#Dressage Training

The Idea of Order: Telling Lies…

July 24, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage as OCD, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #THE IDEA OF ORDERComments Off

Mostly to ourselves, which makes it ok. Probably.

The Idea of Order: ‘Sensible’ Vehicles…

July 17, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #IDEA OF ORDER, sensible vehicleComments Off

Let’s talk semantics…

Training in the Right Way: Why the U.S. Should be Training Our Own Olympic Horses

July 14, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, classical dressage, competition dressage, DRESSAGE, olympics 2024Comments Off

The United States has come to rely on European bred and trained horses in order to field our international dressage teams, and this is problematic. Let’s talk about why.
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Let’s Talk About “Plus-Sized” Riders — And Also, Something Called Grace

July 12, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt#Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #USDF, #USEF, plus size riderComments Off

Someone left me to my own devices to troll social media unattended. I’m sorry.

The Idea of Order: Shopping for Yourself vs Shopping for Your Horse

July 10, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #THE IDEA OF ORDER, #USDFComments Off

Decisions were made.

The Idea of Order: Waiving Jackets…

July 3, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#APHA Dressage, #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #THE IDEA OF ORDER, #USDF, #USDFRegionalsComments Off

A great idea in theory…

Training in the Right Way: Using the Dressage Arena To Maximize Your Training

July 1, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #dressage letters, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #HORSE TRAINING, #horsetrainer, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

Have you ever considered why the standard dressage arena is the very specific size and shape that it is? Spoiler alert: It does serve a purpose.
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The Idea of Order: Good Fences Make…

June 19, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #THE IDEA OF ORDER, electric fenceComments Off

Excellent chew toys.

Training in the Right Way: Knowing When It’s Time To Stop

June 17, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #HORSE TRAINING, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

When training, how do you know when it’s too little, or too much, or enough? It’s important to differentiate between doing too much and doing too little, as well as considering how each end of the spectrum can appear in — and affect the — training.
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Training in the Right Way: The Process vs The End Goal

June 4, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #HORSE TRAINING, #horsetraining, #Training in the right way, #Training Scale, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

This week’s article discusses the significant difference between the end goal and the process of getting there. Although they obviously are inextricably linked, it’s important to understand that they often look very different.
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The Idea of Order: Weekly Disaster Wheel

May 29, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#Dressage Training, #HORSE TRAINING, #Mystery Lameness, #THE IDEA OF ORDER, disaster, wheel of doomComments Off

I guess some horses spin this daily…

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Training in the Right Way: What to Look for in a Dressage Horse, Part 4 — Exercises for the Imperfect Horse

May 20, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

This final installment of the four-part series on choosing a dressage horse takes a closer look at how specific dressage exercises can be used to improve the ride-ability of a less-than-perfect horse.
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Training in the Right Way: What to Look for in a Dressage Horse, Part 3 — Movement

May 6, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

Today’s article takes a closer look at movement. In order to choose a horse for dressage, or evaluate the one you have, you need to understand what the base-line requirements for movement are, be able to visualize them, and understand why they are necessary.
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Training in the Right Way: What to Look for in a Dressage Horse, Part 2

April 21, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#CONFORMATION, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #HORSE TRAINING, #Training in the right way, #Training Scale, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

This is the second of a three-part series that explores what to look for when selecting a dressage horse. Today’s article focuses on the conformation that lends itself to a successful dressage horse.
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Training in the Right Way: What to Look for in a Dressage Horse, Part 1

April 8, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#CONFORMATION, #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #horsetraining, #Training in the right way, #Training Scale, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

This is the first of a three-part series that explores what to look for when selecting a dressage horse. Today’s article focuses on the three parts needed for a successful dressage horse: temperament, conformation, and movement. (more…)

The Idea of Order: The Full Body Shake…

April 3, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#APHA Dressage, #Dressage Training, #THE IDEA OF ORDER, DRESSAGEComments Off

Just another way horses keep us on our toes (or, potentially, on the ground).

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Training in the Right Way: Different TYPES of Equestrian Professionals

March 24, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #OLYMPICS, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

This week’s article discusses different types of equestrian dressage professionals and what they may be able to offer depending on their expertise and educational background. (more…)

Training in the Right Way: Let’s Talk about the Correct (and Incorrect) use of Equipment

March 10, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson, Uncategorized#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

The focus of this week’s article is to shed some light on some commonly used — and almost as commonly misused — pieces of equipment found in training and discuss what their original purpose is.

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Training in the Right Way: The Components of an Effective Warmup

February 25, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Training, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

This week’s article discusses the purpose and parts of an effective warmup routine as well as some of the variations necessary for each horse.

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Training in the Right Way: Let’s Talk About Balance

February 12, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

“[C]ollection creates better balance while performing harder tasks, which then also creates greater cooperation from the horse due to having the ability to stay balanced while performing these tasks.”

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The Idea of Order: What Happens in the Trailer…

February 7, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #THE IDEA OF ORDER, #Training in the right wayComments Off

Absolutely does not stay in the trailer. In fact, it is often shared loudly across the show grounds.

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Training in the Right Way: 12 Dressage Exercises and Their Training Purposes

January 29, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #FEI, #SHOWING, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

“What almost everyone has forgotten, or may have never learned, is that dressage is a training system, based on the European cultures and horse types of antiquity, and it was created over centuries to develop horses for war and for ceremonial purposes.”

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Training in the Right Way: Road to the Grand Prix — Milestones for Age and Level

January 15, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, dressage levelsComments Off

A student asked for a timeline for the development of the Grand Prix horse. While there are all sorts of variations and time elements that may get in the way, there is a generally accepted, age-based expectation of the horse’s development.

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Training in the Right Way: Habits

December 31, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson, Uncategorized#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

Since this is the season of New Year’s resolutions, it seems to be a good time to talk about habits and changing them, since the ability to do so is directly related to your ability to progress as a rider.

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‘Classical’ Dressage Armchair Quarterbacks, Please Sit Down: An Op-Ed

December 21, 2023Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt#Classical, #Dressage Training, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEF, competition dressage, DRESSAGE, Op-edComments Off

Today’s musings are largely just an op-ed brought on by some of the comments on the recent article by Gwyneth McPherson regarding Classical vs Competition Dressage.

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