My first step is to understand how to help the horse relax their body. Learning and therefore development will not take place without it. Every horse is different, as they come with inherited personality and conformation traits. Older horses bring with them preconceived notions of training, sometimes good and sometimes not so good. We all speak dressage but we don't all have the same accent. [Words of Tom Noone]

I must first carry myself in the posture I want from them before I can ask them to carry me. They are not going to lift into a dead weight on their back nor understand the desires of a restless child unable to sit quietly. I must lead them by example, setting the tone, the posture, relaxation, and suppleness. They can only reach their potential if I keep rising to mine.

I listen to their responses to learn what they understand and what they don't. I keep it simple, one step at a time, building on solid basics. Patience and consistency is the fastest way to the top.

I show them what I want, then allow them to try. I accept mistakes as part of the learning process. I reward correct behavior through easing of the pressure and support of the correct responses. I teach them how to be my partner, not a servant and I never treat them as an adversary.

These horses are athletes and must be regarded as such. I take care to support their physical and mental growth in the training process. Regular and as needed veterinary and dental care, consistent and proper farrier work, saddle fit adjusted as their muscles develop, massage therapy and chiropractic adjustments to keep them supple.

Horses are limited by conformation, age, injury and work ethic. I had success with an Appendix Quarter Horse with croup high conformation yet the heart of a lion. She and I competed through Intermediare I averaging 59.9%. She had learned piaffe, passage and flying changes every stride when her legs could do no more. The first horse teaches you the most, especially when they try that hard.

I started and trained an athletic Holsteiner through 2nd level and flying changes. His primary conformation flaw was a long back. He was very supple and capable but did not like to stay in collection. He is a much happier horse as a jumper where he can use his ability to collect but not stay in collection. This horse did not have the willingness to overcome a conformation flaw as the Quarter Horse did.

I am currently training an ex-jumper who was evaluated with insufficient stride and scope to progress. He is also a Holsteiner but with a compact frame thus a tendency toward a tight back. He's been in training for 20 months now. Last year he was reserve champion 1st level open division at SWDC (did not compete at USDF Region 9 Championships). This year he's averaging 65% at 2nd level open and 66% at 3rd. Jan Ebling felt he'd be ready for Prix St. George next year when he saw the horse this Spring. Tom Noone commented on the horse's excellent use of his hind legs in June. Volker Brommann said the horse had an international trot at the end of my ride in August.

You never know how much a horse will give until you ask. If I listen the horse will tell me how far they will go in dressage. Obviously they won't all excel but they can learn a lot more than their conformation would lead me to believe. What I have to figure out when I hit a barrier is why. Is it miscommunication, pain, or just simple lack of desire for the sport? I listen hard.