Adamo Equestrian

06/16/2026

06/09/2026

A good turn doesn’t happen at the corner. It happens several strides before it.

One of the biggest faults I see in the arena (or anywhere else) is the "last-moment adjustment." The attempt at executuon without sufficient prepapration, taking the horse by surprise, and leaving the rider desperate with their aids.

One example is when we wait until we reach the corner to ask for the turn, and then we wonder why our horse falls out through the shoulder or braces against the bit. Whether this is an actual corner or the "edge" of our described geometry off the track is all the same.

We are essentially asking them to make up for our lack of planning.

When you plan your lines with intention, knowing exactly where you are starting your turn, how you are preparing the bend, and where you are exiting, you create a "safety net" for your horse. They stop scrambling and stressing over what’s coming next and start focusing on how they are carrying themselves through the work.

Geometry is the map, and your intention is the compass.

The next time you enter the arena, identify your "preparation point" for each corner. Instead of waiting for the corner to start, start your preparation (like your half-halt or your shift in weight or your sest adjustment) several strides before the corner actually begins. Notice how much more "quiet" and balanced the turn becomes when the conversation starts early.

🐎 Give this a try this week and let me know... does your horse feel more "with you" when you give them the roadmap early?

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🐴 Our focus this month in the 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 is "Arena Navigation and Geometry." Be sure to look back over our recent posts and stay tuned for more on this subject all month long.

05/17/2026

Pippa Callanan returns to River Wind Farm- Oxford NC from June 22nd - June 24th for a French Classical Dressage Clinic. There are only two rider spots remaining, but plenty of room for auditors. Each includes three private lessons, one each day, to cover work in hand and riding, all levels and disciplines welcome, from unstarted to haute ecole/Grand Prix.

Prior clinics have included rescue horses, ponies, unstarted youngstock, working ranch horses, working equitation horses, and dressage horses competing through the FEI levels. Come see how French Classical Principles and kind, ethical, common sense horsemanship can help further your partnership with your horse. Pippa was a long time student of Bettina Drummond, and one of only two Americans to have trained with Philippe Karl as his working student for two years. Pippa develops horses at her home in France, using a combination of contemporary science, natural horsemanship, and her depth of french classical equitation. Pippa is a kind, patient and effective instructor, who has a special gift for meeting horse and rider pairs exactly where they are.

PM me to reserve your spot today. Full riding spots are $725 to be paid in advance, this does not include stabling, which is $50 per night to be paid at the time of the clinic. Spots are reserved on a first come, first serve basis. I accept paypal, zelle, or checks. This purchase is non refundable, but is transferable to another rider until 48 hours before the start of the clinic. Auditing is $35 per day, or $85 for the full 3 days, and includes light refreshments. Bring your own chair. Lunch delivery is available at additional cost.

We hope you can join us for this supportive, informative and unique clinic.

05/06/2026

Reading and Theory:
I just want to share a real world experience to advocate, once again, for studying outside your saddle time. I have a novice student who only a few weeks ago was in the early planting stages of understanding the in-hand flexions. She had practiced them in lessons and of course she had been told what to look and feel for. She took a vacation and brought along with her "Baucher and the Ordinary Horseman" by Tom Widdicombe. This is a book that Pippa Callanan introduced me to several visits ago. This week we began her lesson with in-hand flexions, mainly demi arret and lateral flexions. Suddenly it all came together! The timing, the lightness, the use of corrections of balance, the yields and softness in both hand and jaw. The best feeling as a teacher is when you have nothing to critique or add. She didn't get it from more practice, she just came to really understand the concept by good old fashion reading. If you feel like the concepts your instructor offers you are muddy or unclear, try cracking open a book! What is the worst that could happen?

04/22/2026

Serious question for those who use hyperflexion. Have you ever tried to run while staring at your own knees?