Willow Ridge - Sport & Performance Horses

09/02/2024

It was a great weekend of education! Got to ride with two people who have been very influential on my training and riding, and !

I’ve followed JJ for as long as I can remember and have been so blessed to have met and started working with Suzanne last year. To have them both in the ring at the same time was incredible!!

A huge thank you to for organizing the event and selecting me to be one of the riders, to , .farmers.elevator, & for their ongoing support and to the event sponsors for making it possible!!



And to for the perfect venue!

🙏🦄❤️🍾👏⭐️

08/31/2024

Great first ride with & !

Dream come true to ride with both these people who I look up to so much… to have them both in the arena at same time…. just awesome. 🤩 Edie was quite concerned about something off in the distance and the flies but even so gave me good ridability and try.

Excited to build on it tomorrow.

Thank you .farmers.elevator, and for your ongoing support 🙏🙏🙏
ridge.equestrian

08/25/2024

First time out for Emily and her young horse “Lucky”. Welcome to Dressage, guys! Great coaching by .ag .ridge.equestrian

08/14/2024

From the archives:

𝔻𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕘𝕖 𝔻𝕖𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤: ℍ𝔸𝕃𝔽 ℍ𝔸𝕃𝕋

As an instructor and clinician, one thing I run into often when working with someone new to me is the misunderstanding of the phrase “Half Halt”. This phrase is industry standard, so we hear it often and see it constantly in print. However, if it has never been explained, many riders perceive it to be something you do with the reins or that there is some sort of “shutting down” of the horse to achieve it.

Remember, most of the words and phrases we use in Dressage were translated from other languages. Some of them translated less clear than others. Half halt is one that I think translated poorly, but it's one of the most important concepts a rider must understand. Half halts are used in many ways, but typically are used for preparation, correction and maintenance of balance and attentiveness.

I call half halts the “whole body experience” because they typically involves many parts of the body/aids. Of course, based on the needed result, WHAT aids/body parts you are using can vary greatly.

For example, I train my horses to sit back and “check in” off a deep breath, so sometimes a simple exhale is all I need for my horses to tune-in, lighten and reorganize themselves. Other times I need my entire body, starting with my leg (to energize and say “keep going!”) and my seat/back/shoulders to give the support and communication of what I desire to my horse. (For those who need greater clarification on what I consider the “seat”, please look for articles in the "Seat" category on this blog.)

The reins ARE usually involved, but I like to think of them like the garlic of the aids – important, but too much will ruin the recipe; you need to use it sparingly and tactfully.

Truly, the art of using half halts could be the single most important thing that allows a rider to progress up the levels. Without an understanding and basic mastery of this skill set, the rider will either end up hanging on the reins and clamping with the aids or being entirely too passive. Half halts are sort of like breathing air in and out – they must go on and they must go off for the balance and communication to survive.

Half halts can be difficult to understand and apply until a rider develops a good feel for what is going on under them. The strength, duration, and frequency, as well as WHAT aids/body parts needed will vary not only from horse to horse or ride to ride, but also from moment to moment, based on how balanced or attentive the horse is.

They certainly differ from rider to rider since every rider is different: different size, different feel, different strengths, and different weaknesses. For example, a rider with a more developed seat will certainly be less dependent on the rein than a newer rider. This is why half halts can be so hard to teach because they happen quick and they can change from stride to stride.

One thing that I have found helps riders grasp this is rephrasing. I use words like “check-in, refresh or reorganize” vs. simply “half halt” until that rider truly understands what it means and feels like. I’ll ask frequently “Do you feel like you could canter from that trot? What about walk or halt? Change direction or bend?" If the answer is “no” than they know they need to check in with the horse and get the answer to YES!

I find this line of thinking/questioning helps the rider start discover the feel of what is going on with their horses balance. From there I explain what aids will help improve whatever we have diagnosed: i.e. too fast, too slow, too heavy, too light, too dull, etc. This makes the thought process of when/how to half halt a bit more clear.

If the half halt is something that has been a bit of a mystery to you, I hope this quick tip helps give you a little more insight on it’s purpose. It’s not some mystical, magical thing; although when done correctly, the response your horse will give you after may feel magical! The bad news is it takes years and thousands of hours in the saddle to develop really great feel. The good news is that any progress you make will immediately improve your communication and effectiveness with your horse!

And remember, the most important part of a half halt is the “release”!

Up later: Why a release is not a throw-away! 😉

Thank you for reading!

~Kimberly

Visit The 𝕊ℂ𝕀𝔼ℕℂ𝔼 of 𝓡𝓲𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 on Facebook!

