• Home
  • Magazine
  • Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Dressage & Sport Horse Magazine

The place for compassionate and thinking riders.

The Digital Dressage Magazine. Get top articles, information and tips from leading trainers, instructors, riders, clinicians and judges.

  • HORSE
    • Biomechanics
    • Care & Wellness
    • Conditioning
    • Horse Breeds
    • Tack & Equipment
    • Understanding the Horse
  • TRAINING
    • Balance
    • Basics
    • Dressage Training Scale
      • Relaxation
      • Rhythm
      • Suppleness
      • Connection
      • Straightness
      • Impulsion
      • Collection
    • In Hand & Longeing
    • The Aids
    • Theory & History
  • RIDER
    • Fitness
    • Mind & Matter
    • Position
    • The Process & Journey
  • LESSONS
    • Arena Exercises
    • The Movements
  • THE AISLEWAY
    • ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
      • THE ATHLETE
      • THE DANCE
      • FAVORITE EXERCISE
      • IMPORTANT BASICS
      • THE JOURNEY
      • ORGANIZING TIPS
      • RIDING FORWARD
      • THE SHOW
      • THE TOPLINE
  • SHOW
    • Dressage Levels
    • Dressage Show
  • FOCUS
    • BOOK EXCERPTS

DRESSAGE AND SPORT HORSE MAGAZINE ONLINE

RIDE THE RIGHT WAY

RIDE THE RIGHT WAY

BY JEC ARISTOTLE BALLOU The cornerstone of any aspiring dressage riders’ skills is the ability to ... continue reading...

BUILDING A POWERFUL TOPLINE

BUILDING A POWERFUL TOPLINE

BY DR. NANCY NICHOLSON Introduction and Background A top line outline is one of the first ... continue reading...

FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW: EVERYBODY KEEP RIGHT

FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW: EVERYBODY KEEP RIGHT

    BY IDA ANDERSON NORRIS “Everybody, keep right” my father used to say. In ... continue reading...

WHAT’S NEW AT DRESSAGE AND SPORT HORSE in LESSONS?

LESSONS

LATERAL MOVEMENTS

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 […]

MY FAVORITE SCHOOLING EXERCISE

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 […]

THOUGHTS ON THE CLASSICAL SEAT

THOUGHTS ON THE CLASSICAL SEAT

BY GAEL BOURQUIN If we believe in the Classical System of training, which puts the well-being of the horse first and foremost then we must make an effort to become better […]

THE MAKING OF A QUADRILLE TEAM

THE MAKING OF A QUADRILLE TEAM

  By JOAN WILLIAMS So you want to start a quadrille team but don’t know how to begin. Here are some ideas to help get it off the ground. Talk to […]

View more LESSONS

 

WHAT’S NEW AT DRESSAGE AND SPORT HORSE in TRAINING?

THE TRAINING

BUILDING A BETTER TOPLINE

BUILDING A BETTER TOPLINE

By JOAN WILLIAMS I think the understanding of ’Riding Long and Low’ for new dressage riders is the most misunderstood concept, as they hear and read that the poll must be […]

LOOKING AT IMPULSION

LOOKING AT IMPULSION

  BY JENNY ROLFE Have you ever taken timeless moments to look over the gate of the field watching your horse when he is relaxing and grazing in the field? […]

THOUGHTS ON CONTACT

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 […]

DEVELOPING FORWARD MOVEMENT

DEVELOPING FORWARD MOVEMENT

BY ARLENE RIGDON Riding the horse forward on the bit is basically simple to understand in principle, but most difficult to execute. If the horse is correctly on the bit, […]

View more TRAINING

 

WHAT’S NEW AT DRESSAGE AND SPORT HORSE in the RIDER?

THE RIDER

THE THINKING RIDER

THE THINKING RIDER

BY DR. THOMAS RITTER   The Prussian cavalry officer and book author Otto von Monteton wrote in 1877: “After having trained a charger for five years during my turn of […]

TEACHING AND LEARNING TO FEEL

TEACHING AND LEARNING TO FEEL

  BY DR. THOMAS RITTER   There is a technical /mechanical side to riding. There is a scientific/academic side to riding. There is an athletic side to riding, for both […]

RIDING WALKS AND AN INDEPENDENT SEAT

RIDING WALKS AND AN INDEPENDENT SEAT

  BY DR. NANCY NICHOLSON Walk is a foundation gait for horses and for humans. In dressage, walking is a gait with four phases that are heard as hoof beats. Further, […]

LEARNING TO LEARN

LEARNING TO LEARN

BY DR. THOMAS RITTER One of my teachers used to say that you can’t teach anybody how to ride. The student either gets it, or they don’t. Another one said […]

View more of the RIDER

 

WHAT’S NEW AT DRESSAGE AND SPORT HORSE in THE HORSE?

