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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You must train your horse to understand that he should stay at whatever speed you put him in until told otherwise. Remember that every time you allow your horse to make a decision about his speed or energy level (or you don't realize that he has done so)
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Nearly every rider will experience plateaus in their training. Only those that have the patience to keep a good attitude while pushing through them will ever get there.
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Whether flatwork or jumping, you never want to look at any time like you would flip off the back end of the horse if someone cut your reins.
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Moving the bit in the horse's mouth to keep him from bracing against it is preventing the symptom without addressing the underlying cause.
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"The inside rein must always be ready with a good offer." ~ Reiner Klimke
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In a movement like shoulder in, where the horse is likely to try to evade the difficulty of bending his body by swinging his quarters out, it can sometimes be helpful to bring your dressage whip forward, and touch the horse with it right in front of the saddle. This
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“You cannot combat a mistake by making another one. Stay focused in the present and make the round the best you can be.” ~ McLain Ward
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“Why not ride your dressage movements out in the open, in the field or the back paddock? Chances are your horse will be brighter, more forward, and focused.” ~ Michael Jung
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Lightness is not the looseness of the contact, it's the way the horse moves over the ground.
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Always keep the cheeky type of horse busy by giving them lots of little tasks to do, or they may look for a way to amuse themselves.
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There are some trainers who teach "lifting" the horse with your hands on the takeoff of the jump, to assist the horse off the ground. This is somewhat of a slippery slope, as the more you offer to lift the horse, the more the horse will rely on
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Balance and rhythm go hand in hand. Focus on maintaining an even rhythm, as every time the rhythm changes, the balance changes.