Subscribe to the website for new blog posts https://willowridgedressage.com/science-of-riding-blog/f/the-half-halt-aka-the-check-in

08/11/2024

Consistency is a super power. Attitude is a super power. Neither take talent.

Consistency and a positive attitude will get you further than talent alone any day. Don't wait until you have achieved your highest goals to be proud of yourself and your horse - celebrate the small achievements along the way. Make sure you thank your horse and ensure he's having bit of fun in the process, too. Never forget why you started in the first place and never forget to Enjoy the Ride!

~Kimberly
The 𝕊ℂ𝕀𝔼ℕℂ𝔼 of 𝓡𝓲𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰

08/06/2024

I think everyone riding in this symposium is probably excited, but it is extra special to me and I'm so excited to be chosen as a 3rd Level demo rider.

I've been so blessed to find a mentor in Suzanne Galdun/ Positively Dressage; I have come to really value her friendship and support which has gone so much beyond just coaching. And as if in a dream, she and Jessica Jo Tate / Team Tate Academy have teamed up - I have been following JJ and the TTD/CdK approach for almost 15 years! It's been quite a awhile since I was last able to ride with JJ and I can't wait to introduce her to my tiny Red Unicorn.

If I've done anything right in my career, it has been the selection of my coaches and mentors, and the methodologies they have instilled in me.

With all the negativity in our sport right now, I'm so glad I can look back and say "but we have honored the horses". I also love that I never feel pressure to sacrifice what is right for my animals in order to please or prepare for my lessons. I'm excited to be a part of bringing those ideals to West Michigan.

The next year is all about ME & EDIE - after the symposium, E will go up to Carrie Wilson / Wilson SportHorses so we can train more closely with her and I'm hoping that 2025 is really a big year for us. This will be an epic kickoff :)

08/03/2024

Long cool bath in front of the fan for this 🔥 after our hot workout 🏋️ today. 🥰🦄🥵🔥🥰🤩☀️

07/13/2024

07/10/2024

I got selected to ride with Jessica Jo Tate & Suzanne Galdun in the ADA Balance & Brilliance Symposium next month! Very excited :)

Pic from a previous lesson with JJ.

06/28/2024

Where are my nervous show riders? Showing with confidence is possible!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/ix1LtNszD8YP6eLg/

06/25/2024

HAVE YOU RIDDEN WITH Suzanne Galdun/Positively Dressage???

YA'LL I need your help! I'm working on Suzanne Galdun's website and I know there are MANY of you out there with GREAT things to say! Can you head on over to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066675933510&sk=reviews and drop a nice review!!!

THANK YOU! And don't forget to brag her up.... we all know she deserves it! ;)

Rider biomechanics coaching with lessons and clinics available!

06/20/2024

~*~*~*~ℕ𝔼𝕎 𝕊𝔼ℝ𝕍𝕀ℂ𝔼 𝕆𝔽𝔽𝔼ℝ𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊~*~*~*~

Two New Service Offerings at Willow Ridge coming this fall!

We will be offering Certified Sport Kineseo Taping & Wellness Management Services, which will include performing prescribed exercises from your vet or bodyworker (i.e tail pulls, neck stretches, belly lifts, etc.), this service add-on can include other services such as bathing, clipping, hand walking, etc. as well. Perfect for the busy owner or during times of travel!

Available to all boarders! More information coming soon!!

06/19/2024

SHADE PROJECT UPDATE! A lot of people asked me to post an update about our shade project....

Well, it was a bust LOL We could not find posts to properly support such a huge sun shade (20x20) at the height that is appropriate for horses (that aren't $1000+ a piece! 😳🤯)

We started to hoist the sail on our chosen posts and we could hear them buckling already. We decided it would not safely stand up to a storm or any higher winds.

So we bit the bullet and bought a new proper lean-to shed instead. It won't be as cool but it will provide shade. I think I'm going to look into solar powered fans for our shelters as well....

So, we ended up spending MORE in the long run, but I feel good about the safety of it and that it will be beneficial year-round, not just in the summer.

Always an adventure having a farm! LOL

06/12/2024

I have decided not to pursue testing for the USDF “L” Program.

I have gone through sessions A-C of the USDF “L” Program two times now, once as a full Participant and a second time as an auditor – which was required to test since the elapsed time from my first time through was over 5 years. COVID put a wrench in it the first time but to be honest my heart wasn’t really in it even then.

I love Dressage. Like, madly, deeply, passionately. However, what I love about it isn’t the competitive aspect but rather what it does – when done correctly – for the horse’s well-being. In recent years I have seen more and more that the competitive sport and the benefits to the horse have been diverging. Yes, the powers that be talk a good game about new rules and policies for welfare but what we are seeing out there – from the local schooling shows all the way to the Olympic is NOT reflecting a welfare-centric system.
Flash all too often trumps balance and harmony.

