This week’s Q&A was a mix of real-life Florida barn chaos updates (frozen pipes, frozen water, and Germán learning how to break ice for horses 😅) and a really useful training discussion on how to shape your rides for progress.

Germán kicked things off with a short reading on the theory of the aids, and we talked about how good riding comes down to clarity, consistency, and (most importantly) timing. We covered why your aids shouldn’t be “on” all the time, how to get your horse truly in front of the leg, and why your seat can either allow the movement through… or block everything.

Then we answered rider questions on:

• How to make a plan for your ride (and adjust it when your horse tells you the plan isn’t happening today)
• What to do when you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start (hint: come back to rhythm and the basics)
• How to use the whip effectively for a laid-back horse without creating resistance (and my simple whip “re-sensitizing” exercise)

I hope this helps you go into your next ride with a clearer plan and a better feel for what to focus on first.

Next week we’ve got a little Valentine’s weekend series with extra lives and a “love of the horse” theme planned, stay tuned!

Amelia

PS. Download my free 10 Dressage Terms PDF here!