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Monday Minstrel: Laura Graves: “uncoordinated” Champion.

“I wasn’t athletic in high school. I want to thank you all for becoming a team where being picked last is a good thing. If it weren’t for the family I found in equestrian sport I would be just an uncoordinated awkward girl without many friends.”

Laura Graves

So…let’s take a look at what this “uncoordinated awkward girl” has accomplished.

—Olympian Laura Graves is number 2 in the FEI World Ranking for Dressage.

—-She was the individual silver medalist at the World Equestrian Games in 2018.

Laura Graves, Isabel Werth, Charlotte Dujardin

—-This past week she was named the 2018 United States Equestrian of the Year.

—-Her horse Verdades (whom she calls ‘Diddy’) was named International Horse of the Year for 2018 by US Equestrian.

Laura Graves may have seen herself as “uncoordinated” but she is a superb rider and I am grateful she found a home in the equestrian family!

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anne leueen

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Comments

9 responses to “Monday Minstrel: Laura Graves: “uncoordinated” Champion.”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    Hi Anne – Finally worked my way back here. Hope 2019 is treating you well.

    Laura Graves, she’s one excellent rider. My daughters had a chance to meet her a few years ago, still a relatively unknown in dressage then. Before returning to the sport, Laura worked as a hairstylist. She had come by to watch a showjumping class featuring juniors, some with world ranking, others unranked. She hung out more with the unranked juniors, which happened to include my daughters. The piece of advice Laura offered is to work hard, learning from your trainer (instructor) as much as possible. When someone says you don’t belong, work twice as hard to prove them wrong.

    Reply
    1. anne leueen Avatar
      anne leueen

      Thanks for sharing this wonderful story about Laura Graves. I really admire her as a rider and also admire her courage with sticking with a very difficult horse who finally learned to trust her. But many would had given up on him.

      Reply
      1. David Avatar
        David

        I did not know that about her horse, Verdades. My daughter Elizabeth, her Lilith had a reputation as a difficult to handle horse also. They made that instant connection at the auction. Lilith had went through a string of short time owners. If we didn’t come across her, hate to think what would’ve happened to Lilith. Elizabeth and Lilith have developed into a solid pairing.

        Reply
  2. Subbashini Meenakshi Sundaram Avatar
    Subbashini Meenakshi Sundaram

    Beautiful and thanks for sharing

    Reply
  3. Megala Avatar
    Megala

    Amazing girl! Congratulations to Laura Graves & her horse Verdades.

    Reply
  4. dprastka Avatar
    dprastka

    Beautiful equestrian! Congratulations to Laura Graves!

    Reply
  5. Gbolabo Adetunji Avatar
    Gbolabo Adetunji

    Isn’t it true that everyone has a talent for something. Everyone is a genius at something. A fish cannot swim outside of water and birds cannot fly in the deep seas. Laura found her own niche and her skills became radiant.
    Amazing post!

    Reply
    1. anne leueen Avatar
      anne leueen

      Thank you! And you are 100% correct.

      Reply
  6. Nurul Fitri Lubis Avatar
    Nurul Fitri Lubis

    Congratulations… Good for her..

    Reply

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