By Laila Edwards
Portraits by Kacy Brown
Dressage rider Shelly Francis fell in love with horses at a very young age and from the beginning, joy encompassed her in every moment that horses were around.
“My family had a Volkswagen bus. I remember my mom would take the middle seat out, lay plastic over the rest of the whole floor, and we would load my pony up to go to the horse shows,” Shelly said. “It was just me, my brother, my mom and my pony hanging out in the bus.” Those early days were a snapshot into the life Shelly would create, filled with a passion and an effervescent gratefulness for horses.
Shelly grew up amid the rolling green of Bar Harbor, Maine, on her family’s 30-acre farm. Her childhood was shaped by animals, sports and the freedom of rural life, but horses were always her Roman pillars.
She sat on her first horse at the age of 9. Her family acquired a pony, rescued from the slaughterhouse. “I fastened a makeshift bridle, hopped on my pony and desperately tried to hold on as she galloped around the property,” Shelly said. “After being dumped countless times at the same spot on the property every day, I finally figured out how to stay on and that was that.”
Shelly was involved in 4-H and participated in their small shows. Competing in the “Fitting and Showmanship” classes, where horses were presented in hand, she always aimed for the “best turned-out” award.
“My pony was a little chestnut with four white legs,” Shelly said. “For a couple of summers in a row, I never got above fourth place because my pony had little permanent stains on her knees, but it was still fun.” Those early competitions solidified her passion, not just for the ribbons but for the feeling of working with horses and the camaraderie of the sport.
As a teenager, Shelly was faced with the hard reality that riding wasn’t cheap. Determined to continue, she took a job at a barn, working off board and gaining lots of experiences in and out of the saddle. The work was unglamorous, but it put her in the company of horses every day. When not riding, she spent time learning everything she could about horse care, which shaped her into the horsewoman that is known and loved within the sport today.
Backyard to Center Stage
Shelly’s first major turning point came in 1989, after a successful competition season. She was approached by the US Equestrian officials and invited to the Festival of Champions. “They told me I was ranked second in the country for the Small Tour. I was so naïve at the time that I didn’t even know,” Shelly said. “I was competitive, but I still felt that I was a small-town rider, so to be recognized for a major championship opened my eyes to what the sport could offer.” In 1991, when the championships were still held in New Jersey, she landed Reserve Champion with her horse Pikant. That was the beginning of many more titles for Shelly.
A few years later at Festival of Champions, again in the Grand Prix division, she was awarded a grant to train in Germany. For four months she immersed herself in the European system under the guidance of renowned trainer Johann Hinnemann. His classical approach resonated deeply with her, echoing the training philosophies she had always craved in her riding.
“I quickly realized he trained horses through the classical method,” Shelly said. “He taught me one of the most important lessons that defined the difference between a horse making a mistake and simply not listening. That concept shaped how I train horses.” Those months in Germany introduced her to the international elite side of the sport, transcending her ambitions and setting her on the path to becoming a world-class competitor.
Shelly’s rise on the international stage began with her equine partner Pikant. Following their success in national championships, they represented the United States at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome, where they placed 35th individually and helped the team to a strong fourth place finish.
Shelly has shared success with other mounts as well. In 2016, with her partner Doktor, she was named as an alternate for the U.S. team at the Rio Olympic Games. With her horse Danilo, whom she developed from young horse to Grand Prix, she competed at the 2018 FEI World Cup Final in Paris as well as to international victories on the Europe circuit.
In 2018 at the prestigious CHIO Aachen, she experienced a moment that stands out most in her decades-long career. Riding Danilo in the CDI4* Grand Prix, she delivered an impressive freestyle test that earned a personal best score of 79.305% and the win. The crowd’s electric energy echoed through the bleachers, making the excitement infectious. After that win, Shelly was able to stay in the moment and truly appreciate what had happened. “Instead of thinking what I could have done better or thinking of the next show to check off the list, I was able to take a pause,” Shelly said. “I remember thinking, Wow. We just did that.”
Reflecting on how well her horse stayed with her and their music during the whole ride, Shelly cherishes that moment and sets it as an example for all her big wins. That sense of presence has stayed with her ever since, shaping how she approaches both competition and training.
Happiness in Home Base
After decades based in Wellington, Shelly made the decision in 2020 to relocate to Ocala, Florida. The move was driven by her horses’ well-being, and it has made wonderful improvements to her horses’ happiness. “The summers in Wellington are so humid and hot, I wanted to go somewhere that would give my horses a little break,” Shelly said. “Here, it cools down a little bit at night, so the horses actually have a chance to cool down.”
In Ocala, she established her training program, Shelly Francis Dressage, at Blue Moon Farm in Reddick, a facility designed for comfort and performance of horses and riders. Her clientele ranges from amateurs to riders competing at the international level, and her focus is on building harmony between horse and rider through patient classical methods of dressage. “A lot of my clients have been with me for a while, so everything flows harmoniously,” Shelly said. “I love my home base.”
In addition to her training program in Ocala, she spends a lot of time as a clinician on the weekends. “I love teaching and sharing what I have learned over the years,” Shelly said. “Helping riders with their skills that then help their horses is a feeling that will never get old.”
Looking ahead, Shelly is energized by a new chapter in her career, with a few mounts in both the Grand Prix and Small Tour. Now with her new sponsors, Bryn and Julie Campbell, Shelly has a talented string of horses for the upcoming competition season. Their names are Santanyi, a 7-year-old Small Tour horse (by Secret x Rubin-Royal x Cordeur); Diana, a 7-year-old Small Tour horse (by De Beau x Riccione x Weltmeyer); and Estero, a 10-year-old Grand Prix Westphalian by Escolar, imported from Germany in 2024. “It’s been a rewarding experience building a relationship with Estero,” Shelly said. “With only a couple of shows together, I’m excited to spend some time with him in the international ring and see where we can get.”
This coming winter season, she plans to return to CDI competition, with her sights set on qualifying for the FEI World Cup, the World Equestrian Games and any other major championships the journey might offer.
“I also have my personal horse that is finally starting to get it,” Shelly said. Dante is a 13-year-old (by Donone I-Annabelle x Adiamo 28) that Shelly found in a field in Germany when he was 3. She has spent the time developing him through the levels and is excited with how he’s progressing. “He’s another one that I’m excited to play with in the show ring and see if I can get the results I’ve been finding at home,” Shelly said.
For Shelly, the goals are still high with her rides, but the perspective is different. After so many years at the top of her sport, she is determined to savor every step along the way. “This time around,” Shelly said, “I’m truly going to enjoy every moment of the journey and see where it takes me.”
Follow Shelly on Facebook at shellyfrancisdressage or visit shellyfrancisdressage.com
Photos by Kacy Brown, kacybrownphotography.com
