From http://essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

I thought it would be useful to write a post on marketing versus self-promotion because I often hear “self-promotion” used to negatively describe anyone trying to “promote” their training business.

From http://essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

Saddle fit can be one of the most challenging obstacles we face as horse owners. It is both an art and a science, and if you talk to 7 saddle fitters and you will get 7 opinions. Not only does the saddle need to fit the horse, it needs to fit the rider, and finding a marriage of the two can be a frustrating, expensive, and lengthy process.

In this series I will address some of…

From essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

When I decided to refocus my riding to dressage, I made a valiant effort to find someone to give me regular longe lessons. Shockingly, this was much more difficult than I had expected! I would hear things like, “you’ve been riding all your life, why do you need a longe lesson?”…

From essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

If you don’t currently exercise outside of riding, I highly recommend it. While I completely understand it is tough to imagine doing anything other than crash on the couch after a 12+ hour day, I’ve found that it has made a huge difference in my body control and body awareness while I’m riding.

As a groom or working student when you are lifting buckets,…

From essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

I hope you read this title, made a guffaw, and said, “What?! No ride is ever a bust!”

And, honestly, I agree with you. No ride is ever a bust, and it is the difficult ones that often teach us the most. This doesn’t change the fact that it is tough to…

From essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

A colleague of mine used to love the phrase “managing expectations.” I’ve found this mindset has uses in many areas of our lives, especially when teaching and training.

As riders, we must check our expectations at the door and “let the horse be your calendar,” as Charles de Kunffy says. As teachers, it is imperative to manage the expectations of our…

From essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

I’ll admit, I haven’t been feeling ready for show season. Between my struggles to find a saddle (stay tuned for a saddle fit post coming soon!), the looming financial toll, and the fact that the test movements were not confirmed to where I want them, I could use another few months!

I have been fortunate to…

New post on http://essentialequestrian.wordpress.com!

From essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

I have always said people were the most difficult part about being involved with horses, and I stand by that statement. My dad and I have affectionately named this quirk "HPS," standing for Horse Person Syndrome. In a sport where so much emotion, pressure, money, fears, expectations, etc., are a part of the daily…

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Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Life…