Thistle Dew Dressage LLC

Thistle Dew Dressage LLC Thistle Dew Dressage LLC offers boarding, training, lesson, and sale services in beautiful Chase City Virginia.

Elizabeth is a USDF Silver and Bronze medalist, breeder, and trainer.

Chase and Devon love hanging out between snacks. I love watching them get to be horses and enjoy their friendship. ...
04/10/2026

Chase and Devon love hanging out between snacks. I love watching them get to be horses and enjoy their friendship.

The weather was beautiful this weekend and it was such a treat to see Beverly and get to have her on her horse. The weat...
03/22/2026

The weather was beautiful this weekend and it was such a treat to see Beverly and get to have her on her horse. The weather and the move have made so many things difficult so getting to see this pair enjoying things was a huge step forward. -

The light this evening is beautiful. All of the horses are happy to see grass coming in and are shedding into something ...
03/13/2026

The light this evening is beautiful. All of the horses are happy to see grass coming in and are shedding into something that resembles horses again.

Our newest resident a lovely yearling filly is a bookend to our Donavan filly, down to their double whirls.
03/06/2026

Our newest resident a lovely yearling filly is a bookend to our Donavan filly, down to their double whirls.

Pain. What is the purpose of pain? “No pain no gain?” “If it hurts, it’s probably causing an issue, you should stop.”Pai...
02/16/2026

Pain.

What is the purpose of pain?

“No pain no gain?”

“If it hurts, it’s probably causing an issue, you should stop.”

Pain is about limits and growth. It’s something that you either need to lean into, figure out what needs to strengthen, or it’s telling you, “hey, this is harming you and you need to stop.”

So how do you know the difference.

Physically I think it matters a lot how quickly pain appears, if it is sharp, does it go away, can we repeat it? Is it specific to one movement? What happens when you rest? What happens if you keep going? Pain is supposed to protect you, but it also can limit you, if we aren’t intentional in our reactions, thoughtful and honest, we will hurt ourselves one way or another. Too little/too much is always the question.

For both riders and horses, we expect pain to be a part of the deal to some degree. As athletes we need to build strength, suppleness, and sometimes we get hurt. We fall, get kicked or bitten, etc. our horses are the same.

That being said, the pain that comes with strength building usually feels full, satisfying, and is built onto over time. Injury, we have to treat with great deal of respect and empathy. Without either, we are subject to causing much harm and suffering.

My job as a trainer is to always advocate for the horse while helping them gain strength and find new ways of growing, as a rider, I have learned that I sometimes need to examine my own pain more, in the way I would with my horses.

Emotional pain is the same. When we have traumas, experience panic, and are trying to cope, sometimes we need to take a breath and push on, other times we need to make space to take a beat, reevaluate, and hold ourselves to account.

Nothing about being a horse person is without pain, be it physical or mental and we all need to make sure that we as humans are being wise, empathetic, and considerate of our partners and ourselves.

02/15/2026

Remmi is the funniest horse I have ever known. She is mine through and through. Delilah, her own daughter, still isn’t allowed to touch me, unless she is getting attention too.

02/10/2026

When the baby horses just need love. Fern and Gilly love their kisses.

This is the time of year where horse people everywhere (except Florida maybe) question their life choices. As we endure ...
02/07/2026

This is the time of year where horse people everywhere (except Florida maybe) question their life choices. As we endure missed lessons, lost income, endless extra labor, feed costs, and struggle through the ice and the mud, we long for memories of warmer weather. Of green grass, light breezes (instead of the arctic blasts currently blowing us sideways,) sleek and shiny ponies, and time with our friends.

Fear not, there will be an hour extra of daylight this month, a shift in the earth as everything starts to swell with new life. Foaling season arrives, sleepless nights for some, exciting Facebook posts, gearing up for show season, and mostly a reprieve from questioning why we can’t just love pretty clothes and beaches.

We are horse people, destined to ebb and flow with the weather, our horse’s willingness to tolerate us, and the daylight.

I’m just so happy to see “my” kid riding my darling Remmi. I don’t know what I would do without them both.
08/22/2025

I’m just so happy to see “my” kid riding my darling Remmi. I don’t know what I would do without them both.

08/12/2025

Our beautiful filly by Donovan out of Rapunzel KIS (Rosall/Little Blackxx) is growing up quickly.

She is a stunning mover. Her sweet temperament and flashy markings make her impossible not to fall in love with.

Address

Chase City, VA
24923

Telephone

+14104749469

Website

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