Dressage With Georgia

11/12/2020

Are you out competing this weekend? Remember to have fun, smile and give it your best shot 🥰💪🏻🦄✨

10/12/2020

* EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! *

Are you ready to become a true Dressage Diva? 💃

After months of preparation, the Dressage With Georgia online training platform is now live and ready to take you on a motivational journey to develop you into a confident and more knowledgeable dressage rider. All under the guidance of professional Dressage rider and trainer, Georgia Davis.

DWG Membership will give you access to:

✨The expanding online platform which currently includes 50+ clearly diagrammed exercises with all of Georgia's top tips noted. New exercises are available weekly and new website features (teaching you the A-Z of Dressage) will be uploaded monthly. This will range from video content, plaiting tutorials, test riding tips, general dressage knowledge, all the way through to training plans which will guide you step by step to teach movements such as leg yield, half pass and flying changes!

✨Members have the exclusive option of e-mail support from Georgia which means help is right at your finger tips if you have any queries, questions or simply want to ask Georgia if you are performing a certain movement correctly.

✨E-mail notifications each time a new exercise or website feature is available.

✨The DWG Blog.

✨Monthly DWG newsletter sent via e-mail to keep members informed of exciting future plans and content for the online platform.

All of this is available via monthly subscription for just £9.99/month. Be quick though as this is introductory offer won't be around for long! (Membership is a rolling one month contract which you can cancel at anytime.)

Are you wondering if the Dressage With Georgia online training platform will cater to your training or schooling level? Absolutely! The Dressage With Georgia platform caters for all horse and rider combinations from grass roots introductory level, through to advanced levels of affiliated Dressage. The Exercises are categorised under the following:

Level 1 caters for Introductory & Preliminary
Level 2 caters for Novice & Elementary
Level 3 caters for Medium & Advanced Medium

DWG Membership will give you access to ALL 3 training levels.

Ready to join? Visit https://dressagewithgeorgia.com/join/ to sign up or find out more info! Or please feel free to PM me if you have any further questions.

Georgia 🦄

09/12/2020

✨ The importance of a consistent rhythm in the lateral work ✨

✨The importance of a consistent rhythm in the lateral work ✨

Finding and riding a consistent rhythm in your lateral work is key to improving cadence and fluecy within the lateral movement!

Once we have consolidated the cadence and fluency by riding a consistent rhythm, this is when we can really add in some "oomph" and power into the movement 💪🏼

You might initially find it easier to ride a consistent rhythm through your rising trot as you can use your rise to dictate the 1,2,1,2 tempo.

When you transition into sitting trot, ride the 1,2,1,2 rhythm in your head and through your seat.

You can see from this video of Doogie and I that once you can maintain a consistent rhythm to improve the cadence and fluency of the movement (in this case a trot half pass), you can now see how impressive the half pass becomes now I'm at the stage of adding the oomph and power too! 🤩🤩

Georgia 🦄

05/12/2020

With the launch of the Dressage With Georgia online training platform fast approaching, I thought it would be nice to share the following! 🙌

Did you know that 5% of each Dressage With Georgia membership paid, will be donated to a UK based equine charity? DWG will support this charity for 6 months. After 6 months, members of DWG will have the opportunity to vote and decide which charity is supported for the next 6 months.

Horse Welfare is something that I feel very strongly about, and I feel this is a great way to enable crucial funding to charities, which have taken a massive hit during the coronavirus pandemic.

My first chosen charity is Redwings Horse Sanctuary. Redwings rescue abandoned, mistreated and neglected horses and donkeys from across the UK, giving them a safe place to live and providing essential veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and lifelong care. ❤️

So not only will DWG membership allow you access to the motivational, affordable and expanding online training platform, which will teach you the A-Z of Dressage, but you will also be supporting the ongoing care of horses at the Redwings Centre’s across the UK.

Over 70 people have already signed up via the website to the DWG e-mail list! Those signed up to this e-mail list will get priority access to the full website once it’s launched, as well as access to the special introductory offer. So sign up today to ensure you don’t miss out!

www.dressagewithgeorgia.com

29/11/2020

(no title)

Now… I have some rather exciting news to share with you all! 🤩🤩

My brand new WEBSITE is nearly ready to go LIVE! 🙈

www.dressagewithgeorgia.com

If you have loved the lockdown exercises, then you are going to also love what’s coming next…The launch of the Dressage With Georgia website!

