Dressage Today

12/11/2025

🐴"Make sure you're focused on asking your horse to step backward in a slow, clear rhythm. Many riders make the mistake of moving into the rein-back too quickly, causing the horse to fling himself backward, out of balance and, hence, crooked."🐴
~ Linda Schultz, on how to correct a crooked rein-back

Click on the link below to ensure you're using the correct symmetrical aids to execute a proper and straight rein-back.

Use this training advice from dressage professional Linda Schultz to improve your rein-back.

11/11/2025

🐴"Longer legs and open hips will enable you to ride with more influence to enhance your horse's movement and find a better connection. Then, you will have more presence and should be able to carry your hands more upright to start building a framework of the aids."🐴
~ Equestrian biomechanics' expert Susanne von Dietze

Click on the link below for her advice on how to lengthen your legs and relax your hips to improve your horse's movement.

In this Clinic with Susanne von Dietze, she explains how longer legs and open hips will help you ride with more influence to enhance your horse's movement and find a better connection.

10/11/2025

🐴"The most important consideration in managing a horse showing signs of arthritis is tailoring his exercise program to promote his longevity. This means working him hard enough to gain the benefits of movement but not so much that the inflammation in his joints increases and makes the situation worse."🐴
~ A. Kent Allen, DVM, on how to manage arthritis in sporthorses

If your active dressage horse is facing an arthritis diagnosis, you don't have to abandon your show goals. Click on the link below for a range of medications, new therapies and management options that can help keep him comfortable and competing.

If your active dressage horse is facing arthritis, you don't have to abandon your show goals. We look at a range of medications, new therapies and management options that can help keep him comfortable and competing.

09/11/2025

🐴 💵 Creative Ways to Extend Your Horse-Show Budget! 💵🐴 You love and live to show and can’t think of anything you’d rather spend your hard-earned money on. But we’re passionate about a pricey sport that only seems to get more expensive.

If you're facing a tighter budget, you don't have to abandon your competition goals. Click on the link below for some simple and resourceful ways you can save to maximize your show dollars.

You don't have give up on your competition goals if you're facing a tighter budget. There are a number of simple and resourceful ways you can save to stretch your show dollars.

07/11/2025

🐴“As we work without stirrups, I want you to be much more proactive with your legs and work to influence your horse’s power center. As you focus on keeping your hands quiet, pretend you have a drink in your hand and don’t want to spill it. The only part of your hand that should be moving is your fingers."🐴
~ FEI judge Axel Steiner, on working without stirrups to quiet your hands and develop a secure seat

FEI judge Axel Steiner helps a rider move up from First to Second Level by challenging her to ride without stirrups to refine her position, better use her leg aids and activate her core.

Click on the link in the Comments below for Steiner's tips on riding sans stirrups to hone your position and ultimately produce a better frame.

06/11/2025

🎤🐴 NEW DRESSAGE TODAY PODCAST: Kathy Connelly, Part 2 🎤🐴

In this DT Podcast, Aviva and Stephany talk with international dressage rider, trainer and coach Kathy Connelly again. Kathy shares her many insights into the sport and discusses what qualities make good dressage students and horse people.

Aviva and Stephany also catch up on what’s been going on in their respective dressage lives, including an interesting conversation about Stephany’s Fourth Level freestyle with Dante. Additionally, Aviva tackles a challenging Ask the L question from Cass about her horse being behind the bridle in the show ring and provides helpful insights to address this issue.

Click on the link below to listen! And as always, if you enjoy our podcasts, please like and share them on social media.

In our second conversation with international dressage rider, trainer and coach Kathy Connelly, she shares her many insights into the sport and discusses what qualities make good dressage students and horse people.

05/11/2025

🐴❓Earlier this month, we asked how many bridle blunders you could spot in this picture—and we appreciate your keen eyes! Proper bridle fit is crucial for your horse’s comfort and to ensure effective communication with your rein aids.❓🐴

(NOTE: Like our previous “What’s Wrong With This Picture?” poll, we absolutely staged this poorly fitted bridle during a photo shoot—and Kapri, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Leia Zirogiannis, certainly wasn’t ridden with her bridle out of whack. But she was a good sport in posing for the pic despite background distractions!)

Click on the link in the Comments below to learn more about these common bridling faux pas, how to avoid them and why proper bridle fit is essential.

04/11/2025

🐴“We understand this change is controversial. Although injuries from safety stirrups are statistically uncommon according to our data, they can be significant and are preventable with the selection of certain styles. We believe this change to the rule allows members to use a breakaway style stirrup if they prefer while reducing the risk of unintended harm.”🐴
~ David O’Connor, US Equestrian Chief of Sport, after US Equestrian announces new rules on safety stirrups

After reviewing recent US Equestrian data regarding rider injury due to certain safety-stirrup designs, rule changes on stirrup use will go into effect on December 1. Click on the link below to learn more about the changes and why they're being implemented.

US Equestrian announces new rules on safety stirrups after reviewing recent data on rider injury due to certain safety-stirrup designs. Learn more about the changes and why they're being implemented.

04/11/2025

🐴“It’s those amazing moments of partnership and your horse doing it because he wants to—not because he’s forced to—that make dressage incredible. This beautiful communion is what gets me up every day and why I dedicate all my time to these animals.”🐴
~ USDF gold medalist J.J. Tate at the 2025 USDF Trainers' Conference

In our exclusive, behind-the-scenes' interview with J.J. Tate at this year's conference, she talks about committing to the classical principles of dressage, her special partnership with Denali and why she's dedicated her life to horses.

Click on the link in the Comments below to check out the full interview and to learn how you can watch Tate's first training session with Christine Traurig at the 2025 conference.

03/11/2025

🐴 MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY!🐴 Equestrian biomechanics expert Stephany Fish Crossman explains how small position changes and body awareness can improve your dressage horse's performance.

Click on the link in the Comments below for her tips on how to perfect any weaker areas of your position. You might be surprised to discover a noticeable improvement in your horse's way of going!

02/11/2025

🐴 Feeling confident and comfortable in your riding apparel could have more of an effect on your riding than you might think. Whether you're more top-heavy, bottom-heavy or straight-lined, our dressage fashion pro shares her advice on selecting the right type of breeches for your body shape.🐴

Click on the link below to find the best breeches for your body!

Personal stylist Barbara Biernat offers advice on the best breeches for your shape to look great in and out of the ring.

31/10/2025

🐴👻 "Given time, patience and proper training, you can 'de-spook' your horse to some degree. But never punish a horse for spooking. Riding the horse actively forward is one thing, but if he shies and is then punished, he will learn to associate the scary object with being punished, making him more afraid and increasing the potential for a more violent spook."👻🐴
~ Cindi Wylie, on how to manage a spooky horse

Here, Wylie helps a reader understand her horse's spooky behavior and explains how she can use different aids to redirect his attention and give him confidence in scary situations. Click on the link below for her savvy tips and Happy Halloween 2025! 👻🎃

Cindi Wylie helps a reader understand her horse's spooky behavior and explains how time, patience and proper training can give him confidence in scary situations.