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Who is Bettina Drummond ?
Bettina DRUMMOND is an American squire trained by the Master Nuno Oliveira and his son João (Portuguese ecuyers). She transmits the "Equitation de Tradition Française" to the USA, which earned her the honor of the Cadre noir de Saumur in 2018 by awarding her the title of Honorary Ecuyer of the Cadre noir.
For LYNK-YOU she delivered to us her incredible memories and shares the lessons of Nuno Oliveira and the equestrian encounters that have marked her for life.
Bettina Drummond Named Honorary Écuyer with Prestigious Cadre Noir
Presented with "cravache à 3 virolles" by the colonel Patrick TEISSERENC,
37th Chief Ecuyer of Saumur, October 2018
Bettina DRUMMOND has had to adapt to the world of American equestrian sport (she has been asked to consult on numerous occasions by members of the American teams and has volunteered to help the junior teams). She took part in dressage competitions.
She has also participated in scientific research to demonstrate the stress points not to be exceeded when the horse is maintained in classical balance (studies carried out by Dr Hilary CLAYTON, McPhail Equine Performance Center).
With her personal horses, she has developed her own artistic sensibility, creating performances with numerous artists (dancers, musicians, sculptors...).
📷 Credit : Valérie Charrieau-Khalili
Performance of Bettina DRUMMOND with her mare Mimi in 2019 in Connecticut, USA
She became an “Ambassador of Classical Equitation in the USA”, helping to spread the word, passing on her knowledge as Master Nuno OLIVEIRA had asked her to do, as her own mother Phyllis FIELD had wished, and supporting the arrival of French equestrians in the USA such as Patrick LE ROLLAND and Colonel CARDE. And she has continued to show horses in this spirit despite her crippling Lyme disease.
For more than four decades she offered her services as an instructor in all American equestrian disciplines and for various breeds of horse: a sharp eye for getting the balance right in this classic equitation.
And so it was that the Cadre Noir de Saumur - which has had French traditional equitation recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity - made Bettina DRUMMOND the only American woman “Écuyer d'Honneur”.
As an American trainer, Bettina DRUMMOND came to work with the Cadre Noir's riders in 2019. A Cadre noir / Ifce article reports on her visit.
📷 Credit : Valérie Charrieau-Khalili
Bettina DRUMMOND with Olivier PULS, écuyer of Cadre noir.
Today, despite a bout with cancer, she continues to do her utmost to spread the word about Classical Equitation, passing on her knowledge directly via the APAHA association she set up, and supporting projects such as the “LYNK-YOU" videos broadcasting platform.
For the love of horses and beautiful riding.