Broad Park

02/17/2024

https://www.horsenation.com/2024/02/12/training-in-the-right-way-lets-talk-about-balance/

"[C]ollection creates better balance while performing harder tasks, which then also creates greater cooperation from the horse due to having the ability to stay balanced while performing these tasks." This week's article discusses balance, the terms used to define it in its various iterations, and w...

02/01/2024

"What almost everyone has forgotten, or may have never learned, is that dressage is a training system, based on the European cultures and horse types of antiquity, and it was created over centuries to develop horses for war and for ceremonial purposes." This week's article takes a look at the traini...

01/16/2024

A student asked for a timeline for the development of the Grand Prix horse. While there are all sorts of variations and time elements that may get in the way, there is a generally accepted, age-based expectation of the horse’s development. Editor's Note: Some photos from this article have been rep...

01/02/2024

Since this is the season of New Year's resolutions, it seems to be a good time to talk about habits and changing them, since the ability to do so is directly related to your ability to progress as a rider. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”...

12/21/2023

In the past few days Mark and I rewatched the 3 masters clinic. It was held In Buffalo, over 2 decades ago. The clinicians were Buck Brannaman, Rodney Jenkins, George Morris. The young riders in the clinic were Aaron Vale, Beezie Madden, Scott Hoffstetter, Jen Alfano, and Melanie Smith.
We hadn’t watched it in more than 10 years, and still picked up new situations, tips, that make sense to our riding and teaching today. I wish more young riders today would seek out information like this.
Education with horses is never ending, but working and riding them really hasn’t changed. Just technology has, and there is so much more available education to young riders today.

12/19/2023

This week's article begins to look at the differences, and very important similarities, between classical and competition dressage. As with most things, the important truths tend to lie somewhere in the middle. In modern day dressage, Classical Training and Competition Training are almost always ref...

12/18/2023

BEST Secret Santa present ever from a co-worker whose niece drew this from a photo (different than picture shown here). She really captured the essence of Largo 224's kindness.

11/27/2023

Do it afraid. Sometimes, often, it’s the only way…

11/15/2023

11/07/2023

This week's article discusses dressage terminology and why it is an integral part of learning and training in the right way. I travel a great deal to teach clinics. No matter where I go I teach riders that have quite a bit of education and riders that are new to the discipline of dressage. Regardles...

11/03/2023

Stall(s) available for board, lessons, and training. Heated indoor and barn that stays above freezing. Quiet atmosphere. Grass and sand turnout. Winter-only board may be an option.

10/27/2023

We can't wait to host Gwyneth McPherson next weekend.

This week's article was born of the recent discussion regarding the education problem in our sport and looks at the importance of, and ways to, begin to assess potential dressage teachers. There are many difficult aspects of dressage, but perhaps hardest part about learning dressage is finding a goo...

10/09/2023

https://www.horsenation.com/2023/10/09/training-in-the-right-way-theres-a-problem-in-competitive-dressage/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

This week's editorial is a follow up to my previous article discussing the proliferation of the consumption of talent rather than the training of it to further develop it for the competitive sport of dressage. It is not a judging problem. It is not a breeding problem. It is an education problem. Aft...

10/04/2023

Our good friend Hana Poulin in NH

09/12/2023

After getting to post about Kelly and her Morgan Puck going down the centerline at Grand Prix, this is another great item to share.

This week's article takes the importance of the training scale and looks at how the training scale aligns with, and is woven throughout, the competitive levels, as designated by USEF. Part I will focus specifically on training and first level. Gwyneth McPherson is an FEI rider with over 35 years exp...

09/11/2023

A BIG congratulations to Kelly Hendrick and Queens Moody Blues (aka Puck)! It was so much fun to have been part of your journey. Puck is a special horse, and Kelly is a dedicated owner/rider. Love to see your success!

We are so very excited to share the latest Morgan and his partner to go 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘅!

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 (Mizrahi x Queen's Mercy Me) and Kelly Hendrick broke the magical 60% mark on only their second time at the Dressage by the Sea Show this past month. They also earned Kelly's first score toward her USDF Gold Medal.

Congratulations to everyone!

09/04/2023

https://www.horsenation.com/2023/08/28/training-in-the-right-way-the-training-scale-part-ii/

The last article discussed the importance of the three base layers of the training scale. This article builds on that, focusing on the top three layers -- which do not stand alone or separate from the lower half and cannot exist without or disconnected from them. Gwyneth McPherson is an FEI rider wi...