THE HORSE

IN THE ARENA: RATIONALE, STRATEGY AND TACTICS FOR EXERCISE

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 […]

THE SADDLE AS AN ADAPTER

THE SADDLE AS AN ADAPTER

BY ZSUZSU ILLES What is the number one point to keep in mind when fitting a saddle to a horse and rider? The saddle must fit in motion.  When the saddle […]

FORWARD RIDING AT BASIC GAITS

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 […]

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

BY DR. THOMAS RITTER When things go wrong and horses begin to misbehave, most riders search for the reason and the remedy outside themselves. The truth is that in most […]

View more of THE HORSE

 

WHAT’S NEW AT DRESSAGE AND SPORT HORSE in THE SHOW?

THE SHOW

FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW: CAN I PLEASE SEE YOUR HORSE?

FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW: CAN I PLEASE SEE YOUR HORSE?

  BY IDA ANDERSON NORRIS Recently, I was at a competition and for a change wasn’t judging. In between coaching my clients there were few minutes of down time to […]

View more of the SHOW

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT BASICS FOR HORSE AND RIDER? Answered by........

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT BASICS? ANSWERED BY CHRISTINE RIVLIN

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...

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT BASICS? ANSWERED BY JOAN WILLIAMS

  By JOAN WILLIAMS – The most important basics for the rider: Basic Balanced Position (BBP) I believe the most important component of ... continue reading...

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT BASICS FOR HORSE AND RIDER? ANSWERED BY GIGI NUTTER

  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...

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT BASICS FOR HORSE AND RIDER? ANSWERED BY LINDA LANDERS

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…..

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE THE HORSE’S TOPLINE?  ANSWERED BY JEC A. BALLOU

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 ARE SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE THE TOPLINE? ANSWERED BY CHRISTINE RIVLIN

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...

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE THE TOPLINE? ANSWERED BY JOAN WILLIAMS

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...

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE THE TOPLINE? ANSWERED BY CYNTHIA HODGES

  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...

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF RIDING FORWARD? Answered by……..

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF RIDING FORWARD?   ANSWERED BY CYNTHIA HODGES

  By CYNTHIA HODGES - Forward riding is an essential element in achieving the ultimate goal of dressage: balanced self-carriage. To carry the ... continue reading...

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF RIDING FORWARD? ANSWERED BY MELONIE KESSLER

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...

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF RIDING FORWARD? ANSWERED BY GIGI NUTTER

  BY GIGI NUTTER -  The old Master’s directive was to “ride your horse forward and straight.” It is important for a rider to understand that ... continue reading...

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF RIDING FORWARD? ANSWERED BY JOAN WILLIAMS

  By JOAN WILLIAMS –  “Ride your horse forward and straighten it” and “Freely Forward” are just two well known dressage and pony club ... continue reading...

GREAT LEARNING FROM GREAT BOOKS…………………………

THE MANEIGE ROYAL’ BY ANTOINE DE PLUVINEL

THE MANEIGE ROYAL’ BY ANTOINE DE PLUVINEL

AN OVERVIEW OF THE THREE TRAINING PHASES OF THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL

AN OVERVIEW OF THE THREE TRAINING PHASES OF THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL

FAVEROT DE KERBRECH’S ‘METHODICAL DRESSAGE OF THE RIDING HORSE’

FAVEROT DE KERBRECH’S ‘METHODICAL DRESSAGE OF THE RIDING HORSE’

DRESSAGE IN THE FRENCH TRADITION  by Dom Diogo de Braganco

DRESSAGE IN THE FRENCH TRADITION by Dom Diogo de Braganco

DON’T MISS OUT, SUBSCRIBE!

New articles, deals, and more! No spam.

 





DRESSAGE COMMUNITY INSPIRATION

Dressage and Sport Horse

Read Book Excerpts

THE MANEIGE ROYAL’ BY ANTOINE DE PLUVINEL

THE MANEIGE ROYAL’ BY ANTOINE DE PLUVINEL

AN OVERVIEW OF THE THREE TRAINING PHASES OF THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL

AN OVERVIEW OF THE THREE TRAINING PHASES OF THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL

Popular Articles

MASTER THE BALANCE, MASTER THE HORSE

MASTER THE BALANCE, MASTER THE HORSE

BUILDING THE ATHLETE THROUGH THE NEW BASICS

BUILDING THE ATHLETE THROUGH THE NEW BASICS

THE VOICE AS AN AID

THE VOICE AS AN AID

FITNESS FACTS FOR THE BACK

FITNESS FACTS FOR THE BACK

THE ABC’S OF EXERCISE

THE ABC’S OF EXERCISE

Copyright © 2026 · Dressage and Sport Horse Magazine Online