Inside Track Training, LLC

04/21/2025

Learning a new dressage movement can feel soul-destroying.

No matter how many times you try it, how many trainers you work with, or how many methods you experiment with, it just doesn’t click. And in those moments, the doubt creeps in. Should I even keep trying? Maybe I’m just not good enough. Maybe this isn’t for us.

But here’s what I’m learning:
Taking a step back doesn’t mean giving up. It means reassessing.
It means breaking it down, trying a new approach, and making it fun again, for both you and your horse.

Because sometimes, the breakthrough doesn’t come from pushing harder.
It comes from letting go of the pressure and finding the joy again.
And in that moment of lightness… it just might click.

To anyone in that place of frustration, keep going. You’re not alone. And your breakthrough might be closer than you think.

04/19/2025

04/18/2025

I don’t know this woman or her horse, but I know people that do, and I know how amazing the horse community is.

Many of you know my dear friend Kris Garrett. She is an icon in the Colorad… Kari Ketchledge needs your support for Help Kris save Andalusian filly Terra Luna

04/15/2025

We’ve lost another great one. My favorite concept from him was that the horses time with you is like when you are having a dream - meaning they are in a state of going along with what you’re asking (like how your own dreams seem to flow) - so when you are with a horse be careful to not create a nightmare for the horse because you remember those nightmares for a very long time, if not forever.

Classical dressage master Charles de Kunffy died April 14. He was born in 1936 in Hungary and was a member of the Austro-Hungarian nobility. He wrote seven books and many articles for the Journal of Equitation and Culture and has a lecture series online.

04/15/2025

Time has flown by! After this horse gave me his ALL for our abbreviated 2024 show season he has had a series of major set backs. In August ‘24 he had arthroscopic surgery on both of his stifles. The stress of that situation (being alone at CSU, waking alone in the recovery, etc.) set off a chain reaction of symptoms that led us to test him for a few uncommon (in Colorado) diseases. In January ‘25 he was confirmed to have both EPM and Lyme’s (and subsequent polyneurosis) which have been vigilantly treated since discovery. So basically this poor guy has been in rehab or treatment for the last 8 months and will continue rehab until further notice. He’s been a SAINT about it all and my heart has been so torn to pieces over the fact that he carried all of this physical and neurological damage into the show ring for me time and time again. I owe him everything and despite his quarks (and who can blame him?) he has the worlds biggest heart under that thick skin. The future for him is questionable other than I will continue to maintain his comfort for as long as he needs it. He is slowly beginning to improve physically and nuerologically, and the vets are saying he may come back better than ever. That’d be amazing, but he’s my Gift no matter what happens and no matter what he needs in life. 💕 Happy birthday, buddy.

04/03/2025

I was maybe 21 or 22 when I had a lesson that’s stayed with me ever since.

It was one of those early spring days when the arena was still cold, but the sun was shinning.

My horse, a spirited youngster, was tense, and so was I. We were both fighting each other, me trying to hold everything together, him trying to escape everything I was holding.

My trainer at the time was soft-spoken, but her feel in the saddle was sharper than any words. She called me into the middle with just a glance.

She didn’t say much. Just walked up, took the reins from my hands, and held them for a moment.

Then she looked at me and said,
"You’re holding your breath. And you’re holding the reins the same way."

I laughed awkwardly, because she wasn’t wrong.

“Okay,” I said. “Soften my hands. Try not to die. Breathe. Got it.”

But she shook her head.

“No, it’s more than that,” she said. “The reins are the breath of the ride. They should move like breath. Expand. Release. Flow.”

I don’t remember the rest of the ride. But I remember sitting in silence at the end of the day, thinking about what she said.

Back then, I didn’t fully get it. I was too focused on outline, on contact, on “getting it right.” But over time, the lesson kept echoing back to me. Especially in the harder rides, the ones where nothing seemed to click.

And I started to notice:

When I held my breath, I held the reins.
When I was soft and present, so were they.
And when the reins breathed, so did my horse.

The reins aren't tools of control.
They’re a shared inhale, a shared exhale.
A rhythm not made of sound, but of feel.

Now, years later, it’s one of the first things I feel for in every ride:

Are we breathing?
Are we listening?

Because that space, the space between pressure and release, between ask and allow,
that’s where the magic lives.

