A challenge in learning classical riding is refinement. We watch videos and read about "invisible aids" and dream of being that good "one day." We might sign up for a clinic with a classical rider, one famous for coming from somewhere amazing or studying under someone legendary, but once we get there, there's frustration. The [...]
Most dressage riders who’ve read any of the training manuals used by competition organizations (like USDF, FEI, or the German Federation) are familiar with the training pyramid. Rhythm, suppleness (formerly rhythm), contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection make up the six levels of the pyramid. But why are these in the order they are? What’s the [...]
Balance is a frequently discussed topic in dressage (and even much of riding in general), but a lot of people struggle with what it actually means for everyday riding. After all, a horse has four legs; they should be naturally better balanced than humans, right? However, horses can struggle with their balance and develop a [...]
We need air to breathe, and yet, when we get on a horse, we often forget to breathe. Whether this comes from nerves, concentration, or muscular effort, it can cause a lot of problems. At best, we can become tense, at worst, we can risk getting dizzy. But how we breathe makes a difference. Shallow breaths [...]
It is a cornerstone of classical riding philosophy that the relationship with the horse is based on trust, not fear. As Pluvinel wrote: "You can never rely on a horse that is educated by fear. There will always be something that he fears more than you. But, when he trusts you, he will ask you, [...]
I once heard a sobering statistic, and I doubt it has changed much. Some 80% of USDF members ride at Training Level, and something close to 80% of that group believe they never can or will get past that. That's over half of the members of the USDF believing they will never ride lateral movements, [...]
Classical riding scholars and masters frequently repeat that the art is based on only natural movements, but is that true? Where do we see horses perform a half-pass or shoulder-in in nature? Or airs above the ground? Surely these are just things that humans have fabricated? The fascinating thing is all of the classical exercises [...]
When we ride, we use the term "aids" a lot to describe the ways we communicate with the horse. We have leg aids, rein aids, seat aids, and "unnatural" aids like voice (debated whether that's natural or unnatural), whip, spur, etc. But why do we use the term "aids" instead of "cues" or "commands?" I [...]
In this day and age, many (if not most) people send off horses to be started by "colt starters" or "cowboys," feeling that this is the best way to get horses started and prepared for their riding career and that these trainers are tough enough to be prepared for the insanity that young horses can [...]
This is a massive ethics question that is raised not infrequently. Those who are against horses being ridden equate these majestic creatures to slaves of human will. But is that always the case? Can horses actually enjoy and seek out being ridden? In my experience, the answer is yes. I have had a few that [...]
