Laura Ashley Dressage

01/18/2025

Exciting news 🤩

12/25/2024

Merry christmas from my farm family to yours 🎁🐎🎅🎄

12/16/2024

We had a really "Good Day" (and all my homies did ride today) 🐎

More details to following when I'm not so sick 😷

12/11/2024

11/28/2024

I don't care where you begin the ride. I care that I helped you finish somewhere better ❤️🐴

"I'm not ready for a clinic"
"I'm not good enough to take a lesson from her"
"I'm still just learning the basics"
"I should be more prepared to go train"

Just start.
Start where you are. It is the only place you can begin, and best to do it with supportive, knowledgeable guidance so you can avoid frustrations and bad habits.
A good instructor will meet you where you and your horse are at, then build a strong foundation from there.

What do upper level horses and riders work on? The basics. It never goes away. Proper position. Good transitions. Lighter aids. More suppleness. Better balance. It's always the same, just with an increased standard for excellence.

I'm so proud of this pair! They have come sooo far during their week of boot camp and now they both have a better understanding of the aids and basics, so they continue training with confidence 🐎

11/26/2024

Square enough? 🟥 I think that's a "10"!
Want halts like Barry?

1. Focus on immobility
2. Improve engagement in trot prior to Halting
3. Teach horse to move individual legs while in halt
4. Improve frame & connection in halt

11/25/2024

1. Apply aid
2a. Correct response
2b. Incorrect response
- clarify/escalate
- correct response
3. Soften/release/reward

You cannot hold the balance FOR the horse.

Sit relaxed, let the horse's movement flow through your body, and do your best to allow correct rotations.

Don't hold the horse with your legs.

Don't hold the horse with the reins.

Use reins and legs as AIDS: Apply to improve balance, then let go.

True self-carriage can only happen when we ALLOW the horse to find its own balance.

Trying to hold the horse in a balance through the aids is not self-carriage.

11/14/2024

📢 Exciting Announcement!

Join us for a special Dressage4Kids Panel Discussion: "From an Instructor's Perspective: The Current State of Affairs, Ethics, and Social License"

🎙️ Moderator: Lendon Gray
🌟 Panelists: Ali Brock, Robert Dover, Janet Foy, and Tuny Page

📅 Date: Monday, January 20, 2025
📍 Location: Wellington, FL (following the Adequan®/USDF FEI Level Trainers Conference)

All are welcome to attend, advance registration is required! Register today at https://dressage4kids.org/programs/d4k-training4teaching/training4teaching-january-20-2025.html

10/20/2024

Excited for next weekend's clinic with Laura Ashley! Donna Hammond ([email protected]) is organizing rides at both Winds Reach Farm in Iowa City and a few rides at Oak Stone Farm. To audit/watch lessons at Oak Stone Farm, please call or text Katherine @ 319-651-6058.

10/15/2024

The problem with project horses is that I make them all amazing 🤩 then I want them to be personal horses instead of sales horses 🐎

10/14/2024

Online Oct. 30, Nov. 6, 13

10/14/2024

What is an important piece of advice you'd give to another equestrian to improve their daily horse training & plan? 🐎

10/10/2024

If anyone's barn has been destroyed, I have 4 stalls available with attached runs for temporary stabling after Milton has passed 🙏🐴

10/09/2024

UPDATE: We are all currently fine 🙏🐴🐓🦮🐈

However, many tornados came through Wellington & Loxahatchee today. Significant damage for many friends - specifically reports from Flying cow Rd, Aero Club, Rustic Ranches, Hamlin, Coconut Blvd, B & E Rd.

For anyone worried, we are prepared. 7 horses and 5 chickens tucked inside hurricane rated CBS barn with storm shutters. Water, food & hay stocked for all. Loose items secured.

09/27/2024

Dreaming of a winter in Wellington 🌴 ? Do you have Bronze medal ambitions bronze🥉? Have you been wanting a way to learn from me in person 🐎 ?

There is a dressage schoolmaster LEASE available exclusively through Laura Ashley Dressage.

Barry is a 13yo, 16.2hh Canadian Warmblood Gelding. He previously was an International-level eventing superstar for Boyd Martin. He went on to help teach junior rider's the finer points of dressage, and last season he partnered with an adult amateur who showed 1st, 2nd & 3rd level in just a few months together 🤯

He has 3 quality, yet rideable gaits, uncomplicated transitions, accessible lateral work and clean changes. He is a willing and capable partner, who will allow you to finese your dressage skills to be become a competent rider with a clear understanding of the fundamentals to continue moving up the levels of the sport.

More information on the training program and facility can be found at: www.LauraAshleyDressage.com

Video of Barry competing with AA leasee: https://youtu.be/z4YxlWl4g-Q?si=ub18NVl4ECaTOwFa

Send a DM to Laura to secure Barry as your ride down centerline this winter equestrian season.

09/24/2024

❤️🐎🥰