The Dressage Mommy

Elena Marlow, a former junior champion, is thirty-two and staging a comeback in the elite world of competitive dressage. Years away from the arena, filled with "diapers and carpools," have left her hungry to prove she's "not just a mom, not just a has-been junior champion". Astride her Warmblood mare, Solstice, Elena feels the familiar pull of ambition, but also the weight of years lost and a deep-seated guilt.The path back to glory is anything but smooth. Elena faces the unyielding demands of her old-school German coach, Klara, who believes "the horse must submit" and "suffering shapes art". Adding to the pressure is Cass Keller, a ruthless rival whose polished, "mechanical" precision seems unbeatable and who hints at using questionable "supplements" to gain an edge.But the greatest challenges strike closer to home. Elena's single-minded pursuit strains her marriage to Mark, who struggles with the financial burden and her emotional absence, asking, "You're choosing a horse over us?". Her daughters, Lily and Sophie, miss her, their tearful pleas – "Don’t you love us?" – piercing through her ambition.Torn between her dream,her family, and the conflicting philosophies of training—from Klara's harsh discipline to Javi the bodyworker's belief in listening to the horse—Elena finds herself making increasingly difficult choices and sacrifices. As the pressure mounts towards the national competition, Elena and Solstice are pushed to their breaking point, leading to a disastrous moment in the arena that forces Elena to confront the true cost of her ambition.Will Elena chase victory at the expense of everythingshe holds dear? Or will she find a new path that honors the bond with her horse and the love of her family?Discover a powerful storyof sacrifice, identity, and the courage to redefine success.Find outif Elena can heal the rifts, rebuild her life, and discover what it truly means to ride from the heart.Read more