As you move up through the dressage levels, the circles that you are asked to perform will become smaller in diameter and you will, eventually, be asked to perform 10-meter circles. Although these may sound straightforward, there’s more to this movement than you might at first think; both in riding it and the benefits it delivers. So, in this podcast episode, we’re going to look at how 10-meter circles can improve your horse’s way of going, what other dressage movements require 10-meter...

A poking nose is a common fault that is easily seen, even with an untrained eye; the horse goes around with his nose literally poking out in front of him and his chin lifted. It’s an issue that is usually observed at the lower dressage levels and with horses that are just beginning their dressage career. So, in this podcast episode, we’re going to clarify where your horse’s nose should be, why a poking nose is not desirable, and we’re going to tell you what not to do about it before giving...

If you ever receive the comment ‘lateral walk’ on your dressage score sheet, this should not be brushed aside. A lateral walk indicates a fundamental issue with the horse’s walk rhythm and, in extreme cases, it can be impossible to correct. This fault is usually created unknowingly and unintentionally by the rider and can result in a permanently damaged walk pace. So, in this podcast episode, we’re going to discuss the qualities that make up a correct walk, clarify exactly what a lateral...

Getting your warm-up right is a key element in producing your best performance in the dressage arena. Unfortunately, there’s no set time to suit every horse and situation; if you don’t allow long enough, your horse may be too sharp and tense, and if you overdo it, he might run out of steam halfway through the test. So, in this podcast episode, we’re going to identify things that you should not do during your warm-up, cover eight factors that can influence the length of your warm-up, provide...

In order to use your legs correctly they must be in the correct position and it, therefore, follows that your stirrups must be the correct length. If you have a balanced seat with your legs in the correct alignment, you will be able to give your horse more effective and more refined aids. This will enable your horse to stay in front of your leg as well as improve his responsiveness to both your legs and your seat. So, in this podcast episode, we’re going to cover what is a correct dressage...

Being able to offer your horse the correct rein length is essential if you are to be successful as a dressage rider. To offer the horse a pleasant contact, your hands must be carried correctly, and it, therefore, follows that your reins must be the correct length. So, in this podcast episode, we’re going to cover what makes a correct contact, what happens when your reins are too long or too short, how to establish the correct rein length, and when to change your rein length. (Please note:...

The canter is probably the trickiest gait for a young horse to master in the confines of the dressage arena, as the engagement and balance are still being established. However, it’s in the competitive dressage rider’s best interest to focus on the quality of this gait since so many test movements are based on the canter, such as canter pirouettes, tempi changes, half-passes and zig-zags. So, in this in-depth podcast episode, we take a look at what makes a correct canter, how to ride the...

Rein-back is an exercise that is often problematic for riders, yet it’s a very useful one to teach your horse, especially if you encounter gates to open whilst hacking out! Before attempting to teach your horse to rein-back, it’s important that you understand what you are aiming to achieve, especially if you intend to ride the exercise in a dressage test; it’s a tricky exercise that can be a real mark-loser when not ridden well. So, in this podcast episode, we’re going to cover the benefits...

When discussing the aids, many people think solely of their hands and legs when, arguably, the most important aid is your seat because the biggest avenue of communication between you and your horse is through your bum to your horse’s back. That being said, your seat is one of the most difficult aids to master, it’s also (in our opinion) one of the more difficult aids to explain and teach since so much of a good seat depends on the rider having a good level of feel. So, in this podcast...

As the highest level a horse and rider can reach in the competitive sport of dressage, Grand Prix is the ultimate goal of many. Although a standard dressage test is less than 10-minutes, there are a lot of factors that go into making a winning combination that can successfully climb the dressage levels. Within this podcast episode, we take a look at the individual requirements of both horse and rider, the journey to Grand Prix, and the additional resources that are needed to help you get...

As ‘the middle pace’ between the walk and the canter, the trot is the pace most people get stuck in riding endlessly around the arena. Sadly, not only does this do very little to improve the pace and the horse’s overall way of going, but it also encourages the horse to switch off, drop behind the leg, and become inattentive to the rider’s aids. So, in this in-depth podcast episode, we take a look at what makes a correct trot, how to ride the trot, and how you can improve this pace. (Please...

It is our mission to encourage more riders into the world of dressage, and for that to happen, we need to make the sport easier to understand. We believe that this course is our next best step in doing just that. The Complete Online Dressage course has over 60 easy-to-understand presentations breaking down the theory of dressage, taking you step-by-step through the levels. In this podcast episode, we explain what our aim was when creating this course, and what is and is not...

The leg-yield is a useful exercise that you can use to help teach your horse to move sideways away from your leg. It’s also great in helping to loosen your horse’s back and improving his mental and physical relaxation. This aids in improving your horse’s suppleness and elasticity, leading to more expressive and regular paces. So, in this podcast episode, we go through the benefits of the leg-yield, how to ride and improve upon this movement, and share with you some of the different...

