Rossland Stables

08/26/2026

This also applies to Hunter/ jumpers !

When a Dressage Horse Is Behind the Leg — Especially With an Adult Amateur (AA) Rider

One of the most frustrating situations in dressage is a horse who is wonderfully forward and willing for the professional, but becomes behind the leg, pins his ears, bucks, or doesn't want to move forward for his AA rider.

The important thing to understand is that this isn't necessarily a “lazy horse.”

Often, the horse has learned that there are two different systems:

**Trainer:**
Leg → immediate response → release.

**AA:**
Leg → no response → stronger leg → more pressure → horse braces → resistance.

The horse learns that the AA's leg is negotiable.
But what is actually happening in the horse's body?

When the rider is asking the horse to go forward while simultaneously restricting him through the hand, seat, or body, the horse can develop an energy conflict.

The rider says:

“Go forward.”

But the horse simultaneously feels:

“Don't actually go anywhere.”

Instead of energy traveling:

**Hindquarters → back → neck → contact**

the horse can become:

**Restricted → braced → shortened stride → more leg → more resistance.**

The hind legs become less effective at stepping underneath the body and contributing to propulsion. The back can become tense rather than swinging. More weight stays on the forehand, and the horse can become heavy in the rider's hand.

This is why a horse can look “round” while still being completely behind the leg.

Round is not necessarily connected.
A short neck is not necessarily collection.
More leg is not necessarily more impulsion.

If the horse is constantly being squeezed, he can also become desensitized to the leg.

Instead of:

leg → response

the horse learns:

leg → background noise.

The rider then uses more leg, which can create even more tension.

Eventually the horse may anticipate the interaction. Ear pinning, tail swishing, bracing, rushing, kicking, or bucking can become part of the cycle.

That doesn't mean every buck is training-related—pain and discomfort should always be ruled out—but the physical and mental pattern is important to recognize.

So what's the answer?

It isn't to kick harder.

The goal is to make the aid clearer and more meaningful.

The rider should be able to say:

Light leg = GO.

If there is no response, reinforce promptly.

The instant the horse goes forward:

RELEASE.

The horse learns that responding to the first aid is the easiest option.

For these horses, I often like to temporarily take the emphasis away from the perfect dressage picture and go back to:

Forward → Straight → Rhythm → Connection → Engagement → Collection

A horse cannot truly be collected if he isn't genuinely forward.

Let the AA ride the horse in a more open, forward frame. Work on transitions, changes of direction, bigger and smaller steps, and simple forward exercises without constantly worrying about where the horse's head is.

One of my favorite exercises:

GO → COME BACK → GO

At the trot, ask for a few strides of a bigger, more powerful trot. Return to working trot. Then ask again.

The goal isn't to make the horse run.

QUICK TRANSITIONS

TROT → 4 STEPS WALK → TROT
TROT → CANTER → TROT

The goal is to teach:

My rider's leg means bigger steps.

And equally important:

When my rider stops asking, I maintain the gait.

The rider's position matters, too.

When the AA asks the horse to go, are they accidentally:

• Leaning backward?
• Gripping with the knee?
• Bracing through the stirrups?
• Tightening the reins?
• Locking the hip?
• Driving continuously?
• Holding the horse in the front while asking him to move forward?

That creates the classic:

“Go, but don't actually go” feeling.

The horse needs to feel that the rider's leg opens the door rather than pushes him into a closed front end.

The ultimate goal isn't to make the horse “behave” for the amateur.

It's to teach the horse that the AA's aids mean exactly the same thing as the trainer's aids.

When that communication becomes clear, consistent, and predictable, the horse no longer has to spend his energy figuring out how to respond to conflicting signals.

Instead, the energy can go where we actually want it:

Hind legs → swinging back → forward movement → elastic contact → connection.

That's when First Level starts to feel completely different.

Forward isn't created by more leg.
Forward is created by a leg that actually means something.

06/22/2026

We asked equine professionals, “What is one thing you wish clients understood?” Their answers are important for riders of all ages to read and understand.

“That “just one thing ” I do for you that takes me 5 minutes? Yeah, that actually adds an hour to my day. And if I don’t charge for doing the “little” extra things, then I can’t get to the big things”

“How hard it is to go 24/7 365 days of the year. And the money/time/mental facilities it takes to run the farm…”

“The tremendous amount of responsibility we carry on our shoulders. For the client, as well as the horse.”

“That horses aren’t vehicles that anyone can drive. You can’t just buy a 3’6″ horse and do the 3’6″ any more than you can just buy a grand prix horse and do the grand prix.”

“Organizing turnout is way harder than you expect. Who goes where, for how long, with a buddy or not. It is way more thoughtful than just putting a horse in a field.”

“The most expensive ponies are the old ones stepping down. If you want a deal, ask for a green or quirky one.”

“Just because I’m available to the horse 24/7 doesn’t mean I need to be available to the humans 24/7! Clients understand that we drop everything for the horses at all hours, and they expect the same for them which is really unfair. Clients who respect boundaries and our ability to have free time or a day off are worth their weight in gold.”

“There is no guarantee that your horse will stay sound.”

Next time you head to the barn or chat with your trainer, try keeping these things in mind. While questions are always welcome, the timing and the way that you ask them can be key. Remember, your trainer wants you and your horse to succeed, so there is almost always a reason for everything they do!

04/04/2026

Some riders plateau at 1.10m not because they lack talent—but because a few key pieces never fully come together. In showjumping, that height is often where the sport stops forgiving gaps.

