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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Remember that your "working" trot or canter should show a consistent speed and tempo throughout your Dressage test. It is a common mistake, for example, for the rider to let the trot after the walk be much quieter than the trot immediately after the canter. And this is
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From Facebook fan Deena Cahill ~ "If your horse is really tense when riding him, try riding while having a short conversation about happy things with someone else. You will be surprised how relaxed your horse becomes when your body naturally relaxes!"
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Lateral work teaches the horse how to respond to your leg aids by engaging a hind leg.
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"Connection is the mirror of the entire horse, it’s the mirror of his balance, and it is a mirror of the degree of collection the horse is able to offer at this point in time." ~ Susanne Miesner
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Always keep bend in your knees and elbows. If either become straight at any time, that limb will become rigid, and unable to follow the horses movement.
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"Generally riders do not pay enough attention to the geometry of the circle. The circle is a line of equal curvature and, to ask for it, the rider advances the outside shoulder taking care to keep the contact of the outside rein, which determines the circle rather than by
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"The back is the bridge in the horse, and it can only be there if the hind leg is really working. The rider has to influence the hind legs to build that bridge, otherwise it is a horse in three pieces, back, front and you somewhere in the middle.
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Keep your outside leg down and back when riding the shoulder in.
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"It's perfecting the small jumps that makes the big ones easy." ~ Graham Winn
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The more a horse relaxes within a lateral movement, the more gymnastic value the exercise will have.
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Horses usually try to compensate for the lack of strength in their back and haunches by seeking support from the rider's hands. So if your horse does this, you might want to consider adding some strength training to your horse's regime.
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A calm, attentive horse begins with a calm, attentive handler.
