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Dressage training and instruction with aim of bringing out the best in every horse and rider.
Operating as usual
One of my favorite photos of my beautiful Ghosty for #tbt. We never had much success in the show ring, but he was great fun to work with thanks to his sensitivity, intelligence, and quirky character. A very special horse, who taught me so much. Always in my heart. ❤️ #purarazaespañola #prehorse #dressage #dressagetraining #greyhorsesofinstagram #equestrian
Congratulations to Jessie Ginsburg and Carol Thomas on their success at Dressage at Rosemount this weekend.
Jessie and Vodermus won the FEI TOC both days with a 63.382% and 62.795%.
Carol and Gentle won 2-3 both days with a 68.333% and 65.714%. They also won the USDF MFS with a 68.333%.
Carol and First Freda placed 2nd at 3-1 with a 63.108%, and also earned 4th and 5th Place at 2-3 and USDF MFS.
Congratulations to Carol as well for earning her scores to go on to Part 2 of the USDF “L” Program! Way to go.
Wise words from my friend Jennifer Hoffman! ❤️
LESSONS ON LESSONS
Some lessons you learn soooo much
Some lessons you plateau and have to keep plugging away
Some lessons are affirmation you are doing the right thing
Some lessons are on position so that you can ride more effectively
Some lessons are a struggle
Some lessons are on theory
Some lessons are introducing something new
Some lessons are back to basics
Some lessons are intricate
Some lessons are about simplifying
Some lessons end with tears and frustration
Some lessons end with elation
All lessons the instructor wants you to get better. All lessons the instructor puts their heart ❤ into. All lessons you can ask questions when you dont understand. All lessons you have to be present and feel. All lessons take you forward, even the ones that seem to step back. All lessons are just a blink in your riding journey. Embrace the journey.
Photo by Jennifer MacNeill
Super proud of Abby Rowe @akr_dressage! 12th in the nation at the USEF 14-18 Dressage Seat Medal Final. Not bad for a kid who did her first recognized show last July. The future is bright. ❤️
Congratulations to Lucy Tidd on her 10th place overall finish in the FEI Five Year Olds at the USEF Young and Developing Horse Championships with her lovely mare, Kayla. The future is bright for this team. 💕 #dressage #equestrian #festivalofchampions #usefyounghorsechampionships #younghorses
Beautiful first day at Lamplight yesterday. Lucy Tidd and Kayla did their jog for the Five Year Old division. Competition starts today with Kayla in the Five Year Old Preliminary Test. @ Lamplight Equestrian Center
Congratulations to Carol Thomas and Gentle on a super show this weekend at the CDCTA show at Beverly. High Score Second Level with a 69.146% at 2-2, and 67.967% at Second Level MFS, earning a qualifying score for GAIGs. Great job!
Who wore it better? (Hint: me). 🤪
#dressageridersofinstagram #twinsies
Locks Edge
Fabulous lease opportunity. Lola (L’Amour Fou) is a 7 year old (L’Espoir (Lord Loxley) x Deniro) 17.1 hand mare. She has shown extremely successfully through 3rd Level with many, many, wins, high scores and championships plus 3 invitations to the US Dressage Finals. Schooling PSG. Lola is an absolute barn favorite with a lovely, sweet, easy-going personality. She is comfortable to ride and the judges love her. She typically receives 8s for gaits.
I adore this mare and she is only available as I prefer my horses to be hot and sensitive and she is just a chill girl. As she is a big girl, she is not for a weak rider. This is a super and unusual opportunity to lease a very high quality horse. This lease requires that she stays at Locks Edge and must stay in a training/lesson program with USDF Gold Medalist Siobhan Byrne. PM or email at [email protected] for more info
Tamarack Hill Farm
"Mastery" is a book by George Leonard, and one of his theses is that for anyone on the arduous path toward becoming proficient at anything, there are apt to be what feel like long plateaus of apparent non improvement.
Carrie Ramsey came to dressage from a hunter background, and it must have seemed to her like entering a foreign country. Frustratingly slow, improvement elusive, but just in the last couple of weeks, after, literally, three years, there are glimmers of what might be.
So---When you, or someone you know, feels discouraged, or down, or frustrated with the feeling that the endless struggle isn't going anywhere, Leonard points out that the key is to persevere anyway.
Just keep going, take the hits, the disappointments, the feelings of being inadequate, because hidden in there is a building force that one fine day may be revealed.