That’s the breath of dressage.

04/02/2025

Happy 27th birthday to the best horse on the planet!! Squirrel is still going strong - teaching a few young riders about dressage and even hopping the occasional small jumps! This is THE ONLY horse I’ve ever known that I would clone if I could afford it!!! ❤️

03/31/2025

I’ve always called it the “hover” and the rider can’t do much from this position. Find your balance out if the tack where you are able to communicate effectively and continue to RIDE! Practice this until it’s absolutely second nature.

Jim Wofford said, "Good riders sit." The two left photos, a HJer and an eventer, are riding in the same position that some call a 2-point. The two right photos are MacLain Ward top and Bruce Davidson below. The obvious difference is that the riders on the left ride up out of the saddle with straighter knees and they depend on the horse's neck for their balance. This makes these riders "top heavy" and their movements are more apt to interfere with their horse's balance.

Ward and Davidson ride closer to the saddle, lowering the center of gravity of the horse and rider pair, thus creating greater stability. Yes, I know Davidson is in a jump, but I picked this image to make the point that he demonstrates a light or half seat over a jump, which requires great strength in the lower body that the two left riders seem to lack. Davidson rode in a light or half seat, not perched like the riders on the left, except when he needed to sit deeply for increased engagement.

The bottom image by Susan Harris shows the difference between the current "2-point position" and the original 2-point. The left 2-point is actually a 3-point position because it has the two points of balance in the rider's feet, plus a 3rd point of balance with the hands on the neck. The original 2-point is shown on the right with only the two points of balance in the feet.

The authentic 2-point is a dynamic or moving balance independent of the horse's balance and motion. An independent balanced seat is safer because if the horse stumbles, the rider can maintain their balance and not automatically be affected by a horse's sudden imbalance.

The new "2-point", that is actually a 3-point, is a static balance tied to the horse's balance. This position makes the rider a passenger dependent on the horse's balance. In this static dependent balance, if the horse stumbles the rider, riders lacking their own independent balance can more easily be pitched forward even to the point of being launched forward onto the ground.

The 3-point is rewarded by judges even though it is a static unbalanced position forward of the horse's center of balance and thus dangerous if the horse loses their balance. This is one of the primary examples of how several disciplines have invented their own isolated discipline "horsemanships" with elements that are impractical, ineffective and sometimes dangerous. The worst part is that these discipline idiosyncrasies make the horses' job more difficult.

I have a video on my YouTube channel that discusses this in greater detail www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IEpQmApva0&t=28s

03/28/2025

I’ve always loved the 1% rule in training.

03/26/2025

So true!! 🥰🥰🥰

03/24/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DX7PhbJQ2/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Planning for success in dressage requires dedication, strategy, and a mindset focused on continuous improvement. Here’s how you can set yourself up for success:

1. Set Clear Goals
Define both short-term and long-term goals. Whether it’s mastering a specific movement, improving your scores, or competing at a higher level, having clear objectives gives you direction.

2. Create a Structured Training Plan
Develop a training schedule that balances flatwork, strength-building exercises, and mental preparation. Work on the fundamentals consistently—rhythm, suppleness, connection, impulsion, straightness, and collection.

3. Train with Purpose
Each ride should have a focus. Whether it's refining transitions, improving contact, or increasing collection, enter each session with a specific intention. Keep a journal to track progress.

4. Strengthen the Partnership with Your Horse
Dressage is about harmony. Invest time in groundwork, relaxation techniques, and ensuring your horse is physically and mentally prepared. A happy, healthy horse performs better.

5. Get Professional Guidance
Work with a knowledgeable trainer who can provide feedback and help refine your technique. Clinics, online resources, and video reviews can also supplement your learning.

6. Prioritize Fitness – Yours and Your Horse’s
Dressage demands athleticism from both rider and horse. Engage in strength training, flexibility exercises, and cardio to improve balance, stamina, and coordination.

7. Mental Toughness and Mindset
Success in dressage isn’t just physical—it’s mental. Visualize your tests, practice mindfulness, and develop a positive, resilient mindset. Embrace setbacks as learning opportunities.

8. Prepare for Competition Smartly
Know your tests inside out. Ride through movements in sections to polish weaknesses. Simulate competition environments at home to reduce show-day nerves.

