What's Inside
Search the Site
Tip/Quote of the Day # 2179
"One of the goals of dressage is to recreate the natural beauty of the horse’s gaits under the rider, so that the horse moves as beautifully under the weight of the rider as he does at liberty. In order to achieve this, the swinging of the horse’s back has to pass through the seat of the rider undiminished. The back has to be able to rise and fall with the same ease, regardless of the rider’s presence. If the rider merely sits passively, his weight alone can sometimes be enough to diminish the freedom of movement of the horse’s back. In these moments, the rider has to enhance the upswing of the horse’s back with an active contraction of his abdominal muscles, which helps the rider’s pelvis to swing more forward-upward, without tilting forward, however." ~ Thomas Ritter
Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share with your friends! Look for the share buttons on the far right side of the page. Thank you!
Related Articles:
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2688
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1509
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3411
- The “Floor” of Your Dressage Seat
- Quin's Blog post # 2: The Ultimate Answer to Riding, the Universe, and Everything
- Do You Know What Skills You and Your Horse Need to Have Before Entering a Novice Level Event?
- The Most Productive Way to Begin Each Ride
- An Exercise to Help You to Find Your Abdominal Muscles When in the Saddle
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1076
- Video # 104: This is Kayla riding Novice level test B
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3159
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1844
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1753
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1647
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1636
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1449
- Does Your Horse Pick Up the Canter With His Haunches In?
- Question # 290: I recently started riding a very nice, well trained thoroughbred. She is pretty big, probably 17+ and a little long backed. My normal ride is a 15 hand compact very (overly) sensitive ottb, so she feels ginormous....
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3531
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1826
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3771
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3712
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3693
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3400
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3267
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3217
- Is Your Free Walk Really FREE? And Do You Make Good Use Of It?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2975
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2898
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2311
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1899
- The Benefits of "Stair Stepping" Your Lateral Exercises
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1746
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1674
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1648
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1641
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1597
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1424
- Question # 278: I am a dressage rider who is currently working on 2nd level. I have some days where I am really capable of connecting my seat to sit the trot very fluidly and straight...
- The Problems in the Eventing World Today! (written in 2014) (Current freebie!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4331
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2874
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2677
- A Simple Exercise to Help You to Relax and Reset the Position of Your Shoulders When Riding
- An Exercise to Help Improve Your Horse's Connection Over the Back
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4502
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4143
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4075
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4057
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3957
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3933
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3916
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3745
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3735
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3734
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3719
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3666
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3659
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3497
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3484
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3164
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3104
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3041
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3007
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2940
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2936
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2873
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2859
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2846
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2723
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2635
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 59: Coping with Stress and Anxiety: Part II - Connection
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 58: Coping with Stress and Anxiety - Part I: The Worry Bucket
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2566
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 57: Desperately Dependent or Fiercely Independent: Finding the right balance
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 56: How long will this take??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2470
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 55: Filling Your Treasure Chest
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 54: The Power of a Plan
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 53: Personality Part 2: Internalizer or Externalizer
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 52: Personality Part 1: Past, Present, Future
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2359
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 51: Who do you compare yourself to... it really matters!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2314
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 50: Horses as mirrors: Does it work the other way around?
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 49: Respect: Essential for horse and rider
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 48: Working with horses is complicated... that's a good thing
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 47: Courage... Is it as simple as "Cowgirl Up" ?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2116
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1902
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1897
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1891
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1878
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1875
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1862
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1861
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1860
- Ruth's Blog post # 5: Connection Issues in Canter Transitions
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1849
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1831
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1829
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1827
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1816
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1815
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1797
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1793
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1789
- Discussion # 162: The shoulder in is considered to be the "mother" of all lateral movements. Can anyone tell us why this is so?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1775
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1766
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1765
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1759
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1756
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1754
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1751
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1744
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1743
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1742
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1731
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1730
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1727
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1723
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1719
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1715
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1712
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1710
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1707
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1698
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1678
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1676
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1673
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1671
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1669
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1659
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1657
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1656
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1649
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1640
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1633
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1619
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1604
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1603
- The *Volume* of Your Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1581
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1577
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1574
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1571
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1561
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1552
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1547
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1534
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1527
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1525
- Lateral Work as "Medicine" For the Dressage Horse
- Help to Ensure That Your Horse LIKES His or Her Job!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1453
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1433
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1413
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1383
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1382
- Signs That Your Performance Horse Might Be Sore
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1295
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1287
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1286
- Riding From "Front to Back"
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1267
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1185
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1173
- Keep Your Aids Dynamic
- Training and Conditioning the Young Event Horse
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4505
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3830
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3663
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3471
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3366
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3150
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3319
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3181
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3130
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2959
- The Order of Aids For Changing Your Horse's Bend From One Side to the Other
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2831
- How Your Driving Habits Relate to Your Riding Habits
- Question # 333: Kayla has a question about core/ab exercises for her horse.