The Dressage With Georgia website is going to be the newest, most affordable and most exciting upcoming online training platform due to the future plans and expansion of the site. Dressage With Georgia will soon be the “go to” platform to learn the A-Z of Dressage where ever you are in the UK (or world!). It will allow you to achieve your goals and fulfil your dressage ambitions under the guidance of Professional Dressage Rider & Trainer, Georgia Davis.

So, if you’re wanting to…

⭐ Become a confident and more knowledgable dressage rider?

⭐ Successfully train your horse of pony up through the levels?

⭐ Be able to problem solve and fix common mistakes which can occur during certain movements or in the horses general way of going?

⭐ Do all of the above but you don’t have access to regular lessons/help?

⭐ Or, do you simply want some inspiration and motivation for your schooling sessions?

Then I highly recommend signing up via the website so that you can be the first to hear when the full site launches. Don’t forget to tag your friends who will also love to join!

Are you wondering if the Dressage With Georgia online training platform will cater to your current schooling or competition level? Absolutely! All levels are catered for from unaffiliated grass roots level, all the way through to advanced levels of affiliated dressage.

I can’t wait to start this journey with you all. ☺️

Georgia 🦄

*The Dressage With Georgia Facebook, Instagram and Youtube pages will still be regularly updated with training tips and video content which is accessible to everyone. It will be premium content/exercise diagrams that are uploaded to the website, which DWG members will have exclusive access too.

*Those eagerly awaiting the final two lockdown exercises which were due to be released tomorrow and Wednesday will be able to view them on the website once it’s launched!

Do you want to become a confident and more knowledgeable dressage rider? Do you want to successfully train your horse or pony up through the levels? Do you want to be able to problem solve and fix common mistakes which can occur during certain movements or in the horses general way of going? Do you....

27/11/2020

Counter Canter!

Counter canter is one of the slightly trickier movements to train, establish and build confidence in because when we are trying to teach the horse counter canter, we only have a limited amount of space to ride the counter canter before a corner comes up. So just when the counter canter starts to feel balanced and together, we then loose balance around the corner and short side! 🙈🤦🏻‍♀️

So, how can we train the counter canter to help establish it and also build both the horse and riders confidence? 🤷🏻‍♀️ By simplifying the line! 🙌🏻

Check out the exercise below!

Look out for the final two lockdown exercises next week. There will be one trot half pass exercise and one canter half pass exercise to conclude the series ✨

Georgia 🦄

25/11/2020

Today we are looking at an exercise which is a great one to start introducing your horse to the early concept of working canter pirouettes! 💃🏻

Don’t be phased by the term “canter pirouettes”, because as long as your horse can grasp walk pirouettes, collected canter and canter travers then you’ll be able to teach them the canter pirouette! 💪🏻

KEY:
-Red dashed line = collected canter

-2 red curves = canter travers position (whilst turning into the new direction)

Friday’s exercise will be based on counter canter, and next week we will complete the lockdown “at home” training exercise series with another trot half pass exercise on Monday, and a canter half pass exercise on Wednesday. After the series is complete on December 2nd I have something very exciting to share with you! 👀 If you’ve loved the lock down exercises then you’re going to absolutely love what’s coming soon! 😁😁

Georgia 🦄

23/11/2020

In today’s exercise we are focusing on improving the shoulder in 🙌🏻

When I’m training horses the shoulder in movement, I use a lot of shoulder fore positioning to help create a little more inside hind engagement and inside leg to outside rein connection to then improve the overall quality of the shoulder in, and this is exactly what this exercise focuses on 😏

On Wednesday we are going to have a little look at a great exercise which will start introducing your horse to the concept of working canter pirouettes! 🥳

Georgia 🦄

20/11/2020

Woo hoo, It’s medium trot day! I know a lot of you have been patiently waiting for this one so here it is! 🙌🏻🥳

In this exercise we focus on creating engagement of the hind quarters to allow more push, ground cover and extension through the shoulder in the medium trot! 💪🏻

Have a great weekend everyone!

