Why My Training Approach Goes Beyond Dressage—and Why Rider Awareness Matters
- Loz
- Dec 24, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 29, 2025
A beautifully kind, fellow rider recently said to me, “You’re very dressage-focused.” And she’s right—dressage is at the heart of my approach. But here’s the thing: dressage literally means training in German. It’s not just about competition (and I don't actively pursue this); it’s the original foundation for riding, developed centuries ago to create balance, harmony, and communication between horse and rider.
However, the comment got me thinking... what makes a good training philosophy these days and what does mine build on? Read on to find out more!
My Training Philosophy
While my roots are in dressage, I’ve spent years educating myself across multiple disciplines and methods because I believe true horsemanship is holistic. Here’s what shapes my approach:
Rider Biomechanics: Understanding how your body influences the horse is game-changing. When you ride with awareness—seat first, then leg, then rein—you create a soft, balanced frame that encourages suppleness and reduces tension. Read more about the 7-point seat here.
Horsemanship: Groundwork matters. Leading, yielding, and safe handling build trust and respect before you ever mount up. A horse that understands clear boundaries on the ground is safer and more confident under saddle. The in-hand work translates very well to ridden work when training consistently and correctly. It's about setting the foundations for a healthy, troubleshooting mindset for your horse so it can better deal with higher anxiety environments or situations.
Academic Training: This adds an equine biomechanical lens to movement—strength, conditioning, and rehabilitation. You'll understand where the horse has restrictions and how you can help remove restrictions and improve the horse's physique. It’s about creating a horse that is strong, supple, and balanced, not just obedient.
Cross-Training: While I’ve dabbled in jumping and cross-country (not my forte!), I’m a huge believer in variety: trot poles, small jumps, long-reining, working equitation obstacles. These keep horses mentally fresh and physically adaptable.
Why Rider Awareness Is Non-Negotiable
If you can ride with your seat, leg, and then rein only when needed, you give your horse clarity in the calmest way possible. This is my ultimate goal:
Soft, quiet aids (smooth is slow and slow is fast)
Clear communication
A horse that moves willingly and confidently
A horse that works with you so seamlessly that people remark, "Wow, you're just sitting there," is the highest compliment you can receive! It indicates that your subtle body signals are gentle, precise, and assist the horse in collaborating with you in a harmonious partnership. My aim is to be as gentle and subtle as possible with our horses, so that when we request a specific movement, the horse responds with calmness, balance and ease. That is my ultimate objective! This method also makes riding easier (since you won't have to exert as much effort)!
Dressage Without the Pressure to Compete
Movements like shoulder-in, renvers, travers, leg yield, and half-pass aren’t just for the show/competition ring. They help horses:
Find balance and straightness
Build strength and flexibility
Develop softness through the body
You don’t need a judge to appreciate these benefits—they’re tools for better riding and better welfare.
Interested to learn the basics of the above lateral movements? You can read more here.
Closing Thought
Training isn’t about forcing horses into boxes—it’s about developing harmony through clarity and empathy. Whether you ride dressage, jump, or just enjoy hacking out, the principles of balance, softness, and rider awareness apply everywhere. And yes, mix it up—because a happy horse is a horse that learns, plays, and thrives.
What do you think makes up your training approach? I'd love to hear more! Join me in the comments.
Need Help and Want to Get Started?
If you are in the Canberra region, I'd be keen to help you out!
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