But you have to keep going----You have to.
Want to give a shout-out to two students who have done great things while I’ve been on vacation!
Congratulations to Sierra on her very first show experience with her horse, Donnlei. She came to me a year ago with the goal of making her horse rideable in a snaffle, and she has done just that! I’m so excited to see where this team goes—they have only just begun.
Congratulations also to Abby Rowe for earning her Third Level scores to complete her USDF Bronze Medal (66% and 67%). Abby only did her first recognized show last year at Training Level—hard work and being able to learn from some fantastic horses yielded great results.
As a trainer, it makes me SO proud that these two felt confident and prepared to go to competitions without me. Super job, both of you.
Lindy Taylor’s Galantha was such a good girl her first year at Prix St Georges. With a little more time to develop strength and skill, the sky’s the limit for this fancy lady. 💕 Thank you Lindy, for the opportunity to show her.
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PC: Pics of You
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#dressagetraining #dressage #dressagehorse #kwpnhorse #fei #horsesofinstagram #equestrian
@ Virginia Horse Center -Dressage At Lexington
We had such a great weekend at Dressage, By Chance? 1 & 2. Thank you Michele Wellman and team for an incredibly well-run show.
Abby Rowe won all of her classes at First Level Test 3 and Second Level Test 3, qualified for GAIGs, got her First and Second Level scores for her Bronze Medal, and topped it off with a 73% at First Level Test 3, earning FOUR scores of “9”, including one for her position (very proud coach here). She was also High Score First Level and High Score Jr/YR both days.
Lucy Tidd and Kayla had two super Training Level Test 3 tests for a 69%, 73%, and High Score Amateur on Saturday.
My Hans got more mileage in the ring and he was a total rockstar, earning a 72.5% and 75.1% at Third Level Test 3, High Score Third Level both days, and Reserve High Score Open on Sunday. He also got two scores of “9” (halt/rein back and half circle/short diagonal/flying change). So grateful to be able to develop this incredibly special horse.
Coalie “helping” me clip Mouse. What would I do without him? 🙄😂 #morgansporthorse #hanoveriansofinstagram #devilmouse #bodyclipping #oldiesbutgoodies #retiredhorse
It makes my heart so happy to see my best boy being such a great teacher. 🖤 #squawkiwaki #dressagetraining #dressage #schoolmaster #hanoveriansofinstagram
Lindy Taylor’s Galantha was such a good girl in the PSG today at the Sussex County Dressage Show, for a 67% despite some green mistakes. Such a little sports car, this girl. Go Gigi! 💕
Great to be back in the show ring this weekend at Dressage at Lexington. Thank you Virginia Dressage Association, Inc for an incredibly well-run show. I was super excited to finally get to use this awesome white board for keeping track of ride times that Jessie Ginsburg and Jan Sherfy gave me last year.
Some highlights:
Jessie Ginsburg earned a 65% and a blue ribbon with her Vodermus on Friday in the I-1. She now only needs one more score to complete her requirements to enter the “R” judge program.
Lucy Tidd was High Score First Level on Friday with Kayla on a 70%, in addition to a 7.68 in the FEI Five Year Old qualifier on Sunday. She and Ellert HB had a good go in the Grand Prix on Friday for 64%.
Super proud of Shera Solomon for rocking her I-1 debut on her Quaterflash. She earned two scores of 64%—gotta love the consistency. Congrats to Shera also on her student Kathie Zarish winning pretty much everything this weekend! Five blues out of six classes and multiple high score awards. Way to go!
Lindy Taylor’s Galantha debuted at Prix St Georges and earned a solid 65% in the Developing PSG with me on Sunday. With more time and mileage this little mare will be a real rockstar.
Last but not least, my Hans did his first big overnight show and got better and better all weekend, earning two scores of 69%, one 68% and one 67% at 3-3. I’m looking forward to continuing to build his confidence in the ring this year.
