Remembering Bettina Drummond, 1963-2025
I’m visiting Portugal, and we’re in Lisbon at the moment, which is the birthplace of the incredible classical dressage master Nuño Oliviera. It is somehow fitting, though no less sad, to be here while learning of the passing of his protégée, Bettina Drummond.
One of the most memorable events in a memorable 2017 tour of Florida was getting to meet Bettina Drummond, and watching her team up with Colonel Patrick Teisserenc of Samur for a two-day presentation at Mary Ann McPhail’s dressage facility outside Wellington. They combined their considerable talents to teach and demonstrate the profound influence the rider’s seat has on the carriage and balance of the horse. I found the workshop fascinating, and carried away an impression of a consummate horsewoman.
A few weeks later, I had the pleasure of a more personal experience and the beginning of a friendship with Bettina when Hilary Clayton introduced us, and Bettina agreed to test ride in our new EQ Saddle Science flapless saddle. I was in Florida for a soft launch of the saddle while waiting for our patent applications to be approved before the public launch. Essentially, I was taking the saddle around to friends, and to friends of friends. It was a heady year that saw me saddling horses for Ali Brock, JJ Tate, and Olivia LaGoy Weltz. But Bettina stood apart, even in this extremely august company.
On the appointed day, Bettina introduced me to Mary Ann’s recently-imported Lusitano stallion, Black Pearl. After more than 15 years of fitting, this was the first time I saddled a PRE stallion, and I learned an important lesson that day.
We put the saddle on, and Bettina rode for just a few minutes, then stopped and gave me quite specific feedback about what sort of support she required for her seatbones, and what kind of access she wanted to the horse’s long back muscles. It was a pleasure to address her detailed requests, and after I’d adjusted the saddle for her, she got back on. She was extremely pleased with the horse’s freedom through the shoulders, and his sensitivity to the smallest and lightest aid. The walk was ground covering. The trot was especially brilliant; little did I know at the time that the horse was perceiving and reacting to the increased connection of the flapless design, and that the input and stimuli from the closeness of Bettina’s seat was almost too much for him. This became clear when she stepped into canter. Black Pearl’s eyes widened, his pace increased, and for a brief moment, I feared that the horse would explode. Bettina’s skills were apparent as she quietly settled the horse, but for a few very tense moments, my professional life flashed before my eyes.
Later, Bettina would become my friend, and an advocate for EQ science saddles. I was thrilled when she wrote to me with these words: “This saddle gives a great and close feeling which provides the boost riders need to progress the horse in their training; I ride in it very comfortably.”
Bettina had an insouciance, a firm determination, and an unexpected twinkle. She had a ferocity that could turn on swiftly, and a gentleness that could make as sudden an appearance. Something about her reminded me of Beryl Markham, who was a pioneering pilot (and, I'm sure, the only woman), flying in the African bush in the 1920s. When I made Bettina a gift of Markham’s memoir, “West with the Night”, she thanked me…and told me that she had already read it. Of course she had.
One evening, Bettina invited a few of us to watch her ride her famous partner Que Macho. At the time, he was 25 years old. The joy in their harmony and connection is marvelous…enjoy!
Our world is a bit dimmer without Bettina’s bright and wholly unique light. May she rest in peace.
Carmi Weininger
Lisbon, Portugal - April 2, 2025
P.S. what I learned that day in 2017: Lusitanos in general and stallions in particular have a more emotional reaction to stimulation than warmbloods. They simply need a slower introduction to our saddle to avoid sensory overload. Since 2017, I’ve saddled hundreds of Iberian horses, and there have been two more with reactions similar to Black Pearl’s. In both cases, because I knew what to look for, we did a slow introduction with great results (one of them, Barao Hi, went to compete at the Grand Prix level in his EQ Flapless Saddle.