Justine Mudde is an international Grand Prix dressage rider, trainer and coach living in Amsterdam. Born and raised in The Netherlands, Justine lives only half an hour from her dressage yard in Laren, located at her parents’ home where she grew up. Justine says “Horses have been at the heart of my life from the very beginning.”
Justine trains horses from the moment they are first backed all the way up to Grand Prix, working with both her own young horses purchased as foals and horses entrusted to her by clients. Alongside this, Justine has been teaching for more than fifteen years, helping riders develop their skills with the same dedication and precision she brings to her own training.
Who are the horses you ride?
A milestone for Justine and Easy Rider in the Grand prix in Ankum.
At the moment, I ride seven horses: Lutha, Vanderbilt, Rizz Adip, Royal Class, Skylark, Prime Suspect and Lucio. They range in age from rising four to ten. Lutha is the only one we purchased later in life, while Vanderbilt belongs to a client who previously bought my Intermediaire A horse, Filemon. All the others were bought as foals and came to us after growing up in a large herd, which is something I value deeply for their physical and mental development.
Our weekly schedule is quite structured: four days of training, one day of lunging, and two days off. The horses that are confident in traffic also go out for hacks in the forest, which I find incredibly important for their relaxation and overall balance.
Our youngest horse will turn four next year and has only recently been backed. In this first phase, all I want is mutual trust — that they trust me, and I trust them. Once that foundation is solid, I quietly introduce the basic principles of classical riding. As they grow older and stronger, the work naturally evolves. With the six-year-olds, like Prime Suspect and Lucio, I’m now beginning to develop more collection. It’s a stage I absolutely love, especially after spending the first years taking those careful baby steps.
My typical week is very horsey, I spend most of my time at the stable, and after finishing my own training I coach other ambitious riders. I also try to make it to the gym two or three times a week, and every Sunday I make sure to spend some quality time doing something fun with my boyfriend. It’s all quite wholesome — and I enjoy it so much.
How did you your journey transpire to dressage?
Justine and Easy Rider. “When you never give up and truly believe in your horse, everything becomes possible.”
I grew up as a little girl on an old farmhouse with horses right outside the door. Some of my
earliest memories are of wandering through the grass in a long nightgown, barefoot, making my way to the fields in the early mornings to study the horses. Other times I’d be playing in the hay, still barefoot and in that same nightgown — completely absorbed in their world.
When I was very young, my brothers and I shared a black Shetland pony named Biscotte. I rode constantly, and by the time I was twelve, I competed in my first international dressage show in Austria — high up in the mountains at the most beautiful location. That opportunity came naturally, as we had dressage horses at home and the discipline always felt intuitive to me.
At the local riding school, however, I actually took jumping lessons. I was even invited to join their show‑jumping competition team, not the dressage team. But as the jumps got higher, I became increasingly dependent on other people’s ponies, while we had a stable full of dressage horses at home. My parents eventually asked me to choose a direction — I suspect partly because the bigger jumps made them a little nervous.
That choice explains why, at just thirteen, I began training young stallions and other dressage horses we had at home, alongside competing internationally in the youth divisions. It became something I kept building on year after year. And that path has brought me to where I am now: developing multiple horses all the way up to Small Tour and Grand Prix level — a journey that started with a Shetlander named Biscotte and a little girl wandering barefoot through the fields.
Who have been your mentors?
The first real mentor in my dressage career was Karin Retera. As both a Grand Prix judge and a trainer, she gave me a solid foundation during the five years I trained with her.
After that, and in good consultation, I moved on to train with Christoph Hess. For more than three years I worked with him weekly with my Grand Prix horse. Christoph introduced me to the German classical system, which helped me enormously in gaining the trust of Easy Rider — who, despite his name, wasn’t always the easiest.
During that period, I also came into contact with Andreas Hausberger, a highly respected name in the dressage world. This summer marks four years of training with him. We used to work together one full day each month: now it’s one full day every two months. Andreas is based in Austria, so all our training is done live and in person.
I feel very fortunate to have been guided by such skilled horsemen. Each of them has shaped my approach, and their influence is still part of my daily work with the horses
What do you love about dressage?
What I love about dressage is that I never stop learning. Every horse develops in its own unique way, constantly challenging me to grow. Through the hours I spend training with my horse, we build a deep and genuine partnership. And when my horse becomes a truly aligned athlete — moving in real self‑carriage and effortless lightness — the work begins to feel, for me, like a quiet form of art.
Your proudest moments?
Two of my proudest moments are Excalibur becoming the best gelding in the final of the Dutch Young Horse Championships and placing 6th overall, with an impressive 90 points in the semi‑final. And Easy Rider, with whom I competed in several International Grand Prix classes. He was with us from a foal until last summer at 16 years old, and he achieved things many people never expected. Riding Grand Prix with him was one of my greatest joys, highlighted by 67% in the 3 Grand Prix in Germany.”
Dressage isn’t without its challenges, what have been your hardest times and anything unexpected?
I came very close to qualifying for the European Championships several times in my youth, but in the end I just missed out, partly because my horse was injured at a crucial moment. At the time, that was difficult to accept, especially because it was something I worked incredibly hard for. I can’t say I’ve faced things I truly didn’t expect, but when I was younger, I did learn very clearly what I wanted and what I didn’t want. Those experiences only made me wiser.
A horse that holds a special place in your heart?
Even though I’ve ridden many horses, the first one that comes to mind is Easy Rider, with whom I finally reached the Grand Prix level (until last summer). He taught me never to give up, and he showed me what it truly means to ride Grand Prix tests. He’s incredibly sweet and sensitive, the kind of horse who makes you think ten times about how to do things in the best possible way. He was sold to one of my students and still lives at our stable, which makes me very happy.
What have been your biggest lessons?
My biggest lessons have come from learning the principles of classical German dressage, and from understanding how the horse’s body works and how it can be brought into true connection. And I’m certainly nowhere near done learning.
Your goals?
My goal is to train all the horses we have to the Grand Prix level, and to make them truly happy along the way. I also would like to guide my students in the best possible way.
Your Top Tip
Lightness is the key. Never give up.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
One of the best pieces of advice came from my mom: she told me to always look at what the best riders do, and its advice that has stayed with me ever since.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
My support team starts with the people at the stable who help me care for the horses every day. My parents are my biggest support, always stepping in wherever they’re needed. There’s also someone I’ve known my whole life who still comes every Sunday to level the arena an incredibly kind gesture that means a lot. My trainer travels from abroad now and then to guide and support me, which is an essential part of my development. Our farrier plays a key role in keeping the horses at their best. And lastly, my boyfriend; not there every day, but always there when I need him.