Hans’ final test at Dressage at Lexington—Third Level Test 3 for a 69% and a win. Just thrilled with this boy—this is a big, busy show, and he got better and better all weekend. 🖤
So proud of Lindy Taylor’s super little mare, Galantha. She made her Prix St Georges debut this weekend and finished with a 65% in the Developing PSG today. She’s still pretty green at this level and needs to build some strength in the canter tour, but had a lot of highlights in the trot work and even nailed all but one line of changes this weekend. Thank you so much for the opportunity to show this special girl, Lindy! 💕
So proud of Hansi in his first big show. Some tension and nerves, but he got more and more relaxed and confident as the test went on, finishing on a 68.6% for second place. So excited about this lovely boy. 🖤 Thanks so much to my wonderful sponsors, Cate & Theresa - Maryland Certified Saddle Fitters, who always go above and beyond for me and my clients—they tweaked this saddle to fit Hans perfectly.
Qualia Dressage has a partial or full training spot available at Locks Edge in Poolesville, MD. We welcome all levels of horses and riders, from green to Grand Prix, and are passionate about helping our horses and riders reach their full potential through correct and compassionate training. No breed bias here—we are proud to help any horse/pony become a better version of his or her self. Training programs are flexible, and can be any combination of lessons or training rides. Opportunities throughout the year to participate in clinics with international riders/trainers.
Trainer Siobhan Byrne is a USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalist. She has developed multiple horses to Grand Prix and has helped students earn their USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals. Her students are consistently in the ribbons locally and regionally, as well as qualifying for national championships such as USDF Finals, USEF Dressage Seat Equitation Finals, and Pony Club Championships.
Locks Edge is a premier, 16-stall dressage facility on 57 acres in Poolesville, MD, offering top notch care and amenities. For more information, visit www.locksedge.com.
Whether you’re looking to join us at shows or just enjoy the training process, we’d love to have you join us. For more information, call (732) 406-9606 or email [email protected].
Thank you @jeremy_steinberg for another great clinic. Hans was such a super boy. Love this horse’s wonderful sensitivity and sweet character. 🖤#dressagetraining #kwpnhorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #roadtograndprix #dressage #dressagehorse #equestrian #marylanddressage
Thank you to @richard.malmgren for coming to Locks Edge to do some long lining. It was really fun for me to watch him do Tinder—he is looking so grown up. #tindernoodle #dressagetraining #younghorse #longlining #dressagehorse #oldenburgsofinstagram #oldenburghorse
Huge thank you to Margaret Hawkins and Whispering Spring Farm for inviting me to do a clinic at your farm today! I had such a fun time teaching a fantastic group of kind, conscientious riders. And, I got to meet these adorable little guys. 💕 #dressagetraining #minimulesofinstagram #minidonkeys
Congratulations to student Abby Rowe on her invitation to the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final, 14-18 Division! I’m a very proud coach. 😊
Thank you @teamtatedressage for a fun impromptu clinic on Saturday. Zaza loved meeting you and says come back soon! #dressagetraining #dressage #oldenburgsofinstagram #horsesofinstagram #equestrian
Hansi’s first field trip! He was a rock star. Such a fun and willing horse, with so much talent. #dressage #dressagehorse #dressagetraining #kwpnhorse #canterpirouette
As someone who has been an athlete in multiple sports for most of my life, I always take this into consideration while training horses. Small, incremental progress yields the best results in the long run.
So many riders "do dressage" without understanding what an intense struggle that can create for the horse, or how much it can cause discomfort to the horse, or why it is so totally natural for a horse to resist.
So try this.
Get a personal fitness coach, and do some squat thrusts, where you put your legs under your mass, sink down, and spring up, and see how damn well much you like it.
Unless you are a fitness addict, and are totally used to it, I can tell you exactly how well you are going to like it---
You are going to hate it.
Now, take your horse, and ride him on a mild curve, right or left. Because you have a connected outside rein, and an activating inside leg, you can induce your horse to bend the hocks and stifle of his inside hind leg, make it step further under the mass of his own body, plant the hoof, and lift that same mass.
This is called "engagement." It creates weight lifting, because instead of just letting the hind legs trail out behind, where they push the horse along, they now are being asked to not only push, but also to engage and lift.
Get it? Your horse hates it just as much as you hated doing squat thrusts, and for exactly the same reason.
However, there are a few human athletes who do not hate doing squat thrusts. Who are they? Well, think it through---
They are the athletes who have been made strong and resilient and powerful over many months, even years, of gradually increasing exertion to the point that now they can do what previously they could not do.
So if you would not want to be forced, wham bam, to do it yourself, don't do it wham bam to your horse.
Start easy, build slowly, learn the appropriate exercises, don't just say "Last week I couldn't even spell dressge rider, and now I are one."
