To ride dressage is to dance with your horse, equal partners in the delicate and sometimes difficult work of creating harmony and beauty.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Instant improvement

This morning I read the following quick snippet in an email from Jane Savoie:
I rode with Olympian Robert Dover for many years. One of Robert’s favorite sayings is, “Amateurs ride from movement to movement. Professionals ride from half halt to half halt.” I think those are words to live by.

This evening I squeezed in a quick ride, and remembered her words towards the end. So during our final trot work I worked on riding from half halt to half halt, and what a difference it made in Lance's frame and gait quality!

This evening I read the entire article, but for me, the "quick tip" had as much impact. It was the right message at the right time for the right result. Now to remember it!

4 comments:

emma said...

I read that post too and immediately ordered her book "that winning feeling" from Amazon haha

Mary said...

Nick and I are not dressage competitors, but I do use the principlaes in my quest to help him be the best all around horse. Yesterday was a half halt to half halt ride, and I think that is key to teaching and supporting engagement. Michelle, I don't know if you ever rode him-Nick has become very powerful while continuing to be laid back.

Michelle said...

I get SO much from her writings; wouldn't it be awesome to be able to clinic with her???

Michelle said...

No, I never even got to MEET Nick (which is fine, because I think he was meant for you ;-).