CSDressage

CSDressage Chantae Erickson is a USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalist based out of M&M Farm in Sullivan, IL

27/11/2024

In recent months dressage has faced increased scrutiny, both from within and from outside of the horse world, and the Fédération Equestre Internationale recently held a special meeting to kick off in-depth discussions about the challenges currently impacting the discipline. We asked three particip...

Woohoo!!!
21/11/2024

Woohoo!!!

Big news! ‼️ United States Dressage Federation and US Equestrian are thrilled to announce that the 2025 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® are scheduled for October 30 – November 2, at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Wilmington, OH. Based on consistent feedback from competitors over the years regarding the unpredictable nature of the November weather, WEC was selected as the site of the 2025 and 2026 US Dressage Finals, affording competitors and attendees alike an equivalency of experience in all aspects of this highly revered event. The selection of WEC was based, in large part, on the facility’s over 200,000 square feet of climate-controlled riding space, in which all championship classes will be held, more than 750 permanent climate-controlled stalls, delicious onsite dining, and numerous luxurious lodging options.

Learn more about this update to our marquee ‘Centerline of Champions’ competition here: https://www.usdf.org/press/news/view-news.asp?news=1074

25/10/2024

“INSIDE LEG TO OUTSIDE REIN.” 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

I’m sure every equestrian in the world (who has had lessons / watched lessons) has heard these words howled from across the arena at some point in their lives…

Although it is well intentioned advice, in many cases it can create further problems which serve to be quite a road block for progression amongst horses and riders…

Whilst being able to execute these aids effectively DOES have a beautiful influence on a horses way of going… In order to execute these aids effectively and have a positive effect on the horses way of moving, the horse has to firstly understand quite a number of steps and the rider has to have the skill to deliver aids independantly…

A lack of the above, is the reason this advice so often fails and instead ends up leaving a bunch of frustrated, perplexed riders and equally frustrated horses who are uncomfortable in their bodies 😣😤.

So in terms of the horses understanding, let’s take a deeper dive into some ingredients that are necessary to have in place BEFORE truly riding from inside leg to outside rein is a possibility…

1️⃣ A horse should have an understanding of basic foundational yields. They should be able to both move the hind end and the shoulders a few steps laterally in response to your leg going on. They should not feel ‘stuck’ on anyone of their legs. Developing these yields will enable you to talk to each hind leg and each foreleg in isolation. The forequarter yields enable you to develop the feel and understanding to move the horses outside shoulder off of your outside aids and the hindquarter yields develop the understanding to influence the inside hind from your inside aids. Eventually you should aim to be able to do these yields with the smallest of changes in your body and with a clear slack in the reins.

If you can currently put your leg on in a number of ways and the ONLY response you get from your horse is to move forwards, then you really need to spend time teaching / revisiting these forequarter and hindquarter yields in order for him to start understanding a more lateral response to the leg.

2️⃣ Being able to yield to rein pressure. So whether you ride bitless, in a snaffle, a rope halter or something else, you should be able to pick up each rein individually and have your horse bending and softening through their entire neck, poll and jaw to the left and the right. Make sure you can do this from a standstill first and that you are not having to use force to hold them in the bend… Release when they release… Progress onto asking for a few strides in walk until eventually you can have your horse bending softly to the inside rein down a whole long side. Make sure you can do this with outside bend to. Finally progress to the trot.

3️⃣ Now the horse has an understanding of the above, you can now use your inner rein, leg and seat aids to achieve a correct inside bend and to move the horse off of your inside aids in order to create lateral flexion throughout the horses body.. At this point if the steps have been done correctly there should be no brace, resistance or blockages in the horses body.. The horse should begin to feel looser and more relaxed, seeking the rein down and out… All those good things. It should feel very nice for both you and the horse. You should not feel as though you need to ‘hold’ the horse into this position or micromanage him/her to stay there. He/she seeks this position because they learn it feels good, therefore it is self reinforcing!

At this point you can begin to take more slack out of the outside rein, until you can begin to feel a soft, elastic connection to the outside of his body… It should not feel restrictive.. You should not come back with your outside hand as the outside of his body needs to lengthen in order for energy to flow smoothly… If you loose energy through the outside shoulder, the skills you developed with the shoulder yields, will allow you to communicate to and shift the balance of the outside shoulder.

Once everything comes together, It should just feel as though you are simply moving the energy off of your inside aids, feeling it being met into your outside rein and then allowing that feeling to flow through into the forwards movement. You can test your ‘inside leg to outside rein connection’ by regularly giving the inside rein. If you have done all the steps correctly, the horse should remain bent laterally around your inside leg when you give on this rein.

👆🏼THIS is the true definition of riding ‘inside leg to outside rein.’

At this point you can use exercises and school figures such as spiralling in and out to further improve inside hind leg engagement and inside leg to outside rein connection.

