Want To Become A Better Dressage Rider? - View our FREE Resources!
Youtube Facebook Instagram Podcast
Academy Login
Login

S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Riding Goals for 2020

Happy New Year! 2020 is going to be a great year filled with lots of horses and riding! This is a great time of year to reflect on accomplishments from last year and set some goals for the year ahead. Creating a plan and having a destination for the upcoming year is essential to making progress in Dressage and staying motivated in the year ahead. When setting your goals, be sure to consider setting S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Goals. Your goals should be:

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Realistic
  • Time bound
  • Evaluated
  • Revised

Writing a goal for your riding and posting this goal on your wall, in the barn, in your tack trunk or someplace where you can see it every day will help you to stay on course and focused in the year ahead. Dream big and make a plan to get to your end goal. Your goal may be to compete in dressage, or to improve your riding position, or to center your horse, or perhaps just to take one lesson a week and consistently ride your horse 4 days a week. Even if you don’t achieve the actual goal you set, you will learn a lot along the way and these successes and failures will give you a lot of skills. In the end, it is all about the journey!

Happy Riding!

Amelia

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
A smiling woman wearing a helmet and riding gear stands beside a chestnut horse with a black bridle and white saddle pad, holding its reins outdoors in a sunlit, green setting.
Hey there.
I'm Amelia Newcomb
At Amelia Newcomb Dressage, I work to develop a trusting and confident relationship between horse and rider. I draw on theories from both natural horsemanship and classical dressage, creating a holistic training approach that adapts to the unique needs of each horse and rider.
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
WhatsApp
RELATED POSTS
A rider in a helmet and riding gear rides a gray horse in an outdoor arena. Text reads: Get Your Horse Engaged with this exercise for balance and connection. Trees and fencing are visible in the background.
  • Dressage Training
The Best Exercise for Balance & Connection
A young rider in formal attire and helmet is riding a light brown horse with a white mane in an outdoor sandy arena, demonstrating how to train your eye, with trees and a building visible in the background.
  • Dressage Training
Train Your Eye – With Young Rider Parker
A rider is falling off a brown horse in an outdoor arena. Red exclamation marks and a cartoon explosion highlight the fall. On the right, text reads: What to do when you FALL OFF! Discover safety tips in bold white and blue letters.
  • Dressage Training
What to do when you fall off.
A view from above of a horse’s head and neck on a dirt path, framed by two blue banners—A Promise on the left and To My Horse on the right—symbolizing horseback riding confidence and overcoming fear.
  • Dressage Training
FEAR: Is it holding you back in your riding??
A rider in a helmet and riding gear rides a gray horse in an outdoor arena. Text reads: Get Your Horse Engaged with this exercise for balance and connection. Trees and fencing are visible in the background.
  • Dressage Training
The Best Exercise for Balance & Connection
A young rider in formal attire and helmet is riding a light brown horse with a white mane in an outdoor sandy arena, demonstrating how to train your eye, with trees and a building visible in the background.
  • Dressage Training
Train Your Eye – With Young Rider Parker
A rider is falling off a brown horse in an outdoor arena. Red exclamation marks and a cartoon explosion highlight the fall. On the right, text reads: What to do when you FALL OFF! Discover safety tips in bold white and blue letters.
  • Dressage Training
What to do when you fall off.
A view from above of a horse’s head and neck on a dirt path, framed by two blue banners—A Promise on the left and To My Horse on the right—symbolizing horseback riding confidence and overcoming fear.
  • Dressage Training
FEAR: Is it holding you back in your riding??
Like this article & video?

There are hundreds more! View the entire library here.

