On Day 2, Monica Theodorescu continues helping Neve Myburgh improve her 7-year-old DSP mare Firiet’s balance through counter-canter work and transitions. They also work on lengthening Firiet’s stride and getting her in a more uphill frame, and Theodorescu stresses the importance of being satisfie...

On Day 1 of the conference, Monica Theodorescu helps USDF bronze, silver and gold medalist Neve Myburgh improve her 7-year-old DSP mare Firiet’s hind-end engagement, self-carriage and balance through serpentines, circles, half circles and the counter-canter. Throughout their session, Theodorescu ...

On Day 2 of the conference, Christine Traurig encouraged Hannah Irons to be disciplined in her equitation with 5-year-old Westphalian gelding Ein Traum, stressing that the function of her aids depends on correct form. Traurig also had the pair practice leg yielding on circles and navigating the d...

On Day 1 of the 2025 USDF Trainers’ Conference, Christine Traurig helps USDF bronze and silver medalist Hannah Irons transition her Westphalian gelding Ein Traum’s training from a 4- to 5-year-old. With young horses, Traurig stressed the importance of developing and cultivating suppleness and adj...

Ashley Donadt explains how riding every corner mindfully can translate to higher test scores in competition. Her simple exercise offers training benefits such as improving your horse’s balance and focus, getting him tuned in to your aids, naturally teaching the half-halt, and ultimately setting u...

Laura Ashley Killian demonstrates and explains what it feels like as she warms up her upper-level horse in the walk. The focus still needs to be on the horse engaging the back and hindquarters. She also shows examples of how the horse goes when he is not ridden as correctly. She does a good deal ...

“S” level dressage judge Jodi Ely leads this Second Level Test 3 ride-a-test. Jodi scores each movement as the rider goes through the test. Afterward, she discusses which movements the rider could improve upon, including the transitions, shoulder-in and travers. Jodi has the rider go through the ...

“S” level dressage judge Jodi Ely leads this ride-a-test for Second Level Test 3. The rider goes through the test while Jodi scores the movements. Afterward, Jodi discusses what movements could be improved, including the upward transitions, shoulder-in and travers.

In addition to being an “S” le...

AnnA Buffini discusses what drives her toward her goals, her favorite training exercises, how she keeps her horses happy and healthy and more.

AnnA is a young dressage professional based in San Diego, California. She has been part of the U.S. Dressage Team, competing on five major international...

AnnA Buffini demonstrates her method for training trot lengthenings from a young horse through the upper levels. By ensuring the horse pushes from behind and moves in an uphill way from the beginning, each new type of lengthening introduced — lengthening to medium to extended — seamlessly builds ...

AnnA Buffini shows you how to develop flying changes through the levels. She begins by ensuring crisp walk-canter transitions and developing the quality of the canter before progressing through the tempi changes. AnnA demonstrates how she patiently and systematically works through training challe...

AnnA Buffini demonstrates how lateral movements build on each other through a horse’s development. She begins with a leg-yield at the trot and builds up to canter half-pass and zig-zags. AnnA explains the importance of “layering” lateral movements to fix training issues and ensure success while m...

Steffen Peters answers questions at a clinic. He discusses getting a horse balanced on both sides, riding horses who pull or are crooked and the qualities that he looks for in a dressage horse. Steffen touches on the importance of the basics, suppleness, rhythm, rideability and letting horses be ...

Steffen Peters continues to help an Intermediate pair school advanced dressage movements on day two of the clinic. Steffen encourages explaining the degree of collection to the horse rather than forcing it, thus keeping the training experience positive. The pair works on passage, canter pirouette...

Steffen Peters helps an Intermediate pair school advanced dressage movements. Steffen suggests practicing the challenging skills a few times then giving the horse a break as he continues to develop his strength. The pair works on passage, canter pirouettes, tempi changes, half-pass and half-steps...

Steffen Peters continues to help a Third/Fourth Level rider develop suppleness and self-carriage in her horse on day two of the clinic. They use flexion, counter flexion and leg yields at the trot as well as transitions, such as walk-canter-walk and medium canter to collected canter, to achieve t...

Steffen Peters helps a Third/Fourth Level rider guide her horse into a frame. Steffen encourages effective, mindful riding to improve the horse’s suppleness and self-carriage. The pair works on transitions, haunches-in on a circle at the walk and alternating between flexion and counter flexion on...

Steffen Peters helps a Second/Third Level rider work with her tense horse at the clinic. Steffen encourages loosening up the horse’s body to help quiet his mind. The rider works on alternating between flexion and counter flexion and changes of direction at the walk and trot to supple her horse.
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Steffen Peters continues to coach a Training/First Level rider as analyzes the contact with her young horse on day two of the clinic. Steffen helps the rider find a productive frame for her horse to reach consistency in the bridle. The pair works on transitions and collecting the canter to work t...

Steffen Peters coaches a Training/First Level rider as she works on keeping consistent contact with her young horse. Steffen encourages intentional riding to get the desired response to the rider’s aids from the horse. The pair works on transitions and collecting the canter on day one of the clin...

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Fera, who organized a clinic with Steffen Peters, talks about the insights that she gained from the experience. Lizzie rode her 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding in the two-day clinic with Steffen. They worked on lightness, responsiveness to the aids and the start of collectio...

Allison works with an 11-year-old mare coming from the hunter world to dressage.

Jean Bemelmans—KBIS British Equestrian National Convention