One of the very BEST dressage exercises, hands down, is the turn on the forehand. Why is it the best? We will dig into that below. But the crazy question is, why is nobody doing it on a regular basis, or even ever??? Honestly, I have no idea because the turn on the forehand is…
First level dressage… A very very important level for sure, and usually one of the fullest classes at shows. In this article we will dive into the nooks and crannies of everything involving first level dressage. Know the Purpose of First Level Dressage One of the most overlooked concepts of first level dressage is, in…
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I guarantee you hear, see, and read TONS about the inside rein. To summarize; JUST DON’T PULL ON IT!!! You never hear much about the outside rein. It’s just inside rein this, and inside rein that…. But yes, the inside rein is VERY important. If you need a reminder…
Bend through the body of the horse is a critical part of dressage and it might seem like a simple concept to understand in the beginning. But then you hear someone say, “Bend is actually straightness,” and then your mind gets blown. What???? Bend is straightness? Yes, it is my friend, but the two are…
You probably know that a hollow horse is not a pretty picture at all. In fact, we riders work so hard to avoid letting our horses get hollow. But unfortunately we may be covering up the problem rather than fixing it. The quick fix is to get the horse’s head down so he looks “pretty”…
Imagine that feeling we all get when you want your horse to stop, or transition down a gear, and you just know in your mind that it’s gonna be difficult. It’s gonna take some effort, and muscle, to transition down. Pulling on the reins is the only option you have to muscle your heavy horse…
So you know how to ride a leg yield, but you can’t help thinking that it feels labored and dull. You try so hard to push the horse over from point A to B, and you barely make it over in time. It sounds like you need to refine your leg yield! And I have…
What is the most important aid you can choose to use while riding? The leg? Your seat? The whip?…Or maybe your voice? While the above aids are very important and highly effective, there is another, more important aid, that many riders overlook. Attitude Yes, your attitude really is an aid, and quite possibly, it’s the…
The fast, rushing horse. The horse that just runs and runs and won’t stop. Many people will tell you that this type of horse is full of energy and can’t contain it. It might be true that he is full of energy, but the ironic part is that he is being lazy by not using…
Hind end engagement is one of the most important elements, or ingredients, for creating fabulous movement in your horse. Impulsion is often sought after, but your can’t get proper impulsion without engagement. Think of engagement as a compressed spring. When it compresses, that is engagement. When you release the energy and it springs up, that…