Now before anyone feels like they are being attacked…. There ARE good judges out there. Some great ones. I am talking about a systemic problem. And these are just MY personal feelings about it.

The USDF “L” Program is a wonderful educational course. I learned a ton both times and most of the instructors were fabulous. I would encourage anyone to go through it if you are able.
However, for me, becoming an official for a sport and organization whose direction is different than my own personal journey doesn’t feel like the right move in my soul.

Many of you may know that I’ve had chronic health and pain issues for many years. Perhaps this has colored the way I approach horse training. I know how it feels to have to push through discomfort every day. I know how hard it is to go out there and put in a good ride or test when your back or neck are screaming at you. But the difference is, I get to CHOSE to do that. I can say no. I can set my limits. But our horses do not often get that choice. As much as I hate that health and pain have limited my career, I do also feel a sense of blessing because it has made me much more empathetic and has shaped my journey with them towards one that never can forget that welfare, happiness, and harmony HAVE to come first. Until gait scores no longer are the greatest influence on scores, ahead of indicators of balance and harmony, I know that I would have to swallow what I believe in to pass the testing. Because I will ALWAYS place the pair with the better balanced, happier horse and tactful rider ahead of the 9 mover with a rider with bulging biceps and over-tightened noseband. It’s not a judgement of what is right or wrong, but rather how it sits with my soul.

I can’t imagine I’ll ever “leave” the sport. I will still ride and show, and I will still take students to shows but we will do it our way. We will take our time to develop the horses correctly. We will accept that our scores could be even higher if we only just send our horses “more forward” (and regardless of how many times they say “forward does not mean fast” – we SO often see this rewarded as such) and we will spend more time developing ourselves as tactful, kind, and effective riders than worrying about how quickly we can move our horses up the levels.

I haven’t talked openly much about this because of the fear of backlash. Until I knew 100% that I would not try to test I didn’t feel comfortable putting these thoughts out there publicly. God knows there are strong feelings about this from every angle and opinion. Again, this is what is right for ME and MY soul. I’m sure I’ll p**s some people off with these comments and I’m sure many people will put me in the category of a “just nobody with a big opinion” and that’s fine. One of the most common comments I get from new clients is how happy all the horses at our barn are….how they all want to come up to the gate. And that is enough reward in itself.

So with this time and effort I had earmarked for completing the requirements and testing for the “L”, I will continue to work with mentors and trainers who understand and support my values. I will continue to dive deeper into my understanding and practice of scientifically based Biomechanics, which I’ve been studying for over 20 years (and continue to be amazed by every day) and other training practices that take into account equine behavior, psychology, individuality, and welfare.

I know most of you won’t care. But I felt a little like a fraud feeling this way for so long but being afraid to speak publicly about it. I’m just a nobody – the smallest fish in the tiniest pond. But maybe, if enough of us speak out, we’ll finally start to see change – REAL change, not just lip service. And if not, I’ll continue to focus on impacting the lives of the few horses in my own barn.

If I can’t change the world – I’ll at least change it for one. And that’s a legacy I can live with.

~Kimberly Dunlap

06/08/2024

Pics from this week!

Several ladies recorded "Virtual Tests" for the GLASS-ED Virtual Show. Wednesday night we had a "happy hour" after lessons concluded for the evening and had few cocktails under a beautiful sunset! Lindsey Sime continues to get to know her newly leased partner, Junior, Ann Smith Browning is finally back on her boy after a long lay-off - after less than 2 months here we've got him well into rehab and back to MOUNTED work!!! The grass is green and everything is beautiful. We love our ABI Attachments "Rascal Pro" for keeping our arenas and bridle paths ("hack tracks") groomed!

05/21/2024

Fantastic post! YES! People get so focused on the BRILLIANCE of a movement they forget about the BALANCE. Without balance there will be force and resistance. Only with understanding the hows and whys of these movements can you hope to achieve lightness in self-carriage and, ultimately, harmony.

"Anything forced or misunderstood can never be beautiful." ~ Xenophon

05/17/2024

🦄❤️

05/15/2024

ISO:

BIG (min a stocky 15.2), a little older OK (ideally 12-15ish), QUIET, easy w/t/c, beginner type. Ideally stock breed. Reining training a plus but not mandatory if training is straight forward. Looking for a horse that will enjoy 1-2 light rides per day, 3 or so days per week. One that will be happy living outside in good weather but content in a stall during bad weather. A former Ranch, Reiner or All-Around looking for a quieter life would excel here.

