Growing up in Charlotte, N.C., and immersed in the Saddlebred world, Jody Swimmer never even contemplated dressage.

But after a self-described midlife crisis in which she changed careers and went back to school, Swimmer took up dressage, and couldn’t give up the breed that was so special to her.

Now she and New York City Slicker, a Saddlebred she’s brought up from the beginning, are conquering the Fédération Equestre International levels and knocking on the door to Grand Prix.

“You HAVE to ride Jimmie Echo—you will love him!”

This was a line I heard over and over again from my best friend, Michelle Craig. She galloped Jimmie Echo for a steeplechase trainer in Middleburg, Va., and he was always her favorite ride of the day. I heard non-stop how awesome this horse was, what a professional he was, how easy he was to gallop… the list goes on and on.

There are lots of sayings about green horses and green riders. My favorite, because of its sheer simplicity, is “green plus green equals black and blue.”

Without a doubt, I am a green rider. I grew up riding western, and, after a very long break, bought an english saddle and took up jumping about two years ago. Shortly thereafter, I purchased a green horse.

If I could go back in time, what would I tell myself? Based on my goals, laid out succinctly in my author bio below, I would say: Run. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

It's been about a couple of weeks since the Amateurs Like Us profile article on me hit the Chronicle’s website. I never thought I would be sitting here, writing/blogging or pondering about myself and Finn.

Looking back on the year Eileen O’Leary had aboard Bahama Boy in 2016, it would be easy to focus on the ribbons. The pair took blue ribbons at the CFHJA May (Fla.), the Venice Hunter/Jumper Spring Concours (Fla.), and Ocala Masters (Fla.). Their crowning achievement, though, came as champions in the adult amateur individual division at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Children's/Adult Amateur Jumper Championships in Culpeper, Va., this past summer. They were the only pair to jump four double clear rounds.