I can’t stress enough, the outcome of the above coming together is a horse that feels soft, loose, swinging through his entire body, his steps will feel rhythmical, his back will feel lifted, he will be seeking the rein down and OUT and it will feel enjoyable and effortless for BOTH of you. If you have not achieved this feeling you need to retrace your steps and figure out what ingredient(s) are missing!

It might sound complicated, but when you break each component down individually and work on truly achieving one thing at a time, everything begins to slot together and make sense.

Attempting to ride “inside leg to outside rein” before the above has been established is like trying to bake a cake, but you don’t have any flour, you don’t have any butter nor any sugar 🤷🏻‍♀️… How can you be surprised the cake has turned out rubbish!?

Y’all know I love a deal…Muck boots on sale today only! 50% off AND free shipping!!!
23/10/2024

Y’all know I love a deal…

Muck boots on sale today only! 50% off AND free shipping!!!

The Apex Pro with its Vibram Arctic Grip All Terrain outsole provides advanced traction on all terrains including wet ice, snow, mixed/loose surfaces and hard pack, providing superior grip no matter the season. These boots are built for high endurance cold weather pursuits or treks that require a mo...

Two shows, one post!  #7 and  #8 of the season exceeded my expectations, a fabulous segway into championships. A few wee...
23/08/2024

Two shows, one post! #7 and #8 of the season exceeded my expectations, a fabulous segway into championships. A few weeks ago Travis made his 4th level debut at the SLADS show, scoring up to 65% in 4-3! A huge highlight was getting an 8(!) on his 3x tempis.

Last weekend Trav continued his 4th level campaign at Silverwood with scores up to 69% and some fantastic feedback from the judges. This time earning 8’s on his pirouettes, he is now fully qualified for regionals at 4th level in addition to 3rd and 3rd freestyle.

Valkor also made the haul to Silverwood where we found a new level of partnership, receiving scores up to 80% 🤯🤯🤯 At 1st level and 1st level freestyle! He’s given me glimpses of this potential at home, but to bring it to the show ring is just an unreal feeling. The sky’s the limit for this floppy-eared boy!

Marsha I hope you’re as proud of your boys as I am, thank you for everything you do.

Next stop: REGIONALS!

It’s here! Who’s getting up early to watch?!
29/07/2024

It’s here! Who’s getting up early to watch?!

Team M&M had a fantastic time at the CenterLine Dressage Firecracker schooling show yesterday! Alyssa and Clayton showed...
07/07/2024

Team M&M had a fantastic time at the CenterLine Dressage Firecracker schooling show yesterday!

Alyssa and Clayton showed T-3 and 1-1, laying down two of their most consistent tests to date. They even ended up Jr High Point of the show! Great to see all their hard work show up in the ring 💪🏼

Starla rode Misty in her first ever dressage show. They rode Intro C and T-1 and handled the outing like old pros! Looking forward to the next show 🤩

Jodie made a triumphant return to the show ring after a few years off, this time on the pocket perchy Travis. They laid down two solid tests for a clean sweep, all blues 🏆

Hannah also made her show debut on Misty in the lead line division and had a fabulous time. And how about our fabulous ensemble 😄

It’s so wonderful to have this opportunity so close to home, grateful for the opportunity to inspire the next generation. Excellent work, everyone!

05/07/2024



2 horses, 3 days, 11 tests, and a whole lot of fun! Valkor and Trav returned to Lamplight last weekend for show  #6 of t...
03/07/2024

2 horses, 3 days, 11 tests, and a whole lot of fun!
Valkor and Trav returned to Lamplight last weekend for show #6 of the season and they did not disappoint!

I am thrilled with how my partnership with Val has improved even since the last show. This weekend he competed training level and stepped up to first level, earning scores up to 73%! I’m still learning how to bring out the best in this horse in the ring, but it’s so rewarding to feel our partnership getting stronger every show.

Trav and I gained more experience at 3-3, and had an absolute blast riding our 3rd level freestyle. It was a party in the ring as we danced our way to scores up to 72%, getting qualified for Regionals and completing my bronze freestyle bar 🥉
Stay tuned for a video…

I’m forever grateful to Marsha Harshman for supporting the journey with these boys, their future is exciting!

Super exciting!!! I had half a mind to create one, but had zero time to set it up. So glad USDF did, looking forward to ...
01/07/2024

Super exciting!!! I had half a mind to create one, but had zero time to set it up. So glad USDF did, looking forward to participating!

📚 USDF is pleased to announce the launch of the new USDF Book Club, the latest program in a long list of education initiatives and opportunities created and offered by USDF. By participating in the USDF Book Club, members will be introduced to the published works of some of the industry’s top authors and professionals.

📅 USDF will announce the book schedule for the year in December of the year before – 4 books per year, with a quarterly discussion schedule

📖 2024 books: ‘Riding Through’ by Debbie McDonald (July – September), and ‘Dressage for the Not-So-Perfect Horse’ by Janet Foy (October – December)

🙋‍♀️Participants will have the opportunity to interact with the authors during Q&A sessions with the The Dressage Radio Show podcast and through webinars.

