Cindi Wylie Dressage

10/01/2024

It’s been an amazing summer of training, judging, teaching and learning❤️ looking forward to even bigger and better things this fall. I will soon have availability to teach a few more lessons on a freelance basis at your farm in the Jupiter or Wellington/Loxahatchee areas. I will help you develop a better and more correct connection with your horse by helping you develop your feel as well as your knowledge of the exercises needed to achieve your goals. No gimmicks, gadgets or drama 😉 reasonable rates. Message me for details!

09/26/2024

Again no surprises but nice to have it documented. Feeling wise the snaffle gives you a more direct connection and really allows you to work on bending. The double assists better with collection but as the action is more about the area over the poll suppleness is harder to achieve. Any bridle can be used incorrectly and will be perceived as offensive to the horse….hence that is what needs to be fixed ❤️

Double bridles exert less nasal and rein pressure than snaffles, a study involving top competition horses has found. Studies comparing the noseband pressure and rein forces exerted by the two types of bridle were among those presented in a session on biomechanics at the British Equine Veterinary Ass...

07/28/2024

I know I'm not alone in this. I read stuff and then sit on my hands so I don't post something I regret. I think about it darned hard. But I don't put it out there. Usually. This comment in an article I was reading broke my filter.

This isn't about the whole CDJ mess. Please don't go there. But it is about an excerpt in an article regarding the issue. The title of the article innocently sucked me in as it appeared to be a training and psychology article. Psychology of people and animals is fascinating. Sadly I only got to this paragraph in the article before my hackles raised and I had to walk away. It read:

"There are many ways to address a training problem of this sort". I think all of us including CDJ agree that there were many other ways she could have addressed the issue more humanely and correctly. Our social media expert (Hereby referred to as SME) who wrote the article then goes on to say "One is to insist that dressage judges stop rewarding riders whose horses show extreme leg animation and boycott competitions until they do".

It's all the judges fault. Again. But it was so random in the middle of the article it bugged me.

At this point I want to make an effort to dispel the numero uno myth about dressage judges - "Judges don't ride". (You can insert the fingernails screeching on the blackboard sound here for effect). There are other equestrian endeavors where this myth applies, but not in dressage.

Take myself as an example. I'm actually quite average as far as judges go. I have trained a few successful Grand Prix horses by myself all the way up and even dabbled in a CDI here and there. I did it mostly to make stories for the old age home. I compete not only because I enjoy it, but I find riding tests in a competitive situation gives me insights as to the more subtle holes in my training that sometimes go missed in the day to day training. In essence it is the ultimate test of my training. My story is more common for a judge than I think some would like to believe. Some of our top judges are or have been incredible riders, and I have been privileged to have been educated by some of the best in the saddle as well as in the judges box. I cannot think of one current judge who hasn't trained at some point. Some of the most incredible and correct lessons (and biggest butt-kicking) I've had have come from the mouths of illustrious FEI officials. Their fabulous lessons are likely a result of the fact that a judge not only has a highly trained eye to interpret what they see in split seconds, but because of the training requirements judges need to become a judge, they also have just a few tools in their tool boxes that helps bring horses along.

Back to the issue at hand. There isn't a judge on this planet or any other that would advocate the type of behavior CDJ displayed on the video. Neither would any of them believe for a minute that that type of training would lead to a successful dressage career for the horse. A judge cannot police what happens at home to the horses who we see for only a very few short moments. However - judges are coached to watch for the signs that tell the story of the training up until the time it enters the arena. IMO - horses do wear their hearts on their sleeves and tell the stories of their training experience if you watch. Judges are educated to watch those clues. If they're clear, scores stop dead at a 6, or lower, depending the degree of unhappiness they witness. Do the math. That's forty per cent of the riders score out the window just for a mouth hanging open or tongue hanging out. Those same signs can be something other than flags raised from unethical training but will still be penalized. They can be signs of just general poor riding, or balance issues. They can be momentary, or pervasive. Clearly if the horse is saying "bad rider alert", there's a four coming. But an open mouth in a transition or momentary issue would be dinged a bit less. Judging is a lot less simple than SME would lead you to believe.

Judging from a picture on the internet is pretty easy. Analyzing the biomechanics up close and personal as to how well the partnership in motion adheres to the training scale is a much more complicated job than judges are given credit for. Dressage is more than riding patterns in an "obedient" manner. Submission is about ridability and balance not subservient toe dragging complacency. Dressage is the harmonious gymnastic development of the horse's physique and ability through correct training, and all those qualities are evaluated in each and every score. The horses gaits SHOULD get bigger and more active as a result of proper training. Sadly not all horses are created equal, just like some people are truly athletic and then there's those of us with two left feet. (those who know me....know...) As hard as I tried, I would never be an olympic gymnast. I'm not gifted that way. While gymnastics helped me be more flexible and supple, dressage is beneficial for every horse. However it's important to realize not every horse is cut out to be an international athlete. For all horses the work should make the joints more free to articulate as the muscles become more loose, supple and strong. The gaits, even in the most average horse, will develop at least some cadence and suspension. Shorty, aka Audacity, my most average dressage horse with an above average heart (and probably a horse you would never pick out of a crowd as being a competitive GP horse if he was standing in his paddock) was an incredible example of how to use the exercises to develop the gaits. As a result of the training, there will be more activity, or what the SME referred to as action. The difference being is the well trained horse can maintain that fine line between balance and power, and the good rider can use both to create an incredibly beautiful picture. Even if there's a small piece of harmony that keeps the judge from rewarding the rider with 9's and 10's, there is still a lot going on correctly to be able to show that level of expression consistently in the ring.

