I have been riding dressage for a couple of years now, but have not done any testing as I have found myself in a situation with two green horses, so the process has been slow as I too am a bit green. I hope to muster up the courage and prepare for my first training level dressage test next spring as this is what I'd like to do...just for fun

i just started riding dressage last year, before that only western riding. i recently purchased a friesian gelding who i am hoping to show training level next year!

I started in hunter/jumper, did things like handy hunter and hunter pace, equitation on the flat and over fences then moved on to 3 day eventing. I also did some fox hunting (fake foxes!) and it was during this time I was really introduced to dressage. I am now hoping to concentrate with my new horse on dressage as she seems to be really keen on it! She too is very young (3 this year) so we are just starting. But it is alot of fun! I can't wait to learn more and start showing!

Hi folks...I'm also a dressage newbie and glad to find this group.

I am still struggling to learn to post on the right diagonals...I searched on here and also on Youtube as I'd like to find a video I could watch that would help me.

I took dressage lessons about a year and am planning to start back up as soon as I find an instructor near my new barn. But I want to get back to practicing as I feel I've forgotten all I learned.

Anyone know of any good videos online I can watch to refresh myself on posting on the right diagonals?

Told ya I was VERY new to this!

Thanks,

I have only just started dressage lesson as my instructor feels my horses are suited for it. I hope to try a show or two this summer. I have two rather green Gypsy Vanner mares - I think it is good training for them and they do seem to enjoy it.

I'm really glad to find this group... currently, I'm only able to get out to the barn once or twice a week, so I've been reading up on dressage tips to really make my lessons count.

Hi Tracey,
To post on the correct diagonal, go up when the horse's outside shoulder (and leg) is forward and sit when it is back. You can see which is forward just by looking down and one will be ahead of the other. Let me know if this helps

Tracey,
What helped me learn to post on the correct diagonal without constantly staring at the horse's shoulder (trust me, I was looking down all the time, not good!) was to sit for a few trot steps before posting. That way, the motion lifts you up and sets you on the right diagonal. Hope this helps!

Hi, I am fairly new to dressage and have found lots of help competing with Interdressage.com. You download the test, learn it, get someone to video you, upload to web and they are marked and commented on. The comments are really indepth and helpful and the rosettes are gorgeous! :-) Great way to guage progress if you can't get to shows etc etc

Thanks for the tip,Sarah. i'm going to check that out....I can use all the help I can get!

Hello
I have been taking dressage lessons for about two years. Problem is not having a place to practice at home. Started on school horses and found that each horse had various levels of understanding while I was just beginning too. That was difficult. When the instructor asked for leg yield sometimes it was great other times a struggle depending on which mount.

Now I'm using my own horse, at least we have a learning curve.
I'm hoping that I'll be able to ride a test someday. Still learning lots and trying to get my horse ready for the intro stuff.
I'll have an arena this year and CAN'T WAIT so I may be riding everyday.

I'm trying to decide which saddle to purchase for my horse's best fit and my own.
I tried the Courbette, County Competitor and HDR synthetic from my instructor's tack room,(that I liked. Also the Stubben, Kieffer and Wintek that I really didn't like - too hard.
Got any personal tips. I am thinking that now I don't want all the thigh block (too much ) and liked the HDR Pro Lexus.

what is everyone else riding and why???

My husband rides a County Competitor -too wide in the twist for me. but the saddle is great on the horse's back. all my horses are wide and we can see they do feel comfortable in that saddle.

HELLO EVERYBODY!!

Does any one have any good tips on how to get a very stiff horse round and on the bit? I can only seem to do this with a pelham... and my poor horse gets really mad!

More information is needed to direct your enquiry regarding getting a stiff horse on the bit. Stiff horses are often ridden by stiff riders! Most riders starting their dressage journey do not recognize the beggining stages of of "on the bit" so the horse gets no reward for trying so the horse gives up. Then ususally the rider gets very frustrated. Then the gadgets start being used and things spiral downhill from there.

