Alexandra Brooks Dressage

03/17/2025

Monday Musings 3 - Half halts are something that SO many riders and horses struggle with. I have a horse who has a hard time coordinating his body with the left leg yield (getting his left shoulder out of the way for his right side to cross over). What's an idea that you or your horse are struggling with currently or something that you've recently figured out?

03/14/2025

Does this get any better? Such a gorgeous Friday! ☀️

03/10/2025

Monday Musings 2 - Whats something you struggle with in your riding?
For me... My left hand can have a mind of its own and tends to float up and away from my body! 😂 I've had great success riding with the EquiCube and it helps my body bring an awareness to my whole body as a unit so there's no option for my left hand to go rouge 😅

03/07/2025

https://youtu.be/jiX9y3JJ94Y?si=PtZQkun6wwBFTe2u

MARCRAINHA MS - 2020 Pure Bred Arabian mare offered. By ARIA MARCAN +/ out of MS GGEISHA (GGOLD x SC CYTY TWYLYTES)

Malia is an engaging and enthusiastic partner looking for a new rider to go to the show ring with. She would thrive with a JR/YR or AA in a program wanting to take the Arab show circuit by storm and have fun at home as well. She is ready to go out at Training Level and in the right program could do some first level as well at the end of the season.
Hacks out, brave and would love to trail ride, go to the beach, etc. She’s the kind of girl who wants to be in the action and be with the people.

Special consideration will be given to those who want to keep her in our program as she is a barn favorite and we will be sad to see her go! Only being offered because of owners life changes.
Can be tried at Oxer Hill Farm in Clearview, WA, 40 minutes north of SeaTac Airport.

Contact: Alexandra Brooks Dressage
(509) 336-9373
[email protected]

2️⃣0️⃣k but flexible for the perfect fit/home

03/04/2025

✨MARCRAINHA MS ✨- 2020 Pure Bred Arabian mare offered. By ARIA MARCAN +/ out of MS GGEISHA (GGOLD x SC CYTY TWYLYTES)

Malia is an engaging and enthusiastic young horse looking for a new rider to go to the show ring with. Her personality is a 10 and has never met someone who doesn’t love her. Standing at 15.1h her gaits are that of a 16h horse - they will only improve as she gets stronger and grows more into herself.
She would thrive with a JR/YR or AA in a program wanting to take the Arab show circuit by storm and have fun at home as well. She is ready to go out at Training Level and in the right program could do some first level as well at the end of the season.
Special consideration will be given to those who want to keep her in our program as she is a barn favorite and we will be sad to see her go! Only being offered because of owners life changes.
Can be tried at Oxer Hill Farm in Clearview, WA, 40 minutes north of SeaTac Airport.

www.alexandrabrooksdressage.com/team-1
More info can be found at above ⬆️ link 🔗
Contact: Alexandra Brooks Dressage
(509) 336-9373
[email protected]

03/04/2025

I want to start something new - Monday Musings... Something easy and light hearted. Tell me what you think... To start us off! Whats been your favorite adventure you've been on with your horse or horse friends?
I LOVED going to the beach in 2023, such a fun trip and riding on the beach was better than I could have imagined!

03/01/2025

Love this ❤️❤️

This message is for those who don't want to be normal. If you want to fit in, stay safe, be average, I understand and respect that, it's the normal thing to do. But then this email isn't for you.

Also note: This post is about dressage, but it's also not about dressage.

I was browsing the international rankings of the FEI CDI 1* and noticed that just over 400 riders participated at that level.

There are an estimated 175,000 dressage riders in the world today.

That means only 0.2% of the dressage riding world competes at the lowest level of the CDI ring.

I came to a couple of conclusions.

🔹Dressage is insanely hard. The odds are against you. If you're riding at PSG or above, you should pat yourself on the back, you've made it much further than most people ever will. Don't underestimate that accomplishment. It's huge.

🔹Getting to PSG or above is not the norm, in fact, it's statistically improbable. If you want to ride at that level too, you have to be willing to approach your entire life with a different mindset.

Doing what's normal or average, is doing what everyone else is doing. That makes up the very definition of normal. Normal people get normal results.

But, you can't stand out, achieve more, be more, do more, or succeed more, while doing what everyone else is doing.

You have to approach things differently. It's a fundamental necessity.

This is where things can get challenging. You can't always look to your peers because chances are they are normal too.

You have to be the one to break away, to forge your own path. It takes courage and strength, a vision. You have to believe it's possible or at the very least, worthy of the pursuit.

If you want to stand out, you can't fit in.

Big dreams take big risks, and having the courage to chase them isn't for everyone.

But if you want to push the boundaries of what you're capable of, you have to go all in.

And that....is far from normal.

02/27/2025

Are you looking for positive, goal oriented teaching that helps you understand the how and the why so you feel successful by yourself without instructors around? Do you want a happy, confident and willing partnership with your horse?