Here’s what typically holds people there:

1. The basics aren’t as solid as they think
At 1.10, you can’t “get away with it” anymore. Inconsistent rhythm, weak straightness, or poor distance judgment start costing rails every round. Riders often chase bigger tracks instead of sharpening flatwork and fundamentals.

2. Riding reactively instead of proactively
Many riders at this level are still following the horse rather than riding the plan. They see a distance late, make last-second decisions, and rely on luck instead of creating the jump.

3. The wrong horse (or mismatch)
Not every horse has the scope, carefulness, or mindset to move up. And sometimes it’s not about the horse being “bad”—just not the right fit for that rider’s style or goals.

4. Comfort zone mentality
1.10 can feel safe and achievable, so riders stay there. Moving up means risking rails, time faults, and ego. A lot of people choose consistency over growth without realizing it.

5. Lack of correct coaching or feedback
Progress stalls when no one is truly pushing you or correcting the small details. The wrong voices—or too many voices—can also create confusion and inconsistency.

6. Mental ceiling
This is a big one. Riders often believe 1.10 is their limit. That belief shows up in hesitation, over-riding, or riding not to make a mistake instead of riding to succeed.

7. Inconsistent system
Training sporadically, changing methods, or not having a clear program makes it hard to build confidence and progression—for both horse and rider.

The truth?
Getting past 1.10 usually isn’t about doing something dramatic—it’s about doing the simple things exceptionally well, consistently, and under pressure.

The riders who move up:

Obsess over flatwork and rideability

Develop a clear system and stick to it

Put themselves (and their horses) in the right environments

Stay coachable and honest about their weaknesses

Get comfortable being uncomfortable

02/17/2026

Riders have more access than ever to information, competition, and opportunity. Cricket Stone is clear about one thing: experience still takes time. Talent and ambition matter, but they can’t replace years spent developing judgment.

Stone emphasized that feel develops gradually, through repetition and exposure. It’s not something riders acquire quickly, no matter how much instruction they receive.

After four decades in the horse industry, she has seen how tempting it can be to search for shortcuts. Riders want clear answers and fast progress. But horsemanship, she explained, doesn’t unfold on a compressed timeline. Skills like timing, feel, and decision-making are learned through doing and through seeing the same situations enough times to recognize them.

Stone stressed that while education is essential, experience plays an equally important role in shaping judgment. Riders can learn theory and rules, but understanding how to apply them comes from time in the saddle.

“You have to see a lot,” she said. “You have to make mistakes and learn from them.”

That process, she explained, can’t be rushed. Riders who move quickly through levels without encountering challenges often struggle later, when something unexpected happens. Without a range of experiences to draw from, they may not know how to adjust.

Stone noted that experienced riders often appear calm under pressure not because they have better instincts, but because they recognize situations they’ve encountered before.

Throughout the conversation, Stone returned to the value of exposure like riding different horses, working through problems, and seeing a wide range of scenarios.

“Every horse teaches you something different,” she said. “And you don’t always know what that lesson is going to be at the time.”

Those lessons accumulate over years. A difficult ride, a mistake, or a situation that didn’t go as planned often becomes a reference point later. When a similar issue arises, the rider has context and options. This kind of understanding doesn’t come from success alone. It comes from navigating uncertainty and learning how to respond when things don’t feel perfect.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/02/16/experience-cant-be-fast-tracked-in-horsemanship/
📸 © Lauren Mauldin

12/15/2025

Where exactly are these people who want to ride extras lol?
I mean I have a couple ( bless them ) but I’m not sure where this world is that everyone wants more riding time

In a world where everyone wants more riding time, trainer Geoff Case says the secret isn’t luck—it’s effort.

“People always ask me, ‘How do I get more chances to ride?’” he said. “The answer is simple: show up, pay attention, and work hard when no one’s watching.”

For Case, the difference between a rider who gets one opportunity and one who gets a hundred is professionalism.

Case learned early in his career that the riders who get called on are the ones who are there. “Half the time, opportunity looks like being in the right place at the right moment,” he said. “If you’re at the barn, if you’re helping, if you’re ready—you’ll get asked.”

He’s not talking about luck or timing. He’s talking about commitment. “You can’t get a ride if you’re sitting at home,” he said. “You have to be around. You have to make yourself available.”

That means doing the small things that make big impressions like helping tack up, walking a course for someone, or simply being on time every day. “Trainers notice,” Case said. “We always remember the kid who’s early, who’s dressed, who’s ready to help. That’s the one we trust to get on a horse when we need someone.”

He’s seen it time and again: a rider who’s quietly sweeping the aisle or holding a horse gets a surprise catch ride simply because they were nearby and prepared. “If you’re ready, those moments happen,” Case said. “If you’re not, they pass you by.”

Once you do get the chance to ride, Case says attitude is everything. “If someone hands you a horse, treat it like it’s the most important ride of your life,” he said. “That’s how people know they can count on you.”

He believes the best riders make every single ride look like a privilege, not a chore. “Even if it’s just walking a horse, do it like it matters,” he said. “That’s the difference between someone who’s hungry and someone who’s entitled.”

That level of care shows in how you cool out the horse, how you clean your tack, and how you talk to people around the barn. “Being a good horseman is being a good professional,” Case said. “The horses feel it, and so do the people who might give you your next chance.”

Case doesn’t mince words about what separates long-term success from short-term promise. “Work ethic beats talent every time,” he said. “Talent’s great, but if you don’t work, it doesn’t matter.”

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/12/12/the-professional-habits-that-get-you-opportunities-to-ride/
📸 © The Plaid Horse