Ida Norris

Ida Norris has spent her life on both sides of the centerline, irst as a competitor, then as a judge. She is a licensed USEF "R" dressage and western dressage judge with decades of experience at the national and international level, including serving as a judge at the 2022 Western Dressage World Championships. As a WDAA Level 5 competitor, she brings the perspective of someone who has navigated the same pressure her students face.

Ida grew up on her parents' appaloosa breeding farm in rural Maine, riding hunt seat, saddle seat, and western while starting and showing young horses. She achieved the rank of H-A — the highest rank awarded — through the US Pony Club, and went on to study at the University of Maine Farmington. Her formal dressage education began with Olympian Michael Poulin and deepened significantly through five years of study with Frau Maria Zimmer, a respected dressage judge from Lubeck, Germany, in both Germany and the United States. She later worked with Kathy Connelly, who she credits with polishing her FEI-level test riding skills.

In addition to dressage and western dressage, Ida competes in Working Equitation and participates in classical long lining and international agility/Equagility. She is a member of the USEF/WDAA Committee and has judged extensively across the country. Ida lives with her husband Mark at Mill Pond Farm in Benson, Vermont. Her coaching centers on helping riders understand what judges are actually looking for, so they can stop losing easy points and ride with complete clarity.

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