East Coast Classical Dressage

11/16/2024

It’s Drop In season! If you haven’t been enjoying the weather lately and want to ride somewhere out of the wet and wind, come on over to ride in our arena! $23/drop in or $180/month to come as often as you want 😊

11/08/2024

When it’s crazy windy and your four year old stays relaxed 🥰

11/02/2024

Brego had a lovely visit from Carrie White, Schleese Saddlery Service, who evaluated the fit of our Shleese saddle. He behaved beautifully and Carrie was an absolute pleasure to have at our facility. Friendly, professional and knowledgeable!

10/30/2024

We had the most incredible three day clinic with ! Developing my young horse from scratch with the methods of is the most amazing journey!

10/13/2024

In the school of Legerete we ask for shoulder in or counter shoulder in differently depending on what will help the horse with their natural asymmetry. Last weekend I had the privilege of helping a clinic participant with this. Classical Dressage In # Ecole de Legerete

10/11/2024

A young student practicing “work in hand”. Such a helpful way to be accurate with the rein aids. Here Feline is doing circles in true bend and counter bend to improve Trigger’s shoulder control.

10/08/2024

An excellent explanation of the rein aids. Thank you EDL uk!

10/06/2024

What a lovely bunch of riders we had for our Legerete clinic! Thanks to all who came out for a fun weekend of learning 🥰

10/02/2024

Here is the schedule for this weekend’s Legerete clinic
9:30 Tara/Tonto
10:30 Kim
11:30 Lunch break
1:00 Elayne
2:00 Ashley
3:00 Tara/Iris
This is the schedule for both days. Lunch is provided for participants. Auditors welcome $30/day or $50/weekend

09/23/2024

One last minute spot has opened up in this clinic! Message me if you want it 😊

09/14/2024

Our Wine and Working Equitation funday was a tremendous success! What a wonderful group of equestrians 😊. Thank you to everyone who attended. We will definitely do this again!

09/13/2024

All set up for tomorrow!

09/11/2024

Our Wine & Working Equitation event is on Saturday! Please bring your own water bucket for your horse and remember we are a helmets mandatory facility. Safety first! Looking forward to a fun afternoon 😁.

09/03/2024

We have space for one more rider! Please send $175 to reserve your spot by September 20, 2024

08/31/2024

A reminder that today is the deadline to sign up for the Wine and Working Equitation event. This event is strictly for fun! Come join us and enjoy the food, wine and obstacles. Please etransfer $57.50 to [email protected] to confirm your attendance 😊

08/28/2024

Welcome Iris, she is here for some training in September. What a beautiful girl 😊

08/24/2024

If you are interested in a kinder way of training your horse, join us Oct 5&6 to learn how Ecole de Legerete puts the horse first.

I think one of the most potent forms of gaslighting we see in the industry is the following:

“This horse couldn’t perform at this level if they were stressed or in pain.”

This single sentence justifies any means of getting a horse to perform at the upper levels on the basis that if they are there, they can’t be in pain.

That it’s impossible to get a horse to work at the upper levels without having a fully willing, pain free and stress free companion.

Despite the overwhelming evidence suggesting it’s not true.

This excuse is then combined with many others:

“If you haven’t ridden at this level, you can’t judge.”

(Ironically, these same people are okay with the judges who hand out scores not riding at the same level.)

“If the horse didn’t want to, they wouldn’t.”

(Meanwhile, the same people will have tons of reasons as to why their horse needs XYZ bit or equipment for control or why the horse can’t be allowed to get away with “naughty” behaviour.)

“These horses receive the best of the best care, they live like royalty.”

(If royalty was locked up into small little jail cells and isolated for much of their life outside of work…)

All of these excuses are attempts to “other” those who question the status quo while elevating upper level riders to such a point of perfection and knowledge that they’re free from criticism.

Ironically, anyone of any caliber can compliment these riders and comment their ability but as soon as you breathe a word of criticism, you’re unqualified to do so.

Shouldn’t it go both ways if it’s about experience before judging? 🤔

Also, that aside, if people are judging purely on horse welfare and not how to ride a test or jump a large course, why is it that we are shooting down expert opinions from behaviourists and equine scientists because they haven’t ridden at that level?

Why does one need to compete to speak on horse welfare?

To answer all of these rhetorical questions:

This is merely a feeble attempt to continue the status quo by alienating those who question it and implying they’re simply less educated and less talented riders despite the lack of evidence for such.

If this is the only defence we have for the actions occurring in competition, they’re not really defensible.

I’ve yet to see an argument in defence of the sport staying as is, with no welfare improvements whatsoever, that isn’t riddled with logical fallacies and personal attacks.

There’s a reason for that.

The research is not on their side and so they have to rely on intimidation tactics and gaslighting to try to silence discourse.

Don’t stay silent, there’s a growing number of people who are frustrated with the lack of change.

No amount of gaslighting will silence the movement.

We stocked up on gas beforehand, so miss us with that gaslight attempt.

08/22/2024

As promised! If you are looking for a way of training your horse that is centred around respect for the horse join us in October 😁