Dressage is supposed to be a systematic approach to creating partnership and understanding between two species. Horses have very little choice in how and whether they get to participate in our activities. We owe it to them to be kind, circumspect, and educated in our training. (more…)
In my experience, most riders think of these days as bad or a day that was lost in the training process, but the reality is that these are often the days when the largest training gains can be made. (more…)
Although training a horse always involves repetition, it has to be done in the right way at the right time for it to actually further the training. (more…)
In riding and training, there are some commonly held beliefs that while they may seem plausible, are actually incorrect. In this week’s article, I thought I’d tackle a few of the most common ones I routinely encounter. (more…)
We’ve discussed this before, but given recent events in the dressage world, I think revisiting what effective training looks like is a timely exercise. (more…)
This week I’m tackling another reader submitted question, this one focusing on why we pulling on the reins is such an egregious sin in dressage. Spoiler Alert: It kind of is. (more…)
Aids are meant to tell the horse what to do. They are not meant to MAKE the horse do it. Let’s discuss why this seemingly subtle difference is key to effective training. (more…)
Instead of taking or giving all the blame, riders should understand that the results of their aids, good or bad, are always the rider’s responsibility (but not necessarily their “fault”). This focus on responsibility is key. Let’s discuss why. (more…)
This week I thought I’d try something a little different and tackle some reader/rider submitted training questions. This first one focuses on the ‘lazy’ (but not really) horse. (more…)
“The half halt is a beautiful, effortless way to ask your horse…” The half halt is many things, and entirely critical to good, effective riding. But it is generally invisible when done well and rarely is it “effortless.” Let’s discuss. (more…)
Or, rather, why fancy gaits in and of themselves were not the original point of dressage competition (here’s a hint: it was supposed to be about that whole training thing…) (more…)
There are three movements most riders aren’t aware of that cannot be judged on talent as their proper execution is the result of correct training alone. These are exercises that riders should pay extra attention to as they are not only a gauge of the quality of your training, but also because they can be honed so that even less talented horses can received exemplary scores on them. (more…)