As a coach, trainer and rider I am passionate and committed to you and your horse’s growth and success regardless of your aspirations. Wins in and out of the show arena! Lessons, training rides, show coaching and riding are available for you to utilize and grow with your horse.

Together we will create a program that is tailor made to you and your horse from exactly where you’re starting from to reaching your goals - communication between trainer/client is paramount. All of this in a low key, laid back environment where your and your horse’s enjoyment and fun is first.

I am an FEI trainer and competitor with a laid back and inviting group of clients and boarders who are dedicated to improving their riding and horse’s performance while building on their relationships. I believe in a varied and diverse regimen with caveletti, trails and long lining builds strong and confident horses.

Lots of experience with a diverse range of horses from pony crosses, Arab crosses to warmbloods and Spanish horses. Green beans to FEI horses and/or assistance with rehabbing are welcomed - also able to assist with buying and/or selling a new equine partner.
Goal oriented individuals are encouraged to reach out! We would love to hear from you and see how we can be apart of your 2025 goals and successes ✨

About the farm: www.oxer-hill-farm.com
About myself: www.alexandrabrooksdressage.com

02/26/2025

Nailed it

: Flying changes are, at the end of the day, a transition. Since any transition is only as good as the gait before it, the quality of your changes is 100% dependent on the quality of the canter you bring in. It needs to be active but not running, on the bit but not held together, energetic but not nutty, and relaxed but not TOO relaxed.

📸: Joanna Jodko

02/22/2025

East side friends (Spokane/surrounding areas) I’m planning clinic dates for 2025 - reach out if you’re interested.
Currently thinking March 28/29 and April 25/26

02/21/2025

2 very fun horses available for partial lease in barn at Oxer Hill Farm in Clearview.
Half board/shoes and weekly lessons with ABD required with lease terms. 2-3 riding days a week.

Tucker - 15.2h Palomino Morgan gelding, solid 2nd level with 3rd level lateral work as well. Gives a really super feeling under saddle and is very rewarding to ride. Needs a more confident rider as he has a cheeky side but is not malicious. Think pony attitude.

Gemma - 15.0h bay mare - training/1st level confidence builder who can do lunge lessons, go for a hack and help her rider learn how to ride the whole horse. Perfect for someone who wants to get back to riding.

PM for more details - trial lesson is required for any interested party.

02/21/2025

45°, leaving the barn at 8:00 after a normal schedule of lessons on a Thursday for the first time in what felt like WEEKS! So happy the extreme cold, snow and ice is gone and clients are back to riding more consistently on their horses ♥️♥️

02/20/2025

Sharing again because it’s SO true and important to remember!

: What we in the horse world refer to as “maintenance” - joint injections, systemic drugs like Adequan or Tildren, and other medical interventions - are amazing tools to help us keep our partners healthy and sound. They can extend their comfortable years, and help horses with imperfect xrays or imperfect conformation continue to have useful jobs.

They’re also part of a big puzzle. Proper nutrition is key. Proper lifestyle management is key. Tack fit, shoeing, and thoughtful training with plenty of variety. None of these replace hock injections, nor do hock injections replace any of these. And there’s no one-size-fits-all to any approach either: some horses live long and healthy lives with less turnout than others, and some horses go their entire careers without needing a needle.

But the more movement there is in a horse’s body, the greater the risk of injury. Horses that do low-level work their entire lives, and have natural gaits for a 5, don’t abuse themselves like the mega-athletes that do the Grand Prix. And no matter the level or the gifts from God, when one part of a horse’s body hurts (due to saddle fit or bad shoeing or just the slow, methodical building up of topline that sometimes leaves us sore), they’re more likely to overstress another. And that’s how horses get the kind of injuries that take a long time to heal, if they heal at all.

Find the best trainer, the best farrier, and the best sports medicine practitioner you can, and then make sure they all talk to one another. Make the best choices you can, both for your horse and your wallet. And then say a little prayer to whatever you believe in, because there’s not enough corticosteroids in the world to prevent horses from being stupid in the field 🤣

02/11/2025

Bittersweet memory ❤️💔❤️

We have a horse show horse ♥️

02/06/2025

Yes!

A discussion of this indispensable element in daily dressage training

01/27/2025

Gemma - 20 year old Grade 15.0h mare - Clearview, WA - Oxer Hill Farm - In Barn Half Lease Available

Are you looking for a confidence builder? Something to get you back in the tack that you can trust won’t do anything wild or unexpected? Gemma is your girl! Owner is looking to make a step up to a new to her horse and wants to offer the same opportunity to someone else to get their confidence back up and bring them into our fun barn community. Ideal partner for Gemma would be someone wanting to take weekly lessons, enjoy training/1st level work and enjoy hacking during nice weather.

Trial lesson required for all interested parties.
Rider in photos is 5’7” - PM for details and to schedule a meeting.