BY JENNY ROLFE Constructive time spent warming-up is the key to encouraging the natural gymnastic ... continue reading...
LESSONS
THE SHOULDER-IN
BY DR. THOMAS RITTER History The Old Masters generally considered the shoulder-in to be the foundation of all other dressage movements, since it increases the horse’s shoulder freedom, […]
IN THE ARENA: RATIONALE, STRATEGY AND TACTICS FOR EXERCISE
BY DR. NANCY NICHOLSON Working in an arena has multiple goals for developing a horse mentally and physically. As a benefit, carefully considered training agendas can develop a trainer’s perception and […]
MY FAVORITE SCHOOLING EXERCISE
BY JENNY ROLFE Introduction Have you ever been to the gymnasium for a workout? What exercises were you given in preparation for the more strenuous athletic movements? In my […]
LATERAL MOVEMENTS
BY DR. THOMAS RITTER This article contains a general overview over the topic of lateral movements. “Lateral movements” is the term that is used to designate exercises in which the horse […]
THE TRAINING
FORWARD RIDING AT BASIC GAITS
BY DR. NANCY NICHOLSON Riding forward is not rushing, nor is it chasing a horse “off its feet.” It is a deliberate set of exercises with the horse “on the […]
BUILDING THE ATHLETE THROUGH THE NEW BASICS
By PEGGY CUMMINGS What prevents dressage riders from going beyond Training or First Level? Why are so many backyard riders not able to get their horse off the forehand? […]
THOUGHTS ON CONTACT
BY JENNY ROLFE Contact is the way a rider converses with a horse; a good contact, therefore, is when the rider is having a conversation with the horse during […]
IMPULSION: SCHWUNG
BY DR. THOMAS RITTER Energy is the prerequisite for impulsion, almost like a raw material. As many significant terms, it has a psychological as well as a physical aspect. […]
THE RIDER
DELFIN, MY GREATEST TEACHER
BY JENNY ROLFE Many of us will know wonderful horses during our lives; but for a few of us, there may be just that one special horse who becomes […]
BECOMING MASTERS OF MOVEMENT WITH CONNECTED RIDING®
By PEGGY CUMMINGS Why is it that most riders are taught to sit up and sit still on a moving horse? Riders are encouraged to push, squeeze, and drive with their […]
COMPONENTS OF A GOOD POSITION
BY MARIBETH DUNLAP The position of the rider is perhaps the most important thing when studying dressage. It is from a correct position that allows us to positively influence […]
KNOWLEDGE SPEAKS, BUT WISDOM LISTENS
BY GIGI NUTTER The title is a quotation from musician Jimi Hendrix. It captures a training concept that took me almost four decades to truly understand. Growing up in […]
THE HORSE
BUILDING A POWERFUL TOPLINE
BY DR. NANCY NICHOLSON Introduction and Background A top line outline is one of the first things we notice about our horses. They literally carry themselves with its ligaments and other […]
FITNESS FACTS FOR THE BACK
BY JEC ARISTOTLE BALLOU No part of your horse is isolated. Everything in the muscular and skeletal systems is interconnected! As riders, we spend a huge amount of time on our horses’ […]
GAIT ANALYSIS
BY IDA ANDERSON NORRIS Gait Analysis is best broken down into its parts- 1. The Type or style of Movement exhibited and 2. The Quality of movement. First, it […]
THE MYTH OF THE NARROW TWIST
BY ZSUZSU ILLES Over and over again I hear “I need a narrow twist.” So why do I repeatedly answer, ”Not necessarily so”? Because a saddle with a narrow twist […]
THE SHOW
FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW: EVERYBODY KEEP RIGHT
BY IDA ANDERSON NORRIS “Everybody, keep right” my father used to say. In fact, everyone from dads to grandmothers to school teachers said it to us when we […]
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT BASICS FOR HORSE AND RIDER? Answered by........
BY GIGI NUTTER - Over the last five centuries, thousands of pages have been written about rider’s position and ability to influence a ... continue reading...
By CHRISTINE RIVLIN - Basics, I feel, are important for the horse. I always suggest people review, or at least have an idea of the classical training ... continue reading...
By JOAN WILLIAMS – The most important basics for the rider: Basic Balanced Position (BBP) I believe the most important component of ... continue reading...
BY LINDA LANDERS The basics of the rider must come before a rider can really train the basics to a horse. This means that riders progress the most ... continue reading...
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE THE HORSE’S TOPLINE? ANSWERED…..
By CYNTHIA HODGES - If a horse has a low, weak back, the rider can improve his topline by combining exercises that will strengthen the ... continue reading...
By JOAN WILLIAMS - Developing your horses topline is an important part of keeping him healthy sound and strong. There are many exercises both on and ... continue reading...
By CHRISTINE RIVLIN - The first way would be through correct riding. Making sure the horse has a correct connection through the bridle and is using ... continue reading...
By JEC ARISTOTLE BALLOU - To improve the horse's topline, you must strengthen the horse's bottom line. As the horse's bottom line strengthens, a ... continue reading...
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF RIDING FORWARD? Answered by……..
By MELONIE KESSLER – The question of the importance of riding forward is a very interesting topic. For me, it is also over-thought and analyzed, like ... continue reading...
By CYNTHIA HODGES - Forward riding is an essential element in achieving the ultimate goal of dressage: balanced self-carriage. To carry the ... continue reading...
BY LINDA LANDERS - Forward riding has two components in my mind. First, the horse must respond by going forward from the leg and seat aids ... continue reading...
By JOAN WILLIAMS – “Ride your horse forward and straighten it” and “Freely Forward” are just two well known dressage and pony club ... continue reading...
