Dressage Today

16/10/2025

🐴 "I had always been athletic and healthy, but mortality had suddenly become real for me and my loved ones. At the time I remember feeling immense gratitude for my physical self. I really did rejoice daily in my ability to ride these wonderful horses. Prior to the diagnosis, I had always taken how my body worked for granted. That attitude has changed forever."🐴
~ Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Shannon Dueck, on how battling breast cancer transformed her attitude

In our interview with Shannon, she talks about her journey in dressage and how horses helped her though breast cancer and offers advice to other riders who are battling cancer. Click on the link below to read about her experience.

Grand Prix dressage trainer Shannon Dueck discusses horses, happiness and how battling cancer transformed her attitude forever.

14/10/2025

🐴"If you’re on the trail and your horse is worried about something on either side of him, leg yield away from that direction. This puts your aids between your horse and the trouble, provides him with instruction to follow and gives you an idea of how much of his attention is with you."🐴
~ Stephany Fish Crossman, on how to incorporate dressage movements while trail riding to reduce your horse's anxiety and improve your partnership

Getting your horse out of the dressage arena and into nature provides many benefits to his training and health. Click on the link in the Comments below for Stephany Fish Crossman's favorite movements for the trail to help instill confidence in her dressage partners.

13/10/2025

🐴"It’s very common for riders to try harder when something isn’t happening. We get into that desperate feeling, and that doesn’t help the horse at all. Quality riding really goes back to basics of rhythm, regularity, the correct contact and the correct outline. Those things, at the end of the day, are what gets the points in a test."🐴
~ Chrissa Hoffman, on how to improve communication with your dressage horse

Click on the link in the Comments below for Hoffman's 15 tips on improved communication to better the partnership you share with your horse.

📸 Stephanie J. Ruff

10/10/2025

🐴 From Fetlock to Forehead: Your Complete Guide to Body Clipping🐴

Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like your horse still had his sleek summer coat, but all of a sudden, he’s gone wooly mammoth. Clipping your horse's winter coat simplifies grooming and saves hours of cooling out time after riding.

Top professional groom Emma Ford walks you through the body-clipping process and offers expert tips to produce a beautiful clip for the show ring. Click on the link below to brush up on your body-clipping skills!

Clipping your horse's winter coat simplifies grooming and saves hours of cooling out time after riding. Top professional groom Emma Ford walks you through the body-clipping process and offers expert tips to produce a beautiful clip for the show ring.

09/10/2025

🎤🐴 NEW Dressage Today Podcast: "Imposter Syndrome" With Dr. Wendy Rice 🎤🐴

In this DT Podcast, Aviva and Stephany chat with psychologist Wendy Rice, founder of The A.D.D. Equestrian, on how to overcome negative thought processes that can affect your riding and communication with your horse.

PLUS, Aviva answers an “Ask the L” question from listener Sarah, who asked what she should do if her horse does a flying change in a Second Level test instead of the proscribed movement. Click on the link below to listen!

Aviva and Stephany chat with psychologist Wendy Rice, founder of The A.D.D. Equestrian, on how to overcome negative thought processes that can affect your riding and communication with your horse.

08/10/2025

🐴 DT GALLOP POLL!🐴 We're curious: Are you currently in the market for a new dressage partner or anticipate horse shopping in the near future?

If you are looking for a new horse, what qualities top your priority list?

08/10/2025

🐴 OTTBs Ready to Show Off Their Dressage Talent at the Annual Thoroughbred Makeover🐴

Click on the link below to learn how The Thoroughbred Makeover has been working to provide off-track Thoroughbreds with second careers for more than a decade and about this year's competition, kicking off on October 8.

For more than a decade, The Thoroughbred Makeover has been providing off-track Thoroughbreds with second careers in dressage and other disciplines. Learn more about this unique event and the 2025 competition, kicking off on October 8.

07/10/2025

🐴"Knowing how to lead the rhythm not only enables you to ride more powerful steps into your horse and give each gait more impulsion, it also enables you to calm down an excited horse and encourage a lazy horse. By merely changing the rhythm of your seat, you can also ride transitions between gaits with seemingly invisible aids."🐴
~ Susanne von Dietze, on the secret behind creating a springy trot

Click on the link below for von Dietze's advice on how to create and maintain rhythm to produce a springy trot.

Equestrian biomechanics' expert Susanne von Dietze explains how creating and maintaining rhythm will allow your horse to produce a springy trot.

06/10/2025

🐴 MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY!🐴 AnnA Buffini talks about the importance of regularly incorporating lateral work into your horse's training routine.

Click on the link in the Comments below to learn how to utilize lateral work to bring out the best in your dressage horse with Buffini's essential suppling exercises.

05/10/2025

🐴“Supporting the fight against breast cancer has long been part of who we are at Standlee. Each year, we are reminded that this battle affects the people standing right beside us, in our own barns, homes and communities. These pink bales are a reminder that together, we can fight for a future without breast cancer.”🐴
~ Jessica Wright, Standlee VP of Marketing, on the company's new pink-bale campaign to support breast cancer research and awareness in the equestrian community

In an effort to fuel both horses and hope, Standlee Forage's iconic green Grab & Go bales are turning pink this October. Click on the link below to learn more about Standlee's fifth annual breast-cancer awareness campaign and how you can help make a difference.

In an effort to fuel both horses and hope, Standlee Forage's iconic green Grab & Go bales are turning pink to support breast cancer research and promote awareness among the equestrian community.

03/10/2025

🐴"At the FEI level, if the test calls for a transition at a letter, you want to make it right when you hit the letter, so it looks clean and beautiful and the judge can clearly see the change. At Training Level, the change can occur anywhere from the horse’s nose to his hindquarters, because you’re not going to be as accurate at that stage."🐴
~ Aviva Nebesky, explaining transition accuracy expectations through the levels

In this new Ask the L, Aviva answers a rider's question about exactly where she should make a transition when called for at a specific letter. Click on the link below to learn what's expected at your level.

In this Ask the L, dressage trainer and judge Aviva Nebesky answers a rider's question about exactly where she should make a transition when called for at a specific letter.