THE SECOND BASIC OF HORSE TRAINING—SCHOOL FIGURES🇿🇦
There are many references that teach how to ride a specific exercise, and these methods can vary from reference to reference, day to day or trainer to trainer but if the rider does not comprehend what the exercise requires, they cannot hope to execute it correctly. If it is not executed properly, it will be […]
SO, WHAT IS WESTERN DRESSAGE? …ANSWERS FROM AN “R” JUDGE🇺🇸
The Western Dressage Association of America (aka: WDAA) is one of the fastest growing associations in USEF. Western dressage effortlessly blends western traditions with classical dressage principles. Western dressage in WDAA is a progressive system of training based on classical dressage principles with many traditional western elements. WDAA uses a training wheel which outlines that the […]
FITTING THE DRESSAGE SADDLE—DEBUNKING THE 8 COMMON MYTHS OF SADDLE FITTING METHODS🇩🇪/🇨🇦
Fitting the Dressage Saddle: yes, I’m warning you—these are controversial! —Jochen Schleese, CMS, CSE, CSFT Over the last couple of years there have been numerous new ‘saddle fitting’ forums which have appeared online in an effort to address some of the challenges many riders face in ensuring their saddles fit—both themselves and their horses. While […]
FEED FOR PERFORMANCE: WHY FORAGE IS CRITICAL FOR SUPPORTING & PREVENTING GASTRIC ULCERS IN DRESSAGE HORSES🇭🇺
An equine nutritionist’s perspective for competition riders In today’s competitive dressage world, marginal gains matter. Riders leave no stone unturned when it comes to improving performance – from saddle fitting and physiotherapy to carefully planned training programs. Yet one of the most powerful tools for supporting health and performance is often overlooked: making sure your […]
ARENA CONSTRUCTION—PART III: THE HIDDEN FOUNDATION: WHY SUB-BASE CONSTRUCTION DETERMINES ARENA PERFORMANCE 🇺🇸
When riders discuss arena surfaces, the conversation almost always begins with the footing. Sand types, fiber blends, wax coatings, and moisture management dominate most discussions. Yet beneath every great riding surface lies an equally important component that receives far less attention: the sub-base. The sub-base is the structural foundation of the arena. If it is […]
A PERSPECTIVE FROM ISRAEL ON WESTERN DRESSAGE🇮🇱
There’s a moment in riding, if you’ve been at it long enough, that you’ve probably felt at least once. The horse stops being something you’re managing and starts being someone you’re talking to. Not every discipline gets you there the same way. Some get you close. Western Dressage, I’d argue, gets you closer than most. […]
Olympic Medalists Laura Kraut and Becky Moody to Conduct Lessons at FEI World Cup™ Finals 2026 in Fort Worth
Fort Worth, TX—March 6, 2026 — Olympic medalists Laura Kraut (USA) and Becky Moody (GBR) will conduct special riding lessons, open to the public, at the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. Kraut, who will be representing the United States in the Final, will conduct the show jumping lesson in Dickies Arena […]
BUILDING A RIDING PROGRAM WHERE THERE ISN’T ONE 🇺🇸
How trainers in geographically isolated communities can attract and retain students. Equestrian media often highlights concentrated hubs—regions where riders cluster by discipline, competition calendars are full, and opportunity flows through proximity. But most instructors worldwide do not operate in those environments. Instead, they teach in small towns. Rural counties. Agricultural regions. Suburban outskirts. Areas where […]
ARENA CONSTRUCTION–PART II: ARENA DRAINAGE 🇺🇸
After site selection, drainage becomes the most important technical element in arena construction. If drainage fails, everything above it eventually suffers. The footing becomes unstable. Maintenance becomes reactive. Performance declines. Drainage is not an accessory. It is structural. The Precision Arena System™ was shaped by hard lessons—ours and others.’ We have rebuilt arenas that looked […]
from the farrier: WHY A FOUR-WEEK TRIM SCHEDULE MATTERS—A LOT 🇺🇸
UNDERSTANDING THE BIOMECHANICS BEHIND HOOF MAINTENANCE INTERVALS Hoof care is one of the most foundational elements of equine management. Nutrition, conditioning, veterinary diagnostics, saddle fit, and training methods all play vital roles in maintaining equine soundness—but every single one of those systems ultimately relies on a stable mechanical base… 🧲That base is THE HOOF.🧲 Despite […]
