Half halt

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…)

The Idea of Order: Fall Is Just Around the Corner…

October 1, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, fall approaches, Half halt, The Idea of OrderComments Off

Now whether that’s the season or your fate may very well depend on your decorative choices.

The Idea of Order: High Fashion…

September 24, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, Half halt, high fashion, The Idea of OrderComments Off

Pretty much synonymous with equestrian (at least the expensive part, anyway).

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…)

The Idea of Order: Why We Can’t Have Nice Things…

September 17, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, Half halt, teachable moments, The Idea of OrderComments Off

As if we didn’t already know…

The Idea of Order: “Teachable Moments”…

September 10, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, Half halt, teachable moments, The Idea of OrderComments Off

Sometimes we are the teacher, other times the student.

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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The Idea of Order: This Reeks of Deception

September 3, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, Half halt, reeks of deception, The Idea of OrderComments Off

And horses are brilliant at sussing that out.

The Idea of Order: The Merits of Good Groundwork…

August 27, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, diet time, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, going to the barn in the summer, Half halt, The Idea of OrderComments Off

#1. You lower your odds of being yeeted into the sun.

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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The Idea of Order: The Mare Stare, Take 2

August 20, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, diet time, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, going to the barn in the summer, Half halt, mare stare 2, reasoning, texts your trainer loves, The Idea of OrderComments Off

Because rejection at a distance is a life skill.

The Idea of Order: What’s in Your purse?

August 13, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, diet time, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, going to the barn in the summer, Half halt, reasoning, texts your trainer loves, The Idea of OrderComments Off

Because we know it isn’t wads of money.

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…)

The Idea of Order: Brought to You by the Letter ‘A’

August 6, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, diet time, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, going to the barn in the summer, Half halt, reasoning, texts your trainer loves, The Idea of OrderComments Off

Because surely that spook had a logical cause…

The Idea of Order: Summer Reading List

July 30, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, diet time, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, going to the barn in the summer, Half halt, reasoning, texts your trainer loves, The Idea of OrderComments Off

Or writing list…

The Idea of Order: Dressage PSA…

July 23, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, diet time, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, going to the barn in the summer, Half halt, reasoning, texts your trainer loves, The Idea of OrderComments Off

Because I don’t think that trot is the trot you think that is…

The Idea of Order: Late Night Texts Your Trainer LOVES

July 16, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, diet time, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, going to the barn in the summer, Half halt, reasoning, texts your trainer loves, The Idea of OrderComments Off

As they say, timing is everything.

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…)

The Idea of Order: Weather and the Non-Refundable Show Entry

July 9, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, diet time, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, going to the barn in the summer, Half halt, reasoning, The Idea of OrderComments Off

A fine example of Murphy’s Law in action.

The Idea of Order: Heading to the Barn in the Summer…

July 2, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #summer, classical dressage, competition dressage, diet time, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, going to the barn in the summer, Half halt, reasoning, The Idea of OrderComments Off

You might as well just call it a wormhole.

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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