2022 Horse Person of the Year: Donna Meyer

This prestigious honor is awarded once a year, to an individual(s) for dedication, hard work, volunteering, promoting all aspects of dressage, and giving back to the equine community. Donna fulfills all of this, and more. She is known to many, as a competitor, instructor, trainer, volunteer, judge, and active at the GMO, regional, and national levels. Her awe-inspiring love & passion for horses and dressage is evident in every aspect of her life. She has spent most of her life learning and giving back. And we hope she will continue for years to come.

Donna Meyer is an accomplished rider in multiple disciplines. Originally from Connecticut, Donna knew as a kid that she had “Equinitis”. In order to be able to ride she decided early on that working within the horse world would get her there.

She discovered the world of eventing at age 17 and found herself working at barns with USET riders, training and learning and competing herself thru Preliminary level.

To this day she describes herself as “one of the lucky ones” whose job is her love and passion.

Donna has worked professionally with horses since 1980, specializing in the training/ instruction of English, Dressage, Western dressage, and combined training/jumping.

Employments at equestrian centers in places across the U.S, and abroad have taught her daily invaluable, “practical” experience.

She currently owns and operates a full service boarding and training barn in Bryan, Texas.

She is an active competitor who has earned her USDF Bronze and Silver Medals, and is currently 2 scores away from earning her Gold Medal.

She has shown successfully in eventing, and dressage thru Grand Prix. She competed “Romanov’s Star , the luv of her life, a Hanovarian she purchased in 2013 and who she brought to the ultimate goal, the Grand Prix.

She also has ridden many, many horses of various breeds to year end awards, and championships, including a stallion she loved named “Isaiah”, who won an Open Great American Insurance Group Region 9 Championship.

Donna is a USDF Associate Instructor, and a USEF “r” judge and a USEF Western Dressage “R” judge. She judges 15 to 20 schooling & recognized dressage and combined training events a year.

She became an Equine Insurance Agent for Taylor Harris Insurance Services in 2003 to help promote the well being and protection of horses and to provide education to horse owners, in a sometimes confusing area.

She pursued her chance to train at the Reitinstitut Von Neindorff in Germany in 2013.

By winning the Major Lindgren Scholarship for Instructors along with the Houston Dressage Societies Bushager Award she was able to train for 6 weeks in Wellington Fl with her two FEI horses in 2015.

She served for 15+ years on the Region 9 board, first as the Awards Chair, then as the Adult Education Chair. Through the years she set up educational meetings for Region 9 members with Jane Savoir, Betsy Steiner, Kathy Connally, and Hilda Gurney.

She is (recently retired)…both off the regional board and from the national USDF Adult Program Committee.

She has attended the USDF Convention either as a PM Delegate, or as a member of a national committee for 20+ years. Sharing what she gained and learned with her students, GMO, and members of Region 9.

She has for almost 20 years, and continues to volunteer at the Region 9 Championships.

And represents the Great American Insurance, presenting awards to the riders.

She has held numerous GMO offices for BACH through the years…from President, to now Activities Chair. Always supporting…by both volunteering, and offering her farm as sites for clinics, seminars, and get togethers. Her extensive knowledge and experience helps BACH and its members… furthering Dressage on a local level.

She continually attends clinics and continuing education programs at the annual USDF convention, and at regional and national trainers & judges programs.

Donna’s goals always include improving her “eye” and toolbox. Education and giving back to the sport has always been of utmost importance to her.

Donna’s love for training young horses successfully is based on instilling the foundation of helping a horse to understand the basics.

Her impressive show record is proof that when a horse is started correctly, any breed of horse can succeed. Once the basics are achieved correctly for both the horse and rider then the road is paved to move up the levels. She hopes to continue to help horses and riders to achieve this goal.

She recently has started teaching and training in Western Dressage, completing a Trainers Course with WDAA, The Western Dressage Association of America.

Donna shows an undying love and passion for the horse, teaching, training, and helping others. Her dedication to dressage through the years is impressive. And she has embraced Western dressage with the same enthusiasm.

• 1994- Became a USDF Associate Instructor
• 1994- Became a USDF “L” learner judge
• 1995– Studied at the Reitinstitut von Neindorff
• 2007- USDF Region 9 GMO Volunteer of the Year Award
• 2010- licensed with USEF as a “r” dressage judge
• 2015 – by winning the Major Lindgren Scholarship for Instructors along with the Houston Dressage Societies Bushager Award she was able to train for 6 weeks in Wellington Fl with her two FEI horses
• 2016 – Licensed with USEF as a “R” Western Dressage Judge