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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"Lightness sounds very good, if it is light, but it is better if it is not too light because a horse that is too light in the hand is more difficult to ride than a horse that is a little bit heavy on the hand. Okay we always have
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Timid horses often love a consistent routine. Bolder/braver horses often need more variety in their training to prevent boredom.
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The horse is not capable of true collection when their muscles are tense. No matter how hard you try to achieve collection, it will elude you until you can first achieve loose, relaxed, and swinging muscles.
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Always use both reins together when steering, especially when turning between jumps. Using one rein only turns the horse's nose - but using both reins turn the horse at the shoulders, which means his body will more accurately follow your chosen line.
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"Through the energy of impulsion mobilized from within himself, the horse is now prepared, in his physique and emotional attentiveness, to respond instantly to the slightest indications to change his tempo, posture, direction or gait." ~ Waldemar Seunig
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Tightly clamped thighs make you slightly lose the depth of your seat in Dressage, and can drive your horse's back down into a hollow position.
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"The purpose of dressage is to enhance our ability to control our horses; hopefully, after a long period of consistent training, our horses will calmly and generously place their forces at our disposal." ~ Jimmy Wofford
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"May every rider strive for a better connection with his or her horse by observation, closer understanding and patient groundwork. It matters not what discipline is pursued, only that there be a perfectly balanced union between the two – man and horse – so that the two become one." ~ Frederic
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Jack LeGoff on roundness ~ "If you have the body, you have the head - if you have the head you don't (necessarily) have the body."
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Riders have to be in self carriage before they can expect their horses to be in self carriage.
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If you let your hot horse train you to take your leg off, they will likely be over-reactive when you need to put your leg back on to give an aid.
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"The techniques you use for relaxation, stretching, walk breaks, things like that, a more competitive or nervous rider doesn’t pay enough attention to that. They think, 'I’ve got a test to do so I won’t keep stretching him until he’s relaxed, I’ll just
