Quarter Line Dressage

06/11/2024

Quarter Line Dressage can’t wait to be a part of the August Classic I&II and support our local GMO St. Louis Area Dressage Society.

https://tinyurl.com/4paf64p9 SLADS AUGUST CLASSIC I&II PRIZE LIST.

05/28/2024

Stable hand needed - please contact Marketa Matthews by phone listed below for an interview. Starting wages $17 per hour with all info below.

05/16/2024

Join us for the summer at Quarter Line Dressage. A few spots are available for boarding and training. For more information please contact Marketa Matthews.

04/25/2024

Great imagery & general guidance of how deep a rider should go into a corner depending on the level of the horse.

DRESSAGE TRIVIA:

Do you know the answer to this "CORNER CONUNDRUM?" 🤔

How deep are you supposed to ride into your corners?

The answer is, it depends, and here's why:👇

Information is VAGUE out there! But according to the USEF Rule Book, “Corners should be ridden as one-quarter of a volte appropriate to the level of the test (10 meters at training-First Levels, 8 meters at Second-Fourth Levels and 6 meters above Fourth Level).”
[USEF Rule Book DR109]

But in reality, it depends on the development of both the horse and the rider. And in my humble opinion, this is the BEST answer. 🙌
It is far better to ride a good corner that will help support you and your horse for the next movement than to try to jam yourself into a black hole 😉

So definitely strive for the USEF guidelines, but only go as deep as you and your horse can without disturbing the rhythm, balance, and harmony.

04/24/2024

What a great reminder for us all!

A dressage movement score of “10” translates to Excellent. Not perfect, excellent. “8” means Good, “7” Fairly good. So a score of 80% means that it was, on average, Good. 70% means it was, on average, Fairly good. To the best of my knowledge, no one’s ever gotten 100%. And even if they did, it wouldn’t be Perfect - merely excellent.

Within any test, there are also lots of ways to get to that final number. A test of straight 8s would earn 80%, as would a test of half 10s and half 6s. Is one of those approaches inherently better or worse than the other, striving for consistent Good versus allowing a horse with natural gifts to shine with their 10s and take some hits on 6s? I don’t think there’s a right or a wrong approach. I do think that most thoughtful competition riders, at any level, are just trying to capitalize on their individual horses’ highlights while also trying to make the most of their weaknesses.

04/08/2024

Congratulations to Lorraine Pray and her Danilo 110, this pair qualified at 4th level at April at the Arch. Lorraine also competed Janet and Bill Pray’s Biagiotti at PSG and came away with a qualifying score. Congratulations to Kathy Bailey and her Krimson King JP, this pair qualified at First Level at April at the Arch. Rebecca Reeve stepped back into the competition arena with her gelding Nefarious - earning a 65.4% at 2-1. Stephanie Ross (Taffy) and her gelding Linden tried their hand at 2-1 achieving a personal goal and also earned a very respectable 64.6% at 1-1.

04/03/2024

Thank you Lauren Sprieser for a great pre-show prep - memorizing those corners, and thinking through the process of how you will breathe, as well as all of the other intricate pieces of the test, what a great post. ❤️🤩

: When you memorize your tests, don’t just memorize the movements, and the letters at which they are performed. Memorize how you go through corners, how you prepare those movements. Memorize what you’ll be doing the five strides before a transition in order to make that transition the most beautiful and effortless it can be. Memorize breathing, staying present, and how you’ll use your body to help your horse do the best work he can do. It’s not just about the pattern! ♾️⁣
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04/02/2024

After an educational clinic with Jennifer Kaiser at Quarter Line Dressage this past week she shared this this great article consisting of 8 training gems from Carl Hester - I think many of our students can appreciate many of these thoughts. Thanks again Jennifer!

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/8-training-gems-carl-hester-transform-dressage-scores-693035?fbclid=IwAR1gVinrX8KigrtWOZQG_jXE9Yq_lWohVR6w55-5uYXumI_5CBHCS2OxGXU_aem_Ae10IvJAtAGedBTF7Bv2VOBKkyTOXVTkk-e00B94RHInmyLf5kbt_XeuB5jD-tRYUyE

Ever wondered how to take your test-riding up a notch, to gain those valuable extra marks? Carl Hester shares some golden nuggets of training advice that can help every rider pull in some extra points in the ring… 1. Focus on your own position “Sitting in the middle of the horse is important for...

03/29/2024

Thank you Jennifer Kaiser for a great first day of clinic rides. Looking forward to today’s rides. Join us to audit if you are interested. Bring a chair.
JENNIFER KAISER CLINIC:

THURSDAY:
9:30 Ingeborg K. - Helios
10:15 Violet H. - Helena
11:00 Rebecca R. - Hudson
11:45 Kathy B. - Kai
12:30 - 1:30 LUNCH
1:30 Lorraine - Danilo
2:15 Violet H. - Opal
3:00 Lorraine P. - Biagiotti
3:45 - 4:00 Break
4:00 Taffy R. - Linden
4:45 Shelley B. - Nitro
6:15 Sarah S. - Mae

FRIDAY:
9:00 Violet H. - Helena
9:45 Taffy R. - Linden
10:30 Kathy B. - Kai
11:15 Shelley B. - Nitro
12:00 - 12:45 LUNCH
12:45 Sarah S. - Mae
1:30 Rebecca R. - Hudson
2:15 Lorraine P. - Danilo
3:00 Jennifer C. - Opal
3:45 Lorraine P. - Biagiotti

01/21/2024

Quarter Line Dressage riders are looking forward to warmer weather and competitions in the 2024 year!

