Laura Goodenkauf Dressage

02/17/2025

https://www.lauragdressage.com/post/how-to-decode-equine-body-language-understanding-signals-for-effective-communication

Understanding the body language of horses is crucial for anyone involved with these amazing creatures. Communication with horses isn't limited to words; it involves a complex mix of signals that reveal their emotions, intentions, and overall health. In this post, we'll decode some common equine body...

11/16/2024

Who here gets bored sometimes just riding circles?

What if I told you that "boring" 20 meter circle actually has HUGE benefits for your horse?!

The 20 meter circle is a simple yet crucial training tool that helps improve your horse's:

Suppleness
Flexibility
Balance
Strength

Any horse at any level can benefit from practicing 20 meter circles!

Check out the latest blog post to learn more!

And if you'd like more one on one help with your horse send me a DM here and tell me about it!

https://www.lauragdressage.com/post/going-in-circles

I'll send you some special exercises just for YOU - for FREE!

How do you use circles when you ride? Tell us in the comments!

The 20 meter circle is a simple yet crucial training tool that helps improve your horse's suppleness, flexibility, balance, and strength.

10/29/2024

🌟Big IN/OUT Stall Available Nov 1🌟

Board includes:
✅ Alfalfa or Bermuda hay - we feed hay 3x a day!
✅ Your supplements fed daily
✅ Shavings added 2x weekly
✅ Beautiful arena with great footing
✅ Large round pen
✅ Wash stall with hot water
✅ Shared boarder only tackroom and space for personal tack trunks
✅ Clean lounge area plus covered outdoor deck
✅ Large turn out pens
✅ Close to Hansen Dam trails
✅ Fly spray system in the barn
✅ One lesson with award-winning trainer to grow your skills and relationship with your horse (optional)
✅ USDF Silver and Bronze Medalist trainer on site - dressage, western dressage, horsemanship

We are a very relaxed 🏖️ , private facility with private automatic gate. No fighting for turn out time, arena time, or dealing with a hectic lesson barn environment.

📍Located: Shadow Hills

🌟Call or text 402-560-3562

07/09/2024

Laura Goodenkauf Dressage is looking for a working student at Fortissimo Farm in Shadow Hills.

Who would like to work in exchange for lessons on my fantastic school horse OR discounted board at our beautiful facility?

I need help with:
Grooming
Feeding
Turn outs
And someone to babysit me while I ride my many crazy young horses. 😆

No stall cleaning.

No crazy hours. I understand you have a life outside of horses. We'll figure out a reasonable schedule.

Yes, my program is dressage, but we have western riders and trail riders at the barn...

So if you're a handy horse person looking for reduced board but you're a western rider, don't let the "dressage" thing scare you off!

If this sounds interesting to you at all, please shoot me a message here.

Check out www.lauragdressage.com to learn more about our program and our gorgeous facility!

07/02/2024

Shopping! I don't know many ladies who truly hate shopping...

And shopping for a new horse?! Does it get any better?!

But for a much fun as horse shopping can be, it can also be intimidating and frustrating... ask me how I know! (Worst shopping experience of my career just last week... ugh!)

As someone has looked at many, many sales horses and someone who has also sold quite a few horses, this is what is reasonable to expect when you go to try a sales horse:

https://www.lauragdressage.com/post/what-to-expect-when-you-re-horse-shopping

Tell me - did I leave anything out?

Share some of your good experiences!

Dare I say... share your horror stories!

(Absolutely NO bashing individuals, trainers, barns, horse owners, etc. Just don't do it).

Shopping! I don't know many ladies who truly hate shopping... And shopping for a new horse?! Does it get any better?!But for a much fun as horse shopping can be, it can also be intimidating and frustrating.As someone has looked at many, many sales horses and someone who has also sold quite a few hor...

06/18/2024

New on the blog - we're talking footing!

What makes good footing? My answer might surprise you!

Alright... before my babes at high performance facilities come at me for where this post is going, please know - this post is not for you. If you're boarding at a top tier training facility, I expect that facility to have the latest and greatest arena footing and to maintain it with the utmost care. That is part of why you're paying an arm and a leg for board every month, no?

This post is for the woman who juggles working full time alongside being a mom and/or wife. She doesn't have the money (or time!) to dedicate to a fancy trainer's big full training program at an equally fancy facility like the one mentioned above.

She's doing this horse thing mostly on her own and works with a trainer as it fits into her busy schedule and frugal budget. But she knows her stuff and still wants the very best she can get for her horse so he can thrive. She may not be at the fanciest facility but she still expects quality.

When it comes to footing, what does "quality" mean?

Let's discuss!

Tell me in the comments what YOU look for when it comes to arena footing!

https://www.lauragdressage.com/post/what-makes-good-footing-my-answer-may-surprise-you

06/07/2024

For those of us following along at home, here are the results from the Grand Prix at Hagen CDI in Germany.

All of the US Olympic shortlist competed. This was the first competition in the final team selection process for the shortlist riders.

Take a look!

Did the final scores and placings shake out like you thought they might?

scores results 2024 CDI Hagen (GER) - 6 - 9 June 2024

06/07/2024

It's officially summer! And you know what that means - Yes, longer days and warmer weather... but with that we also have flies! All the flies! Yuck!!!

