Dressage with Amelia

This week’s Q&A is a little different as I share an important update about some changes coming this summer. After years of weekly Thursday Night Lives, we’ve decided to take a break from our regular Thursday broadcasts so we can focus more of our time and energy on supporting our students, improving our courses, and developing some exciting new programs behind the scenes. While it’s a bittersw...

This week’s Q&A is all about helping your horse become more forward, light, and responsive to your aids. Nicole stepped in to cover this session and answers questions about horses that are behind the leg, slow to react, or difficult to keep in front of the aids. In this she talks about: How to create a horse that is self-going instead of needing constant leg pressure Why "aid, reaction, releas...

Last night’s Q&A was a fun little life update from Florida and everything happening with the horses lately. I did try to do the live from the barn, but the internet completely failed… and of course we had an interruption from Messi barking in the background too! I shared about Kensington and how much I’ve been enjoying riding him out in the fields lately. We’ve been schooling pirouettes &...

This week’s Q&A is all about making progress toward your goals, even when the timeline changes, setbacks happen, or you feel like you’re on a plateau. In this episode, Germán and I talk about: How to set realistic goals for yourself and your horse Why preparation matters before shows or new experiences How to regroup after injury, setbacks, or time off Tips for riders returning after breaks or...

This week’s Q&A is all about riding young and green horses, from building confidence and consistency to working through the inevitable bumps along the way. Nicole answers your questions about helping green horses feel more relaxed, rideable, and successful both at home and in new environments. In this she talks about: How to help green horses stay confident at shows and in new environments Why...

This week's live Q&A was all about preparing for the canter and the 5 essential elements that set you and your horse up for success. We talked about why the canter feels so different from the walk and trot, shared some stories from riders who've been there (including a horse who went from bucking and head-tossing to round and soft in just 30 days), and covered some of the most common roadblock...

This week’s Q&A is all about the canter seat and how to feel more secure, balanced, and confident in the canter. We shared a few canter stories, talked about why the canter can feel so powerful, and broke down some of the most common rider position challenges, like leaning forward, holding your breath, gripping with your knees, locking your elbows, or trying too hard to “make” the motion happe...

This week’s Q&A is a mini webinar all about overcoming canter anxiety and building confidence step by step. Nicole shares a really helpful perspective on why the canter can feel so intimidating, and how breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces can make it feel so much more doable. In this mini-webinar, you’ll learn: Why the canter feels so intimidating and what’s really happening...

This week’s live looked a little different as we wrapped up 30 Days to Dressage and celebrated some of the amazing final projects from riders in the course. We shared a look at the heart behind 30 Days to Dressage and why this program was created to give riders a simple, encouraging starting point with groundwork, rider position, aids, and exercises. One of the best parts of this episode is seeing...

This week’s Q&A was a fun mix of rider position, balance, and some great behind the scenes updates from Florida. I was also joined by Nicole from my team, it has been so great to have here for a few days! I shared some great takeaways from my clinic with Sue Martin last weekend. We shared a few exciting updates about wrapping up 30 Days to Dressage, upcoming World Cup plans, and some really en...

This week’s Q&A was all about mastering the canter transition, and there were so many helpful takeaways for riders working through the tricky parts of canter departs. We talked about why the canter can feel intimidating at first. When the horse shifts gears, you really feel the power and strength, and that can make the transition feel a little overwhelming. A big theme in this episode is learn...

Last night in “Problem Solving In Riding And Training Q&A,” we had a really fun and practical conversation all about working through the everyday challenges that come up in riding and training. We talked about leg yield and why it is such an important exercise for building suppleness, straightness, and that all-important inside leg to outside rein connection. We also shared updates from the ho...

In this episode, Nicole from Team Amelia stepped in while I'm away at a horse show and she hosts a live Q&A all about one of the most important concepts in dressage: contact. Nicole starts by breaking down the difference between contact, connection, and roundness, and explains why good contact isn’t created by the hands alone. It comes from a horse that is moving correctly through the body and...

Last night's episode was a special Dressage 101 winter webinar to help you kick off your spring with clarity and motivation. If you have been feeling frustrated by the weather, stuck without a plan, or just a little disconnected from your goals, this is your reset. We talked about why we love dressage in the first place, what dressage actually is, and why it is truly for every horse and every ride...

Tonight’s Top Three Riding Principles Q&A was a fun chat all about the basics that never stop mattering, no matter what level you ride at. We talked through key dressage terms (because words have specific meanings), and how having clear definitions helps you understand your trainer, your test sheets, and your own training plan so much faster. A big theme was personalization: yes, there are fra...

This Valentine’s Day live was very on brand for us… horse time at the barn! We had a very patient Future wearing bows, ribbons, and full Valentine’s Day decorations (please tell me in the comments… on a scale of 1–10, how fabulous was he). The real theme was something I talk about all the time: learning to love your ride. Because when you don’t know what to do, you don’t feel safe, and you can’t c...

Last night we had so much fun with For the Love of the Horse – You CAN Ride Dressage Trivia Night , hosted by Nicole. It was such a lighthearted and energizing way to celebrate Valentine’s weekend together. We tested our knowledge on dressage terms, basics, and key concepts, and it was amazing to see how much everyone already knows… and how much we’re all still learning. What I loved most was the...

This episode kicks off our Valentine’s Day weekend series, and it’s all about the love of the horse and what actually makes riders successful in dressage. We share three simple truths. Dressage benefits every horse, physically and mentally, no matter their breed or “type.” Kicking and pulling doesn’t create harmony, so if you feel stuck in that cycle, it’s a sign to pause and change the approach....

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)...

This week’s live was a fun mix of posting trot chat, Strides Q&As, some Florida move updates, and of course a little groundwork talk. We covered how to post without slapping down into the saddle, why sitting trot is better with shorter, high quality moments, and how to think about lengthening the trot as longer steps rather than just faster steps. We also touched on simple rider focus points l...

This week’s Q&A was a fun mix of behind the scenes Florida move updates, rider position chat, and a really great discussion on groundwork. We talked about using the inside leg on a circle and why it isn’t something you hold on constantly. Instead, the idea is a "breathing leg" so your horse stays responsive and balanced. From there we break down the “point and shoot” idea for turning, pointing...

In this live Q and A, we talk about rider straightness and symmetry and why it is such an ongoing conversation for every horse and rider. This session blends rider position, training priorities, and a deeper look at how groundwork supports both safety and progress. Straightness Begins With Suppleness We discuss why straightness cannot be forced. Bend and suppleness have to come first, whether you...

In last night's session, we dove into some topics that can truly unlock your riding success: the importance of soft, effective aids, developing rhythm & suppleness, and building balance in your horse. We explored how to apply your leg aids without creating tension. It’s all about practicing and finding the right balance: applying the aid and then softening immediately. Consistency is key—it’s...

Last night's Q and A was a really good reminder that progress in dressage is rarely linear and that both riders and horses need space to learn, rest, and reset. Boot camp is coming up I shared a quick overview of our New Year boot camp, which starts on December 31 with goal setting and runs for five full days. The focus is not just on setting goals, but on giving you practical tools for rhythm, ba...

This week’s Growing and Developing With Your Horse Q and A was a really special one, as my mom JoElyn stepped in to host it. She shared so much wisdom from her own riding journey, from choosing horses to developing bend, setting goals, and learning to truly love the horse you have at every stage. Why bend matters JoElyn spent time explaining why bend is so foundational. Bend supports safety, helps...