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Dressage Tips

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A Dressage Rider on a chestnut horse demonstrates proper leg position; white text reads Toes Forward! with red and green arrows showing heels down. A Dover Saddlery sign appears in the background.

Dressage Rider leg position – keep your heels down and toes forward

Most ALL riders struggle to find and maintain the correct leg position and it is SO important so that you can properly influence your horse and that your seat can remain independent and follow…
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A person riding a chestnut horse at a canter in an outdoor arena, both in riding gear. The text reads The Canter Seat!!!, highlighting the difference between a tight seat and a loose seat. Trees and greenery fill the background.

The Canter Seat!!! Too loose, too tight, or just right.

The 2 most common mistakes that riders make when trying to figure out how to sit the canter is that they are either way too loose and floppy or too tense. Too loose – in…
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A person in equestrian gear rides a bay horse. Text reads: On The Bit with Quiet Hands! Arrows point from the rider’s quiet hands to the horse’s mouth, with Shhh! emphasizing gentle contact with the reins.

“On the Bit” With Quiet Hands?!

A few weeks ago I got an e-mail asking “how do you get the horse on the bit and keep your hands steady?” This is something that many riders struggle with, so I’ve tried…
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A person wearing a helmet rides a black horse with a red saddle pad in a foggy outdoor arena. Large text on the right reads, Hands, Elbows, and Arms in Canter, highlighting the importance of elbows in canter.

Hands, Elbows, and Arms In Canter

Many riders (including myself) struggle to find a steady contact in the canter.  In the canter, the horses’ head follows a nodding motion as the horse goes through the 3 beat footfall of the…
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A horseback rider sits upright on a brown horse in an outdoor arena, demonstrating proper riding posture. Blue arrows point to the rider's knees with text: STOP Gripping With Your Knees! Trees and a fence are visible in the background.

Stop Gripping With Your Knees!!!

Do you find yourself gripping with your knees and/or inner thighs? Gripping with the knees is something that many riders do in order to stay on – I mean if your legs don’t keep…
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A rider in formal attire sits on a chestnut horse during a dressage event. The rider’s legs, highlighted with a red oval, showcase Effective Leg Position technique, with text reading Effective Leg Position on the left side of the image.

Effective Leg Position

Most all riders struggle to find the correct leg position AND to be effective with the leg.  It can be a challenge not to nag your horse, or grip with the lower leg, or…
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A bay horse is worked in a dressage arena by two women in riding attire, practicing foundational movements such as the working trot and transitions. One rider, dressed in schooling clothes, sits in the saddle while an instructor offers direction from the ground, focusing on accuracy of aids and rider alignment. The text “How to Be an Effective Dressage Rider” appears on-screen. Trees form the backdrop beyond the arena.

What Makes an Effective Dressage Rider

What Makes an Effective Dressage Rider? The first question we tackle is: What is an effective rider? It’s not just about using forceful aids or being overly aggressive; it’s about subtle, invisible aids that…
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A rider sits upright on a chestnut horse in an outdoor arena. Blue and red lines highlight rider symmetry and alignment. “Straightness!!” is written in bold white text, with a large letter A on an inset image.

Rider Straightness and Symmetry

Rider Straightness and Symmetry: Align Your Shoulders and Knees! Straightness is something that we ALL struggle with in Dressage because every horse and every rider are innately asymmetric! Traditionally in Dressage, when we hear…
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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.

FEAR: Is it holding you back in your riding??

Your horse needs you to be confident! And even if you’re not feeling confident, you need to pretend that you are confident for your horse! Recently, I was listening to a podcast about public speaking….
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