A dressage mom recounts the blessings of her daughter’s equestrian education.
Dressage. I had never even heard the word before my daughter, Jillian, was born. When she was little, we put her on a pony, one of those round-walker-type pony rides at the flea market. That was it. A horse lover was born. She was 2 at the time. Years later, she took her horse to college with her and even with a full schedule, she continued to train, show and win. At every level of riding she was focused, intent and brilliant.
As a parent throughout all this, you enter this equestrian lifestyle with other moms and dads. After a while, you get to be a veteran and some parents ask you about life after their child’s competitive dressage career. Will their child ever love or work this hard for anything else in her life like she has for dressage? I had the same concerns, but I was certain there was plenty to come.
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The Clinic Photo Critiques
This picture shows Sarah Ryan schooling her 5-year-old Trakehner/ Thoroughbred-cross mare, Cleopatra, at First Level.
Reflections For A New Year
The value of quiet thinking time
From One Horse Parent To Another
A dressage mom recounts the blessings of her daughter’s equestrian education.
The Clinic Photo Critiques
Improve Use of Weight Aids to influence the Horse
A Daughter's Gratitude
DT’s managing editor shares her appreciation for the unwavering support of her family.
The Risks And Benefits Of Turnout For Dressage Horses
Proper turnout for dressage horses can be a difficult and often scary topic for discussion. Many dressage facilities don’t allow extensive turnout. Some top dressage horses get almost no turnout. The financial investment in these horses can make turning them out into a larger field terrifying for the owner, who fears the worst. Will the horse come back in one piece? Will he still have all his shoes?
Free Yourself From Feelings Of Guilt Over Barn Time
Learn why taking time away from your family to be at the barn can be a benefit for your children and loved ones, too.
Uncover The Mystery Of “On The Bit”
When ridden, horses can truly forget their instinctive behavior to fight or flee. One element that makes this possible is teaching the horse to accept the aids so he can be ridden on the bit.
Hail To The Mares
Great Britain’s Emma Blundell, of Mount St. John, reaps the rewards of a modern approach to sport-horse breeding.
Lipica:The Original Home Of The Lipizzaner
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of this historic beacon of classical dressage training.
THE BENEFITS OF ACTIVE REST
Biomechanics expert Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, explains why periodically changing up your horse’s activities can be better for his body and mind than giving him time off.
Breeding against the odds
The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world on its head. Alice Collins investigates how breeders have fared, and the impact Covid-19 has had on the market
2021 Europeans will run for two disciplines
Delight and disappointment as the FEI reconsiders and gives the nod to dressage and showjumping championships
Dream teams
Many of the world’s best riders in all disciplines cut their teeth at the Pony Club Championships. Catherine Austen discovers some of their memories and the lessons they learnt