In summary- as much as judges DO reward correct training, because the effect of training dressage is reflected in the development of the gaits, quality of movement will always be very important in the overall evaluation of the partnerships performance than some would like because it is the result of the training itself.

It's sad that we don't have access to the comments on the tests rationalizing the scores so we can all understand the judges thinking or maybe we'd better understand how the deduction works. I would honestly love to know how the SME comes to these conclusions without seeing comments. Even with all my education I can't. Perhaps they can share with us the winning lottery number too because judges aren't paid much. We do it not for money. We do it because we truly love the animals as well as the sport.

While people can say a whole lot of things on the CDJ debacle, SME blaming the judges for her behavior is truly silly.

Rant over. Carry on. And now back to your usual programming of puppies and orchids.

07/08/2024

No judging my appearance 😆 the tail end of day three. yes I’m disheveled….a bit dusty (however NOT from Jim and Tanya’s lovely footing!)…a bit road weary….and the hair would probably scare small children and not something even Ryan Bell wants to see 😂 BUT you cannot take the smile off my face from yet another day working with lovely horses and riders so solid in their foundations and excited to learn despite the heat ❤️ thank you Tanya Rennie and Jim for sharing your facility and students today and all the organizational work…it was a pleasure to work with everyone and inspiring to watch their energy and passion for dressage. Am thrilled to be pictured here with the other Cindi (also with an i) who won a grant to pay for her lesson from SMDA for her volunteerism. Well done! Best of luck to all this season 🥇 time to head home for a few… ☀️ 🐶 🌴 🐎

06/16/2024

Heading home this time from Tryon where I officiated with a wonderful crew and met some new faces ❤️ we worked hard but enjoyed the hospitality with fabulous cabins to stay in and some great food. Thank you Ulf Wadeborn and Adrienne Pot for being wonderful colleagues to work with and Fran Cross for all her efforts as well! Thank you Anne M Devine for all the running and shuttling to make sure we got food and to the right places at the right time, and to Monica Fitzgerald, Kathy Grisolia, Andrea Davenport Himel and the rest of the office, scribing and ring crews for making everything run as smoothly as one can ask! Tryon is a truly fun facility, with great restaurants and stores and lots to do. Hope to see you all again ❤️

06/05/2024

The boys and I are currently enjoying our year round boarding at Mayfaire Oaks in White Fences Despite my busy clinic and judging schedule, I do have time to help you work towards your dressage goals as well, and am happy to work with horses and riders of all levels and types who want to enjoy their dressage journey just a bit more. Message me for details or see my website at www.CindiWylie.com for more info!

03/30/2023

Amado and I

to Cindi Wylie Dressage
and her gorgeous steed Amado ###V 💗

03/02/2023

01/19/2023

It was a privilege for Amado and I to be demo’s for the conference! Sadly I didn’t take notes, but here’s some of the keys from someone else!

01/14/2023

I've been enjoying developing a Florida client base, and still have some availability for lessons or training at this time! In the meantime, my 2023 clinic and judging dates are going rather quickly! Am happy to work with horses and riders of all levels and types. To find out more about me please visit CindiWylie.com, or contact me directly for further information on rates and availability!

01/12/2023

I am so excited to be riding the PRE Stallion, Amado, in this fabulous program next week!

The 2023 Adequan®/USDF FEI-Level Trainers Conference is coming up next week at High Meadow Farm in Loxahatchee, FL & will feature David Hunt, Henk van Bergen, Linda Zang, and Lilo Fore. This , we take this opportunity to look back at the 2017 edition of the conference. Check it out here: https://yourdressage.org/2023/01/12/looking-back-at-the-2017-adequan-usdf-fei-level-trainers-conference/

Pictured: Nora Batchelder on Fifi MLW. Photo by Jennifer Bryant

01/01/2023

What better way to start the New Year than congratulating Elizabeth and Heather Petersen on the purchase of Captain Brownie! Elizabeth and Brownie have already had a fabulous first year together, culminating in their participation at the NAYC as members of the Region 5 Young Rider Team, where Elizabeth won the sportsmanship award ❤️ So looking forward to watching their continued growth and success!

10/30/2022

Wellington International, the show exploitation company of Helgstrand's parent company Global Equestrian Group, has reached an agreement with Wellington Equestrian Partners to take over the rights to host the Global Dressage Festival in 2023.

10/25/2022

Dressage clinic in Tiverton, RI Saturday November 19th.

Grand Prix rider, S Judge and certified USDF FEI instructor Cindi Rose Wylie is returning to Fyrkat Farm.

Rider spots still available. Please contact us if you're interested in riding.

09/18/2022

Fourth and final day for Henry at the Region 6 Championships. Today he has the honor of ringing the bell at C where he’s judging a variety of championship classes including the Grand Prix! He decided that eating healthy while you’re judging is hard, but was happy to find himself a banana!

05/17/2022

This mornings walk….

05/08/2022

What happens to your horse when you aren’t straight and balanced.

05/01/2022