Hope Beerling and her mare Dynamic Diva. Image by Emma Claire Photography.
Australian dressage rider Hope Beerling is forging her own path in the United States, balancing a growing business, top young horse success, and exciting personal milestones — all while developing the next horse she hopes will take her to championship level.
Hope Beerling’s career in the saddle began on her family’s farm in Cooroy, Queensland. An avid show rider, she became hooked on dressage at age 15 when she began riding a Warmblood — and she hasn’t looked back.
Renowned for her work with young dressage horses in Australia, Hope made the move to the US in 2019 at just 20 years of age, where she worked and trained under Catherine Haddad Staller for nearly six years. A little under 12 months ago, the young Aussie took the next step in her career and went independent — a move that has been both effortless and chaotic at the same time.
“The transition has felt pretty effortless in a lot of ways, but at the same time it’s definitely been chaotic and busy at times,” shares Hope. “I’ve honestly loved being out on my own and building something that feels like me, while getting to work with some really incredible horses and clients along the way.”
Hope is now training with Hawaiian-born US Olympian Ali Brock, who has been an important part of the whole process. “Ali’s support and knowledge are unbelievable, and I feel so lucky to have her in my corner. She’s helped me so much, and I’m constantly learning from her,” says Hope.
Hope and Dynamic Diva (by Dynamic Dream out of First Lady S, by Vitalis) won the CDI-YH five-year-old classes during week eleven of the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. Image by Centre Line Media.
DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
Building a business has not come at the expense of competition success, with Hope recently winning the CDI-YH five-year-old classes during week eleven of the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida.
Her equine partner was Dynamic Diva (by Dynamic Dream out of First Lady S, by Vitalis), who was bred in Germany.
“Dynamic Diva is honestly the horse I’ve always dreamt of owning,” smiles Hope, explaining how the mare has helped fill the void of another special horse — the beautiful Vianne, who Hope rode to a top ten finish at the 2023 FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses under the ownership of NorCordia.
“When Vianne stayed behind in Europe to find her new home, it really broke my heart, and from that moment I was on a mission to find that next special one — and I can proudly say Diva has done exactly that.
“She’s such an incredible mare with the kindest heart, and she just wants to try for you every single day. She actually reminds me so much of Vianne in that way when I was developing her.
“Diva was bred in Germany, and a close friend of mine, Ele Carroll, was helping me find that next horse. I said no to a lot of horses, but the second I saw Diva’s video, I just knew. I remember saying, ‘That’s my horse — please go try her for me.’
“Ele went and tried her, and to be honest there were definitely hesitations. She couldn’t canter more than a few strides without changing behind, and she could be quite opinionated. But there was just something about her I couldn’t shake. I kept coming back to her, and in the end I just said, I don’t care — I’m taking the risk and trusting it will work out.”
Dynamic Diva arrived in America about a month later, and it took Hope a couple of weeks to really connect with her.
“But once we did, everything changed. She tried so hard to understand what I was asking, and every single week she just got stronger, more confident, and more with me. It’s actually pretty special, because I do think in the wrong hands it might not have turned out this way — but that’s what makes her story even more meaningful to me.
“Now, every time I sit on her she makes my heart skip a beat. I genuinely just have so much fun with her, and I truly love this mare with everything. I’m also incredibly grateful to my mum, who owns her, for trusting the process and giving me the opportunity to develop such a special horse.”
Hope says she has big goals for the mare.
“Originally we were aiming for the World Young Horse Championships as a five-year-old, but plans have shifted slightly, so we’ll be aiming again as a six-year-old.”
MEET THE TEAM
“I have a really cool group of horses in the barn right now, which I feel very lucky about,” says Hope of the rest of her equine team.
While Hope’s mother owns Dynamic Diva, Hope owns Dynamic Deal – also known as Dino. “It’s really special for me to be developing my own horses, and they’re both by Dynamic Dream — the trainability and brain they have is just incredible. It’s definitely a bloodline I want to keep working with.”
Dynamic Deal (by Dynamic Dream). Image supplied.
“The future is incredibly
bright for him…”
Hope also has an exciting seven-year-old, Opium L, owned by Vlada Lvova. “He’s competing in the young horse classes, and we actually stepped him up to Prix St Georges where he finished third in the international arena against some very seasoned combinations. The future is incredibly bright for him, and I’m really excited to keep developing him toward Grand Prix.”
Opium L, owned by Vlada Lvova. Image by Center Line Media.
Sarah Colson has two horses with Hope — Esquire WS, who Hope has been developing since January, and Madison 78. “Esquire is a seriously special horse, and I would love to find the right buyer for him who will keep him with me to continue developing, as I truly think he has what it takes to be a team horse for 2028 — the brain, power, and rideability are all there, and he can really piaffe.
Esquire WS, owned by Sarah Colson. Image by Emma Claire Photography.
