…Or why you may not need the trendy, majikal bit to achieve your riding goals. Let’s discuss why your bit might actually be hindering your training.
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Once again, we’re approaching the start of USDF Championships, followed by the show season really starting up here in Florida. To get ahead of it, I want to revisit this article discussing some of the things to consider when developing your plan for competition.
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August 3, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: “My Horse Hates Dressage.”
He doesn’t. I promise. Story time.
July 19, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: The Need for the Trained Lesson Horse
Let’s talk about why learning to ride on a horse that’s actually trained correctly is a vital part of a rider’s education (Hint: The aids don’t work if they don’t exist…).
We talk a lot about collection in dressage, but we often fail to discuss WHY it’s so important. The reason collection is so key is that it has to do with BALANCE.
June 15, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Training as Explaining, Not Correcting
The process of training a horse to do (or not to do) something is the process of explaining to the horse what you actually want him to do. Unfortunately this isn’t always as straightforward or as quick as you might like.
June 1, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , t #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: In Order to Be a Good Trainer, You Must Change Parts of Who You Are
We often think of training as mostly about riding well and having a solid knowledge base (both of which ARE huge), but there are psychological components involved as well (some more obvious than others).Â
May 18, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson , Morgane Schmidt #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Tack vs. Training Problems
It’s never the tack, it is always the training. Except sometimes, when it is the tack.  Sounds fun, huh? Let’s discuss. Â
May 4, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Learning to Ride Well Takes Time…
And a process. How much time? Longer than you think and with more oversight than you’ve probably been lucky enough to have. Let’s discuss.
April 20, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Is Your Dressage Teacher Knowledgeable?
This week’s article revisits an earlier topic that continues to be problematic for riders: How and where to begin to assess potential dressage teachers.
April 5, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Equitation vs Training
Let’s look at why simply “riding better” doesn’t result in a trained horse. (more…)
March 22, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Unpopular Opinion — You Shouldn’t Ride Horses You’re Scared Of
When a capable rider is actually afraid while riding a horse, it is usually because the horse is not improving with the capable rider’s skills and techniques, and/or is increasingly unpredictable. The rider needs to listen to that fear and give themselves permission not to ride the horse. (more…)
March 9, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Good side vs Bad side , Half halt Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: It’s all About the Process
While having goals is important, more important is remembering that reaching them is entirely dependent on your process. It does you no good to get wrapped up in the end goal first without recognizing the path needed. (more…)
February 23, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , dressage reading list , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , lower leg , Strength riding Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Dressage Reading List
Often, students ask me for a reading list and I am always overwhelmed with trying to choose my favorites. In this article, I am going to try to finally do that. Â (more…)
February 8, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , lower leg , Strength riding , test riding Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Dressage Terminology Refresher
This week’s article revisits an earlier discussion on dressage terminology and why it’s important to understand within your training framework. (more…)
January 26, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , lower leg , Strength riding , test riding , training is repetition Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Test Riding Before a Competition
Yes, show season is upon us. And, also yes, you should indeed be practicing your test in its entirety BEFORE you compete. Here’s why. (more…)
January 12, 2026 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , lower leg , Strength riding , training is repetition Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Set Yourself Up for Success Wintering in Florida
It’s the time of year when riders participate in a mass exodus from the northern states in favor of riding somewhere that *DOESN’T* make their faces hurt (or their horses attempt to yeet them). Here are some of the things you need to think about if you intend to move horses south for training and competing this winter. (more…)
December 28, 2025 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , lower leg , Strength riding , training is repetition Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Habits and Sports Psychology
Because your internal environment is as important to your growth as a rider as your development of your exterior athletic abilities. (more…)
December 16, 2025 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , lower leg , Strength riding , training is repetition Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Dressage Training Nuggets
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…)
November 30, 2025 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , lower leg , Strength riding , training is repetition Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Don’t Perpetuate Your Training Problems by Repeating Your Training Problems…
…or, in other words, sometimes you have to stop participating in the problem to eliminate the problem. (more…)
November 18, 2025 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , lower leg , Strength riding Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Using the Lower Leg
You can do so much more than simply “kick to go”… (more…)
November 3, 2025 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , Strength riding Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Your Horse’s ‘Bad Days’ May Be a Training Opportunity
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…)
October 19, 2025 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson , Morgane Schmidt #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Half halt , Strength riding Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Skill Not Strength
“Excellent riding is based on technique, not wrestling a 1200 lb animal into submission.”(more…)
October 5, 2025 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , cesar parra , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Good side vs Bad side , Half halt Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: The Process vs. The Practitioner
“Dressage training is a systematic process that anyone can learn, however, the quality of the training is in the practitioner.” (more…)
September 22, 2025 Gwyneth McPherson Gwyneth McPherson #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS , #Dressage Showing , #Dressage Training , #Forward Thinking Dressage , #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage , aids , classical dressage , competition dressage , dressage levels , Dressage4Kids , Good side vs Bad side , Half halt , myth busters Comments Off on Training in the Right Way: Repetition in Training
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…)