Thanks slc2, that help with that, even though I am now using an Elevator, and he has been good, so I might actually go back to a double jointed snaffle. I also got a figure-8 noseband, and that has helped a lot! Thanks!

I have a technique to share,
I learned from my instructor.
We have been riding with Ellin Daum, she was a student of Jean Claude Racinet. He was in Indianapolis about two years ago for a clinic and I watched him ride several horses with the master's touch. He was impressive, gentle and able to correct any issue the horse/rider had, with the simplest of corrections.

We get our horses relaxed with flexions before we mount. We get the horse on the bit by flexions from the saddle, I mean... supporting on the outside rein-so the contact is light but has real contact, then close your fingers on the rein on the inside and hold until the horse releases the jaw and at that moment you also release the inside rein-and outside so the horse is able to feel the bit drop and then will follow with his head and take contact again.

I have been working my mares like this for months, neither of them would relax with flexions at first, now we are communicating and both know what the flexion, on the inside rein means.

I rode a school horse who could understand the meaning by simple squeezes with my thumb on the rein, she would drop to seek the contact. We did wonderful diagonals with her contact on the bit on the longest rein-at the buckle.

I think it has been the most difficult concept for one of my horses to get, she carries her head high and tucks back to avoid the bit. She now will release the bit, drop her head to the level I pick by my release of the reins, usually she picks up her head again within a few steps, my instructor says to keep doing the same method until she holds the position until I request something different.

The technique is also in the book by Michael Schaefer, Right from the Start. Learning the flexions is great for the horse

I just invited my instructor to join Barnmice for everyone to enjoy.

Hello to all!
Brenda, you did a wonderful job explaining a complex procedure. The defining book on flexions is by Phillipe Karl: Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage. He has made a thorough study of Baucher and put it in terms and pictures for all to understand. It is a good read although somewhat difficult if you are not initiated into the lightness mind set. Have fun!!

I noticed the groups comments about getting horses "on-the-bit" and just wanted to share my experience with my young horse.
First I'd like to recommend the video, "On the Bit" by Sylvia Loch, for clarification of exactly what the term means. Actually I think the term "through" is a better description of what we are trying to achieve. In reality what happens with the head and neck of the horse plays a minor part in the phenomena of being on the bit.
When I began training my horse he was extremely resistant; head tossing, locking his jaw, and lots of other unpleasant behaviors. I found that his saddle was a poor fit, so I replaced it with a George Gullickson custom saddle. I also notices that he was stiff laterally so began including a lot of stretching exercises in the warm up. This made a huge difference, (remember your horse has to be bent (laterally)to be on-the-bit) if they are stiff and having trouble bending you're just going to get resistance. There are some great books out there on horse stretches. I'm not going to say my youngster is truely "on-the-bit" but he is certainly working long and low, and has moments of self-carriage, which is right where he should be for this stage of his training.

Hi again, I really liked your comment Laura, you mentioned the whole horse is part of the exercise and the most important part of your comment, at this stage of training. I learned more from my past two years in training with Ellin than any previous teacher. She keeps of keenly aware of the level of ability of our athlete, we are in training and eventually our muscles and those of our horse partner will develop so they can maintain the collection we want.
I watched a clinician - it was upsetting- she had the rider pull the horses head down(the worst) and told her to kick the horse to get it moving forward. This was a young TB recently off the track with no other experience but running. Too much, all wrong, poor horse.

