Dressage and training go hand in hand. In fact, did you know that the word “dressage” comes from the French word “dresseur”, which means training? Dressage is all about working in harmony with your horse to help him improve suppleness, flexibility, obedience and athleticism – and ultimately become more pleasant and responsive to ride.
Dressage training has an important role no matter what level you ride or compete at. As a sport, dressage is about showing off your training in front of a judge – or multiple judges – in an arena, but working on the fundamentals of dressage is key to improving performance and enjoyment in all equestrian disciplines.
Whether you are are looking for advice on achieving the correct canter lead or making the most of corners, or you’re looking for expert tips for nailing flying changes or improving extended trot, we have plenty of helpful features for you.
We also find out what the world’s most successful riders do while schooling their horses at home, so you can gain insight into some of the techniques used by the likes of Olympic gold medallists Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester and Laura Tomlinson.
Welcome to the fifth e-Lesson in the series. This week Keith Robertson explains how to master your give and retake during prelim 14 and gives us some top tips for training your horse to have a soft and accepting mouth.
Welcome to your eighth e-Training lesson with Keith Robertson. This week Keith explains how to ride super serpentines with a view to improving your prelim test riding — and we focus on prelim 18.
Welcome to your third e-Training lesson. Here, Keith Robertson shares his top tips for mastering your free walk, and we focus on prelim 12
This week we focus on accuracy, rhythm and impulsion so that you can really push up your percentages when riding prelim 15.
Expert advice on how to ride Prelim 17A from top judge Isobel Wessels, plus training tips to improve your transitions for this test from Keith Robertson
Welcome to your fourth e-Training lesson with Keith Robertson. This week Keith explains how to improve your centre-lines and takes a look at prelim 13, which includes three of them
Grand prix dressage rider Alice Peternell on how to make your horse more forward-going and in front of the leg
Five-star event rider Willa Newton offers advice for helping horses relax when performing in the dressage phase of an event
The dressage rider and coach provides a four-point plan to improve a horse’s flexibility
Eventer turned dressage rider Ruth Edge suggests some easy exercises to help develop your horse’s trot
Showing producer Simon Charlesworth offers some schooling exercises to help a lazy horse become more responsive to the aids
The dressage rider suggests a step-by-step exercise to help your horse balance for this movement through connection
Do you suffer from competition riding nerves? Find out how to take control and use nerves to improve your performance
The grand prix dressage rider offers some tried-and-tested exercises for straightening the crooked horse
Esteemed judge and former competitor, Stephen Clarke, gives his tips on how to give your horse the correct start
Top dressage rider Hayley Watson-Greaves advises on the key to correct dressage training — that your horse works through from behind
International dressage rider Sarah Millis explains how you can improve the quality and rhythm of the trot by training with half-10m circles and shoulder-in
The show rider uses pole exercises to add something new to training, while improving self-carriage, balance and both upward and downward transitions
Top show producer Aimee Devane reveals how she uses shoulder fore to improve flexion and engagement, while maintaining impulsion and power
Swedish Olympic event rider Ludwig Svennerstål explains how shoulder-in on a circle encourages self-carriage