“Esquire is a seriously
special horse…”
“Madison 78 has been super successful in the five-year-old classes with me, and recently Sarah started competing him herself. Their first ever show — and Sarah’s first ever dressage competition — they won their class on a 70%, which was such a cool moment.”
Madison 78, owned by Sarah Colson. Image by Emma Claire Photography.
American Paralympian Kate Shoemaker also has horses with Hope year-round. “I’ve absolutely loved developing Ferrari 812 — when I first got him, he was a First Level horse, and since August he’s progressed to Prix St Georges and is continuing to climb. I have no doubt he’ll be a Grand Prix horse. He is actually for sale as well. I’ve also been helping with Supreme and Vianne (whom Kate ultimately purchased from NorCordia).”
On top of these core horses, Hope usually have another two to three sales horses coming through the barn, along with one to two year-round clients who stay and train with her.
SHIFTING PLANS
Hope’s shifting plans are certainly exciting ones — not only has she recently become engaged, but she is also expecting her first child in August.
“I’m incredibly lucky to have such an amazing man in my life,” says Hope of her fiancé Nick Basore. “Having a fiancé who is so supportive makes everything even more special. This whole season, if he didn’t have to work, he was on the sidelines cheering me on and backing me every step of the way. It’s not always easy for a non-horse person to fully understand this world, so I really appreciate how much he supports my career.
“And yes — we’re having a boy! I’m currently 19 weeks pregnant and it’s honestly been a really smooth pregnancy so far. I’m due at the end of August, which is why the World Young Horse Championships might be off the cards this year… unless I happen to go six weeks early like my mum did with me!” laughs Hope, adding there are no imminent plans to buy a pony unless the nagging begins in a few years’ time.
“Although plans have shifted slightly, I still absolutely want to qualify [World Young Horse Championships] because you just never know what can happen,” grins Hope.
“Secretly, I’m hoping I might be able to make it work this year — but if not, that’s completely okay. Diva is such a special horse, and I’m in no rush. I’ll continue developing her the right way and aim again as a six-year-old, which I think could suit her even better.”
Hope believes Dynamic Diva will be a strong candidate for the 2027 FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses. Image by Emma Claire Photography.
Hope believes that by 2027 she may have two strong candidates for the Championships.
“Dynamic Deal is also a horse who could be a contender for the World Young Horse Championships, so there’s a real possibility I could have both a five- and a six-year-old there next year, which would be pretty amazing.”
PROUD OF VIANNE
While it was hard to see Vianne sold, Hope remains involved with the mare via Kate Shoemaker.
“I stayed in touch with Kate after she purchased her, especially as she was working towards qualifying for Paris. I did a few online lessons with her and helped guide her a bit with how I had ridden and developed Vianne leading into that period.
“When I left New Jersey and moved down to Florida, Vianne had just arrived back in the U.S., so Kate and I reconnected and went out for dinner. I had just decided to go independent and mentioned I was looking for a base, and she told me she was in the process of building her facility. From there, everything just naturally fell into place.
“Since then, we’ve become really close, and I genuinely love working alongside her and being part of her program. It’s actually a really special full-circle moment for me, and I feel incredibly lucky to have Vianne back in my life and to see her every day again.”
Kate and Vianne had a very successful Paris Paralympic campaign, securing a bronze medal in the Grade IV Freestyle. More recently, Vianne partnered with another US Paralympian, Fiona Howard, to achieve world record scores across all three Grade II tests.
“It’s incredibly rewarding,” says Hope of watching Vianne’s success. “Vianne was always a special horse from the moment she was three [Hope started her under saddle and trained her through the levels]. It makes me so happy to see her doing so well.
“Watching her success with Kate at the Paralympics and now continuing to achieve world record scores with another para rider makes me so proud. It honestly just makes me happy to see her thriving and doing what she does best.”
Hope riding Vianne at the 2023 FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses. Image by LL Foto.
“Long term, my hopes for
Dynamic Diva are big…”
BUILDING TOWARDS BRISBANE
“Long term, my hopes for Dynamic Diva are big,” says Hope of her up-and-coming star. “She’s a horse I truly believe in, and I want to produce her all the way through the levels. The ultimate dream is to develop her into a top Grand Prix horse and, hopefully, a championship horse for Australia.
“The dream with Dynamic Diva is Brisbane 2032 — it would mean everything to do it on a horse I’ve produced from a young age, one that’s truly mine, with all of the training and journey behind us.” EQ
Related articles
After nearly six years working under Catherine Haddad Staller and with NorCordia, Australian dressage rider Hope Beerling is embracing the next chapter in her career and going independent – with LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 on the radar.
Moving to New Jersey in 2019 to work for Catherine Haddad Staller, Hope Beerling broke in a young grey mare that she has brought along to now be a chance for a start at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses.