Crystal Forsell Dressage

01/16/2025

Do you problems like these?

👉Horses that won’t go energetically forward
👉Hang or lean on one or both reins
👉Inaccurate figures
👉Not picking up the correct lead
👉Canter leads that feel very different
👉Horses that brace or resist aids
👉Connection issues
👉Losing points in the show ring
👉Habitual crookedness causing asymmetrical development increasing lameness risk and saddle fit issues
👉Challenges with advanced movements due to lack of straightness and alignment
👉Unbalanced transitions

I have your answer in the Steps to Straightness 5 Day Challenge.
There are only a few days left before we get started!
Because I know that not everyone gets 5 days in a row to ride, you get access to all of the exercises for 2 weeks!
Click the link in the comments to get signed up!

01/12/2025

The training scale, also called the training pyramid for horse training consists of six elements that build upon each other to create a well-rounded, balanced, and supple horse. Here's a brief breakdown:

🐎 Rhythm: The foundation of the scale, rhythm refers to the horse's ability to maintain a consistent footfall, tempo and energy in each gait (walk, trot, canter).
🐎 Relaxation (Suppleness): The horse should be physically and mentally relaxed, free of tension, and supple in its movements, allowing it to respond softly to the rider's aids.
🐎 Connection: Also known as "contact," this refers to the horse accepting the rider's aids and maintaining a steady, elastic contact with the bit.
🐎 Impulsion: The horse generates controlled power from its hindquarters, resulting in energy and forward movement without rushing.
🐎 Straightness: The horse moves evenly on both sides, aligned correctly along its body, which makes transitions and movements easier and more balanced.
🐎 Collection: The ultimate goal of the training scale, collection allows the horse to shift more weight to its hindquarters, resulting in increased balance, agility, and the ability to perform more advanced movements.

The training scale can be progressive so that a horse move from step to the next, working their way up, but most of the time we are making a spiral around the pyramid. You don’t stay only on one step until you graduate to the next one.

We expect to see elements 1-5 to some degree in all horses. Once a horse reaches second level, we expect to see collection as well.

For example a training level horse is not expected to have the same degree of connection, impulsion, and straightness that a grand prix horse will have.

One of the most important pieces of the training scale for any horse, no matter what discipline is straightness.

Straightness is what keeps a horse balanced, which makes him nicer to ride and sound.

A horse can not carry weight on his hindquarters (collection) if he is crooked.

This is one of my favorite things to teach about and I have helped so many horses and riders create more straightness leading to happier, easier rides!

Sign up for the Steps to Straightness 5 Day Challenge to level up your ride and make it more fun! 👇

https://dressagetogo.samcart.com/products/stepstostraightness

12/24/2024

Merry Christmas Instagram Post

12/17/2024

As we are heading towards the end of the year, I am preparing for 2025, I wanted to give you an update.
I am working on the calendar of in person events, I’ll be taking some horses and clients to shows. I also usually judge a few schooling shows per year.
I also already have three continuing education events on the calendar for myself already! 🥳
If anyone would like to host a clinic with me, please reach out, I’m happy to travel.

In Dressage To Go land, I am running another challenge in January, (look for the announcement and sign up soon!)
I am also planning out new content, feel free to reply and tell me what you want!

If you aren’t already in the Open Minds Dressage group, please join, I am planning to get more active in there and start some great conversations!

I’ll be adding a new service this year, video feedback. Here’s how it works:
You send me a 5-10 minute video of an issue you have, or dressage test.
Then I’ll send you a screen record of your video with my voiceover giving you real-time feedback. You can also shoot me back your questions.
It’s a great way to get quick, private feedback from a fresh set of eyes without having to worry about connectivity for Zoom in the arena!

Alright, I hope you are doing well and getting to enjoy the holiday season!

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

10/31/2024

10/30/2024

We are closing in on your last chance to join us! Registration ends 10/31!