Monday’s exercise is going to focus on shoulder in! ☺️

Georgia 🦄

18/11/2020

Do you want to improve your flying changes OR do you want to have a go at a flying change but don’t know what line to try?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Today I introduce to you one of my favourite lines I use when training to improve the flying changes as well as using this line on a horse who is new to or has never done the changes before!

It’s a really great exercise as it’s encouraging the horse to positively push into the new outside rein, which is helping us create the best set up within the horses body to enable them to do the flying change correctly and on the aid 👌🏻

If you’re using this exercise to attempt your first flying change then don’t panic if a) nothing happens when you ask for the flying change or b) your horse goes disunited behind when you ask for the flying change. These two outcomes are totally normal when we first teach the changes and you just have to rebalance the horse and then attempt the line again. By repeating the line a few times it does encourage the horse to anticipate, which usually we wouldn’t want to encourage but when doing the changes we do need an element of anticipation to get the flying change! 😏

Keep an eye out for Friday’s exercise on medium trots! 👀

Georgia 🦄

16/11/2020

It’s simple change day! 🙌🏻🤩

Today’s exercise is a juicy one! It will test how well you can prepare for the canter to walk transition and also the transition back up to canter from the walk 💪🏻

My tips will really help you out on this one so don’t forget to check them out and implement them during the exercise.

You can also adapt this exercise into a trot/walk/trot exercise so if you’ve not quite learnt the simple changes yet, have a go at doing it that way instead 🙂

On Wednesday I’ll be sharing my favourite exercise to use when it comes to teaching flying changes... eeeek! 🎉🎉🎉

Georgia 🦄

14/11/2020

🎉🎉 GIVEAWAY TIME 🎉🎉

Wow, wow, wow! 🤩🤩 The response I’ve had so far during the “at home” lockdown exercises has been PHENOMENAL and we aren’t even half way through the releases yet! 🙈 It’s so lovely reading all your comments on them and you’ve all inspired me to create some great future ideas/ventures for Dressage With Georgia so keep your eyes peeled for some exciting announcements in the near future! 👀

During this week we passed 1,000 likes on this page which is crazy! So as a thank you for all your support, I thought what better way to celebrate than a GIVEAWAY! 🥳🥳🥳

I am giving away a brand new LE MIEUX SHOW KIT BRIDLE BAG in Black! 😍😍

The Le Mieux show kit bridle bag is an ideal way to store or transport your single or double bridle. The waterproof material protects from the rain and mud whilst the detachable hook makes it easy to hang. The two way zip allows for easy access whilst the two buckle closure internal adjustable webbing straps ensures your bridle remains securely situated. Fantastic for competition days or at the yard!

To be in with a chance of winning this fab prize simply:

1. LIKE the “Dressage With Georgia” page AND this post.
2. COMMENT on this post as to why you’d love to win this prize OR tag a friend (or two) who would also love to win this prize!
3. SHARE this post.

GOOD LUCK! ☘️☘️☘️ entries close next Saturday the 21st of November at midday and I will then pick the winner later that day at 7pm! ☺️

13/11/2020

Today is the release of the first canter based exercise! 👀 do you struggle with your horse falling in or “motor biking” around your corners? Then this exercise is for you! 💪🏻

Although this exercise is based in canter, it’s also easily adaptable and able to be ridden in trot too.

On Monday there will be an exercise uploaded to help you with your simple changes! 😎😎

Georgia 🦄

11/11/2020

Another day, another exercise! 💁‍♀️

Although todays exercise is suited to horses and riders at medium/advanced medium level, if your horse or pony hasn't learn half pass yet then why not turn the half passes into leg yields instead? Even in a leg yield positioning you are working on suppleness and expression in the lateral work 🤓

Have fun with this one! Friday's exercise will be based on improving your corners so keep your eye out for that one! 👀🤩

Georgia 🦄

09/11/2020

Lockdown exercise #2 is here! 🙌🏻

This exercise focuses on teaching the horse not to fall out through the shoulder in trot leg yields. It also works on maintaining flow, impulsion and also softness through the horses body whilst in the leg yield.

