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Faith Duplinsky is a native of Portland, Maine. As a child she was always an animal-lover and after trail riding in England with her family, she never stopped asking her parents to have a horse of her own! At age seven, her mother finally let her choose between violin and horseback riding lessons. She chose horses. Until age 18, she rode at Vienna Farm in Gorham, Maine training with Tanya Rennie and Amy Libby. She got a good basic education about specifically, but not limited to, dressage. While attending the University of Maine for the past three years, she continued riding at Puckerbrush Farm in Newburgh, Maine where she trains with Bryn Walsh.
Faith has spent most of her life working at barns, in charge of general horse and barn care responsibilities. She has also taught riding lessons and been a summer camp counselor for horse camps for the past two summers. She has trained and worked with many horses and ponies throughout her riding career, as well as shown Dressage throughout New England from Introductory level to Prix St. George.
By age fourteen, she had already taken her first horse to the win a gold medal at the Northeast Junior/Young Rider Championships at Training Level. At age 16, she finally got a horse of her own. Now, a 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood Gelding Maradona and Faith continue to compete at nationally ranked dressage competitions. They have competed from Training level to Prix St. George over the past six years. Last year they qualified regionally for Third and Fourth Level Region 8 Championships. Faith and Maradona were the 2010 Region 8 Junior/Young Rider Fourth Level Champions. This year they hope to show at Prix St. George and the FEI Young Rider level.
Though finding accomplishment in competition is very important to Faith, what she has learned through basic everyday work with horses is what she truly loves. Patience is key! The relationship a person builds with a horse is not measured in ribbons, it is measured in the love one finds while working with a horse and building their trust. Faith recognizes the importance of having fun too. Training and learning new things as a team is exciting! It should also be as simple and uncomplicated as possible. With patience and hard work, anything can be accomplished!
Faith is finishing her last year of college, where she is focusing on English and Biology. While not at school, most of her time is spent at the barn. She has taught a variety of different students, from children, teenagers, and adult amateurs, at all levels from beginner to more advanced in dressage and as well as low-level jumping. Faith is very excited to share her experience with her students to help anyone develop their riding skills and become more knowledgeable while working with horses in a positive upbeat way.
10/21/11 We would like to congratulate Faith and her horse Maradona on their success at their last show of the season at Mystic Valley Hunt Club's Fall Dressage Show. The pair competed at Prix St. Georges recieving their final score for their USDF Silver Medal, as well as placing 3rd with a 61.84% in the Prix St. Georges stakes class on Saturday and placing 2nd with a 66.97% in the FEI Test of Choice on Sunday. It was a great way to end their show season this year! We are very proud of her accomplishments!
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We would like to congratulate Faith on her success so far this year in competition! This weekend her and her horse Maradona traveled to GMHA's June Dressage Show in Woodstock, Vermont to compete Friday through Sunday at the FEI level. On Friday and Saturday Faith won both of her Prix St. George Classes as well as "Reserve High Point Champion of the Day" for Jr/Young Riders at FEI. On Sunday, Faith won her Young Rider Individual Test and was the "Highpoint Champion of the Day" for Jr/Young Riders at FEI. This is a great accomplishment and we are very proud! Keep up the good work Faith!
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