Lea Stokes is a Clark College photography professor and Ridgefield resident who has dedicated decades to mastering dressage, an equestrian art that emphasizes grace, precision, and the bond between horse and rider. She recently transitioned to professional status, teaching dressage to local riders and helping them develop deeper relationships with their horses.

dressage is described by Stokes as more than just a sport, but a discipline and training system for both horse and rider. At advanced levels, riders perform intricate movements like the “shoulder-in” and the half pass, showcasing precision, balance, and harmony. Stokes emphasizes that dressage takes years for a horse to develop the patience and discipline required to perform at a high level.

Stokes’ personal journey with dressage involves training her horse, Special, from a young age and earning a bronze medal at the third level of dressage. She later achieved a silver medal at the intermediate level with a borrowed horse, Ruger. Stokes is now focused on training her young mare, Paloma, for the highest level of dressage, emphasizing the importance of building trust and patience between horse and rider in the training process.