On the latest blog post, we're talking fly sprays... what goes into them? How well do they work?

What do you think? Do you have a favorite fly spray? Share it!

What else does your barn do for fly control? Let's discuss in the comments!

https://www.lauragdressage.com/post/let-s-learn-all-about-fly-spray

04/30/2024

Earlier this spring, we had a discussion on my blog about what makes a dressage horse...

And yes, ANY horse can be a dressage horse!

Today on the blog, we're looking at one of my favorite breeds -
Thoroughbreds

In this post we look at what can make this breed just as competitive as a "fancy" warmblood.

Take a read and tell me what you think!

Who are my Thoroughbred riders out there? Show me a picture of your horse in the comments!

Can I do dressage with my Thoroughbred horse?Well, of course you can!Yes, Laura... I've read your blog posts and heard everyone else's generic thoughts on the subject - "Yes, every horse can do dressage!" Blah, blah, blah...But can my Thoroughbred really do dressage? Like for real? And be competitiv...

04/14/2024

Did you catch my video a few days ago working my horse Steve-O over ground poles?

Ask my clients... it's safe to say we've been on a "cavaletti kick" over at our barn!

Working with cavaletti or ground poles will help improve your horse's balance and will help strengthen his topline and hind end. And it's fun! The horse is encouraged to think for itself and face new challenges. Most horses are happy about these tasks and begin to step off more actively. Variety is the spice of life, after all!

Check out my latest blog post to learn about some of my favorite exercises with cavaletti!

https://www.lauragdressage.com/post/cavaletti-exercises-to-improve-your-horse-s-balance-and-strength

Do you like riding with cavaletti? Or ground poles? Does your horse enjoy it? Tell me about it in the comments!

Cavaletti - 8-10 foot long poles that are (usually) attached to cross-shaped stands on both sides. This cross shape allows the height of the bars to vary depending on the rotation. At their lowest point, the cavaletti will rest on or just barely above the ground. At the highest point, most cavaletti...

04/05/2024

Alright folks, it's getting to be that time of year again - horse show season!!!

Who's planning on going down centerline this year?

Are you practicing your tests?

This is a controversial topic. People tend to have strong feelings about whether or not riders should practice their tests with their horses... and how often you should ride through your test before the show.

I ride through my tests... A LOT! Let me tell you why!

Check out my newest blog post...

https://www.lauragdressage.com/post/should-i-practice-my-dressage-test-before-a-show

What do you think? Are you showing this year? Do you practice your tests before the show?

Tell me in the comments!

Ask any dressage person if you should practice your test before the horse show and you'll get a mixed bag of answers. Many folks, trainers and amateur riders alike, will argue you absolutely shouldn't practice your tests too often."Your horse will start to anticipate everything!""Your horse will lea...

04/01/2024

5 Reasons You Would NOT Want to Board at Fortissimo Farm in Shadow Hills

1. Your horse HATES oversized stalls with attached large outdoor runs. He loves his itty bitty 12x12. Horses don't really need space anyway, right?

2. Your horse HATES real hay and LOVES his hay cubes. And he really likes only being those tasty cubes two times per day. Real hay, three times a day? Ewww... no thanks!

And even if you're horse is one of those odd balls that does better with real hay, it's totally OK! Because you're independently wealthy, duh! Buying you're own hay on top of paying for board? No problem! Paying for all those extra little services? Easy! What, isn't everyone made of money?

4. You LOVE fighting for turn out space in an itty bitty "sun pen." Or fighting with all the hundred other boarders at your barn for ten minutes of turnout in the arena. Horses hate being out of their teeny tiny stalls anyway, right?

5. You HATE great footing in your riding arena. Footing is soooo overrated. So is riding, really. After a weekend of heavy rain, you really don't care that your arenas are closed for a week afterwards because they've turned into a swamp. When you do decide to ride, you really love sharing the arena with 50 other horses and 10 other trainers yelling at their students.

And speaking of all those other people, you love being surrounded by a million other boarders. You love the gossipy, clique-y nature that happens at so many facilities. You hate having supportive horsey friends and a quiet, patient trainer available just in case you need an extra set of eyes.

APRIL FOOLS!!!

But seriously, happy first day of April! Fortissimo Farm in Shadow Hills is a beautiful, private facility and we have space available! We'd love to give you a tour of this gorgeous barn our horses get to call home!

Shoot me a message to schedule your tour!

03/19/2024

Today is the first day of spring! Yay! I'm so excited for longer days and warmer weather. You know what that means? Let's ride!

When we talk tack, we know about saddles, bridles, and bits, but what about your horse's legs? If you've been a horse owner or rider for any length of time, you may have heard you need to protect your horse's legs... but then you walk into your local tack store and see that HUGE wall of choices! If you go down the Google rabbit hole, it's even worse! Where to begin?

New on the blog, we're talking all things legs and boots! Check it out!

Are you team boots or team no boots? Why or why not?

Today is the first day of spring! Yay! I'm so excited for longer days and warmer weather. You know what that means? Let's ride!When we talk tack, we know about saddles, bridles, and bits, but what about your horse's legs? If you've been a horse owner or rider for any length of time, you may have hea...