Ilse Schwarz is a competitor in international-level dressage in Wellington, Florida.

Riding as an Australian, she has competed horses at Prix St. Georges through Grand Prix, including winning with her own Berlin the Intermediaire II Championship at the 121st National Horse Show in 2003.
Ilse is currently preparing three horses for FEI levels of dressage:

Daylight (1999 Daydream-Grannus) Oldenburg gelding, acquired in 2003, schooling Prix St. Georges/Intermediaire I;

Cadenza (2000 Contango-Swashbuckler xx) Oldenburg gelding, schooling U.S. national 3rd level, and

Sauvignon (2002 Sandro Hit-De Niro) Oldenburg mare acquired in 2005 and recently ridden under saddle.
Ilse was born in the Australian city of Armidale, north of Sydney, in 1969. As a teenager she competed in eventing, but began to seriously pursue riding dressage when she was 18. She represented the New England region in equestian events, qualifying for NSW dressage championships in 1993 and 1994, including being successful at the Australian Young Rider championships in 1994. At the same time, she studied the violin, piano and flute, performing with many orchestras including an appearance at the Sydney Opera House.

Horses and music enabled her to give lessons in dressage, piano and violin to pay her way through the University of New England in her hometown. Ms. Schwarz attained a science degree from the University of New England in 1990.
At the age of 24, she was awarded a Ph. D. for her studies of the properties of synovial fluid that she conducted at the University of New England and Sydney University Veterinary Department.

Ilse first traveled to the United States in 1996 during a year-long endeavor concentrating on developing her dressage riding and training skills. While there, she met and ;ater married an American and moved to Wellington, Florida, home of the world renowned Winter Equestrian Festival, fulltime in 1998.
She launched her own training and horse sales business in 2000. Her success in her equestrian business has won her support from several corporate sponsors. In addition to training, competing and selling horses she provides occasional photojournalism reports of some of the world's major equestrian events, including the 2006 World Equestrian Games, for HorseSport USA.

Ilse Schwarz is a frequent traveler to Germany to look for talented horses, especially youngsters, suitable for professionals and amateurs.