👩‍🎓 Opportunities to earn USDF University education credits via webinar attendance, quizzes, and submissions of “keywords” provided in Dressage Radio Show podcast episodes.

🏆 GMO and Regional awards will be available based on member participation.

📕 Officially launching in July 2024, the USDF Book Club’s first selection will be ‘Riding Through’ by Debbie McDonald, followed by ‘Dressage for the Not-So-Perfect Horse’ by Janet Foy as the final 2024 selection.

📌 For more information about the USDF Book Club visit: https://usdf.org/education/book-club.asp

Had a fabulous time at CenterLine Dressage’s annual Classic show this past weekend! I had the pleasure of showing Pat Co...
25/06/2024

Had a fabulous time at CenterLine Dressage’s annual Classic show this past weekend!

I had the pleasure of showing Pat Conner’s fantastic Clydesdale Sammy again, this time bumping him up to training level. While he definitely packed his opinions to this show, he gained valuable show mileage and many adoring fans 😆

Big congratulations to Chris and Payton for earning both their qualifying scores for regionals at Second Level, look out for this pair at Pony Cup in a couple of weeks 😎

It was great to work with Meg and her handsome boy Smoke again, she does such an awesome job with him. It was great to watch his confidence and relaxation build over the weekend, each ride was better than the last 💪🏼

Huge thank you to the village that made this show happen; from the organizers, to the officials, to the sponsors, and of course the volunteers!

SUPER late on this post, but here we go! Windy City was show  #4 of the season, and round 2 for both Boo Sinclair and Va...
13/06/2024

SUPER late on this post, but here we go! Windy City was show #4 of the season, and round 2 for both Boo Sinclair and Valkor.

A while back I came across a quote, “Set goals so high that they demand an entirely different version of you.” And then I found Valkor.
This horse challenges me to bring my best self to each ride, and while I’m still learning just what that looks like, we managed to come away from this show fully qualified for regionals. I’m very pleased with the progress we made over the weekend, and I’m excited to continue building our partnership both in and out of the show ring.

Sales horse Boo came along to continue sharpening his 3rd level skills. I was so impressed with how he handled the busy atmosphere of Lamplight; he was brave in the rings, unphased by the torrential downpour on Saturday, and even brought home a reserve champion in the open 3rd level! He’s ready to find his next dance partner, message me for details.

Thank you Marsha for your continued support, and thank you John Borys Photography for the fabulous pictures. What a difference a day made!

Memorial Day weekend we had a FABULOUS bit fitting clinic with Felicia of Bits N’ Such at M&M Farm. The process was abso...
04/06/2024

Memorial Day weekend we had a FABULOUS bit fitting clinic with Felicia of Bits N’ Such at M&M Farm. The process was absolutely fascinating, and the difference in the horses when we found the right bit was incredible. The new bits are starting to arrive, and I can’t wait to see how much everyone improves!

Show  #3 of the season is in the books, and it was definitely one to remember! Travis the trusty pocket perchy came out ...
14/05/2024

Show #3 of the season is in the books, and it was definitely one to remember!

Travis the trusty pocket perchy came out strong at 3rd level with scores up to 69% and is now qualified for Regionals. While it was incredible to feel how much stronger he is at this level in the ring, the highlight for me came in the warmup where he gave me five beautiful 4x tempis. When I first started riding him, I jokingly said I was going to make him a PSG horse. 5 years later, it’s so exciting to feel that within reach! This horse is a shining example of where a good brain and correct training can get you, even with average gaits, and I could not be happier with how far he has come. Enjoy those naps, big guy!

After a 3 year break, Domburg made his way down centerline at 4th level and it was certainly worth the wait! To say my relationship with this horse has been tumultuous would be an understatement. He has taught me more about being tactful than any other horse I’ve ridden. So receiving comments like “Harmonious Pair” and “Pleasant Ride” made getting both qualifying scores for Regionals just icing on the cake. I am SO PROUD of the relationship I’ve built with this horse, and I cannot wait to see where this season takes us.

Marsha Harshman thank you for trusting me with these two, and for your unwavering faith in the process even when I was unsure. I truly could not do this without your support.

I also got to be a proud coach and choreographer as Barb Geissler and Pony danced their 4th level freestyle for the first time. It was so fun seeing this dream turn to reality, and they are now half way towards their silver freestyle bar!

Honorable mention to Kristen Becker for friendly competition and camaraderie. HUGE congratulations on your PSG debut, I’m still so excited for you!
To Kate Fleming-Kuhn and Martin Kuhn for your expert guidance at home, you guys never let me settle and I’m so much better for it.
And to Julie K Welch and Custom Saddlery for keeping all my horses well fitted in my favorite saddles, I’m so excited to officially be part of the team!

It takes a village at home to keep these guys feeling their best. Thank you to all the support staff at M&M Farm, vets, chiro and farrrier involved in keeping all our horses happy, healthy, and show ready!

Next stop, Windy City!

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