Tessa Holloran - Equestrian

Tessa Holloran, age 20, has been working for Allison Brock and training with her horse Ike at Dearmeadow Farm (Wellington, FL) owned by Fritz and Claudine Kundrun since 2018.

 

She recently earned her USDF Silver Medal with Ike in August 2024. Tessa began with her horse Ike in February 2021. Ike is a 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding bred and started by Golden Point Partners. His earlier years were spent in a jumping career and competing at 1.20m. Tessa continued his transition to dressage under the direction of Allison Brock in Wellington, and then returning north under the direction of Liz Austin for the summer of 2021.

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The pair had an ambitious training program and progressed quickly, qualifying for the 2021 North American Youth Championships as the alternate for the Region 8 Junior Team. The pair was called up at the last minute and competed in Traverse City, Michigan. After a week layover, they continued on to the USEF Festival of Champions where they competed in the Dressage Seat Medal Finals 14-18 earning 6th place and winning their Third Level classes in the open show, both held at Lamplight Equestrian Center, Wayne, Illinois. The pair also qualified for the USDF Region 8 Championships at Third Level, but after a very busy August showing at back to back championships, Tessa opted not to compete.  

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Prior to Ike, Tessa was riding Damion SS. In the fall of 2019 Damion was imported from Spain after the match made by Diego Gonzalez, long-time friend, trainer, and co-owner at Casa Arte Equestre - CAE Dressage. Damion SS (“Dezi”) is a 2014 gelding with impressive lines that include Donnerhall and Sandro Hit. Tessa and Dezi worked with Elisabeth Austin, (Liz Austin Dressage- South Hamilton, MA) USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist Two-Time USET National Champion who boasts an education from the “Who’s Who” in Dressage (Carl Hester, Debbie McDonald, Robert Dover and Lendon Gray to name a few). Tessa captured the Champion title for Dressage Seat Equitation at the 2020 USDF Region 8 Championships in Saugerties, New York. Tessa returned to Wellington shortly afterwards with Dezi for the 2020/2021 winter season to work with Olympic Bronze Medalist Allison Brock. In December, after lengthy period of tests from the top veterinarians, Dezi underwent a myleogram where he was diagnosed with wobblers syndrome. With the devastating finding of severe spinal compression and under the advice of trusted specialists, Dezi was euthanized. 

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Tessa was fortunate to compete Vincent Flores' 2012 Selle Francais gelding Cramique Kerguelen (“Reve Noir”) in the Spring of 2019. The pair was named to the USDF Region 8 Junior Team at the 2019 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) where the Team brought home a 6th Place finish. Tessa led the team’s scores for the Team test, and her Individual score landed her and Reve a spot in the Freestyle competition.

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Previously, Tessa had been working with her horse Appielousos B (“Tigger”) a 2005 KWPN gelding since December 2017. July 2018 marked her sixth appearance at the D4K Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival where she was the Overall Champion, a title she also captured in 2015. Tessa also attended the 2018 Seat Medal Finals where an unfortunate horse injury forced her to find a “catch ride” for her 13 and under finals where she placed Fourth. She also qualified for and attended the 2018 USEF Festival of Champions FEI Childrens National Championship, and had to scratch since horse substitutions are not permitted (as they are for Seat Medal). Sadly, Tigger was not healed in time for her to compete at Regionals in the Fall 2018 although qualified for Third Level and Seat Medal Semi-Finals.

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Tessa spent the winter 2019 in Wellington working with Olympic Bronze Medalist Allison Brock and both 2018 and 2017 winters training with Olympian Lendon Gray in Wellington as a participant in the Dressage4Kids Winter Intensive Training (WIT) program. Tessa really enjoys D4K and has been active for many years, including attending and speaking at the Weekend Equestrian Program and riding at TEAM Clinics (Training, Education, And Mentoring).

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Tessa was selected to participate in 2017 and 2018 Dressage4Kids Winter Intensive Training (WIT) Program under the direction of Lendon Gray in Wellington, FL. She has also been a long-standing member of the Dressage4kids TEAM program and clinics regularly with Lendon in the northeast. In December 2017 Tessa worked with her horse Appielousos B, a 2005 KWPN gelding, essentially starting their journey at the 2018 WIT program. 

 

A full time student, Class of 2022 at North Middlesex Regional High School, Tessa is a National Honor Society member and is currently evaluating colleges where she plans to pursue a degree in Business. She has lettered in Cross Country and Track where she also holds a school record. She also enjoys working out and cheering her sister Ella on at soccer games.

 

The Earlier Years

At just a little more than three years old, Tessa Holloran started riding her welsh pony “Little Miss K” at Ten Broeck Farm in Pepperell, MA. Under the direction of Orintha Silva, Tessa progressed from leadline and short stirrup to competing dressage. In 2013, at nine years old she was the bronze medalist in her division at Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival at HITS in New York. After 8 years, when she sadly outgrew her pony, Orintha helped import her 2001 KWPN mare Usela from Holland and continued training. Tessa, age 11, was then the Overall Champion at the 2015 Youth Dressage Festival in New York sweeping her division with a first in equitation, first in the written test, and first in her dressage test and outscoring more than 300 competitors. With the instruction of Professional Handler Phil Silva, Tessa has also won the Amateur Handler Class four years running at Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival and at NEDA’s Fall Festival for four consecutive years—2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Tessa also ran Usela in the IBC Dutch class for the win in 2017.

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Tessa has been very fortunate to ride with

several trainers, including the following:

Liz Austin

Claes Bierenbroodspot

Charlotte Bredahl-Baker

Allison Brock

Anna Buffini

Liz Carron

Vincent Flores

Diego Gonzalez

Pam Goodrich

Lendon Gray

Scott Hassler

Eileen Halloran

Julie A. Julian

Nancy Later

Kim Litwinczak

Jean-Paul Magnen

Dottie Morkis

Louise Nathhorst

Sarah O'Neil

Orintha Silva

Vitor Silva

Rosie Julian-Simoes

George Williams

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Clinics/Lessons audited include:

Carl Hester, Laura Graves, Triston Tucker, George Willams, Frank Jespers, Christian Schacht, Charlotte Dujardin & Masters Class NYC, Robert Dover, Lisa Wilcox, Courtney King-Dye, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, Jan Ebling, Michael Barisone, Axel Steiner

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2019, 2018, 2017 Audited USEF Robert Dover Horsemanship Week (Wellington)

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Lilo Fore Instructor Certification Program (demo rider) 

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