I just completed my 2nd lesson. I finally got over my fear of dismounting a 16.1 H warmblood, I am used to getting off paso finos, LOL. I am so excited to learn more Dressage! (rocking hot colors, going through my 2nd childhood)
http://www.ValentinasEquineNews.com

Hi Folks,
We have started a little dressage club over at RCRA. We hope to hold lot's of evening fun events/lectures...We are having our first show next Wed 31st at 5pm. It will be a very informal chance for riders to go through their tests in the Main Arena. We are going to have FEI rider Andrea Wetzel judge and hopefully chat with each rider after their test if we have time. It's $20 a test... and $20 for a stall for the evening if you are shipping in.
If you want to come please email Amanda and sign up
info@rcra.ca

RCRA Dressage Club is pleased to present an evening clinic with
WITH TINA BUSSE-IRWIN
April 15 2010 2pm into the evening RCRA
We have seven spots available $95 for RCRA boarders $110 for Ship In's

Tina Busse-Irwin has trained in Germany with Klaus Martin Rath and Holger Muenstermann, as well as Canadian Olympian Evi Strasser.
She has also ridden with Heike Kemmer and most recently with 6 time Olympian Robert Dover.
Tina and her long time mount, Amicelli have a long list of accomplishments at the Grand Prix level. They have been Short listed for the Canadian Team for 2008, 2009 and 2010. The pair won both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at Blainville CDI in 2008, as well as competing at the World Masters Dressage competition in Wellington Fl in 2009.
If you want to come please email Amanda and sign up
info@rcra.ca

OPEN HOUSE at
EQUESTRIAN DREAMS
SUNDAY APRIL 25TH, 2010 FROM 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM


DRESSAGE RIDING SCHOOL
DRESSAGE KIDS - DRESSAGE FOR ADULTS

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS



Please visit our website for more details - www.equestriandreams.ca

SCHEDULE

10:00 - 12:00 - Training Level to Prix St. George Demonstrations

12:30 - 3:00 - various riding and lunge demonstrations, Child lunge lesson Demonstration, Adult student Demonstration

3:00 - 4:00 pm - Driving (Single horse or pony) Demonstration


Boarding, Training, Lessons,
Dressage Riding School, Showing, Sales

499 Campbellville Road, Campbellville, (Freelton for gps directions) Ontario, 905-659-3574

gosh i just love my little mare!! went out to a show, with only 4 days riding in the past 2 weeks cuz the weather was so wet, windy and yuck, and she tried her heart out. no spooks-even though it was windy. just kept on working-even thought the grounds were puddles everywhere!! shes a neat little horse!!

Hi Folks, for those of you who are in trailering, or driving distance of Accord NY(approx. 100 mi. NW of Manhattan), we are sponsoring author and dressage trainer Mike Schaffer for a clinic on Sept. 4-5. Mike is known for his ability to break difficult (dressage) concepts down into understandable steps for both horse and rider. The result is a happier, less frustrated, more relaxed pair. Check out his web site and you are guaranteed to fall in love with his methods www.mikeschaffer.com. Contact me at Barnmice about the clinic. Hope to meet you there!

I hope some of you can make it out tomorrow to the kur demo!
I have asked a VERY high profile Canadian dressage rider to pop in and chat a little about riding kurs.
It should be a great informative fun evening.
Even better than watching Bay Watch!



Hi Friends
RCRA as you know has a dressage evening once a month, we have had some great schooling shows with Julie Watchorn, Leah Wilson, Andrea Wetzel judging. It's been great fun!
(next one is Wed Aug 25th)
because RCRA is had a Bronze show last weekend we have decided to do a
kur demo/workshop.
It will start at 6pm at RCRA Wed Aug 4th
$15 to come watch.
Wine will be served! YAY!

I will be hosting the event, my name is Tamara Williamson, My company is called Kurboom,
I have made kurs for many of Canada's top dressage riders including

Belinda Trussell, Jacqueline Brooks, Lee Cross (USA), Tom Dvorak, Naomi Gagnon, Kristy Evans, Daphne Haagmans, Tina Irwin, Neil Ishoy, Sandy Mitchell, Meredith Risk, Andrea Wetzel and Leah Wilson to name a few.

I have also been responsible for the last three years making kur's for the Royal Winter Fair including the Quadrille under lights and last years reining/dressage exhibition.

Please tell your friends, barnmates and students... To come learn how to make a kur.
RCRA dressage club ROCKs
Please email Amanda amanda@rcra.ca to reserve a spot.

Cheers
Tamara