diverse as Jessie’s training background, each and every rider/horse team client she will be coaching at the 2023 WDAA World Championship Show brings an equally colorful and diverse back story to share.

Valerie Porter will be competing with her rescue horse Ginger 360, a pretty and sweet 20 year old Thoroughbred mare who successfully competes with just one functioning left eye. Ginger 360 was rescued by HOPE4HOOVES, (ﬁnd them on FB at Silver State Western Dressage SSWD) a non-proﬁt group that helps to save horses from neglect and abuse. Just as Valerie saved Ginger’s life, Valerie gives the same level of respect back to Ginger, sharing how Ginger motivated Valerie to get her own personal health on track by losing weight and getting in shape in order to get back in the saddle and ride once again. Valerie and Ginger will be showing as an Amateur Rider Team – Introductory Level.

Lisa Gabaldon (right) will be showing with her roan gelding, Chuck’s Last Roan. A sensitive yet challenging and bold personality, Chuck is an 18 year old with a very colorful past, who (before Jessie) had been bounced around from trainer to trainer. Known for bucking off many if not all of his previous encounters, Jessie and Lisa were able to work patiently with Chuck to get him to relax and re-center his energies from what had once been big bucks into beautifully articulated western dressage movements. Lisa and Chuck will be showing as an Amateur Rider Team – Level 1.

Dr. Leslie Browder and her horse Equinox (aka; Nox, owned by Leslie’s husband Tim) will be competing as an Amateur Rider Team in Introductory and Basic Levels. Equinox is a massive, yet loving 16 year old Bay Clydesdale cross gelding who was just a simple pasture horse in his former life. Nox, scared of his own shadow, was a fearful and spooky horse until Jessie and Leslie took the time (and numerous cookies) to work with him countless hours physically and mentally to establish a new found trust.

Jami Teer-Murphy will be competing with her magniﬁcent 17+ hand Friesian gelding, Xavier of Winchester Acres (aka; Mr. X.) Mr. X became Jami’s equine partner at the young, very green age of just 5 years old. Jami took on a massive challenge with her gentle giant knowing that Mr. X had virtually little to no formal training at the start of their journey back in 2020. With an abundance of love, education, patience and dedication to consistent training, Jami and her young protégé have evolved tremendously. Jami and Mr. X will be competing as an Amateur Rider Team – Basic Level and will perform in an entertaining Basic Musical Freestyle Performance.

Finally, Jessie will once again travel to Oklahoma with a World Grand Championship Title set high in her sights on her own personally rescued stallion, Skies the Limitt+/ (Sky). Sky’s rescue story is as unique as Sky and

Jessie’s remarkable accomplishments. Though Jessie and Sky had seemingly met each other through a previous client relationship early when Jessie ﬁrst relocated to the US, it was a few short years later before they would begin their own personal journey together.

Arriving in the US from France with just two suitcases in hand, Jessie endured a multitude of challenges that come along with relocating to a new country and city where you have no roots or relationships to support you. At the height of these challenges to her chagrin, Jessie crossed paths with Sky a second time. Only this time Jessie witnessed Sky in a neglected, ignored and seemingly unloved heart-breaking situation. It was then and there where Jessie committed to doing whatever it took to give Sky the second chance in life he deserved. From this day forward, Jessie worked tirelessly to transform Sky into the a meaningful equestrian partner and now World Recognized Champion athlete that he is today with her unconditional love and leadership. Since that day, Jessie’s own personal dreams have also become a reality as a result of the unbreakable bond she and Sky have built together. Riding up through each and every level of both Classical Dressage and Western Dressage disciplines from start to present day, Jessie will be competing with Sky as an Open Rider – Level 5. We are optimistic to see another Grand Champion Title in their hands soon!

Though Jessie is proud of her own personal riding accomplishments, she takes the most pride in honoring her relationships with the diverse group of ladies that put their trust in her, that are highlighted above. Together they have built a unique bond not only among themselves, but with their horses and each other. You can watch the 2023 WDAA World Dressage Show live in Guthrie, OK, September 26-30, 2023 on “Total Horse Channel” (totalhorsechannel.com).

Jessie is also the proud Ambassador of numerous International brands and is steadfast in her efforts to highlight and support awareness of each and every one of them as they continue to support her and Sky in their equestrian endeavors.

Jessie’s Partnerships:

• Schleese Saddles (schleese.com), where she was recently received a brand new custom western saddle “The Cadence” as a collabora�on/sponsorship.

• NACA Helmets (nacahorse.com) Newly developed equestrian helmet designed for ul�mate in safety, beau�ful and advanced design; and the Gravity Helmet is well known for its light weight, breath-ability, ﬁt and performance.

• Anni Lyn Sportswear, LLC (anni-lyn.com) Anni Lyn is well known for their colorful, casual sun shirts and other coordina�ng accessories.

• WDAA – Western Dressage Associa�on of America (westerndressageassociaton.org)

• WDAA World Show – (wdaaworldshow.org)

• In 2022, the World Show had 55 Breeds, 233 compe�tor teams and over 1000 tests ridden and judged.

• CAWDA – California Western Dressage Associa�on (cawda.org) This is the California/Nevada aﬃliate of the WDAA.

“

TTyrel Johnson hrough life’s trials

Con�nuance of Ac�on,” ... a magniﬁcent shire dra� horse leans into the collar, dragging a seemingly immovable block of argillite stone, appearing to create grooves in the sculpture’s walnut base as it makes grueling but percep�ble progress.

As Tyrel says the piece is “all about persistence. Persistence through life’s trials is a consistent theme in my life and my art. The triumph of love and the human spirit is at its highest when contrasted to the trials it endures.”