EQUESTRIAN+ is livestreaming the Mustang Classic, September 13–15, 2024. Trainers and their mustangs will compete in dressage and show jumping and a choice of arena cross country or working equitation. The top 10 will be called back for a freestyle class Sunday. The horses have been in training f...

Susanne von Dietze takes to the saddle and demonstrates her how the rider seat, balance and position affect the horse.

Steffen Peters starts by riding a mare on the second day of a clinic. He says that forward is great, but the horse can’t run through the rider’s aids. The horse must not try to take over in any capacity. Steffen likes how easily forward the mare is, but she needs to come back more promptly. And w...

With a tense horse, Laura Graves suggests lots of changes of direction to encourage softening on both sides and suppling on the inside leg. The horse should give to the inside rein, which Laura feels is a good safety feature as many horses spook from something on the outside. When the horse is re...

Olympian Kasey Perry-Glass helps a rider on a Third Level horse who likes to curl around the left side. They increase the engagement of the right hind leg and counter-flex to improve straightness. They also school lateral work in the canter to improve straightness. They practice a single flying c...

Sven Rothenberger joins J.J. Tate and talented gelding, Denali. The pair are schooling Prix St Georges movements. Denali is swinging out behind in his volte. They work on keeping the hind legs in the track of the front legs, having more flexion and controlling the haunches. Working at the canter ...

Join Steffen Peters for a schooling ride on his new horse, Mani’s Endeavor. Following their first time showing Prix St. Georges together, Steffen continues developing the horse. Starting with movements like half-pass and walk pirouettes, Steffen works through his warm-up and gets the horse’s atte...

Sven Rothenberger works with accomplished rider and coach Kristin Stein and her Dutch gelding Karamba. Sven emphasizes the importance of the rider intending for the horse to have soft contact and stay in self-carriage while trying to avoid getting behind the vertical. This can be achieved by work...

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...

Laurie Pitts shows how to put on two different types of a standing wraps: the first is a cotton-filled under layer and a flannel outer wrap. The second is a foam-filled under layer and nylon outer wrap. She also discusses liniments to use under the wrap. SAFETY NOTE: As Laurie explains, crouching...

Learn the grooming strategies of Evan Donadt, professional groom of Donadt Dressage. The social media personality behind EvanGrooms, Evan shares his grooming routine—with splashes of fun and humor thrown in—and gives tips to help you groom like a pro. He covers hoof care, checking a horse’s legs,...

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...

Sabine Schut-Kery works with accomplished dressage rider and returning masterclass participant Bonnie Canter and her horse Vitali. Sabine encourages Bonnie to bring Vitali more through and elevated. They practice transitions in serpentines, emphasizing organization and fluidity. By using corners,...

Sven Rothenberger coaches Endel Ots and Lion King. The horse needs to feel confident about himself, so Sven advises Endel to relax and encourage him: Slow him with the seat, not the reins. Don't accept shortcuts from the horse, and sit big in the saddle. Lion King has a beautiful uphill canter. ...

Steffen Peters and a clinic rider work on lengthening and collecting the canter on the long side with the goal that the transitions are easily available to the rider. In the canter pirouette, Steffen explains that the outside leg is a reminding leg – not a constant aid. There is a careful balance...

Sabine Schut-Kery continues working with Kelsey Dunlap and Heirendale SBF. Since Heirendale gets emotional, Kelsey must stay elastic and straight in her position. They continue to foster a good relationship between rider and horse. Kelsey must check in with Heirendale so he can feel secure and co...

Olympian Sabine Schut-Kery works with Kelsey Dunlap and her talented Hanoverian gelding Heirendale SBF. Sabine discusses the importance of engaging the horse in the tempo, without adding speed, to articulate the joints and movements. The pair work on the volte and fostering connection from the le...

In Part 7 of the Training Scale series, Felicitas looks at Impulsion from the horse's point of view. She talks about the German word Schwung, which comes from swinging. Some horses have natural engagement, impulsion and swing, but we need to make sure the horse is relaxed enough that we can take ...

Steffen Peters works with a rider and her accomplished and forward-thinking mare who have been competing Grand Prix level for a few years. The rider works on lengthening the horse's neck at the trot, which results in the mare getting a little ahead of the rider. Steffen advises the rider to maint...

Steffen Peters coaches a successful young rider currently advancing toward Intermediare I and Prix St. Georges level. Steffen explains that to succeed at these levels, the horse needs to become more sensitive overall and get in front of the leg while achieving more collection. They warm up with a...

Sven Rothenberger shares his expertise with J.J. Tate riding the Oldenburg gelding Romeo. He advises J.J to be more conscious of riding Romeo over the back to compensate for his conformation. She also needs to maintain control with the outside rein through the outside leg in canter. Sven also has...

After Steffen Peters rides the mare on the second day of the clinic, the owner/rider gets back on her horse. Steffen wants the rider to be able to shorten the horse’s entire frame – not just her neck, but from her ears to her tail. They do this by small lengthenings in trot and canter and then br...

In the first part of this ride, Shannon helps a rider work on her leg position that helps open the hip joint. The rider should feel like if the horse drops out from under her, she will land on her feet. The hips go in advance of the shoulders every stride because the horse takes them.