Is your horse spending more time in the field than under saddle? You start each ride with good intentions, but after a few circles, boredom sets in. You find yourself doom-scrolling through conflicting advice from internet trainers, wondering if you're doing more harm than good.

The Steps to Straightness 5 Day Challenge is here to change all that.

This challenge is designed to take you from overwhelmed to overjoyed with your riding progress.

Click below to discover how you can join and access personalized audio lessons, expert support, and a community of like-minded riders.

• Convenient coaching through the Dressage To Go app
• Daily videos and check-ins to keep you on track
• Tailored lessons for beginners to advanced riders
• Exclusive techniques to improve your horse's soundness and balance

Imagine transitioning from worrying about calling the vet to enjoying a blissful ride on your horse again.

You’re tired of kicking and pulling and want to make riding fun again.

Take the first step towards joyful, accomplished riding. Click now to learn more and get ready to trade in that post-ride ibuprofen for a victory lap!

https://dressagetogo.samcart.com/products/stepstostraightness

10/27/2024

By the time you've taken care of your responsibilities, done your barn chores and fixed the board your horse just broke, there's barely any time to ride and daylight is burning.

There’s not time to haul your horse out to a lesson if you can even get on your trainer's schedule.

The Steps to Straightness Challenge has got your back with its audio lessons, all you need to do is plug in your earphones or speaker and let me guide you through your ride.

It’s time to get the most value out of what little ride time you have by getting lessons in your arena, on your schedule.

Ready to squeeze more progress out of your ride? 👇

https://dressagetogo.samcart.com/products/stepstostraightness

09/22/2024

Happy Spring Equinox for those in the southern hemisphere!
Begin to enjoy more light and warmth!

09/22/2024

Happy Autumn Equinox!
The days are getting shorter, the horses are getting furrier!

09/12/2024

Kathy and Phin (Phoenix) absolutely crushing it in their lesson!

08/06/2024

🚨 Unpopular Opinion Warning! 🚨

Ok, I’m going to jump on my soap box for a hot minute.

Unpopular opinion here: inside leg to outside rein is not the gospel, magic solution to riding dressage.

There, I said it.

Before you come at me with your torches and pitchforks though, hear me out.

Inside leg to outside rein is super important, but your horse’s development matters; and so does which is their stiff and hollow side.

Let me explain.

Chances are good that while tracking left your horse leaks out the right shoulder, is heavier on the left rein, and haunches fall a little left.

Tracking right, they don’t bend as easily, you’re always trying to get the horse to stand up off the right leg and bend.

Some of you will have horses that follow this pattern but on opposite sides, so just reverse everything I just said!

Inside leg to outside rein is the antidote, when you are tracking left.

Your inside leg can address the left hind that wants to fall in and the outside rein addresses the right shoulder that wants to fall out and you can connect the horse diagonally and it’s all good.

Now let’s go tracking right.

You’re on a 10 meter circle right and you’re riding inside leg (to get them to stand up and bend) to outside rein (because that’s just how you do it).

But that dang horse still won’t bend right no matter how hard you kick him.

So thinking something could be wrong, you call the bodyworker, the chiro, the saddle fitter…

Now, let’s flip all of this on its head…

Consider the two sides to the horse.

If one side needs to shorten (the bending/concave side), the other side needs to lengthen (the convex side). 😮

When you’re tracking left, you already have the short/bending (left) and longer/convex (right) side of the horse doing what they want to do naturally, we just need to direct and contain it (inside leg to outside rein).

While you’re tracking right, some riders go so hardcore with the outside rein, there is actually no room for the horse to bend right, because you have blocked their ability to lengthen the outside of their body on the side that didn’t want to lengthen from the beginning.

Additionally, a horse that is shorter backed or shorter necked needs even more room to invite the reach from the outside of the body.

If you have a hard time bending right, consider the outside of the horse, give them some room, play with it, let me know how it goes.

