Sound Schooling

20/04/2026

Schooling whilst listening to music - calm headspace after a busy day, or uplifting energy?

https://payhip.com/SoundSchooling/collection/music-to-ride-to-by-tom-hunt

16/02/2026

16/02/2026

Snippet taken from 'Maximising Marks - Lines & Corners' by Kim Ratcliffe of Think Equestrian. More dressage training downloads from Kim and Mark Butler Dressage, music to ride to from Tom Hunt Dressage Music and more at soundschooling.com

31/12/2025

New year, new look! Sound Schooling is back - with a new look and simpler way to download your training sessions. But don't worry, we still have the same great audio downloads from schooling and warm-up sessions, and music from Tom Hunt.

soundschooling.com

31/12/2025

New year, new look! Sound Schooling is back - with a new look and simpler way to download your training sessions. But don't worry, we still have the same great audio downloads from schooling and warm-up sessions, and music from Tom Hunt.

soundschooling.com

Affordable, inspirational and confidence-building audio coaching for dressage riders and equestrians. It's as if you have a trainer with you whilst you ride - an expert in your ear! Plus, non-ridden downloads and music to ride to from dressage composer Tom Hunt.

18/11/2025

Curious as to what it's all about?

Check out a snippet taken from Kim Ratcliffe's audio lesson 'Developing the Transitions' - designed to be listened to whilst riding.

Check out all our equestrian downloads, including audio lessons to ride to, non-ridden downloads and music from Tom Hunt at www.soundschooling.com.

27/02/2022

Tightening Circle
Without Losing balance or Impulsion

Let us say that you are, ideally riding in a dressage arena. First ride a circle that has a diameter of thirty-three feet, the width of the arena. Make the center of the arena (letter X) the center of your circle. Make sure that the circle is properly arced and that the horse is moving on it properly bent throughout the length of his body. To aid you in establishing this proper circle, place a hub-cap at X to define the center of the circle. Put the letters E and B on the centers of the long sides of the arena. These are the only two points at which your legs pass the rail. Establish two other points on the circle where your line intercepts the center line of the dressage ring, and place two poles on the ground at these spots.

After you have established this circle and can move on it with a correctly bent horse in good impulsion, proceed to ride a spiral inward very gradually. Through spiraling inward, reach a smaller circle with the same correct bend and impulsion. Then spiral out again until you reach your original large circle of thirty-three feet diameter. The spiraling inward should only continue as near to the hub-cap in the center as you can manage to stay without losing either balance or impulsion. As soon as you notice either shortcoming, you should understand it as a sign that the circle is as small as the horse is capable of bending on without strain at this level of his development. Therefore, you should press no further. You should merely repeat the exercise after proper rest periods and refreshing, new movements.

In time the horse will be able to spiral tighter, to an even smaller circle. The ultimate goal, of course, is the circle call the volte, about 8 feet in diameter.
--Charles de Kunffy

29/12/2021

DEVELOPING THE RHYTHM

BD List 1 Judge, dressage trainer and coach, Mary-Anne Horn has given us this great exercise to help develop the rhythm in trot and canter.

In the trot
1️⃣ Starting on the right rein, ride a good corner at CM (use a cone or block if necessary).
2️⃣ When you reach R start counting the strides so every time you rise count down until you reach P.
3️⃣ Repeat down the next long side. The strides should be the same.
Pay attention to the tempo and really focus on the steps.
4️⃣ Change the rein and repeat aiming for the same number of strides. Practise until you have achieved this.

This exercise will help greatly as you are focussing and the horse's trot should improve.

In the canter
1️⃣ Starting at the second quarter marker gives you time to be straight. Again count the number of strides.
2️⃣ Repeat on the other rein.
3️⃣ As you progress you should be able to lengthen the strides and achieve fewer showing you are covering more ground.

This will help greatly in your preparation for some medium strides in Novice tests. Also counting the strides before M and then again at the end from P to F will encourage you to pay attention to your transition after the medium.

A great one to try at home but also something to focus on in the competition warm up!

22/11/2021

Try one of our British Dressage audio tests for Free!
Comment below with why you would like to try one and which level then message me with your email address and the level and number of test you would like to try. All current tests available from intro to medium level. Strictly one test per person. Offer ends Sunday November 28th. For more info
https://www.equivisions.co.uk/bd_official_audio_tests.html

20/10/2021

https://www.facebook.com/216205261836627/posts/3146345748822549/