On the diagrams you will see I’ve included an “Exercise Aim” as well as a “Georgia’s tips” section. These are there to give you guidance through the exercise to make sure you can get the most out of it. By creating diagrams it also allows you to save the photo to your phone and have it handy when you are riding or about to hop on!

Enjoy! ☺️ The next exercise will be available on Wednesday 11th November and it will focus on trot half pass zig zags! 🤩🤩

Georgia 🦄

06/11/2020

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.... 🥁🥁🥁

The first lockdown exercise is here! 🥳🥳

This exercise focuses on improving and maintaining the impulsion (forwardness) in trot! Impulsion is a very important “building block” which we need to establish in order to successfully train up through the levels 🙌🏻

Starting on the right rein:
K - Working trot
E - Trot/walk/trot
C - Trot/halt/trot
B - Trot/walk/trot
A - Trot/halt/trot
KXM - Change the rein (in a forwards) working trot
MCH - Working trot
E- Trot/walk/trot
A - Trot/halt/trot
B - Trot/walk/trot
C - Trot/halt/trot
HXF - Change the rein (in a forwards) working trot

On the diagrams you will see I’ve included an “Exercise Aim” as well as a “Georgia’s tips” section. These are there to give you guidance through the exercise to make sure you can get the most out of it. By creating diagrams it also allows you to save the photo to your phot and have it handy when you are riding or about to hop on!

Have fun with this one! The next exercise will be available on Monday the 9th of November and it will focus on trot leg yields 🤩🤩

Georgia 🦄

04/11/2020

Hello everyone!

To try and brighten up your lockdown I have come up with an idea to help keep you all motivated and inspired whilst schooling during lockdown round two! 💪

I have selected 12 different topics and movements which you would commonly see in Dressage and starting this Friday, the 6th of November I will be posting a different exercise for you to try (one for each topic!) on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday so the last exercise will be posted on what will hopefully be the last day of lockdown on Wednesday 2nd December.

I have catagorised each topic under a Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced category. Over the course of the four week lockdown, I will upload 4 exercises which are in the “Beginners” category, 5 exercises in the “Intermediate” category and lastly there will be 3 exercises in the “Advanced” category.

Here is what to expect:

Beginners category – Intro, Prelim & Novice level:

Trot impulsion exercise (Friday 6th Nov)
Improving corners exercise (Friday 13th Nov)
Medium trot exercise (Friday 20th Nov)
Counter Canter exercise (Friday 27th Nov)

Intermediate category – Elementary & Medium level:

Trot leg yield exercise (Monday 9th Nov)
Simple change exercise (Monday 16th Nov)
Shoulder in exercise (Monday 23rd Nov)
Trot Half pass exercise (Monday 30th Nov)
Canter Half pass exercise (Weds 2nd Dec)

Advanced category – Advanced Medium level and above:

Trot Half pass Zig-Zag exercise (Weds 11th Nov)
Flying change exercise (Weds 18th Nov)
Canter pirouette exercise (Weds 25th Nov)

So as well as having a go at the exercises of your current level of training, why don’t you also have a go at the exercises from the next category up too?!

Can't wait to share the first exercise with you! 🥳🥳

If you’re wondering how to teach your horse or pony the more advanced lateral movements such as half pass or shoulder in, then I can give you a tailored training plan which will guide you step by step on how to teach those lateral movements, through my recently launched “Video Assesment training” service. You can PM or e-mail me at [email protected] for more info or to book in.

Pictured below is myself and my 9yr old "Doogie" who back in August became Advanced Medium National Champion! 🥰🤩

01/11/2020

⭐️ BIG NEWS! ⭐️

With the recent announcement of a new national lockdown coming in from this Thursday, I am very excited to announce that Dressage With Georgia is now officially offering Video Assessment Training, which means you can receive help and training without having to leave your yard!

Do you have a specific area of training, or a certain movement that you are struggling with? Do you want to move up a level but not sure how to train the new movements required? Or perhaps you just want some general feedback on your horse or ponies way of going? Video Assessment Training is a great way to help, as I will send you personalised and tailored exercises suited to your horse or pony and their level of training, as well as hints and tips to help along the way.