Learn what you are doing so that what you ask your horse to do makes athletic sense, just exactly as though it was something that your hypothetical personal trainer was asking you to do.
Otherwise, all you are doing with your horse is not correct training. You are simply being a bully.
Charles de Kunffy
“A horse doesn’t have a problem of evading his rider. Evasion is nature working for itself to be effortless, as nature always will. That’s why rivers are flowing downhill, not uphill. Nature seeks tranquility, and therefore when the alien weight of a rider intrudes on a horse, he wants to be lazy about involving his haunches and surrendering the power and whereabouts and direction of the haunches to his rider, simply out of nostalgia of the natural state when he was unencumbered and not required to do something he doesn’t volunteer to do. It becomes man’s rationality versus nature’s laziness and seeking the status quo. The avoids submitting to the rider with three common evasions: inversion/over flexion, misalignment, and rushing.”
- Charles de Kunffy
The Ethics and Passions of Dressage, page 92
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. - Mary Oliver
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#horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #dressagerider #dressagetrainer #barnlife #kwpnhorse #equestrian #friends
Blue skies, green grass, new friends. 💕 #friendship #besties #horsesofinstagram #kwpnhorse #oldenburghorse
🖤 Hans 🖤 Very excited about this boy and enjoying being able to train without the pressures of showing for now. #dressagehorsesofinstagram #dressagetraining #kwpnhorse #dressage #roadtograndprix
It’s fun to look back at old videos, and see how the horses have developed. Here’s Vodie working on piaffe in May of 2019, and April of 2020—almost exactly a year apart. Progress happens in such small increments in this sport. Daily training has its ups and downs, so it’s important to look at the big picture when it comes to gauging progress.
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#roadtograndprix #dressage #dressagehorsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #fei #dressagetrainer #kwpnhorse #vodiethepiaffemachine
A very happy birthday to this ridiculous creature. 27 years! He’s been in my life for 21 of them, which is pretty unbelievable. He’s losing teeth at a rapid rate, but still looks fantastic and is super sound (which is more than you can say about me, haha). Happy birthday, Mouse. I wish you many more years with your best buddy, Coal. ❤️ #devilmouse #happybirthday #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorsesofinstagram #hanoverian #oldiebutgoodie
20500 Westerly Rd
Poolesville, MD
20837
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| Sunday | 08:00 - 19:00 |
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Hans’ final test at Dressage at Lexington—Third Level Test 3 for a 69% and a win. Just thrilled with this boy—this is a big, busy show, and he got better and better all weekend. 🖤
So proud of Lindy Taylor’s super little mare, Galantha. She made her Prix St Georges debut this weekend and finished with a 65% in the Developing PSG today. She’s still pretty green at this level and needs to build some strength in the canter tour, but had a lot of highlights in the trot work and even nailed all but one line of changes this weekend. Thank you so much for the opportunity to show this special girl, Lindy! 💕
So proud of Hansi in his first big show. Some tension and nerves, but he got more and more relaxed and confident as the test went on, finishing on a 68.6% for second place. So excited about this lovely boy. 🖤 Thanks so much to my wonderful sponsors, Cate & Theresa - Maryland Certified Saddle Fitters, who always go above and beyond for me and my clients—they tweaked this saddle to fit Hans perfectly.
