Tipton Sport Lusitanos

09/16/2025

A great exercise we use often! Thank you so much Dressage Academy for such great content! 🥰

Training Tip Tuesday... The Zig Zag Leg Yield. In this exercise you will travel down the long side from H to K and turn onto center line at A. Take a few leg yield steps to the right, then leg yield left back across the center line and a few steps beyond. Finish by leg yielding back to the centerline and track the opposite direction. This is an excellent exercise for increasing the engagement of the hindquarter, suppleness, relaxation and straightness. It is also a great exercise to aid the rider in fine tuning the aids and improving their effectiveness. If the horse is proficient and capable, you can travel to the quarter line on either side of the centerline depending on the arena size and horse/rider's ability to perform the leg yield.

Be careful to keep the horse going in a steady rhythm between the aids. Not just falling through the shoulders with haunches trailing and not slowing the gait. The horse should remain parallel with the rail with a slight flexion opposite the direction of travel. The important part is that the horse steps under his center of gravity.

09/12/2025

This!

🐴✨ Our horses don’t lie. Their bodies speak louder than words — bracing, stiffness, evasions, or discomfort are not “normal.” If something isn’t right, listen. Be their guardian, not their battle. Every horse deserves to be heard. 💕

PC 📸: .physio.phyle

09/12/2025

Beautiful

09/09/2025

We love our distinguished Gentlemen School Masters, we do our best to keep them happy and healthy and fit!

Great tips from Koper Equine!
Thank you!

𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐆𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞

Your teenaged performance horse might not be old old… but he’s definitely got mileage, and at least one joint that predicts the weather.

Staying competitive past 14 takes more than luck. These horses have already proven themselves, now your job is to preserve what’s working and support what’s wearing down.

11. things you can do to help your horse stay on point:

1. Baseline lameness evals once or twice a year
2. Injections only when needed (based on flexions, blocks, or imaging)
3. Supportive care: Adequan, Pentosan, Legend
4. Daily joint supplement if tolerated
(discuss these 4 with your Vet)

5. Stay on a regular shoeing/trimming

6. Be picky about your footing. Footing that’s too hard, too deep, uneven or inconsistent can increase the risk of injury, sap confidence and cause all over body soreness.

7. Dental, sheath/udder, and body condition
and tack-fit checks every 6–12 months

8. A well planned warm up with lots of walking, stretches, a good jog, plenty of transitions and bending before faster work.

9. Shorter runs/classes, fewer runs/classes, and even fewer competitions when needed—yes, he’s earned it

10. Provide the best quality water, feed, hay, grass and supplements you can.

11. MASSAGE THERAPY to reduce stiffness and discomfort and improve recovery and training.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻:
• Slower recovery after events
• Sticky first barrel/jump or hesitation
• Unusual stops or rails
“ Slower times
• Soreness that comes and goes
• Sticky changes
• Random “off” days that didn’t used to happen
• Getting grumpy under saddle (not just spicy)

These horses don’t need to be retired, they just need to be respected and supported. They’ve given their all. Now it’s your turn to give them the tools to keep them going comfortably.

Massage therapy is ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE bodywork for helping older horses stay comfortable and active.

* props to my client, a super smart Dr, for protecting her noggin.

https://koperequine.com/the-benefits-of-massage-for-your-older-horses/

https://koperequine.com/bodywork-for-the-aged-horse/

09/09/2025

Another great post from Koper Equine!
Such super content! 🥰

09/04/2025

New APSL Podcast Episode!

APSL’s podcast series has released the latest episode, offering another thoughtful discussion on the Lusitano horse, its heritage, and the people shaping its future.

Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB2Ymn_X6N8&list=PLQdEKoMuwDIRuOqGQCFLtvfb7vKqNQ5Qo&index=1

Subtitled in Portuguese, English, and French

How to turn on English subtitles:
Click “CC”
Tap the gear icon (⚙️) → Subtitles → Select English

New episodes are released every two weeks, each offering valuable insights and perspectives from leaders in the Lusitano community.

09/03/2025

Thanks Dressage Academy more great exercises to practice!

Training Tip Tuesday - The Oval

I know many of you may already know how to ride ovals (lets face it there are a lot of incorrect circles going on in the dressage ring 🤣) - But this oval is intentional and has a purpose. It is also waaayyyy more challenging that you think.🤔

Begin at A and travel toward B with bend on a slightly curved line. As soon as you touch the point at B, leave the track on a slight arc toward C. Now, try to match the arc going toward E and back to A again. You can ride this in walk, trot or canter, but collect through the turning phase and encourage the horse energetically forward in the straighter phase.

This exercise is great for the warm up as it requires that the rider be precise with their aids and the horse to connect to the aids. The horse should remain straight and between the aids. Do not ride deep through the corner, but rather cut the corner and rider a slight arc toward the next point.

The turning phase will help with engagement of the hindquarter, because the horse is being asked to collect. Encouraging the horse to move actively forward out of the turn will create more impulsion - thus improving the horse's longitudinal suppleness, as well. Because the corners are cut and the horse must travel an exact line to keep the oval symmetrical, the horse will have to become more balanced, on the aids and connected.

Happy riding.

05/16/2025

05/05/2025

Great post on deworming products, protocols, f***l counts and especially interesting information on young horses! We are quite aggressive in our deworming program here, and have a broad range of ages.
Interesting in the fat absorption and release rates.