#Forward Thinking Dressage

Training in the Right Way: Quick Fixes and Light Switches

January 26, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4KidsComments Off

Let’s talk about why you’re more likely to run into Big Foot at Starbucks than find any magical training tactics that produce instant results.
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The Idea of Order: Red Mare vs Winter

January 22, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #New Year's resolution, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #THE IDEA OF ORDER, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levelsComments Off

The definition of Volatile.

The Idea of Order: New Year, New Me?

January 15, 2025Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt, the idea of order#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #New Year's resolution, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, #THE IDEA OF ORDER, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levelsComments Off

Or New Year, New Breeches?

Training in the Right Way: Effective Aids vs Not So Much

January 13, 2025Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4KidsComments Off

Because it is critical to the training process, let’s take a moment to talk about what effective aids are and what they absolutely are NOT.
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Training in the Right Way: 3 Dressage Movements You Should Master

December 30, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Forward Thinking Dressage, #NonTraditionalBreedinDressage, classical dressage, competition dressage, dressage levels, Dressage4KidsComments Off

There are three movements most riders aren’t aware of that cannot be judged on talent as their proper execution is the result of correct training alone. These are exercises that riders should pay extra attention to as they are not only a gauge of the quality of your training, but also because they can be honed so that even less talented horses can received exemplary scores on them.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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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