A person wearing a helmet, sunglasses, and patterned long-sleeve shirt rides a dark brown horse outdoors on a sunny day, enjoying the 30 Days Challenge with trees and a fence in the background.
FEATURED COURSE
Mindset Workshop
Learn how to become a mindful rider with proven techniques that will help you control your thoughts and emotions to ride with confidence. If you feel afraid, nervous, worried people are watching you, unable to get over a fall, or worried you’re not good enough- this course is for you. Don’t allow your mind to limit you.
Enroll Now
A person wearing a helmet and blue patterned shirt stands outdoors holding the reins of two brown horses, one on each side, with trees and bushes in the background—like a perfect image for a Sales Page Template.
Amelia Newcomb
LATEST POSTS
Two women are with a black horse outdoors; one is riding, the other demonstrates correct stirrup foot position for horse riding. Large orange text reads, How to Keep Your Heels Down. Trees and a fence are in the background.
Stirrup Foot Position: How to Keep Your Heels Down Correctly
A dressage rider in full riding attire rides a chestnut horse in an arena. Text reads “Ride Your Test with Confidence.” Dressage show tips and a test score sheet are shown in the lower left corner with an arrow pointing to it.
Dressage Training Tips: How to Ride with Confidence on Show Day
A rider in full gear is guiding a white horse in an outdoor arena. Next to them, bold text reads: Best horse training method to fix and prevent training problems.
The Horse Training Method Every Rider Should Know
How to Hold the Reins Correctly
How to Hold the Reins: A Simple Guide to Better Contact in Dressage
Two women are with a black horse outdoors; one is riding, the other demonstrates correct stirrup foot position for horse riding. Large orange text reads, How to Keep Your Heels Down. Trees and a fence are in the background.
Stirrup Foot Position: How to Keep Your Heels Down Correctly
A dressage rider in full riding attire rides a chestnut horse in an arena. Text reads “Ride Your Test with Confidence.” Dressage show tips and a test score sheet are shown in the lower left corner with an arrow pointing to it.
Dressage Training Tips: How to Ride with Confidence on Show Day
A rider in full gear is guiding a white horse in an outdoor arena. Next to them, bold text reads: Best horse training method to fix and prevent training problems.
The Horse Training Method Every Rider Should Know
How to Hold the Reins Correctly
How to Hold the Reins: A Simple Guide to Better Contact in Dressage
LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO
Rated 5 out of 5
I want to thank Amelia from the bottom of my heart for creating this group and learning module for us. I've followed your suggestions religiously even when it felt like we were hitting a wall at times. Finally, it all came through, all at once! I never thought I'd get a connection and have such light hands in the left lead canter, and yesterday we pulled off a 7 in left canter and an 8.5 in right canter in our WDAA Basic 1 test, with a total score of 67.3!
Amber Primm
Amber Primm
Holy Moly. I just learned that I earned 1st place at Training 1 with 5 entries in the class in a virtual show. I received a 65.00. Wow. This is starting to work. Thank you Amelia. Thank you supportive new friends. I encourage you all to try virtual shows. I have tried Greystone, Lower Puget Sound and Oregon. Very helpful for building confidence. I really support this idea. It works like this: you ride at home, send in your video, and then you receive your test with judge comments and your ribbon in the mail. See you all in Strides!!
Joanna Sachs
Joanna Sachs
We see and feel the difference!! Thank you Amelia for this difficult but very helpful program. Our #1 issue was giraffe head in transitions. Downward as well as up. Don't look at my position, I was giving everything to the aids for him to maintain roundness in the trans. Now it will be time to work on our position more!
Carol Anne Marano
Carol Anne Marano
I can't stop making progress, thanks to this awesome program. Today my horse and I could do the counter canter on both hands on the first attempt without our trainer.. Thank you so much for explaining my missing parts! I have to wait until tomorrow, 8 hours of time difference, to see who is the lucky one, but I think we are all lucky to join this incredible program!!
Sandra Künkel
Sandra Künkel
VIEW TESTIMONIALS
NEWSLETTER

Sign Up Now To Get Free Training & Tips In Your Inbox!

🔥 HOT RIGHT NOW 🔥
A person wearing a helmet and floral shirt smiles while standing beside a brown horse, holding its lead and gently touching its neck—a perfect moment showcasing horse training and the importance of good ground manners on a sunny day.
Our team is growing! Come join us! Summer 2026
VIEW POST
A smiling equestrian stands next to a saddled horse outdoors. Text on a dark background reads: “5 Training Principles Every Rider Should Know”—perfect rider training tips—with an arrow pointing to the number five.
Five Training Principles Every Rider Needs to Know
VIEW POST
A rider in a black helmet and outfit is riding a chestnut horse in a sunlit arena. On the left, bold text reads Arena Rules with a subtitle: Follow horse riding rules to stay safe and have fun on a dark blue background.
Riding in a Crowded Arena: Five Rules Every Rider Should Know
VIEW POST
A rider in riding gear stands beside a horse, gently guiding its head while the horse steps sideways. The text reads: What is Turn on the Forehand? Every Rider Needs This Horse Training Exercise!.
How to Teach the Turn on the Forehand Step-by-Step
VIEW POST
A person wearing a helmet and floral shirt smiles while standing beside a brown horse, holding its lead and gently touching its neck—a perfect moment showcasing horse training and the importance of good ground manners on a sunny day.
Our team is growing! Come join us! Summer 2026
VIEW POST
A smiling equestrian stands next to a saddled horse outdoors. Text on a dark background reads: “5 Training Principles Every Rider Should Know”—perfect rider training tips—with an arrow pointing to the number five.
Five Training Principles Every Rider Needs to Know
VIEW POST
A rider in a black helmet and outfit is riding a chestnut horse in a sunlit arena. On the left, bold text reads Arena Rules with a subtitle: Follow horse riding rules to stay safe and have fun on a dark blue background.
Riding in a Crowded Arena: Five Rules Every Rider Should Know
VIEW POST
A rider in riding gear stands beside a horse, gently guiding its head while the horse steps sideways. The text reads: What is Turn on the Forehand? Every Rider Needs This Horse Training Exercise!.
How to Teach the Turn on the Forehand Step-by-Step
VIEW POST
Explore More with Our Featured Courses and Workshops

