Jessica Jo “JJ” Tate took her first dressage lesson at the age of nine, and quickly moved up through the ranks. Training under the tutelage of USDF Hall of Famer Charles De Kunffy, JJ made her first FEI debut at the young age of 16. At 18, she moved to Europe to refine her skills and train with a variety of names. In 1999, JJ returned to the United States where she was named the nation’s top young rider at Grand Prix in addition to helping her North American Young Rider team to a silver medal. Over the years, JJ has continued to train under the most celebrated names in dressage, including Steffen Peters, Klaus Blakenhol, Hubertus Schmidt, Conrad Schumacher and many more.

To date, JJ has trained and competed numerous horses at FEI levels, eight of which competed at the Grand Prix level, as well. Some of her most notable accomplishments include winning the Grand Prix Special in 2006 with her mount, Cambay, at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, which earned them the FEI High Point Champion. Partnered with Cambay, JJ was also a World Cup reserve finalist, longlisted for the World Equestrian Games and top finishers at the Grand Prix level at Dressage at Devon. In 2007, JJ was chosen to represent the United States at the World Breeding Championship for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, Germany with her partner, Donnermuth. They finished as the highest-ranking American pair and placed seventh in the Small Final. When JJ is not competing, she is a highly sought-after clinician and trainer, also managing Team Tate Dressage based out of Landrum, South Carolina and Wellington, Florida.