These days, Loretta and I are training in a dressage field on the edge of Steensel, Netherlands. A few lessons here handed me a humbling reminder: I didn't need to know more—I needed to use what I already knew, and drive it proactively.
Our first European CDE turned out to be equal parts horse show and wine country getaway. We had a dragon-wrapped rental truck, a rented cones carriage, and just enough mud to work on our drifting skills.
It's official — US Equestrian has announced that we will be on the Defender U.S. Driving Team for the 2026 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses in Munich, Germany.
The full Go Retta Roo team is back together in the Netherlands, and Loretta is keener than ever. Between fine-tuning with Kelly, a few equipment adventures and the odd bit of paperwork, this was our week to get ready for our first CDE in the EU.
We made it to the Netherlands! The trip was a logistics gauntlet, but Loretta is as keen as ever. Here's why we're prepping for Munich from about 600 km to the west.
Shipping Loretta to Europe means jet stalls, horse passports, and a flight that keeps getting rescheduled—four times and counting. Stuck near JFK with borrowed tack and no plane ticket of my own, I’m waiting it out at a beautiful jumper barn while Loretta gets ready to fly solo to Belgium.
The final countdown is on. Loretta and the Go Retta Roo team are days away from shipping across the Atlantic, dressage fundamentals rebuilt, fitness dialed in, and a brand new leg ready for its first trial by fire. Next stop: Europe.
The 2026 FEI World Singles Driving Championship comes to Munich September 1–6. Here's what the event is, how the sport works — and why RettaRoo will be there.
Do you ever struggle with getting your horse to give you a good reinback? You're not alone. Most people skip the most critical step in teaching the reinback to their horses. Even if your horse "knows how to back," try this fundamental exercise to improve his back right away.
Loretta's been on a well-earned break, but the work isn't done — it's just getting bigger. We're taking Retta Roo to the 2026 FEI World Championships in Munich, and we need your help to get there.
Loretta won the marathon for the second competition in a row at the Katydid CDE — but the real story is what it took to get there. A brutally technical opener, a split-second bridge decision, and a cones round that came within 4 seconds of a podium finish. Here's the full account from Andy Marcoux and the Princess herself.
My "Close Shave" video from Live Oak has gotten a lot of love, but there's a little more to this story. There's more to the miss than you think. The part your horse noticed, and he's keeping score...
Roo Report — Live Oak International 2026 FEI 3* Horse [...]
There's just one Driver Slot left for the Dec. 5-7 Clinic at the Florida Horse Park. Grab it before someone else does! Auditors will be included in all group discussions, and I'll have a mic, so you can hear the teaching throughout the clinic. If you miss that last slot, grab an auditor pass and mark “Driver Waitlist” on Your Profile — if a spot opens, I’ll fill it by date of signup, and if not, you still get the full auditing experience.
I’m joining the Whip’R Snappers Driving Society for their Educational Day and Meeting in Temecula, CA, to dig into long lining and combined driving strategies — from what you teach on the lines to how it shows up in dressage, cones, and obstacles. Check the Whip’R Snappers event page for full details and RSVP info.
