Dressage

Horse Self-Carriage, Simplified: How to Develop Balance and Responsiveness

Updated:

September 25, 2026

Horse demonstrating self-carriage during ridden training

I tend to think of self-carriage like cruise control. A horse in self-carriage remains on the path, in the gait, in the tempo, and the frame his rider requested, for several strides without being held there.

How Can I Tell If My Saddle Fits Correctly?

Updated:

September 24, 2026

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Q: I ride a Thoroughbred with a moderately roached (convex or round) back. How should I determine if my saddle fits correctly? A: The nine main points of saddle fit are absolutely common to all saddles and all horses – if you want to determine whether and how well your saddle fits, these points should be considered, and each of these points has video instruction on our website at www.saddlesforwomen.com.

Steffen Peters Dressage Clinic: Teaching Moments in Self-Carriage

Updated:

September 17, 2026

Olivia Wentworth-Stanley rides Dutch Warmblood NFK Nique during the Steffen Peters dressage clinic at High Wyck Farms.

Simplicity, understanding, and connection - After witnessing acclaimed US dressage rider Steffen Peters perform award-winning tests at competitions around the world, I had no hesitation when asked to cover his clinic in June 2026 at High Wyck Farms in Meaford, Ontario. The quality and precision of his teaching matched the excellence of his competition performances.

The Best Cavalletti Exercises for Walk, Trot, and Canter

Updated:

September 4, 2026

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Your horse's three primary gaits-walk, trot, and canter-each provide distinct advantages for conditioning aimed at enhancing performance. When utilized effectively, these gaits can achieve outcomes that might otherwise be overlooked. Ideally, training sessions should incorporate equal time spent in each of the three primary gaits to promote both flexibility and strength. However, specific conditioning phases may require an emphasis on one gait over the others. This article will explore how each gait benefits the equine athlete, particularly in relation to back usage, and will highlight the role of cavalletti routines in training.

Nail the Correct Canter Lead

Updated:

August 21, 2026

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Every Time, Everywhere - Wrong lead! It’s one of the earliest alerts a young rider hears from her coach. One’s heart sinks to hear that same alert from the coach calling over the show ring rail. The novice rider learns the outside leg back and kiss cue to canter but I’ve found that riders are often unsure why they should use this cue. Let’s break it down. We’ll review the phonics of teaching your horse to pick up the correct lead and some hints to help the rider recognize it.

The Case for Lightness with Horses

Updated:

August 14, 2026

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While it might often be spoken about in artistic, aesthetic, or even philosophical ways, lightness — both of movement and also of communication with horses — is more than an abstract ideal. In many ways, it measures a horse’s current physiological capabilities.

Yielding to Pressure - Better Horse Training Through Wisdom and Timing

Updated:

July 23, 2026

Horse yielding to neck rein pressure during western riding

One could say that to work with horses is to work under pressure: the physical pressure we employ in communicating to our horses, time pressure, and even peer pressure. A wise horseperson has a sense of timing and knows when it’s fitting to yield or resist.

Canada Sending Its First Working Equitation Team to World Championships

Updated:

July 8, 2026

Canadian working equitation rider competing with traditional garrocha during international competitio

Working Equitation Canada (WECan) has selected four riders and one alternate for Canada’s first team to compete at a working equitation world championship.

OPINION - Controversy Envelopes WECan Canadian Team Selection

Updated:

July 2, 2026

Selecting athletes for any team is hard. Selecting athletes for the first Canadian team that a fledgling organization has ever sent to a World Championships is doubly difficult. However, using subjective selection criteria which results in the highest ranked rider being left off the team pretty much guarantees that sport enthusiasts will question the selection process, the organization, and whether they want to be involved in future.

Step by Step Guide to Braiding Your Horse's Mane and Tail

Updated:

July 1, 2026

April D. Ray, horse braiding, how to braid a horse, how to braid a horse's mane, horse mane braiding, horse tail braiding, hunter braids, jumper braids, dressage braids, horse show turnout, horse show grooming, horse grooming, horse mane, horse tail, hunter horse, jumper horse, dressage horse, braiding horse mane, braiding horse tail, horse show preparation, equestrian grooming, equestrian turnout, show horse grooming, braiding tutorial, Canadian Horse Journal

Braiding a horse’s mane and tail is a tradition with deep historical roots. Originally, it served a very practical purpose—keeping the mane from getting caught in tack, tools, or the weapons used by mounted hunters and soldiers. According to old legends, fairies were believed to sneak into barns at night and weave “elf knots” into horse manes to ride them. A more sinister version of the tale suggests that thieves would tie knots in a mane to mark horses they planned to steal. Over time, braiding also came to symbolize class, with neatly plaited manes and tails identifying horses of high breeding or importance.