Casting Call for Dressage Riders - Spotlight on 101 Classes

The TV production " Road Map to Making The Grand Prix Dressage Horse" is underway and a casting call has gone out for dressage riders with a young horse to start.

Topliner will be trainer British international Grand Prix competitor/coach/clinician Paul Alvin-Smith of Willowview Hill Farm, Stamford NY. The filming will be completed at his farm located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of New York, and it offers a super opportunity for dressage aficionados with a young horse to start to enjoy free training and board for their horse during 2022.

" The Horse Studio is thrilled to be able to offer this rare opportunity to riders. Paul has started several horses from babies and made them to the Grand Prix level during his career, where he has competed to scores of over 72% at Grand Prix in Europe. Folks interested in auditioning can find more info on our website," says Kathy Collins, a veteran staffer at The Horse Studio.

The production will enjoy the backdrop of Willowview Hill Farm, a private dressage yard with amazing views and lots of wide open space in addition to the prerequisite indoor arena.

Interested? Please reach out directly to The Horse Studio through their contact form on their website.

Comments

Dressage Bit Contact: The Dreaded Break at the 3rd Vertebrae and How to Resolve it

Schooling challenges: Inheriting a horse that has been trained incorrectly and breaks at the 3rd vertebrae - It is much easier to work a horse correctly from the beginning than to have to 'fix' an issue later on as we all know. Our latest equine protegee, this lovely stallion - has received minimal training and but has shown at Training Level in Canada ~ however somewhere along the line he was ridden incorrectly and allowed to hide behind the vertical. Though he scored well the judges comments noted inconsistent contact. As he does not have an excessively long neck this is an interesting achievement. How to resolve it? We'll begin by working him a little in front or above the bit, sending him forward and setting a good rhythm from the get go. Then we'll encourage him to take the reins and stretch over his back and out down in front, without putting his head too low i.e. not below the knee - he must learn to take the contact and to take his part of it consistently. T

Flying Changes Problems Answered

The fun to do, fun to train, dressage flying change is truly like dancing with your horse. Unfortunately all too often issues arise during training that make them less than perfect. Major issues which are very common include swinging of the hindquarters ( which will cause lots of issues with tempi changes so be warned), changes that are late behind, swishing tails during the change, changes that are not forward, where the croup is high and the horse shows stiffness behind. In the latter event the horse will cover very little ground as he is not 'flying' through the change. Other issues that occur in training are running off after the change, bucking, coming above the bridle and the riders hand. Do not despair! There is some discussion as to which leg should push hardest during the change and to whether there should be a lightening of the seat during the movement. From my experience and training, lightening the seat is to be avoided. Stay straight, do not collapse a hip and

The Grand Prix Dressage Test ~ All Chopped Up With No Place To Show

The new shortened version of the Grand Prix dressage test will be showcased at Olympia, London, UK, this December. The new test has not been well received in the dressage community and there are many good reasons why. Are You All In With The New Test? ( Photo: Brittany Fraser and All In) The FEI seems to have gone for a shorter test, thinking this means more spectator interest which is ridiculous as the reduction of the test by 2 minutes per test will not mean more viewers. What it will do is to reward the horses at the very top of the sport already, that have crowned their talents with excellent 3 'p's movements. The new test offers lots of activity early in on the test which means no time to allow the horse and rider to settle into the test. While much of it feels more like an Intermediate test than a Grand Prix, the missing elements such as the zig zags would have Wolfgang Niggli turning in his grave. The rein back also missing will have many clas

Classical Dressage Art in Motion

Search This Blog