Thank you @jeremy_steinberg for another great clinic. Hans was such a super boy. Love this horse’s wonderful sensitivity and sweet character. 🖤#dressagetraining #kwpnhorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #roadtograndprix #dressage #dressagehorse #equestrian #marylanddressage
Thank you to @richard.malmgren for coming to Locks Edge to do some long lining. It was really fun for me to watch him do Tinder—he is looking so grown up. #tindernoodle #dressagetraining #younghorse #longlining #dressagehorse #oldenburgsofinstagram #oldenburghorse
Hansi’s first field trip! He was a rock star. Such a fun and willing horse, with so much talent. #dressage #dressagehorse #dressagetraining #kwpnhorse #canterpirouette
🖤 Hans 🖤 Very excited about this boy and enjoying being able to train without the pressures of showing for now. #dressagehorsesofinstagram #dressagetraining #kwpnhorse #dressage #roadtograndprix
It’s fun to look back at old videos, and see how the horses have developed. Here’s Vodie working on piaffe in May of 2019, and April of 2020—almost exactly a year apart. Progress happens in such small increments in this sport. Daily training has its ups and downs, so it’s important to look at the big picture when it comes to gauging progress. . . . #roadtograndprix #dressage #dressagehorsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #fei #dressagetrainer #kwpnhorse #vodiethepiaffemachine
Some days, I think he’s growing up. Some days, he tries to eat a brush. #winsomelosesome 🤷🏻♀️ . . . #horsesofinstagram #oldenburghorse #dressagehorse #dressage #younghorselife #marylanddressage #tindernoodle
Just hand over the snack, lady! #tindernoodle #dressagehorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #marylanddressage #oldenburghorse
Sarah making sure Tinder gets all his itches scratched! . . . #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #oldenburgsofinstagram #itchy #tindernoodle
They could cover a bit more ground, but I’d say Vodie is definitely getting the hang of the one tempis! . . . #feihorse #dressage #dressagehorse #onetempis #grandprixhorseinthemaking
Slowly remembering how to ride. 🙃 I can’t tell you how amazing it feels to be riding again, even if I’m not at full speed yet. #dressage #feihorse #vodiethepiaffemachine #labraltearrecovery
Back on a horse! Walking only (mostly 😉) for now. Fingers crossed it’s all onwards and upwards from here. 🤞🏻 . . . #dressage #dressagerider #labraltear #labraltearrecovery #labralreconstruction
Huge thank you to Richard Malmgren for coming out to long line some of our crew today. I always learn so much from watching him work the horses. Particularly awesome today to watch him help Vodie find his passage—it’s getting there! Such a cool horse. Jessie Ginsburg is a lucky lady to have this boy as her partner. ❤️
Waki in the Halloween spirit! 👻🎃☠️ #squawkiwaki #hanoveriansofinstagram #dressagehorse #halloween
Vodie working on his GP skills! Getting closer, day by day. This little guy has the best work ethic! #kwpnhorse #dressage #dressagehorse
Does it get any better than this? Perfect weather, super pony. How lucky I am to do this for a living. #ponydressage #endofsummer #acanterinthefieldisgoodforthesoul
Great lessons as always with @jeremy_steinberg this weekend. Tinder is not always convinced he needs to work for a living, but he’s getting there. If I can survive this stage, there’s going to be a really fun FEI horse on the other side. #dressagehorse #oldenburghorse #younghorsessucksometimes #tindernoodle
So much fun to watch the very talented Richard Malmgren work on Waki’s piaffe and passage in the long lines. #dressage #grandprix #dressagehorse #hanoveriansofinstagram #longlining #squakiwaki
Huge thank you to the awesome @ema.klugman who is doing a fantastic job teaching Tinder about hacking out. A few exuberant moments, but overall he was a pretty good boy. 🖤 #tindernoodle #oldenburgsofinstagram #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse
How to get Mouse to a new field without getting your fingers broken: just let him go! He knows where he’s going. #devilmouse #mostlyferal
Winter fun with Squaki. The best big black horse. 🖤 #dressage #dressagehorsesofinstagram #hanoveriansofinstagram #gpwearecomingforyou #squakiwaki
Occasionally a bit swingy due to overaiding on my part, but Squaki is definitely getting the hang of this one tempi thing! #squakiwaki #hanoveriansofinstagram #dressage #onetempis #gpwearecomingforyou
Working on better balance and technique in the passage with Jeremy Steinberg. Love this amazing horse. 🖤 #horsesofinstagram #dressage #dressagehorsesofinstagram #hanoveriansofinstagram #squakiwaki
Had a super time with Waki doing a short term training stay at @teamtatedressage in SC a week ago. Thank you for the great lessons and hospitality!
At least someone had a good time this weekend! #tindernoodle #oldenburgsofinstagram #horsesofinstagram
Developing Waki’s piaffe with Jeremy Steinberg at our June clinic. Love this super talented horse. 🖤 #dressage #hanoveriansofinstagram #horsesofinstagram
Baby Tinder practicing being a show horse at the FADS schooling show at Wyndham Oaks a few weeks ago. #dressage #dressagehorse #horsesofinstagram #oldenburghorse #tindernoodle
I was trying to be nice and fly spray him on this buggy day, but Mouse will not be captured. #devilmouse #heisbasicallyferal #hanoveriansofinstagram #horsesofinstagram
Izaak Walton League of America Bethesda-Chevy
20601 Izaak Walton Way
