#Forward Thinking Dressage

The Idea of Order: That Time of the Year…

December 18, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #HAPPY HOLIDAYS, #pony apocalypse, #THE IDEA OF ORDERComments Off

Where questionable adulting is fine and calling a horse ‘Sparkle Farts’ seems like a legitimate plan.

Training in the Right Way: Strength and Agility

December 16, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, classical dressageComments Off

Because you probably wouldn’t sign up for an Iron Man without first training for it.
(more…)

Training in the Right Way: What Successful Participation in Dressage Looks Like

December 2, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #dressage letters, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levelsComments Off

Because you will never convince me that consistently getting low scores at Training Level is actually the sort of ‘fun’ you were yearning for.
(more…)

Training in the Right Way: The Importance of In-Hand Work

November 18, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4KidsComments Off

Many riders think of dressage as an activity that is solely performed from the saddle. But, in truth, good dressage training often happens on the ground, and adding correct in-hand work to your training program can be a game-changer.
(more…)

Training in the Right Way: Types of Suppleness

October 21, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage terminology, Dressage4KidsComments Off

Yes, there is more than one type — and knowing what they are and how to recognize them is critical to training in the right way. (more…)

Training in the Right Way: Bringing Your Horse Back Into Work

October 7, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #Training in the right wayComments Off

Horses need an incremental approach when returning to physical exertion after some time off. With the weather obliterating our training programs, it’s a solid time to review how to approach bringing your sound horse back into work after an unplanned break. (more…)

Training in the Right Way: When to Compete

September 23, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#AQHA Dressage, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #Training in the right way, classical dressage, competition dressageComments Off

With Regional Championships well underway and the show season in Florida starting to ramp up, this week’s article discusses some of the things to consider when developing your plan for the upcoming competition season.

Training in the Right Way: Where Language Fails Us in Training

August 26, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #HORSE TRAINING, #horsetraining, #Training in the right wayComments Off

Language is a funny thing, being simultaneously necessary and unavoidably imperfect…
(more…)

The Idea of Order: This sounds familiar…

August 21, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #THE IDEA OF ORDERComments Off

I suppose one might argue that love is never wasted…(even if it is one-sided)

Training in the Right Way: Limited Knowledge Is Limited Judgement

August 12, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking DressageComments Off

Because although everyone is entitled to their opinion, some opinions are of more objective value.
(more…)

Training in the Right Way: Olympic Dressage – Where Do We Go From Here?

July 29, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, DRESSAGE, dressage levels, Dressage4Kids, olympics 2024Comments Off

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 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.

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.
(more…)

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: 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.
(more…)

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.
(more…)

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.
(more…)

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.
(more…)

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.
(more…)

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.”

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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…)