USDF bronze, silver and gold medalist Neve Myburgh worked with Germany’s national head coach Monica Theodorescu at the 2025 Adequan®/USDF FEI-Level Trainers’ Conference earlier this year to improve her 7-year-old DSP mare Firiet’s hind-end engagement, self-carriage and balance through serpentines, circles, half circles and the counter-canter. Throughout their session, Theodorescu emphasized the importance of following the classical dressage principles without rushing to ensure the young mare continues to be happy in her work.
Here, Myburgh talks about her key takeaways from this year’s conference, her partnership with Firiet and what she loves most about the sport of dressage.
“I’ve been working with Firiet on her changes and trying to get them more even on both the right and the left. It’s that lack of suppleness in her ribcage on the right side that we’re lacking and affects our changes. The exercises Monica had us work on—shoulder-in, half passes and lots of direction changes—really helped us.
“Firiet belongs to a very dear friend of mine in Germany who bought her at an auction as a 5-year-old. She came to me about two years ago, and we’ve been together ever since. I’ve never ridden a horse like her before. She’s amazing. Her work ethic is phenomenal. Even going to new places, as soon as I get on she’s with me and gives 110%. She’s the sweetest horse in the barn and just adores being loved on and having her ears scratched.
“I’ve always been horse mad. As a kid, my walls were covered with horse pictures. It didn’t matter if it was dressage or jumping or whatever, as long as it was about horses. I used to make my parents stop on the side of the road to say hello to any horses we saw. It was just something I was born with. My parents are not horse people.
“I just love the animals so much and spending time with them and training, especially when they’re younger and learning. It’s just the small things like the first time you get a clean flying change with your horse and it’s like wow. Or even just getting a good transition when you feel the hind legs come up underneath your horse and they’re in your hands. It’s just like the Holy Grail.”
For More:
- To watch Neve Myburgh and Firiet’s training sessions on Day 1 and Day 2 of this year’s USDF Trainers’ Conference on EQUESTRIAN+, click here.
- To watch Hannah Irons and E.T.’s training sessions at the conference with Olympian and Chef d’Equipe of the U.S. Dressage Team Christine Traurig, click here.
- Christine Traurig, Monica Theodorescu and eight upper-level dressage riders share their main takeaways and personal insights from the 2025 USDF Trainers’ Conference. Learn how you can apply their lessons with your dressage partner here.
- Check out our behind-the-scenes’ photo gallery from this year’s conference here.
- For more hands on training tips and video demonstrations from top dressage riders and trainers on EQUESTRIAN+, click here.
About Neve Myburgh
Neve Myburgh of Loxahatchee, Florida, is a a USDF bronze, silver and gold medalist. After growing up riding in South Africa, she moved to Germany to apprentice under Wolfram Wittig and worked for trainers Johannes Augustin and Martin Christensen. Since moving to the U.S., Myburgh has trained with Lars Peterson, Oded Shimoni and Robert Dover, who helped her train several young horses up to schooling grand prix. She is riding her own horse, Firiet, a 7-year-old, DSP, mare, by Franklin.
