Elhanan Equestrian

07/10/2025

Music is in the air – and it’s time to harness it into your perfect freestyle. If you have musical freestyles on your mind, you won’t want to miss the upcoming USDF Virtual Education Series Session, “From the Trenches: A Freestyle Primer.” It will be held Wednesday, July 16th at 8:00pm EST. You are invited to join us as we will discuss how to choose the right music for your horse, choreograph your freestyle, and incorporate the degree of difficulty to be rewarded by the judge in the show ring.

In our latest piece on , get to know renowned musical freestyle designer Terry Ciotti-Gallo, who will be the presenter of this session. She is the mastermind behind such memorable freestyles as Debbie McDonald and Brentina’s “Respect”, one of the most iconic dances down centerline of all time. Also, find out why she thinks you need to attend this upcoming educational opportunity offered by USDF!

Learn more here: https://yourdressage.org/2025/07/09/a-freestyle-primer/

Ready to join us? Register for this education session here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2917500910861/WN_dP-EJF1UTYqcx3c-WVjgBw

Photo by Sarah Hollander

07/07/2025

Nightmare!!! 🙏🏻💔🙏🏻

Juan Matute Guimon has lost his number one Grand Prix horse, Lexus, in a tragic road accident on its way home from the 2025 CDIO Aachen.

06/29/2025

Did you know? Lendon's Youth Dressage Festival welcomes riders of all levels. Whether you're just starting out, moving up through the levels, or crossing over from another discipline, everyone is welcome.

Know someone who might want to join in the fun? Pass it along!

Entries are open: https://www.horseshowoffice.com/hso/enter2.asp?ShowID=5&cid=81

06/27/2025

Applications are open for 3 very special scholarships in memory of Christian Kennedy:

➡️$15,000 D4K Christian Kennedy Young Adult Scholarship to train with Oded Shimoni
learn more at: https://bit.ly/4esAfDp

➡️$10,000 D4K Christian Kennedy Training Grant
learn more at: https://bit.ly/462Vt8T

➡️D4K Christian Kennedy Training with Lars Petersen Scholarship
learn more at: https://bit.ly/3TIYy6i

Many thanks to Anne Baber Wallis, OS Dressage, Lars Petersen, and all those who help make these scholarship opportunities possible.

Photo credit: Made By Jessy Photography

🗓️ Application deadlines: July 15

06/25/2025

Prayers for relief from this heat wave! 🙏🏻

06/24/2025

Do you have freestyles on the brain? Then you won't want to miss this! Registration is now open for the upcoming USDF Virtual Education Series Session, “From the Trenches: A Freestyle Primer.” This session will be held Wednesday, July 16th at 8:00pm EST, and will feature renowned musical freestyle designer Terry Ciotti-Gallo as the presenter. Join us as we will discuss how to choose the right music for your horse, choreograph your freestyle, and incorporate the degree of difficulty to be rewarded by the judge in the show ring.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2917500910861/WN_dP-EJF1UTYqcx3c-WVjgBw

Want to learn more about the Virtual Education Series, including this session? Visit our website: https://www.usdf.org/education/university/virtual-education-series.asp

06/24/2025

Training Tip Tuesday: Voltes, diagonals and cavaletti. Oh My.

This exercise makes full use of the arena and promotes both lateral and longitudinal suppleness. It also helps to engage the hindquarter and increase the horse's carrying capacity.

Geometry and accuracy are of the utmost importance as it will help the horse to remain connected and balanced throughout the transitions and lines of the exercise. Half halts will definitely be your best friend.

When ridden correctly, you will feel the horse develop more self-carriage becoming better balanced and upright in the turns and voltes. On the diagonal lines, you will feel the horse push more and become more connected in the bridle. This will allow the horse to engage the inside hind and fill up the outside rein in the following volte. As you progress through the exercise, the horse will become more fine tuned to your aids - aka: letting the aids through. Happy riding.

06/24/2025

Awesome!

The American Connemara Pony Society and Dressage4Kids are pleased to announce that Ruby Lewis is the 2025 recipient of the American Connemara Pony Society Scholarship.

Ruby started riding as soon as she could be on a miniature horse. She is in the Texas Heat Pony Club and rated H-B and a C-2 in dressage. An alumna of D4K's Winter Intensive Training Program (WIT), Ruby is currently riding FEI Juniors with her homebred Connemara cross, Lil Miss Sunshine.

Ruby aspires to specialize in training young horses, guiding them through their development and shaping them into top-level FEI competitors. She is passionate about building a foundation of trust, correctness, and harmony, ensuring each horse has the confidence and ability to succeed. She is also interested in coaching riders, helping them reach their personal and competitive goals.

Ruby is a regular volunteer at local, national, and FEI dressage shows with CTDS, HDS, and USDF, contributing to the success of events and fostering a strong equestrian community.

Congratulations, Ruby!

Photo credit: Kristie Scholten Photography