Category Archives: Dressage

Difficult and safe is always better than easy and dangerous

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Karen

Maybe it’s my background in Pony Club, or maybe because I just hate the thought of rushing a broken rider to the nearest emergency room, but I cringe whenever I see someone adjust their stirrups in an unsafe manner. There’s a … Continue reading →

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WEG Winner

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Karen

Here’s the video of Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro winning the musical freestyle (after already having topped the team and individual tests!) at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France. http://www.topdressage.tv/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=190&t=8560 Go Blueberry!

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Professor Sport

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Karen

Here’s an early-semester sight that always warms my heart: a group of “keepers” organizing, cleaning and labeling grooming equipment for the horses in their charge. That’s Professor Sport (Lamborghini) supervising the work. Sport’s a 27-year-old Trakehner gelding who’s been at … Continue reading →

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How to hold the reins

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Karen

One of my biggest rider position pet peeves is open fingers. Open fingers are a misguided attempt to be “soft” on the horse’s mouth, but when riders open their fingers they remove responsibility of suppleness from the rest of the arm. … Continue reading →

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Rider Position with Kyra Kyrklund

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Karen

Kyra Kyrklund is a dressage god. You should listen to everything she has to say (plus, she has a cool Swedish accent). Here’s a clip from an older USDF Symposium with Kyra discussing effective rider position. Kyra calls the rider’s … Continue reading →

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Long and low — my favorite exercise

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Karen

I am a huge believer in riding horses in “long and low.” I think it keeps them happy and sound. It’s not an easy exercise for the rider, nor is it something that a horse who’s previously been improperly ridden … Continue reading →

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Organize your upper body

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Karen

Remember, your horse will only perform as well as you do. Here’s a good article on a few upper-body control exercises using Pilates, from the September 2012 USDF Connection magazine. http://www.usdf.org/EduDocs/The-Rider/Upper_Body1.pdf

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Charles deKunffy: Training sessions: physical, mental and spiritual

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Karen

Sit down, turn off all distractions, and watch this 5-minute video of Charles deKunffy talking about the dynamics of a riding lesson. “An ever changing, dynamic, complex effort” between rider, horse and teacher. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10102188852793263

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Valegro at six years old

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Karen

Okay, so apparently not only is Carl Hester one of the greatest horsemen and dressage trainers of his time, but he also can predict the future. Follow the link to watch a fun clip of Carl talking about Valegro and … Continue reading →

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The ten habits of highly effective dressage riders

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Karen

This has been going around Facebook for a little while, but I thought it was good enough to point to again. The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Dressage Riders http://watapama.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/the-ten-habits-of-highly-effective-dressage-riders/ I was going to pull out a couple quotes as … Continue reading →

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