Video assessment training is also a great way to stay motivated and inspired during these winter months (or lockdown!), as I will offer you training plans and support. This means you can work through the exercises at your own pace to fit in around your ridden routine, and also the weather (Oh how we love an English winter…!). If you have any questions or queries about any of the exercises, or perhaps you just have some general questions about Dressage, then I am also able to offer my support and guidance.

Video Assessment Training is available to everyone in the U.K, and is also available to all ages and abilities. It’s a really simple and easy process too. All I need is a short video clip (filmed on a phone, tablet or video camera) sent via E-mail or WhatsApp, and then you will receive the Video Assessment Feedback form from myself via E-mail within 48 hours.

The introductory price for this service is just £25!

For more info, or to book in for your Video Assessment, then simply PM me, or e-mail [email protected]

31/10/2020

Keep your eyes peeled for a very exciting announcement tomorrow afternoon at 4pm! 🤩👌🏻👀

23/10/2020

ESTABLISH THE INSIDE LEG TO OUTSIDE REIN CONNECTION BY USING BASIC CANTER LEG YIELDS! - DWG EP 12 - YouTube

Episode 12 of Dressage With Georgia is live! 🥳

In this week’s video I show you how riding some basic canter leg yields can establish and improve the inside leg to outside rein connection. I also explain why the inside leg to outside rein connection is so important for teaching the more advanced canter lateral work, such as canter travers and canter half pass!

By doing the exercises that I show you in this video you will not only be establishing the inside leg to outside rein connection, but you will also feel the horse start to accept the bend around the inside leg as well as creating the feeling that the horse is starting to lift up through the base of the neck into a more uphill frame, which means they will learn to carry themselves without relying on us the rider to keep them squashed and connected together. 🤓

https://youtu.be/PJCmsqSZJv8

Hope you enjoy this one!

Georgia 🦄

Episode 12 of Dressage With Georgia is live! In this week’s video I show you how riding some basic canter leg yields can establish and improve the inside leg to...

21/10/2020

HOW TO IMPROVE AND RIDE THE PERFECT HALT! 🤓

When riding into the halt, whether it is through walk, trot or canter we need to imagine that your lower leg is the “hind leg engagement button”, and if we squeeze both lower legs positively as we come down into the halt, this is giving us the engagement that we need from the hind leg to ensure a square halt.

Whilst we are “riding the hind leg” into the halt, it is also important that we are riding into a supple but also secure contact. We don’t want to apply too much pressure to the reins, but we also don’t want to apply too little as both scenario’s would create inconsistency in the contact and therefore effect the leg to hand connection. It’s all about finding a happy medium somewhere in the middle, and this will vary from horse to horse so you’ll need to have a little play with it. But once you’ve found that “sweet spot”, this will give you the perfect leg to hand balance and connection.

So, riding positively from the lower leg into a supple and secure contact is the key to teaching and improving your square halts! 🙌🏻🤩

Georgia 🦄

19/10/2020

I had a super clinic at my new Surrey venue, The Oaks in Farnham on Saturday. It was great to work with existing clients as well as seeing some new faces! 🤩

Here are my upcoming clinic dates. Please PM me to book on or for more info ☺️

✨ Webb's Green Stables in Hampshire SO32 3PY✨
SATURDAY 31ST OCTOBER
SATURDAY 28TH NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 2ND JANUARY
SATURDAY 30TH JANUARY

✨The Oaks, Farnham, Surrey GU10 5EE✨
SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER
SATURDAY 16TH JANUARY

Both venues are lovely 20x60 arenas, with great surfaces and mirrors too 👌

18/10/2020

This is me every time I see a fellow horse rider at the local co-op when I get a sandwich at lunch time! 👀🤣🙌

15/10/2020

IMPROVE 8 AREA'S OF TRAINING WITH THIS SIMPLE TROT STRETCH EXERCISE - DRESSAGE WITH GEORGIA EP 11

Episode 11 of Dressage With Georgia is here! 🥳

In this week’s video, I show you a really simple trot stretch exercise which is going to improve 8 area’s of training (yes 8!).

https://youtu.be/yU2MRVdO_mU

I like to use this exercise at both the beginning and end of my training sessions as part of a warm up/cool down and these are the 8 following area’s that its going to help improve:

