Unless otherwise noted, all quotes on this page are the work of Lesley Stevenson. Please ensure proper attribution when sharing. Thank you!
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"I like to describe riding a course as riding a line at a certain pace, and the jumps are just like speed bumps on your journey. Whereas some riders ride the jumps as their objective. They ride one jump, then look up, and ride the next, and the next.
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Since the various available lateral movements all work to supple the horse's body in a slightly different way, it is a good idea to use bits of all of them in your training. Don't just do your favorites.
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"The horse always tries to run away, that is part of his nature. When the rider uses the bit to stop the horse, that is the rider’s first wrong move. We must always give the horse an open door. When we hold the horse with our hands we
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"The goal of all dressage riding should be to bring the horse and rider together in harmony...a oneness of balance, purpose, and athletic expression." ~ Walter Zettl
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"We want the horse to know, if he gets into difficulties, if he slips, he can just take time with things, so they learn to get themselves out of trouble. If a horse has slipped badly or hit a jump badly, just keep hold of the front end, keep
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"I really believe that horses are very generous and they are on our side. They can also become frightened, so it is important that we don’t ask them anything beyond their capabilities. You can keep them on your side by being quiet with them. They have to be
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"We must be careful when making the horse straight not to bend it in front of the withers. We must not loosen the muscles in front of the withers for we need to build them up on either side of the neck so it is steady in front of
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"Riding courses is still all about finding the canter. Every jump in every situation has a canter that is perfect for that jump. Whether it is a very flimsy looking stile, or very strong looking oxer, off a short turn, away from the entrance gate into a double… With
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"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people." ~ W.C. Fields
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The more leg you regularly keep on your horse, the less they will feel your aid when you try to apply it.
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A horse will respond best to an aid when the rider has the ability to give it smoothy and within the rhythm of the horse's stride.
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The quality of your practice at home dictates your performance at shows. Keep your standards high!
