By PEGGY CUMMINGS What prevents dressage riders from going beyond Training or First ... 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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 TRAINING
THE JOURNEY NEVER ENDS: OBSERVING THE BASICS
BY DR. THOMAS RITTER True progress in riding can only come from an improvement of the basic skills of both the horse and the rider. Any training approach that tries […]
BALANCE: THRUST VS. CARRIAGE
BY DR. THOMAS RITTER How can the rider gain control over the hind legs? That depends on the horse and rider. Main considerations are the straightness as well as […]
THE VOICE AS AN AID
BY GIGI NUTTER The Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania provided an idyllic setting for my childhood. My parents opened a trail riding business in the 1940’s to support local, […]
THE CIRCLE OF AIDS
BY DR. THOMAS RITTER The circle of aids is one of the most central concepts the student has to learn. There are different ways of going about explaining it. […]
THE RIDER
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
THE RIDER POSITION AND SEAT
BY JENNY ROLFE The rider can become highly influential when he learns how to sit on a horse, in self carriage, allowing both stability and fluidity – from the […]
THE HORSE
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, […]
HORSE AS ATHLETE
BY DR. NANCY NICHOLSON HORSE AS ATHLETE Strategy and tactics for Development We have discussed walk as a foundation gait for horses and for humans. What we can understand, in addition, […]
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 […]
BREEDING THE SPORT HORSE
BY ARLENE RIGDON Certainty doesn’t exist in the world of horses; perfection is an elusive goal never attained. The best we can hope for in our pursuit of breeding sport […]
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 GAEL BOURQUIN - For me, the most important basic for horse and rider is balance. It is a vast topic and in order to simplify I will ... 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...
By JOAN WILLIAMS – The most important basics for the rider: Basic Balanced Position (BBP) I believe the most important component of ... 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...
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE THE HORSE’S TOPLINE? ANSWERED…..
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 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...
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 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 IS THE IMPORTANCE OF RIDING FORWARD? Answered by……..
By JOAN WILLIAMS – “Ride your horse forward and straighten it” and “Freely Forward” are just two well known dressage and pony club ... continue reading...
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...
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 CYNTHIA HODGES - Forward riding is an essential element in achieving the ultimate goal of dressage: balanced self-carriage. To carry the ... continue reading...
