#Dressage Training

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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Training in the Right Way: Classical vs Competition Dressage

December 17, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Training, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEF, classical dressage, competition dressageComments Off

This week’s article begins to look at the differences, and very important similarities, between classical and competition dressage. As with most things, the important truths tend to lie somewhere in the middle.

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Training in the Right Way: Evaluating Canter Photos

December 3, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #HORSE TRAINING, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

This week’s article continues the discussion on what you can see in a still photo, specifically evaluating canter photos.

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Training in the Right Way: Dressage Terminology and Why it is Important

November 6, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Training, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEF, correct training, dressage terminologyComments Off

This week’s article discusses dressage terminology and why it is an integral part of learning and training in the right way.

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Training in the Right Way: Finding a Knowledgeable Teacher

October 23, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEF, DRESSAGEComments Off

This week’s article was born of the recent discussion regarding the education problem in our sport and looks at the importance of, and ways to, begin to assess potential dressage teachers.

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Letter to the Editor: Michael Poulin Weighs in on Recent Gwyneth McPherson Article

September 27, 2023DeAnn SloanLetter to the Editor#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Training, #FEI, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEF, Letter to the EditorComments Off

Olympian and International Dressage Judge Michael Poulin Weighs in on Gwyneth McPherson’s recent article discussing some of the darker issues within the dressage community. (more…)

Training in the Right Way: Talent vs. Training — What’s Happening to Dressage in the US?

September 24, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Training, #In the right way, #Training Scale, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

It was my intention to discuss how the training scale relates to Second through Fourth Level in this installment, but I think it’s important to broach a broader topic about the direction of Dressage in the United States. (more…)

Training in the Right Way: The Training Scale as Seen Through the USEF Levels – Part I

September 10, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson, Uncategorized#Dressage Training, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off

This week’s article takes the importance of the training scale and looks at how the training scale aligns with, and is woven throughout, the competitive levels, as designated by USEF. Part I will focus specifically on training and first level.

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Training in the Right Way: The Training Scale, Part II

August 28, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Classical, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Training in the right way, #Training ScaleComments Off

The last article discussed the importance of the three base layers of the training scale. This article builds on that, focusing on the top three layers — which do not stand alone or separate from the lower half and cannot exist without or disconnected from them.

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Training in the Right Way: How Can You Tell When the Training Is Being Done Effectively?

July 31, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Training, #In the right wayComments Off

“In the right way is intentionally separate from the meaning of more concrete words like talented, perfect, and correct as it denotes that good training is completely separate from natural talent, that perfection is, in fact, unattainable…”

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Training in the Right Way: What is Dressage and Why Do We Do it?

July 17, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #Riding in the right wayComments Off

“Whenever you see a rider and horse in harmony and balance, performing their jobs fluidly and enthusiastically, you are witnessing the product of horse training and riding in the right way. No matter what, that is a product of what dressage was initially meant to be.” (more…)