We’ve curated a selection of courses, workshops, and masterclasses designed to help you refine your skills and achieve your riding goals. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance, these offerings are here to support your growth. Explore and take your riding education to the next level!

A person wearing a helmet, sunglasses, and patterned long-sleeve shirt rides a dark brown horse outdoors on a sunny day, enjoying the 30 Days Challenge with trees and a fence in the background.
Mindset Workshop
Learn how to become a mindful rider with proven techniques that will help you control your thoughts and emotions to ride with confidence. If you feel afraid, nervous, worried people are watching you, unable to get over a fall, or worried you’re not good enough- this course is for you. Don’t allow your mind to limit you.
ENROLL NOW
Amelia Newcomb competing on a chestnut dressage horse.
Competition and Test Riding
Competition is a performance-regardless of what level you are showing. This workshop gives you tips and exercises that will boost your score! The more that you understand exactly what the judge is looking for and the more that you practice the movements the better you will do!
ENROLL NOW
A smiling person wearing a helmet and riding attire sits on a chestnut horse outdoors, gesturing towards a smartphone mounted on a small tripod in front of them on a sunny day. Trees and a fence are in the background.
PIVO Equestrian Essentials Pack
Turn your smartphone into a horse-tracking camera that follows your ride. With advanced 360 AI horse-tracking — the pocket-sized device allows you to film your ride without a videographer. Find out more about PIVO and get a special discount here!
ENROLL NOW
A person wearing a helmet, sunglasses, and patterned long-sleeve shirt rides a dark brown horse outdoors on a sunny day, enjoying the 30 Days Challenge with trees and a fence in the background.
Mindset Workshop
Learn how to become a mindful rider with proven techniques that will help you control your thoughts and emotions to ride with confidence. If you feel afraid, nervous, worried people are watching you, unable to get over a fall, or worried you’re not good enough- this course is for you. Don’t allow your mind to limit you.
ENROLL NOW
Amelia Newcomb competing on a chestnut dressage horse.
Competition and Test Riding
Competition is a performance-regardless of what level you are showing. This workshop gives you tips and exercises that will boost your score! The more that you understand exactly what the judge is looking for and the more that you practice the movements the better you will do!
ENROLL NOW
A smiling person wearing a helmet and riding attire sits on a chestnut horse outdoors, gesturing towards a smartphone mounted on a small tripod in front of them on a sunny day. Trees and a fence are in the background.
PIVO Equestrian Essentials Pack
Turn your smartphone into a horse-tracking camera that follows your ride. With advanced 360 AI horse-tracking — the pocket-sized device allows you to film your ride without a videographer. Find out more about PIVO and get a special discount here!
ENROLL NOW

Enjoyed this article? 

Saddle Up and Search for Your Next Read!
Canter, Rider Position, Strides, Tips
A person wearing a helmet and patterned shirt smiles while riding a brown horse outdoors on a sunny day, with green trees in the blurred background.
Free Resources
Unlock Your Potential as a Dressage Rider with Our Free Resources!

Are you passionate about dressage and eager to enhance your skills? Our Free Resources section is here to support your journey, offering a wide range of courses, guides, and tools designed to help you become the rider you’ve always wanted to be.

Access Now!
Download Our Free Resources
A simple white envelope icon on a light background, outlined with bold lines to represent a closed envelope.
Free Training & Tips In Your Inbox!

Say goodbye to the fluff and hello to real value. Our newsletter delivers actionable insights, expert tips, and the kind of motivation that pushes you to the next level in your dressage journey. Ready to make strides in your riding? Let’s do this—straight to your inbox. You in?

Join the community

Get weekly training to your Inbox

Enter your name and email below and you’ll be added to my list to get weekly training videos each week. You’ll also be the first to hear about all my news, courses and offers! You can unsubscribe at any time!

PS-Good things are coming. Please be patient with this form, it sometimes takes a moment to submit your details!

Free Training scale webinar

Tuesday, May 19th, 4pm PT

Please be patient with this form, it sometimes takes a moment to submit your details!