If you want to be more than a passenger on your horse’s back, you need to sit in a position that allows you to give aids lightly but effectively, without hindering your horse’s movement or losing balance. In short, the more correct your position is, the more effective and balanced you will be as a rider, and the easier it will be for you to progress through the dressage levels. So, in this in-depth podcast, we cover how your position affects your balance, how to “stand” on your horse...

The walk is a pace that is often forgotten about. Very few riders spend time in their regular schooling sessions actually training the horse to walk well. This is a very costly omission given that the walk movements during a dressage test are often worth double marks! So, in this in-depth podcast, we take a look at what makes a correct walk, how to ride the walk, and how you can improve it. (Please note: This is an updated and expanded version of our previous 'About the Horse's Walk Gait'...

Dressage is not merely about teaching your horse to perform “tricks,” nor is its sole purpose to compete and win rosettes. So then, what is the point of riding all those circles? Well, in this updated podcast episode, we are going to explain why. (Please note: This is an updated and expanded version of our previous 'What is the Point of Dressage?' episode) ------------- If you would rather read the article on our blog, click here -...

In this updated episode, we take a look at collection within the dressage scales of training, the purpose of collection, collection within dressage tests, and how to achieve collection correctly. (Please note: This is an updated and expanded version of our previous 'Collection: The Scales of Training - Scale 6' episode) ------------- If you would rather read the article on our blog, click here - https://howtodressage.com/the-scales-of-training/collection/         To view our equestrian...

In this updated episode, we take a look at straightness within the dressage scales of training, why straightness is important, the two types of straightness, and how to achieve straightness. (Please note: This is an updated and expanded version of our previous 'Straightness: The Scales of Training - Scale 5' episode) ------------- If you would rather read the article on our blog, click here - https://howtodressage.com/the-scales-of-training/straightness/         To view our equestrian...

In this updated episode, we take a look at impulsion within the dressage scales of training, discuss how much impulsion you should have, and give you tips on how and when to inject impulsion into your own horse. (Please note: This is an updated and expanded version of our previous 'Impulsion: The Scales of Training - Scale 4' episode) ------------- If you would rather read the article on our blog, click here - https://howtodressage.com/the-scales-of-training/impulsion/         To view our...

In this updated episode, we take a look at contact within the dressage scales of training, where a correct contact comes from, indicators of a good contact, and how to go about establishing a correct contact with your horse. (Please note: This is an updated and expanded version of our previous 'Contact: The Scales of Training - Scale 3' episode) ------------- If you would rather read the article on our blog, click here - https://howtodressage.com/the-scales-of-training/3-contact/      ...

In this updated episode, we take a look at suppleness within the dressage scales of training, why suppleness is important for dressage, how to tell if your horse lacks suppleness, and the four areas of suppleness. (Please note: This is an updated and expanded version of our previous 'Suppleness: The Scales of Training - Scale 2' episode) ------------- If you would rather read the article on our blog, click here - https://howtodressage.com/the-scales-of-training/suppleness/         To view...

In this updated episode, we explore the reasons why rhythm is so important, what makes up a correct rhythm, and what causes an irregular or incorrect rhythm. (Please note: This is an updated and expanded version of our previous 'Rhythm: The Scales of Training - Scale 1' episode) ------------- If you would rather read the article on our blog, click here - https://howtodressage.com/the-scales-of-training/rhythm/         To view our equestrian books and training diaries on Amazon, click here...

Flash nosebands are a dressage-legal piece of tack. They’re popular with many riders and, these days, most bridles come with a flash attachment. However, recently, social media has seen quite a lot of complaints about the use, or misuse, of the flash noseband. In this podcast episode, we take a look at flash nosebands to find out why the flash has such a bad reputation and how this commonly seen item of bridlework should be fitted and used correctly. ------------- If you would rather read...

Travers is a training exercise that is used to improve the horse’s lateral suppleness and longitudinal suppleness, as well as increase the engagement of the horse’s hindquarters. Travers is usually ridden in a straight line, but you can also ride the exercise around a circle for added benefits. Here’s how to do it! ------------- If you would rather read the article on our blog, click here - https://howtodressage.com/dressage-movements/travers-on-a-circle/         To view our equestrian books...

“Harmony” is a term that is frequently used within the sport of dressage. It’s an elusive quality that is difficult to achieve and is often misunderstood. In this podcast episode, we discuss what harmony means within dressage, how it impacts your dressage test scores, and share a few tips to help you create harmony with your own horse. ------------- If you would rather read the article on our blog, click here - https://howtodressage.com/dressage-theory/create-harmony/         To view our...