Lateral work is perhaps one of the most useful groups of exercises in the development of the horse as these exercises are fundamental to developing both suppleness and eventually collection. (more…)
So much has already been said regarding the recent video of Charlotte Dujardin, some of it has been quite thoughtful, some not so much. Although I wasn’t sure that I wanted to add to the noise, I ultimately felt that I would like to offer a potential path forward. (more…)
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. (more…)
It’s giveaway time! Our friends at SmartPak have teamed up with the United States Dressage Federation for Plus Sized Rider Month on YourDressage to offer some pretty incredible prizes. Read on for more: (more…)
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.
I usually draw comics, but as a dressage rider I felt compelled to weigh in — with an appropriate amount of snark — on the current dumpster fire that is the fall out from Operation X.
This week’s article discusses what you can see in a still photo and explores how to begin sorting out what is “a moment in time” versus what is most likely a constant state (which is, of course, indicative of the training).
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.
This week’s editorial is a follow up to my previous article discussing the proliferation of the consumption of talent rather than the training of it to further develop it for the competitive sport of dressage.
The training scale is a method with which to order your thoughts within the training process. It is a logical progression of how a horse is developed from untrained (feral) to fully trained (mostly civilized).
Self-described “ever student mature rider,” Candace Wade had the opportunity to audit an Amelia Newcomb Dressage clinic. Inspired by the experience, here are her take-aways: (more…)
In this excerpt from her book Dressage for the Not-So-Perfect Horse, FEI 5* dressage judge Janet Foy provides practical advice for dealing with three problems she often sees when riders are warming up their horses prior to schooling or competition.
“… I was able to feel what a ‘real’ Dressage horse should feel like. It was so technical and such an amazing feeling to be able to sync up and ‘dance’ with the horses.” (more…)
