I just returned from an amazing clinic with the Foothills Dressage Chapter in Sacramento — and wow, what a weekend! While it is always had to leave my own horses at home, there’s nothing I love more than hitting the road, connecting with passionate riders, and helping horses of all levels unlock their potential.
We had an awesome group of riders and horses — everything from green 4-year-olds to Grand Prix — and I left feeling energized and deeply grateful for the opportunity to teach and share what I love. Here are 5 powerful takeaways from the weekend that just might apply to you and your horse:
1. Instant Response to the Leg = Instant Power
When you flip a light switch, the light comes on. The same thing should happen when you close your leg: your horse should go. If you find yourself constantly nagging or working too hard, it’s time to go back and reestablish that light-switch response before moving onto the more complicated movements.
2. Accuracy Builds Confidence — Especially When Things Get Spicy
Saturday morning gave us high winds, a spooky horse, and even a flying table 🙈 (yes, really!). I helped the rider refocus by setting up cones to define a 20m circle, and we zeroed in on rhythm, bend, and precision. The focus on a single 20m circle helped both horse and rider settle. Moral of the story? Accuracy brings clarity and relaxation, especially when your horse is distracted or tense.
3. Inside Leg to Outside Rein Is the Secret to Life
One gorgeous 8-year-old mare had all the talent, but struggled with her canter transitions. She would pop up in the front end instead of pushing from behind. We used leg-yield before the transition to create forward energy and suppleness. The result? A dramatically better transition that was soft, powerful, from the hind leg and uphill. The magic is in the inside leg to outside rein connection!
4. Hot Horse? Lazy Horse? Know the Difference. Ride the Difference.
In a group lesson, we had a firecracker mare and a laid-back gelding. Same exercises, totally different approaches: the hot mare needed a calming, rhythmic ride with lots of bending lines. The gelding needed more transitions, energy, and variety. One size never fits all — smart training means tailoring your approach to your horse.
5. Progress Happens Over Years — Not Days
One of the most rewarding sessions was working with Sandy, a local trainer I coached four years ago. She’s been training her mare from a 3-year-old and now they’re confidently schooling the Grand Prix work. It reminded me how important it is to zoom out. When we only look at the day-to-day, it’s easy to feel stuck or like you’re not making any progress. But when you look back over years, the growth is remarkable. Trust the journey.
I love bringing this kind of learning, support, and transformation to riders around the country — but I cannot be everywhere at once! People often ask me what is my secret to getting amazing transformations in horses and riders.. My answer, the Training Scale. The Training Scale guides every training session and helps you decide what to focus on!
I’m doing a FREE LIVE Training on the Dressage Training Scale, and I’d like to invite you to come. Please, kindly click the link for more information and to save your seat.
Let’s make magic with your horses 🐴
Happy Riding,
Amelia
P.S. You don’t want to miss my FREE Training Scale Webinar coming up LIVE on Sunday, July 20th. In this free training, you will learn:
- A simple step-by-step process proven to work for all horses and riders.
- How to problem-solve and build confidence even if you ride alone!
- Why riding lessons are not enough, and how to think like a trainer.
