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20/06/2026

Looking forward to judging in Illinois today😎

21/05/2026

Headed back to beautiful Lexington for a 3 day show 🎉

04/05/2026

For 30 years I have been able to come to this beautiful farm and work with dressage horses❤️

04/03/2026

HANDS DO NOT PULL BACK - HAVE "FEELING FINGERS"

Remember, you are holding a piece of metal that's inside your horse's mouth. If you pull back on the reins or jiggle your hands around, your horse will likely shorten his neck, stiffen through his back, hollow away from your seat, lift his head above the bit, and/or come against/behind the contact.

Pulling back on the reins can also encourage your horse to get stronger in the contact, as he, too, will pull against the pressure. This often leads to a tug-of-war scenario that sends many riders down the rabbit hole of using stronger rein aids and bits.

The rein length should be held by your thumb pressing on top of your index finger. The rest of your fingers should be light and supple so you can give subtle communication aids down the reins. If your fingers are gripping the reins tightly, then any light communication down the reins will be blocked. Therefore, if you want to give your horse an aid, you will need to grip even tighter or pull backward on the reins, which is not good.

Keep your elbows, wrists, hands, and fingers supple, and allow them to "breathe" with your horse's movement, rather than remaining fixed and rigid. The aim is to have "feeling fingers" that open and close to give your horse the required aids. It may only be a slight movement, but trust us, your horse can feel it.

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Illustration created and copyrighted by HowToDressage

14/02/2026

Sometimes love doesn’t need loud words.
It lives in the smallest moments.

In a warm breath by the fence.
In a soft muzzle reaching toward you.
In a gentle kiss that says more than any promise ever could.

“Kiss your horse daily”
is not just a phrase.
It’s a reminder not to postpone tenderness.
Not to walk past.
Not to forget to say I’m here —
even without words.

Because for a horse, that kiss means
trust.
Calm.
The reassurance that they are seen and loved.

And for us,
it’s a moment that makes the day warmer
and the heart a little kinder.

Kiss your horse today.
And tomorrow.
And every time you have the chance.

11/02/2026

🚨 Unpopular Opinion (but your dressage scores will thank you):
If you’re blaming the judge… it’s probably not the judge.

Here are 6 simple things most riders say they do but actually don’t and it’s costing you marks 👇

1️⃣ Transitions aren’t “good enough” just because they happened
Smooth, balanced, prompt transitions matter more than flashy movements. If your rhythm changes, so should your expectations.

2️⃣ Accuracy is free points… and people still leave them on the table
Wobbly centerlines, drifting circles, and “close enough” geometry? Judges see it all. Ride the test, not your feelings.

3️⃣ Forward ≠ fast
Impulsion comes from engaged hind legs and real connection, not rushing. If the contact isn’t honest, the movement won’t be either.

4️⃣ Your position matters more than you think
A crooked rider creates a crooked horse. Strong core, quiet seat, clear aids, not constant micromanaging.

5️⃣ Presentation influences first impressions (yes, it does)
A polished horse, tidy turnout, and confident riding sets the tone before you even halt. It’s not superficial, it’s part of the sport.

6️⃣ Reflection beats excuses every time
Talk to your trainer, coach, or barn friend. Not every test will go to plan but avoiding honest feedback guarantees nothing changes next time.

💬 Hot take: Most riders don’t need harder movements… they need better basics.

Agree? Disagree?
Tell me which one you’re working on, or which one you think judges overvalue 👇

Source of image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impulsion

18/01/2026

If you pull on the inside rein, you'll do nothing more than turn your horse's head.

For correct bend, you need to use ALL your aids.

✅ INSIDE LEG at the girth.
This leg asks your horse to bend through his body, stimulating his intercostal muscles and encouraging him to shorten on the inside of his body and stretch on the outside of his body. Your inside leg also creates forward impulsion, encouraging your horse’s inside hind leg to step further underneath his center of gravity.

✅ OUTSIDE LEG behind the girth.
This leg guards your horse’s hindquarters. It prevents them from drifting outwards and keeps them on the curved line that you are following. By coming behind the girth, it also allows your horse’s ribs to expand on the outside, thereby working alongside your inside leg.

✅ INSIDE REIN asks for a small amount of inside lateral flexion.
This rein indicates the direction of bend and helps you to position your horse’s neck on the curved line. Your inside rein should not be used to turn your horse! This will result in too much neck bend and your horse falling out through his outside shoulder.

✅ OUTSIDE REIN controls the outside shoulder.
This rein helps to prevent too much neck bend, thereby helping you to control your horse’s outside shoulder, preventing him from falling out. Your outside rein is also used to control your horse’s tempo (speed of the rhythm) and give balancing half-halts.

✅ HEAD looking in the direction you want to go.
Your head should be up and looking ahead and around the circle, turn, or corner you are negotiating.

✅ WEIGHT in your inside seat bone.
You should have a little bit more weight in your inside seat bone and inside stirrup while remaining sat up straight; do not lean inwards. This small weight shift frees the outside of your horse’s body, allowing it to expand, and encourages your horse’s inside hind leg to step under your weight.

✅ SHOULDERS matching the angle of your horse’s shoulders
Your shoulders should be turned from your waist to the inside to match the angle of your horse’s shoulders.

✅ HIPS matching the angle of your horse’s hips
This should happen automatically as you position your legs correctly, as per above.

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Photo is a stock image.

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