- Clashing of Aids vs the Coordination of Aids
- Question # 294 and Video # 92: My question is about banks, specifically jumping down....
- The Mysterious Half Halt (Current freebie!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4483
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4480
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4479
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4478
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4413
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4411
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4308
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4294
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4284
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4275
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4268
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4236
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4230
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4210
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4180
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4171
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4170
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4165
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4164
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4153
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4107
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4097
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4083
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4082
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4056
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4001
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4000
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3999
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3967
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3924
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3906
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3881
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3878
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3866
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3845
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3840
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3828
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3815
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3801
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3799
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3798
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3754
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3733
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3731
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3725
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3723
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3718
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3714
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3697
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3694
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3682
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3678
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3668
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3660
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3637
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3625
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3616
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3615
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3601
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3594
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3587
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3572
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3571
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3568
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3561
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3548
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3541
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3492
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3490
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3486
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3479
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3472
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3469
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3457
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3451
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3440
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3439
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3430
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3415
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3410
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3395
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3392
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3380
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3379
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3372
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3370
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3329
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3325
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3307
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3305
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3304
- Guest Blog # 120: Too Focused? by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3261
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3245
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3214
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3210
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3209
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3204
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3195
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3192
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3185
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3178
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3162
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3156
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3133
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3128
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3121
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3115
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3111
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3108
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3089
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3066
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3065
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3049
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3018
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3014
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3012
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2995
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2984
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2982
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2939
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2928
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2911
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2897
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2881
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2876
- "The Power and Promise of Collaboration"
- Video # 325: This is Bridget doing a Dressage test!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2770
- The 'Half-Go'
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2751
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2740
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2734
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2731
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2726
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2720
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2710
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2709
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2697
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2672
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2668
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2662
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2661
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2657
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2650
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2645
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2633
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2604
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2601
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2551
- Rider Leg Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2513
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2495
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2480
- An Exercise to Help Teach Your Horse to Seek the Connection
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2448
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2430
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2335
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2332
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2294
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2284
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 46: Safety and Security - Essential tools for learning.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2268
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2244
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2221
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2219
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2199
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2162
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2142
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2132
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2131
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2130
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2060
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2058
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2053
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2015
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1987
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1906
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1905
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1904
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1903
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1900
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1898
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1896
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1895
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1894
- Question # 341: Amy has a question about a new horse she is riding, who is not a big fan of flatwork!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1893
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1892
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1890
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1889
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1883
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1880
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1874
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1872
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1871
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1870
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1869
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1868
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1866
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1865
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1864
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1863
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1859
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1858
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1856
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1854
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1853
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1852
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1851
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1848
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1847
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1845
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1843
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1842
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1841
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1840
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1839
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1838
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1837
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1836
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1834
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1830
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1828
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1825
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1824
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1823
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1822
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1821
- Dr. Haefner's Blog post # 9: A Different Take on a Performance “State of Mind”
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1817
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1814
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1813
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1812
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1811
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1810
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1809
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1808
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1807
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1805
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1804
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1803
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1801
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1800
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1798
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1795
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1794
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1791
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1790
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1788
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1787
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1786
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1785
- Quin's Blog post # 4: Praising the Snort
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1784
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1783
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1782
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1781
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1780
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1779
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1777
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1776
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1774
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1773
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1772
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1771
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1770
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1769
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1768
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1767
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1764
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1762
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1761
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1760
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1757
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1755
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1752
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1750
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1748
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1747
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1745
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1741
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1740
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1739
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1738
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1737
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1736
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1733
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1732
- Video # 311 and Question # 329: Kayla is practicing BN test A, and has a few questions.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1726
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1725
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1724
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1722
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1721
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1720
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1718
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1717
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1716
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1714
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1711
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1709
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1708
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1706
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1705
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1704
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1703
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1702
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1701
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1700
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1699






