Dressage rider Romy Veldman is the owner of RoVe Dressage, based in Oostzaan in the Netherlands where as well as riding, Romy is also an instructor and content creator, sharing her journey with her horse. Romy says “My biggest passion is creating harmony and trust between horse and rider. Through my journey with Flo, I discovered how important patience, groundwork and correct communication are in developing confident horses. That philosophy is now the foundation of everything I do at RoVe Dressage.”
Romy is a certified BICD and ORUN 3 instructor, and focuses on helping riders build a stronger connection with their horses in a way that is fair, understandable and enjoyable for both horse and rider. At RoVe Dressage, she offers dressage lessons, groundwork, young horse guidance, clinics, and competition training and mindset coaching
Romy explains her philosophy “For me, success in dressage isn’t only about results in the ring — it’s about creating a horse that enjoys the work and a rider who understands their horse better every day.”
How did horses come into your life and what led you to dressage?
Horses have honestly been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was always completely drawn to them as a child. I loved being around them, learning about them and spending every possible minute at the stables. What started as simply loving horses quickly turned into a real passion for understanding how they think, move and learn.
I started riding at a young age and, like many riders, I worked my way up step by step. My first horse I bought when I was nineteen years old. My parents know nothing about horses and that’s the reason I never owned a pony as a child and had to ride at our local riding school. Over the years I became more interested in the technical side of riding and the importance of correct basics, which naturally led me towards dressage. What I loved about dressage was that it wasn’t only about the movements or competitions, it is about communication, balance and creating harmony between horse and rider.
A huge turning point in my journey was Flo. I bought her when she was just turning 3 years old from a scraps yard. She was the only horse standing there at that time and wasn’t broken in. Training and developing her completely changed my perspective on horses and riding. She taught me patience, consistency and how important trust is in the training process. Through the ups and downs with her, I learned to really listen to the horse in front of me instead of trying to force results. That experience shaped the rider and trainer I am today.
As my experience grew, I started sharing my journey online and I never expected so many people to connect with it, but I think riders appreciate seeing the honest side of working with horses not just the perfect moments, but also the challenges, setbacks and learning experiences.
Over time, RoVe Dressage grew into more than just my own riding journey. It became a platform where I could help and educate other riders through lessons, training, clinics and online content. I’m now working as a dressage rider and instructor, combining competition sport with a strong focus on horse welfare, groundwork and creating confident horses.
Where I am now is really the result of years of learning, making mistakes, growing with my horses and staying true to the idea that good training always starts with trust and understanding. And honestly, I still feel like I’m learning every single day, that’s one of the things I love most about this sport.
What is your weekly plan with Flo?
My weeks are usually a mix of dressage schooling, groundwork, occasional hacking and recovery days. I don’t believe horses should do the exact same thing every day, so I try to keep training varied and mentally fresh. One day we might focus on dressage exercises and improving straightness or suppleness, while another day is more about groundwork, pole work, lunging or going outside for relaxation and confidence. We are currently working on our half passes and flying changes and the very beginning of the passage. She’s still very young so I don’t want to ride her too much. I usually stick to a maximum of four training days per week, either riding, working in hand or hacking.
Alongside riding, horse welfare is a huge priority for me. Recovery, all-day turnout with other horses, mental wellbeing and listening to the horse are just as important as the actual training sessions. I want my horses to enjoy the work and feel confident, because that’s when they truly perform at their best
Do you work with a trainer?
Yes, I do work with trainers because I think it’s really important to keep learning and developing yourself as a rider. No matter how much experience you have, having someone on the ground who can guide you, challenge you and give honest feedback is incredibly valuable.
Over the years I’ve trained with different instructors who each contributed something different to my riding and training philosophy. I really like combining the technical side of dressage with a strong focus on horse welfare, relaxation and correct basics, so I naturally look for trainers who share that vision. I also see the value in a trainer that is by your side for a long period of time, for me this is Katinka de Haan, Grand-Prix rider, instructor, and a great friend of mine. Next to my weekly lessons with Katinka I’m training with Maestro in Classical Dressage and Grand-Prix rider
What do you love about dressage?
What I love most about dressage is the feeling of harmony between horse and rider. For me, it’s not just about the movements — it’s about communication, trust and developing a horse in a way that makes them stronger, more confident and happier in their work.
Proudest achievements?
One of my proudest achievements will always be the journey with Flo. Bringing her from the scrap yard and developing her all the way up to Z2 level (she’s now just turned 7 years old) has been incredibly special to me. Knowing where she started and seeing how far we’ve come together already makes every milestone feel even more meaningful.
Another huge highlight was competing at the Dutch National Championships last year. That was such a special experience and a moment where a lot of hard work really came together. To ride at that level with a horse I developed myself was something I’m extremely proud of, especially because our journey was not the “easy” or traditional route. But also, the feeling of galloping along the beach with complete trust, heading to the forest bareback and swimming in the lake together. It feels magical. A feeling I wish everyone would experience. Top of Form
Do you ever have to deal with nerves?
Yes, definitely, especially before important competitions or big shows. There was a point in my journey with Flo, where nerves took over during competition. I stopped competing for a while to settle my nerves with a specialist, Anne Loosveld, because I knew I wasn’t the rider my horse deserved at that time. I’ve learned a lot from Anne Loosveld, my sports psychologist, about mindset, preparation and staying calm under pressure, which has really helped me become more confident in the ring and a better rider for my horse.
What do you think it takes to build a strong bond and relationship a horse?
I think a strong bond starts with trust, patience and consistency. Horses need to feel safe and understood, so for me it’s important to listen to the horse and adapt the training to what they need mentally and physically. I think a lot of people still believe behavioral problems are meant to be trained, I strongly feel that they should be vet checked. I have never met a horse in my life that did not want to work. I did, however, meet quite a few horses who physically couldn’t work and tried to tell us through behavior. If you listen to the small signs, your horse will never have to “scream”.
In both management and training, horse welfare always comes first. Things like enough turnout, variety in work, correct basics, recovery and keeping the horse happy and motivated are all really important to me. I want my horses to enjoy their work and feel confident, because that’s when you create the best partnership together. For me these things are non-negotiable. Flo is always turned out, she’s in the field with other horses, being a horse. And that’s what she deserves.
Future aspirations?
My biggest goal is to continue developing with Flo and eventually compete at Grand Prix level. Alongside that, I want to keep growing RoVe Dressage, inspire other riders and show that good horsemanship and high-level sport can go hand in hand.
Your Top Tip
Only a happy and healthy horse can provide your needs. If you won’t provide their basic needs, they can’t provide to your needs like riding, training or even building a relationship. It all start’s with providing their needs.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
If you do what you did, you’ll get what you got. Meaning – if you never change anything the outcome will always be the same. This applies to anything in life. If you feel something is wrong, change it. If you feel like your horse needs something, provide it. Don’t wait it out.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
True! It takes a village to keep a horse happy and healthy. For me that starts with a team that works together and are specialised in their own territory. For me that’s Laura Taams, stable manager, Katinka de Haan & Bastiaan de Recht (training), Chayenne van de Ploeg (feed specialist), Amber Koppen (vet and chiropractor) Anne Loosveld (sports psychologist) SMDC (veterinary clinic) Phillip de Weijer (farrier), Ricardo (KM saddles). Coolest thing is all of these specialists know each other and talk to each other on a regular basis.