Dark Horse Dressage

Recently a very good rider made a point that retraining challenging or misunderstood horses can have a negative affect on your riding, which in some ways I completely agree with. However here is an excerpt from my essay my journey into dressage and the reasons I continue.

Problem Horses or Misunderstood Horses
“The horse must be trained according to his nature.”
— Gustav Steinbrecht
Most problem horses are not difficult by nature. They are misunderstood.
Over the years, I have retrained many horses labeled as problems. Through them, I learned more about riding — and about myself — than any book could teach.
Where Problems Begin
Problems often begin when training exceeds the horse’s physical or mental capacity. When understanding is lost, trust erodes.
Once trust is damaged, the road back becomes longer and more difficult — but not impossible.
The horse always gives feedback. The responsibility lies with us to listen.
Education as Rehabilitation
Correct education has a healing effect — physically and mentally.
Through systematic, patient training:
• Weakness becomes strength
• Anxiety becomes confidence
• Confusion becomes clarity
This process requires time, consistency, and fairness.
As Karl Mikolka of the Spanish Riding School described, correct training can transform a horse into something stronger and more capable than it was before.

Temperament and Responsibility
A good temperament is a valid priority.
It takes far less time to train correctly from the beginning than to repair fundamental mistakes later. Not all horses follow the same timeline, and not all learn in the same way.
The training scale allows the horse to guide the process. Challenge them — but when the foundation deteriorates, return to it.

Therapeutic riding “….is that kind of training you do, where you take a handicapped horse, so to speak, and you improve this animal to such an extent that at the end of his training, it looks like a super horse, worth a million. You build muscles where there are none, you strengthen the weak parts of your horse, you change his temperament, and you transform the whole body and the mind. In short, you make the horse into something which it wasn’t before. The entire training process has a healing effect on the animal, and this I consider the goal of horsemanship. “
- Karl Mikolka, Oberbereiter, Spanish Riding School
This is what speaks to my heart.

https://warmblood-sales.com/horse/giigwishim-batman

Just a moment...

Thinking about entering Spring Dressage? Here’s your sign to do it today.

We currently only have 27 entries on the National side of the show and we really need riders to help make this show a success.

Please make sure before entering that:

your EC sport licence is current
your horse licence is current
your stalls are selected
your waivers and vaccine records are uploaded

We are getting close, and we want to put on a great show — but we need entries on the board.

Entries close April 23 at midnight.

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Vendors list as of March 4 for the tack and yard sale on March 21:

If your name doesn't appear on the list below, please reach out to us. If there is an ** then payment is outstanding.

-Dark Horse Fine Arts
-Clip Clop and Clean
-T. Woodhouse
-Marilyn A.
-Celine H.
-Josee & friend(s)
-Kathy Bruce **
-Karen S.
-Kim R.
-Kim R booth #2
-Vicki Davies **
-Drop off booth for the animal auxiliary fiber recycling program - any fabrics including rags as long as clean, footwear as long as clean, purses, etc. even if damaged will all go to their recycling program.

We will also have a free donation space on the back left when you enter the arena, so bring your items to add to the pile and take what you need.

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Just 6 weeks away is the tack and yard sale. Spaces must be booked by March 14th please.

Contact Celine Hutchison Majerus to register and for payment information.

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Clinic notice:
Eddo Hoekstra will be at Dark Horse Dressage (Enderby, BC)
April 10-12, 2026

Join us for an inspiring clinic with internationally respected dressage trainer Eddo Hoekstra, known for his philosophy: “Control less. Create more.”

📖 About Eddo Hoekstra
- Eddo Hoekstra is a highly regarded dressage clinician, praised by legendary trainer Walter Zettl as his “heir apparent.”

- Eddo’s teaching emphasizes kindness to the horse, systematic basics, and unlocking creativity in riders.

- Despite suffering a debilitating stroke in 2012, Eddo continues to share his expertise, proving his resilience and passion for the sport.
Riders describe his clinics as transformative, offering clear, methodical instruction that elevates both horse and rider.

** Rider spots $550 for the 3 days, or $185 per day
spots are only considered secured once full payment is received.

** Auditors $30 per full day if booked in advance, $80 for the entire clinic if booked in advance, $40 at the door - NOTE limit of 40 auditors.

Auditor registration portal will be open soon.

Contact Celine Hutchison Majerus directly if you require more information.

Thank you

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Great first outing for this horse.