aids

Training in the Right Way: Don’t Perpetuate Your Training Problems by Repeating Your Training Problems…

November 30, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth 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 repetitionComments Off

…or, in other words, sometimes you have to stop participating in the problem to eliminate the problem. (more…)

Training in the Right Way: Using the Lower Leg

November 18, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth 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 ridingComments Off

You can do so much more than simply “kick to go”… (more…)

Training in the Right Way: Your Horse’s ‘Bad Days’ May Be a Training Opportunity

November 3, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, aids, cesar parra, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, Half halt, Strength ridingComments Off

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…)

Training in the Right Way: Skill Not Strength

October 19, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth 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 ridingComments Off

“Excellent riding is based on technique, not wrestling a 1200 lb animal into submission.”
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Training in the Right Way: The Process vs. The Practitioner

October 5, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth 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 haltComments Off

“Dressage training is a systematic process that anyone can learn, however, the quality of the training is in the practitioner.” (more…)

Training in the Right Way: Repetition in Training

September 22, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth 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 bustersComments Off

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…)

Training in the Right Way: Mythbusters Edition

September 7, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth 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 bustersComments Off

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.
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Training in the Right Way: Let’s Discuss Self-Carriage

August 25, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth 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 haltComments Off

Or, why it isn’t always “bad” that your horse anticipates.
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Training in the Right Way: Looking for Effectiveness

August 11, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth 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 haltComments Off

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…)

Training in the Right Way: The Good Side vs the Bad Side

July 15, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth 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 haltComments Off

Here’s a hint: There isn’t one. At least not in the way you think. (more…)

Training in the Right Way: Let’s Talk About Spurs…

June 30, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson, Morgane Schmidt#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #READER SUBMISSION, aids, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, Half halt, spursComments Off

And their purpose and how to use them correctly (rather than like a jerk).
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Training in the Right Way: Why We Don’t Pull in Dressage

June 15, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson, Morgane Schmidt#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #READER SUBMISSION, aids, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, Half haltComments Off

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…)

Training in the Right Way: What Is an Aid?

June 2, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, aids, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, Half haltComments Off

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…)