Equestrian Horse Tack

Often people want to know if they would be able to learn dressage on their own.  Well if you're expecting to compete, on any level, then no, you can't.

Get a good instructor!  Teaching yourself will only lead to bad habits which will be very hard to correct further down the road.

You need to ride in a proper dressage arena with the appropriate letter markings on the side.   You'll need to know 10 and 20 meter circles, half 10 meter loops  . . .  these will all help you improve your riding, and perfect your posture and position.

But understand,  these are things not easily explained in writing; you need someone who knows what they’re doing to tell you how to improve, and what you’re doing wrong.

With that said, if you're not planning on competing - ever - and are just trying to improve your riding for your own reasons, there are some things you can do.

First, there are several books you might read.  Debby Lush’s book ‘The Building Blocks of Training’ and "USDF’s  Guide to Dressage".   These books cover just about everything as well as any book can.   I've added clickable links to these books for your convenience,  just click on the name of the book.

Second, you can practice riding in rhythm . . . keeping your horse at the same rhythm through turns and circles.   Practice making transitions between the paces without kicking or hauling on the reins.   Make the transition to walk from trot for just two or three strides and immediately trot on.

Ride figure 8's in various sizes and spirals.   Start a spiral on a 20 meter circle and gradually spiral in to a 10 meter circle and then back out without pulling on the outside rein.

Ride serpentines of three equal loops without changing the rhythm.   Practice riding down the center and quarter lines keeping your horse straight between your legs.

You should be feeling what the horse is doing underneath you - understanding where every hoof and leg is at all times just by feel - where the shoulders are, where the hindquarters are, the stomach and back muscles,  the neck,  head and feel every tongue movement and chew the horse may make when carrying the bit in his mouth.

“Riding well is easy, but learning to ride well is very difficult”.   You should not need to kick your horse at all if the two of you are moving in correct balance  - rather the signals you give your horse should be invisible - even to a well trained eye - no pulling, kicking, leaning, or yanking.

Work on feeling what the horse is doing - understanding how every muscle, tendon, and bone works in his body.   Learn to feel when you should give the signals to your horse -  “the right signals at the wrong moment are still the wrong signals”.

The correct signals are a gentle squeeze with the inside of your leg - not your heels - and a gentle squeeze on the outside rein at the same moment.  The horse must move forward with energy in order for you to be able to shape his energy.

A horse whose head has been pulled down by the rider’s hands or other means is wrong.   If the horse is moving correctly from behind, he will naturally and willingly drop his head and soften.