Remember these things:
✅Everything in moderation
✅Consider both sides of the horse
✅Challenge or understand the principles that have been handed down to you, don’t just accept it because someone told you (i.e. do your own research)
✅Consider what the horse might be trying to tell you
✅Always ask why
If this resonates with you, make sure to check out Dressage To Go, we have many lessons on bend and straightness!

http://www.dressagetogo.com

07/30/2024

Tip Tuesday!

Can there be too much of a good thing in forward energy?

First, let’s make sure we all know that tempo is the rate of repetition of the rhythm of the horse’s footfalls. This does not necessarily equate to miles per hour, but it can.
In other words, how quickly do feet hit the ground in the trot? 1-2-1-2 or 1—2—1—2?

I see many horses in lessons that have not enough tempo (behind the leg). The rider could be nervous and gripping for trying to get more energy and just not getting that horse going.

Then we have the unintentional quick tempo. This horse may struggle with balance or be a bit nervous (both?). As those issues resolve, the tempo will also improve.

Sometimes I see a horse where the rider is intentionally rushing the horse forward. This is usually a matter of adjusting the rider’s sense of forward energy and tempo. Although it happens in many disciplines, I see it the most in riders whose primary discipline is jumping, as forward energy is required to make sure you make it over all the jumps!

The last horse is one that is in pretty good tempo, but is it the best tempo for that horse? 🤔

How can you tell and how do you achieve the sweet spot for tempo?

The best way is to play with it!

If your horse is too slow, you can even try asking him to go s-l-o-w-e-r.

I know that sounds weird, right?
It doesn’t work for every horse, but sometimes it requires extra effort to stay in a balanced, cadenced, slow jog.

Pay attention: balanced and cadenced were the key points here!

When you do ask the horse to go forward again, they are so thankful to go a little faster, it’s actually easier!

In all cases, play with the tempo. Too slow, just right, too fast.

Play all the gears until you find that juicy sweet spot that feels good to you and the horse.

Let me know how this goes!

07/23/2024

Does it sound a little weird?

Like, how can I get a lesson from someone without eyes on my horse?

Dressage To Go has a team of instructors with years of experience teaching lessons, clinics, and training.

With all of that experience you notice some patterns within the horses and riders and you develop some tools and exercises.

We are now making those lessons available to you.

All you need to do is sign up, download the app, and find your lesson!

If you’re not sure what lesson you need, I’m always just an email or DM away!

Now, for the real talk…

Dressage To Go isn’t meant to replace your in-person lessons.

We know that not everyone can get to those lessons very often though.

DTG fills the gaps between your lessons so you can make real progress in between and quit aimlessly wandering around your arena!

Check out Dressage To Go!
http://www.dressagetogo.com

07/16/2024

A little iced coffee this afternoon while editing audio to prepare for my evening lesson tonight!

07/16/2024

Meet the Instructor!

We are so lucky at Dressage To Go to have an awesome team of instructors!

This week I am featuring Beth Lauren Parrish of Inspired RidingⓇ.

Beth teaches us to slow down and trust our intuition, and listen to our horse.

Beth is a bit like Mary Poppins with all of the tools she has in her bag to help her clients!

She even is a Rapid Transformational Therapy practitioner, a unique form of hypnotherapy and has had some amazing results!

In the Dressage To Go app, she has meditations and soon to be released a new under saddle lesson.

If you would like to learn more about Beth and all of her offerings www.inspiredriding.com
(code Crystal will get you 10% off!)

If you are already a Dressage To Go member, her meditations are in the “Beyond the Saddle” category.

07/11/2024

In the world of horsemanship and dressage, it's a delicate partnership – two minds entwined in understanding, two hearts beating in rhythm with the shared dream of perfect harmony.

Through every stride and every nuanced movement, the language spoken is unspoken, a connection built on trust and respect.

In the dance of dressage, rider and horse become one, seamlessly blending their energies to bring the dream to life, evoking grace, precision, and a shared passion that transcends the arena.

07/10/2024

DTG exists to help you ride better.

As we are planning content, what are you working on that we can help with?