Michell’s guide to creating a more dynamic performance

BREATHE  *  BALANCE  *  BELIEVE

• Consider the dressage training pyramid as a set of rules, in a specific order. What elements will you require to make each rule (or level) true? Every horse needs its own unique way to accomplish the dressage pyramid scale. Use your tools, instincts, and training to make the necessary improvements.

1^st Rhythm                  2^nd Suppleness                       3^rd Connection

4^th Impulsion              5^th Straightness                      6^th Collection

• Set the tone of your ride in the warmup.
• Create the trot you want and vary it. Develop the canter you want and vary it. Don’t just accept your horse’s offered tempo.
• Athletic ability and staying connected to your aids are a result of you changing the tempo.
• Do not mentally or physically rest after performing a movement so therefore never allow a sloppy transition.
• Floppy reins or aggressive hands will never create the connection needed.
• The rider is part of the horse’s recycled energy flow.
• Fix bad habits, otherwise don’t complain about bad results.
• Say ‘whoops’ and move on (don’t hold on to problems that occur).
• Learn to sit in the saddle.
• Decide when to ride your horse’s brain and when to ride his body.
• Set up the movement and then let your horse carry you!
• Excessive kicking irritates the judge – teach the horse to stay active without constant reminders.
• You are an athlete. Treat yourself like one.
• Your horse needs to stretch and rest.
• It’s not about micromanaging your horse; it’s about setting expectations and holding the horse accountable.
• Don’t tell the judge you’re new to this level, nervous or may throw up. Smile and show confidence (act the part if needed).
• Mix up your rides. Some days are stamina conditioning days, some days are trail days, some days are stretching days, and some days are athletic conditioning days.
• Encourage yourself not to limit what your horse can do – occasionally test the boundaries and see if there is more that your horse can offer.
• It’s not always about what is going wrong. Train yourself to think about what is going right.
• Look for the small rewards then get out of the movement.
• To give your horse a break for a solid effort, ride forward on a loose rein, or give a self-carriage check (push your hands forward a beat or two), or ride a medium – do something forward then it’s ok to walk. The reward becomes moving forward with relaxation.
• If you are riding a test and something goes wrong, don’t overthink how to fix the horse. Fix yourself first and immediately – breathe, lower your shoulders, soften your elbows, guide with your seat. If you train yourself to fix YOU first, then you can always add finesse to help your horse, if needed. Fixing yourself will fix most problems.
• The priority isn’t riding your line, it is to supple and relax your horse.
• Allow yourself to change the way you ride, think, react & train.

Nothing changes until you change it.

2023 photo by Marilyn Sheldon