June 18, 2023 
Jennifer Williams (CAN) and nine-year-old gelding Joppe K save their energy for where it counts. On Saturday, it was the CDI3* at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC.
The pair skyrocketed to the top of the class with a personal best score of 70.638 for the second day in a row at the Touch of Class CDI, and it wasn’t necessarily the hours spent hitting the sand that set them above the rest. Williams abides by a four-day workweek as opposed to the conventionally accepted six-day workweek, and she ensures they leave the ring with a pep (or extra suspension) in their step.
Simply put, Joppe has time to be a horse first and dressage star second.
“I work them four days a week. Like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday off, Thursday, Friday and weekends off. For me, it’s about keeping their bodies and their minds happy,” Williams explained.
“I also don’t really ever ride much longer than 30 minutes. That’s just something I have always done with all of my horses. I try to keep it short and to the point.”
The system is unique, but also not a novel idea. It’s one touted by one of the best dressage riders of our day, three-time Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin (GBR).
“I picked it up at one of Charlotte Dujardin’s clinics here in Langley, actually. She talks a lot about how they would do two days in the arena and one in the woods. For instance, you might not have Wednesday fully off. That might be a trail riding day,” said Williams.
“I always believed that we didn’t need to work them harder. We just needed to be smart about how we progressed them. My big thing is I love when they love to work, and I feel that I can teach them things fairly quickly. It’s quality over quantity.”
Joppe’s off time at William’s Summervale Stable in Washington is enriching in and of itself. Williams has her horses on 24/7 turnout, so he has plenty of time to explore, graze and be social.
“I try to keep it fresh and fun. I don’t like to drill, it’s not fun for anybody,” said Williams.
Don’t take that to mean Williams and Joppe spend their days kicking back and taking it easy. Their goals are as ambitious as any top dressage athlete. Owned by the Joppe Partners, a group that includes Bob and Tina Desroche, Lisa Norling and Williams, Joppe is peeking down the path to the Pan American Games and perhaps Paris 2024.
“He’s a horse that I really believe in for the future. So whether he is ready this year or not, we’re just going to keep doing our thing and keep him confident, happy and healthy,” said Williams.
“If something works out where he would be considered [for the team] that would be amazing. But we are just going to keep developing and getting stronger.”
All signs point to Williams and Joppe being on the right on track to turn their dressage dreams into reality.
“He was super today, I’m so grateful and so proud of his effort,” said Williams.
