#USEF

Let’s Talk About “Plus-Sized” Riders — And Also, Something Called Grace

July 12, 2024Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt#Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #USDF, #USEF, plus size riderComments Off on Let’s Talk About “Plus-Sized” Riders — And Also, Something Called Grace

Someone left me to my own devices to troll social media unattended. I’m sorry.

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Training in the Right Way: Using the Dressage Arena To Maximize Your Training

July 1, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #dressage letters, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #HORSE TRAINING, #horsetrainer, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off on Training in the Right Way: Using the Dressage Arena To Maximize Your Training

Have you ever considered why the standard dressage arena is the very specific size and shape that it is? Spoiler alert: It does serve a purpose.
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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 on Training in the Right Way: Knowing When It’s Time To Stop

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 on Training in the Right Way: The Process vs The End Goal

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 on Training in the Right Way: What to Look for in a Dressage Horse, Part 4 — Exercises for the Imperfect Horse

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 on Training in the Right Way: What to Look for in a Dressage Horse, Part 3 — Movement

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 on Training in the Right Way: What to Look for in a Dressage Horse, Part 2

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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Training in the Right Way: What to Look for in a Dressage Horse, Part 1

April 8, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#CONFORMATION, #DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #horsetraining, #Training in the right way, #Training Scale, #USDF, #USEFComments Off on Training in the Right Way: What to Look for in a Dressage Horse, Part 1

This is the first of a three-part series that explores what to look for when selecting a dressage horse. Today’s article focuses on the three parts needed for a successful dressage horse: temperament, conformation, and movement. (more…)

Training in the Right Way: Different TYPES of Equestrian Professionals

March 24, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #OLYMPICS, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off on Training in the Right Way: Different TYPES of Equestrian Professionals

This week’s article discusses different types of equestrian dressage professionals and what they may be able to offer depending on their expertise and educational background. (more…)

Training in the Right Way: Let’s Talk about the Correct (and Incorrect) use of Equipment

March 10, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson, Uncategorized#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off on Training in the Right Way: Let’s Talk about the Correct (and Incorrect) use of Equipment

The focus of this week’s article is to shed some light on some commonly used — and almost as commonly misused — pieces of equipment found in training and discuss what their original purpose is.

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Training in the Right Way: The Components of an Effective Warmup

February 25, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#DRESSAGE #OLYMPICS, #Dressage Show, #Dressage Training, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off on Training in the Right Way: The Components of an Effective Warmup

 This week’s article discusses the purpose and parts of an effective warmup routine as well as some of the variations necessary for each horse.

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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 on Training in the Right Way: Let’s Talk About Balance

“[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.”

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Training in the Right Way: 12 Dressage Exercises and Their Training Purposes

January 29, 2024Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Showing, #Dressage Training, #FEI, #SHOWING, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEFComments Off on Training in the Right Way: 12 Dressage Exercises and Their Training Purposes

“What almost everyone has forgotten, or may have never learned, is that dressage is a training system, based on the European cultures and horse types of antiquity, and it was created over centuries to develop horses for war and for ceremonial purposes.”

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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 on Training in the Right Way: Habits

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 on ‘Classical’ Dressage Armchair Quarterbacks, Please Sit Down: An Op-Ed

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 on Training in the Right Way: Classical vs Competition Dressage

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 on Training in the Right Way: Evaluating Canter Photos

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

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Operation X: Where Do We Go From Here?

November 28, 2023Morgane SchmidtMorgane Schmidt#controversy, #rollkur, #USDF, #USEF, DRESSAGE, Dumpster Fire, Helgstrand, Operation XComments Off on Operation X: Where Do We Go From Here?

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.

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Training in the Right Way: A Picture Is Worth a 1000 Words…

November 20, 2023Gwyneth McPhersonGwyneth McPherson#Dressage Showing, #Training in the right way, #USDF, #USEF, DRESSAGE, photo critiqueComments Off on Training in the Right Way: A Picture Is Worth a 1000 Words…

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).

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

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 on Training in the Right Way: Finding a Knowledgeable Teacher

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

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

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

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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New COVID-19 Protocols from USEF: Fully Vaccinated Individuals May Forego Masks at Outdoor Competitions

May 12, 2021DeAnn SloanEdited Press Release#USEF, COVID-19, Edited Press ReleaseComments Off on New COVID-19 Protocols from USEF: Fully Vaccinated Individuals May Forego Masks at Outdoor Competitions

US Equestrian has issued the following directive updating its COVID-19 protocols for competitions. (more…)