Again, BIG & QUIET. Must be within a couple hours of Grand Rapids, MI

Lease or Buy - lowest of budget. Excellent references.

Show me what you've got.

Picture for attention.

05/08/2024

SPRING SWAG! Store closes on Sat!

SPRING SWAG!
See attached store. Select PICK UP (I'll pick up entire order and bring to barn - don't pay to ship!)

Store closes MAY 10 so order soon 🙂
Coat/Sweatshirts/Polo

Online ordering for Willow Ridge Spring 2024 ends on Fri, May 10, 2024 (11:59 PM EDT)

05/07/2024

Available for IN BARN LEASE:

Edie is a confirmed 3rd Level mare seeking a petite adult or older petite teen friend.

Ideal candidate will be a committed rider who is already well schooled in Dressage basics, is confident, soft, kind, and appreciates a sensitive, forward horse. She is not for beginners! It is important that this rider must be invested in ongoing learning and the well-being of the horse, not *only* competitive goals or medals. She is talented and hard-working, but is not a machine, and she deserves to have someone who treats her as such.

Lease will include 2 private lessons weekly (mandatory) and 1-2 additional rides (negotiable). Board and all care, tack, farrier, and routine vet care INCLUDED. Opportunities for clinics and showing ( we participate in both local GMO shows and USDF rated shows.)

$850/Mo - 1 year commitment

Please PM - serious inquiries only.

05/04/2024

Science of Riding on Facebook or on our blog www.WillowRidgeDressage.com

Join the journey to better horsemanship.

Do you actively seek ways to improve your horses’ quality of life?

04/28/2024

We will have ONE stall available for a boarder/lesson student starting June 1.

The ideal candidate will be an involved owner who values a harmonious partnership with their equine and excellence in care. Minimum lesson package requirement of 1 per week. We are an all-adult facility; we keep our herd and group small to ensure individualized attention for all.

We pride ourselves on all-around great care and work hard to be the premier facility in the area.

For extensive information about our program, care standards, prices and more, please visit our website at www.WillowRidgeDressage.com

ALL BREEDS WELCOME!

You do not need to show or have a "fancy" horse to be welcome here! We offer lessons in Biomechanics (balance & harmony), Classical Dressage, Western Dressage, Ranch, Reining, Long-Lining, Bareback/Bitless, & General Horsemanship. Nearly a mile of groomed paths for hacking.

Board is $695/mo includes blanketing, supplement & med feeding, trailer parking, hold for basic vet/farrier care, and many other services you pay extra for elsewhere.

We offer FREE CHOICE HAY and extensive turnout (they are out 24/7 in good weather!)

04/27/2024

ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕞 ℝ𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟: 𝓑𝓪𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓜𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽

I am not being paid or receiving any type of compensation for sharing this post.

I recently found this video and think it's quite phenomenal. It shares information all owners and riders should have at least a basic understanding of. I use and teach a lot of similar material - but only as someone who has learned from many different sources/books/courses/professionals, my own anecdotal experience, and with no formal rehabilitative education or certification. I've only begun to scratch the surface.

My students will also be familiar with a lot of these concepts, but this video dives deep into specifics and really hits home the extreme importance of why equine posture MATTERS. It is a basic welfare issue, not to even mention the benefits in performance.

I hope you invest the time into watching it. It's an hour long and can be information heavy if this is all new to you. If you feel a bit overwhelmed, watch it in 15 minute intervals and take awhile to really digest the material. Watch it twice! If these are new concepts to you it could very well be LIFE CHANGING for your horse.

This class usually sells for $199 - but Celeste generously offered this link for free because she believes in the importance of the information. I 100% agree.

Video Link: https://btmmacademy.com/spaces/11109662/

***********************************************************************
For more, please visit The Balance through Movement website: https://www.balancethroughmovementmethod.com/ or on Facebook CCeleste-Leilani Lazaris
Picture for attention: OTTB "Tommy"

04/26/2024

Today on The 𝕊ℂ𝕀𝔼ℕℂ𝔼 of 𝓡𝓲𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰:

Want to join the conversation?

04/24/2024

This is Mr. Jackson. He’s my boyfriend. He comes to see me all the time and I just luff him! ❤️❤️❤️

He has been such a rewarding horse to help develop; and as tall, dark, and handsome as he is on the outside, his heart is still the most beautiful thing about him!!!! ❤️❤️❤️🦄🦄🦄

His mama has done such a great job with him. He was nervous and reactive- he used to arrive drenched in sweat and wide eyed. Now he arrives alert but calm and seems to genuinely enjoy coming here. No more running around, neck braced… he’s found his rhythm and is learning to stretch over his back. The whole thing makes my heart happy!!!!!