DRF Isabela (Izzy) is a 2015 Connemara/Thoroughbred, bred by Janet Johnson of Dayton Ridge Farm in Richland Center, WI. I bought her sight unseen, and she arrived at Cold Moon Farm early on a frigid morning the day before a blizzard in March 2017. She is by the Connemara stallion Skyview’s Triton and out of the Thoroughbred mare Honest Wit.
Izzy attended a ground work clinic with Tik Maynard as a 3-year-old, was gently backed that summer, then took the rest of the fall and winter to continue to mature. In the late spring of her 4-year-old year, Izzy resumed work under saddle and progressed to walk/trot work and even went on a few hacks. Our goal in her early training was to slowly and progressively introduce new challenges in a way that maintained her confidence and kept her success rate as high as possible. While the 2020 pandemic nixed our plan to start taking Izzy on short off-farm outings as a 5-year-old, we took advantage of more time at home to further her education both on the ground and under saddle, and she became solid working in all gaits and over cavaletti.
In the years to follow, Izzy has become a dressage specialist. With her sweet and willing disposition, she has taken to the progressive schooling movements this sport requires with confidence. She has shown lightly throughout the years, largely using a combination of virtual and local schooling shows, to receive feedback on her development. In 2025, she made her debut in open U.S. Equestrian Federation competition, and in just three shows, earned enough points to rank 6th in the 2025 USEF Halfbred Connemara Horse of the Year standings.
We have had the opportunity to work with USDF gold medalist Jessica Freiman, and participate in clinics with several dressage luminaries, including Michelle Taylor, Jeremy Steinberg, Stephen Hayes, and Susanne Hamilton.
DRF Isabela notable accomplishments
2025
Competed at First and Second Level, with scores to 71%
Ranked 6th in US Equestrian Federation Halfbred Connemara Horse of the Year standings
Rosebud 100 Mile Challenge (100 miles of ridden trail)
2024
Competed at First Level (tests 1 and 2), with scores to 69%
2023
North America Online Dressage Championships– First Level Test 1 Open National Champion (64.44%)
Vienna Farm Schooling Dressage Show Open High Point (69.00%)
American Connemara Pony Society (ACPS) Silver Medal for Dressage Performance
2022
North America Online Dressage Championships– Training Level Test 2 Open National Champion (68.28%); Training Level Test 3 Open National Champion (66.90%); Overall Open High Point Winner
Relentless 100 Mile Challenge (100 miles of ridden trail)
American Connemara Pony Society (ACPS) Bronze Medal for Dressage Performance
2021
Dressage Show Online Classic Open Show Training Level Test 2 (71.03%)/1st and Open High Point
Dressage Show Online Classic Open Show Training Level Test 2 (68.10%)/1st
North America Online Dressage Championships– (69.25%) Introductory Level Open National Champion
Dressage Show Online Classic Open Show Introductory Test C (68.00%)/1st
2020
Journey 100 Mile Challenge (20/100 miles of ridden trail, in partnership with my other four mares)
Dressage Show Online Classic Open Show Introductory Test C 64.5%/1st
University of New Hampshire Virtual Dressage Show Introductory Test C 70.0%/Hors Concours
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