1. Improve swing through the horses body and within the pace
2. Improve the horse’s relaxation
3. Improve the horse’s core strength
4. Improve the push and engagement of the hind quarters
5. Introduce ground cover (especially helpful when we want to teach our horse or pony to do some medium trot strides!)
6. Teach the horse to lift through the back
7. Teach the horse to use the base of the neck correctly by seeking the stretch positioning and staying positive on the contact, rather than the horse holding themselves “in” through the poll and becoming behind the vertical
8. Teach the rider tempo control through the rise and the seat

Hope you like this one! 🤩🤩

Georgia 🦄

Episode 11 of Dressage With Georgia is here! In this week’s video, I show you a really simple trot stretch exercise which is going to improve 8 area’s of tra...

11/10/2020

Absolutely nothing beats a nose kiss 🥰 who agrees?

This photo was taken by the amazingly talented Sophie Lefevre Photography ✨ She captured my horses and I in the most perfect way possible and I can't recommend her enough! ☺️

09/10/2020

HOW TO INTRODUCE AND TEACH COLLECTED CANTER PART 1 - DRESSAGE WITH GEORGIA EP 10

Have you ever wondered how to teach your horse collected canter but don’t know where to start? 🤔 Well, in this week’s Dressage with Georgia episode, i’ll be showing you exactly how to start introducing collection in the canter! 🙌

I talk you through all of the key points which will help you successfully achieve collection… from the essential “building blocks” which we need to establish, all the way through to the riders aids when asking the horse to collect.

Here are a few general hints and tips from the video:

- The horse needs to gain strength and confidence during the collection work (it’s not going to happen over night!), so the best way to introduce, train and improve collection is little and often. i.e collect, refresh, reward, collect, refresh, reward.
- Always feel like you can ride the canter out and forwards to avoid the horse getting “stuck” in his/hers body.
- Make sure the horse is even into both reins to avoid the horse becoming too “curled” to the inside.
- It’s totally normal for horses to find one rein harder than the other so although it would be tempting to just do the “easy” way, ensure you practice the exercise evenly on both reins.
- Don’t grip too much with your knees as this will potentially confuse the horse as they might be thinking you are asking for a canter to trot transition. The collection needs to come from your half halt on the outside rein, your bottom (seat), and also the lower leg.

Hope you enjoy and learn from this video! 🤩

Georgia 🦄

https://youtu.be/did7bysTM9g

Have you ever wondered how to teach your horse collected canter but don’t know where to start? Well, in this week’s Dressage with Georgia episode, i’ll be sh...

07/10/2020

rehomingwilson

Good job Louisa & Wilson! 👏🏻👏🏻 it’s always so satisfying working with a huge range of horses and riders! Wilson is an ex-racehorse who recently came off the track to turn his hoof to some dressage! 🤩🤩 you’ll see that I’m doing some filming whilst teaching, and this is because we are getting some video footage from each session to create something super exciting so stay tuned! 🙊

It’s not perfect, but he’s learning and we’re progressing together 🥺❤️ proud of my Wilson.

Wilson and I are having regular lessons with and it’s working wonders 💫

06/10/2020

Georgia's Tuesday Top Tip #3

Using long diagonal leg yields are a great exercise to use during your warm up as it encourages the horse to bend through their body and it also engages the hind leg 👌

04/10/2020

I think it's safe to say that we've ALL been in this situation before! 🤣🤣🤦‍♀️

01/10/2020

HOW TO IMPROVE THE SUPPLENESS & BEND IN CANTER HALF PASS - Dressage with Georgia Ep 3

I am currently away on a little UK staycation, so in this week's Dressage With Georgia we are going through the archives back to Episode 3 which was all about improving the suppleness in the canter half pass!

In the video I explain what we actually need to teach the horse in order to improve the suppleness, and I also show you some simple exercises to help with this 🙌

Would you like to see some more advanced videos like this? Let me know in the comments below!

Georgia 🦄

https://youtu.be/nFu3V0W2qWY

Dressage with Georgia episode 3 is here and in this weeks video I’ll be showing you some simple exercises to help improve the suppleness and bend in your can...