Nicole DelGiorno, '14

Nicole DelGiorno, '14

July 5, 2013
Rising senior Nicole DelGiorno has turned her interest and skill in dressage into a plan for her future

Dressage is an Olympic-level sport that likely draws a smaller crowd of TV spectators. As Nicole DelGiorno said, “the competitions are usually aired between four and five a.m. so not many people tune in to watch.” An avid equestrian for the past 14 years, DelGiorno is sure to be one of those watching.

Made world famous in its classical form by the white Lipizzaner stallions of Austria, the United States Equestrian Federation describes dressage as “teaching a horse to be obedient, willing, supple and responsive. The object of dressage is the harmonious development of the horse in both mind and body, and every horse, regardless of its type or use, can benefit from this training.”

DelGiorno came to the University of Richmond looking forward to exploring her options as she was unsure what she would study. “It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do before coming to the Robins School of Business,” DelGiorno said. “At first I was interested in politics, then leadership, but when I started to think more about what I wanted in an internship, study abroad opportunity and future career, I found that a business major was the best option for me.”

DelGiorno isn’t sure how she realized her passion for training horses, but once she received her first pony from her grandfather she jumped headfirst into the sport. While she has been focusing on her education for the past few years, DelGiorno remains an active member of the dressage community. She has competed across the United States and won gold medals in two events at the North American Junior/Young Rider Championships in 2009 and was ranked in the top 10 in the country as a Young Rider in 2010 and 2011.

During her junior year at Richmond, DelGiorno studied abroad in Spain where she came to realize her dream of returning to Europe to continue training and the benefit of studying international business. “Dressage involves a lot of international elements because some of the best sport horses are bred in Europe, so being knowledgeable about conducting business overseas is essential. While in Spain I completed an international internship at one of the premiere breeding farms for the Spanish horse where I was able to assist in translating and working with clients in North America. It was one of the most valuable experiences I have had.”

“Dressage is as much a sport as it is a business. To truly be successful you must know how to operate a barn with multiple expensive and valuable animals and ensure your clients are satisfied. A lot of what I have learned at the Robins School is applied in my sport all the time,” DelGiorno said.

After graduation DelGiorno hopes to remain in the U.S. and focus on training full-time with an established trainer before eventually returning to Europe. “There is a really strong apprenticeship network in the industry so while I know I will have to work really hard for a few years, I will learn a lot and it will pay off greatly in the future,” she said.