Planning your show calendar for 2024? Want to preview the grounds for the 2024 USDF Region 4 Championship? Mark your calendar for August I&II - we can’t wait to see you there!

01/07/2024

Twenty of the United States’ top young athletes have gathered at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival show grounds to participate in the 2024 Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic Week, which started Thursday with a demonstration ride by host Dover and lessons for the participating riders. 

12/10/2023

Want to maintain your horses fitness and keep riding thru the winter? Enjoy the amenities of an indoor while still having adequate turnout daily for your equine partner in a short commute to STL? Contact Marketa Matthews to find out more about boarding and training opportunities at Quarter Line Dressage in Chesterfield MO conveniently located just off 40/61 and Long Road.

11/29/2023

Great message for us all!

✍️

We all go how we practice. Corners, quality transitions, square halts; these are things that often get forgotten in daily practice, and then we’re shocked when we have to ride them in a test, and they don’t flow well. Get disciplined about these in your daily practice, and then doing them in the show ring will feel natural instead of like a special occasion.

11/23/2023

🍂🍁Quarter Line Dressage Friends and Family we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving - May all feel the comfort of family and friends in these coming days. 🍂🍁

11/21/2023

Join us for the winter at Quarter Line Dressage in Chesterfield MO. Marketa Matthews is onsite - with individualized care to meet the needs of your equine companion or dressage performance horse. Call or text Marketa for more information. Number listed below.

11/10/2023

🍀 Quarter Line Dressage wishes GOOD LUCK to all of our St. Louis Area Dressage Society friends competing as well as our Forrest Hill Farm & Kaiser Dressage friends 🍀

Big day ahead! Day 2 of the 2023 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® starts now!

You can stream the action live on USEF Network by becoming a free fan member: https://www.usdf.org/usdressagefinals/usef-network.asp

Find the class lists, ride times, & results on Horse Show Office: https://horseshowoffice.com/ #/events

Also, please be aware that there are a number of spam links circulating on social media. The only official sources for information regarding the Finals will come directly through USDF, through our website, our social media pages, or our publications site YourDressage.org. Beware of links coming from anywhere else!

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11/08/2023

Beautiful view at the office this fall for Marketa Matthews teaching a group lesson at Quarter Line Dressage while being kept company by her girls Maggie & Lucy.

10/30/2023

Distinguishing the many types of trot work.

Melonie Kessler explains the difference between working, medium, lengthened and extended trot.

10/30/2023

To maintain your balance ...

Imagine that your upper body is like a broomstick and your horse is a hand trying to balance it. If your body (the broomstick) starts to tip, your hand (horse) will automatically move underneath to keep it up. You cannot lean right and expect your horse to go left.—Laura Tomlinson

Tomlinson (née Bechtolsheimer) represented Great Britain with great success aboard Mistral Højris. The pair earned several medals, including team gold and individual silver at the 2012 Olympic Games as well as silver in the team, special and freestyle at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

🎨: Sandy Rabinowitz

10/26/2023

🍀 Quarter Line Dressage wishes all the luck to competitors that are preparing for Finals 2024. 🍀

The final sashes have been awarded, the victory laps taken, and trailers unloaded at home following the 2023 Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Championships. Now, competitors begin to look towards the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®. In just two short weeks, the Kentucky Horse Park will be converged upon for one of the most anticipated events of the competition year!

In preparation, we’ve put together a packing list for competitors and their equine dance partners! Check it out here: https://yourdressage.org/2023/10/23/on-the-road-to-finals-a-packing-list/

10/25/2023

Join us for the winter at Quarter Line Dressage. For more information please contact Marketa.

10/07/2023

Stabling and training opportunities available at Quarter Line Dressage. For information please contact Marketa Matthews.

QLD offers many options for care for your equine friend in a safe, friendly and fun environment.

10/01/2023

Congratulations to Quarter Line Dressage JR/YR Lorraine Pray on her JR/YR PSG USDF Region 4 Championship with Biagiotti under the guidance of Marketa Matthews owned by Janet & Bill Pray.

09/07/2023

Congratulations Emma! Huge thank you to our Quarter Line Dressage family for sharing their horses under the guidance of Marketa Matthews.

USDF is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of USDF Youth Dressage Rider Recognition Pins. This program recognizes the accomplishments of youth dressage riders in not only dressage, but also in academics, volunteerism, and equestrian education.

This year’s recipients are:

First Year Recipients: Kirsty Alexander (WA), Addy Batcheller (AR), Claudia Foushee (NC), Darian Kauk (NE), Walker Lefkowitz (NV), Isabelle Montes (KY), Adalynn Nelson (IA), Teagan Niles (VA), Finley Peterson (VT), Natalie Porto (NY), Britney Richwine (IN), Emma Szachnieski (MO), Carlee Jean Turner (OR)

Second Year Recipients: Lauren Anderson (PA), Harper Kane (NC), Hayden Kane (NC), Margaret Raffo (NY)

Sixth Year Recipient: Gabriella Escobar (VA)

Learn more about this program, & the recipients, here: https://usdf.org/press/news/view-news.asp?news=1044