Through Dressage, LLC

07/13/2026

What a wonderful day at Saturday’s Mitchell Dressage Series schooling show at Southern Heritage Farm. Congratulations to Kelly Bowyer and Caroline Grassi on lovely rides and successful tests at Training and Intro levels. Watching horse and rider develop confidence and harmony is always the most rewarding thing.

Special thanks to Sondra Sparapani for capturing these special moments through her beautiful photos and videos.

Dressage is about building a better and more secure partnership—regardless of your discipline or experience level. If you’re in Loudoun Co. VA, Orange Co. VA, Frederick Co. MD, or Montgomery Co. MD and would like to develop a more balanced, responsive, and confident partnership with your horse, I’d love to meet you. Please pm me to schedule a free introductory lesson.

06/27/2026

The bit as a listening device to assess the horse’s hindquarters

“Contact does not mean that by pulling the reins we will have it. The horse should step into the contact and establish an outline corresponding to the respective pace; an outline within which it can best develop its power.” Reiner Klimke, Ingrid Klimke and Franziskus demonstrate…�https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2021/10/contact-what-is-good-contact/

06/14/2026

RIP

How to ride free walk for higher dressage marks – with advice from FEI judge Stephen Clarke and Carl Hester. Subscribe to H&H to read more below

05/27/2026

Did you know your hands take up more cortical space in the brain than almost any other body part?

That’s one reason riders instinctively rely too heavily on the reins when balance, tension, or uncertainty appear. In dressage, true communication begins not in the hands, but in the seat, balance, breath, and body awareness.

Learning to ride from the whole body—not just the hands—creates a softer, more harmonious partnership with your horse.

When the rider changes, the horse softens.

05/27/2026

Did you know our hands take up more cortical space in the brain than almost any other body part?

That’s one reason riders instinctively rely too heavily on the reins whenever balance, tension, or uncertainty appear. In dressage, true communication begins not in the hands, but in the body language of the seat, balance, breath, and awareness.

Learning to ride from the whole body—not just the hands—creates a softer, more harmonious partnership with your horse.

05/25/2026

Motto of the month for May: don’t let a horse’s ‘mistake’ lure us into overriding.

03/20/2026

“Look to the ears” Conrad Schumacher

12/30/2025

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12/30/2025

The Slow Horse, Stress Response, and Improving Tempo Under Saddle

Horses that travel slowly when ridden are often misunderstood as lazy, unwilling or naughty. Instead, this behaviour reflects a stress response, in particular the fight response, rather than a lack of equine motivation or sinister agenda. Horses are prey animals and they react to stress through instinctive responses flight, fight, freeze. When ridden, a horse may feel overwhelmed by the environment, physically uncomfortable or trapped by the rider’s aids, leading to tension and resistance to the driving aids instead of forward movement.

A fight response under saddle can present subtly. Rather than overt aggression, the horse may become sluggish, dull to the leg, or resistant through the body when asked to move forward. Increased pressure from the rider can worsen the problem by reinforcing stress and resistance. Applying a whip or spur to a horse that is displaying a shut down response can only enhance stress level and create dangerous spinning, bucking or rearing

A rider's best practice for creating flow with a horse under saddle focuses on reducing stress and improving clarity. Light, consistent aids with perfect timing of a rider's pressure and release encourage responsiveness without creating tension. Addressing physical fitness and comfort, including saddle/bridle fit, dental care, and soundness is essential. Varied exercises such as transitions, ground poles, and hacking can improve impulsion while keeping training mentally engaging and rewarding. Correct rider position is always essential as is providing steady, even, inspiring connection with the right bit that inspires the horse at all times.

Bottom line: Horses are inherently cooperative creatures with a built in desire for forward motion and trust of their leader. It is vital that a rider never resort to fighting with a sluggish horse. A slow tempo under saddle often reflects stress rather than laziness. Understanding the fight response allows riders to use calm, curated training methods that improve tempo and create a more positive ridden experience for both horse and rider.

Send a message to learn more