9. Rest and Recovery
Training hard is important, but so is allowing your horse (and yourself) time to rest and recover. Proper rest prevents injuries and promotes long-term success.

10. Stay Inspired
Watch other riders, read dressage books, and remind yourself why you love the sport. Passion and persistence are the ultimate keys to success.

Stay patient, trust the process, and celebrate progress along the way. Success in dressage isn’t about perfection—it’s about continual improvement. Keep pushing forward!

03/23/2025

I may not ride Western but I have to say I absolutely love this class! I know Ranch and Western Pleasure are different, but I’m so happy to see how this allows the horse to move more free and natural under saddle and not slow, heavy and stilted.

03/21/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18uS246b1B/?mibextid=wwXIfr

If Sarah carries 5 flakes of hay while wearing 2 jackets and a turtleneck, what percentage will end up in her bra? What if it’s “the good bra you don’t wear to the barn but did today”?

Sharon put an ad out for an OTTB who needs an experienced rider. How many inquiries per day to ask if the horse is “beginner safe”?

Cath needs to "quickly" check her horses before work. If she's in her work uniform, what are the chances they've busted through the electric tape and are in the hay paddock requiring her to walk through the boggy gully in her navy blue work pants and trainers? Part b - what is the likelihood of the same breakout happening on a day she has her gumboots in the car?
🤣🐴😂


Suzan has a show on Saturday. How many shoes does her horse lose Friday night?

Mary is running late for her lesson.
Did her horse...
A.) roll in the mud.
B.) go swimming in the pond.
C.) lose one or more shoes

Sarah decides she finally saved enough for a second horse. From the moment she speaks this out loud, how long will it take for her current horse to have a medical emergency costing every bit of said saved $??

Jolene has a 9:00 AM doctors appointment and it is sleeting outside and windy. There are 2 Paints, 1 Haflinger, 2 mules and a half-Arab in the pasture. Which one will colic and which one will get out of the fence?

The outstanding balance has been paid off at the vet clinic. How many hours until Joe has to call the vet for an emergency?

If Suzy is looking forward to show season and her horse is feeling confident and prepared, how much will the vet bill be for the pasture accident that puts him out of commission til next season??

If Amanda buys a custom saddle for her show horse, how long before that horse sustains a career ending injury?

Karen puts a sale ad up for a mid-5 figure horse. How many people will ask about price ($45k - low side of mid 5) and then say its “way out of my budget”?

If Christina posts a funny meme about vets and such, how long before her horse injures himself?
Answer: about 8 hours 🤦‍♀️ 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I can’t take credit for all of these, but they sure did have me rolling this morning!

03/17/2025

Horses can be trained to carry the bit comfortably in the correct location without the aid of a noseband by a rider with steady, light, Following Hands. This is simple to explain but challenging to reach the careful contact with the mouth that does not interfere with the horse's balance and movement as you follow the movement of their head with the reins.

To teach a horse correct bit placement a rider keeps the bit where it belongs with their use of the reins, seat and legs. When the horse stretches their head and neck forward, as shown in the two lower pictures, the rider follows that stretch motion with the reins. (lower right image is Rodney Jenkins)

If the horse brings the head backward and arches their neck to evade the bit, the rider uses their seat and legs to push the horse forward into a position where the head and neck are correctly balanced, and the bit is moved into the correct position. During this push forward from behind the bit, the rider follows the horse's head forward with their hands.

This training requires constant awareness of and feel for what the horse is doing with their forehand at all times. The rider must always be following the natural extension of the neck and head with their hands. We do this because horses use the head and neck as a primary means of maintaining their balance and we must not disturb their balancing process. We must follow it and adjust to it.

We learn Following Hands by first learning passive contact, pictured at the top, where you hold a set of reins while someone else holds the other end of the reins. You let your arms go limp while you hold onto the reins with your hands. The other person moves your hands and arms by moving the reins while you passively hold them. There is a video of this exercise on my YouTube channel

If we consistently and correctly use Following Hands when training a horse, eventually the horse will become acclimated to the correct bit position because we have made it the most comfortable position. We will have shown them, not forced them, how to discover the optimal bit placement with our light hands. And we have not tried to solve this challenge of correct bit location with an unnecessary piece of equipment like a noseband.

Check out my new YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/