Dressage with Amelia

Last night’s Q and A was such a fun conversation about horse personalities and how to adjust your riding to match the horse you have. Stacie joined us live, which was a treat because many of you know her from the comments section and as a Strides member. We covered everything from reading your horse’s natural tendencies to adjusting your own energy and building confidence in both young and experie...

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Last night Nicole from Team Amelia stepped in to teach a super helpful session on soft hands, following elbows, and how your alignment and seat create the foundation for everything. If you have ever struggled to keep your hands steady, wondered why your elbows lock, or felt like your horse braces when you pick up the contact, this Q&A has so many cl...

This week I'm travelling so Nicole from Team Amelia stepped in to host a Q&A on developing a clearer leg, a softer following seat, and more effective communication with your horse. If you have ever wondered why your aids feel muddled, why your horse braces in transitions, or how to use your seat without gripping or driving, this session is full of ideas that will help everything make more sens...

In this week’s Q and A we focused on creating real suppleness and throughness in your horse. We also talked about gratitude month and shared a few updates from around the barn. What we covered: Turn on the forehand This simple exercise is one of the best ways to unlock the inside hind leg and soften the ribs. You can start from the ground or under saddle. It improves control, helps refocus a distr...

This week’s Thursday Live was all about building confidence, on the ground and in the saddle. Germán and I dove into one of the most important (and challenging!) parts of riding: staying calm, clear, and confident, even when things go wrong. From groundwork foundations to recovering after a fall, we shared stories, tips, and personal lessons that every rider can relate to. We also talked about: Th...

This week’s live session was one of our favorites of the year, celebrating the incredible riders, horses, and transformations from the 30 Days to Round Challenge ! 🎉 We announced the winners, shared your stories, and reflected on how much progress can happen in just 30 days when you focus on connection, consistency, and kindness. From nervous rides to lightbulb breakthroughs, every participant re...

This week’s live was a solo session, Germán was off at a hockey game, so it was just me chatting about introducing lateral work and sharing a few exciting updates from the barn and beyond. Highlights Clinic reflections: I taught a clinic in Bakersfield last week at a therapeutic riding center, such a great reminder of how incredible horses are as teachers and partners. The new Mick series: Our Beh...

This week’s Q&A focused on one of the trickiest moments in dressage training - late or inconsistent flying changes - and how to fix them. We also shared insights from our recent interview with Olympian Sabine Schut-Kery , talked about the importance of solid basics, and gave a sneak peek into the new YouTube series featuring Amelia’s new horse, Mik. What we covered Fixing late changes: Straigh...

Flying changes can feel like one of the biggest hurdles in dressage. This week’s Q&A was all about breaking them down into clear steps, building the right foundation, and staying positive as you and your horse learn together. We also shared some awesome updates from 30 Days to Round. What we covered Why preparation matters most: Flying changes don’t start with the change itself. Counter canter...

This week’s live Q&A centered on the core training principles that keep you and your horse progressing, even when things get tricky. We also chatted about the new YouTube series launching next month (behind-the-scenes and real-life training!) and shared updates from 30 Days to Round . What we covered Timing and proactivity: Don’t wait until your horse grabs the bit or throws the head—ride proa...

This week we are zeroing in on controlling the shoulders - how your rein placement, leg aids, and bend keep the forehand on track - plus quick coaching on rehab riding, stiff-sided horses, and whether (or not) to show. 30 Days to Round is underway, and the first live call covered what “forward” really means (spoiler: not just faster). Highlights Hands: Left hand stays left, right stays right—no cr...

This week we dove into what “connection” really looks and feels like—and how to build it step by step so roundness becomes reliable, rideable, and safe. We also kicked off our favorite event of the year: 30 Days to Round starts Sunday, and riders are already reporting softer, more forward, rounder horses just from working through the prep exercises. Highlights Contact vs. Connection Contact = taki...

This week’s live was all about one of the trickiest (and most important) topics in dressage: contact and connection. What do those words really mean? How do you find the “right” amount of contact, and how do you help your horse find a frame that’s soft, supple, and sustainable? We broke it all down with real rider questions and practical answers you can try in your next ride. In this episode, you’...

This week, Nicole from Team Amelia stepped in to answer your questions on keeping our golden oldies happy, healthy, and moving well into their senior years. Caring for older horses is both a responsibility and a privilege — and with the right adjustments, they can continue to thrive under saddle (and in life) for many years. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why motion is lotion — and the role of turn...

This week we’re diving into rider position — from balance and strength to saddle fit and stirrup length — and how each affects your security and effectiveness in the saddle. I’m sharing fresh tips from a recent clinic with German trainer Albrecht Heidemann, why fitness is key if you ride just one horse a day, and how post-surgery recovery made me rethink core and glute strength! In this episode: F...

Last night's session was all about posture! Whether you're slouching at your desk or looking at your phone, posture affects everything — and especially your ride. We cover: Why posture matters on and off the horse Shoulder mechanics and how they affect your contact The truth about collapsing through your middle Common issues like leaning forward and keeping your heels down I also shared some lesso...

This week’s chat started with… no questions! But that didn’t stop us from diving deep into some really meaningful (and practical!) topics. In this episode, we talk about: My takeaways from riding with Steffen this week A brilliant quote from Christine Traurig Why lateral suppleness must come before longitudinal – and how that shows up in the saddle Loose shoulders, hips, where tension might be com...

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the Training Scale Masterclass—why it matters, how it helps, and how you can apply it in your daily rides. Enrollment is closing Monday, so this is your reminder to join if you haven’t already! We chat about: Why the training scale is the foundation of all good riding How to use it as a problem-solving tool in real time The power of having a system vs. wingi...

Last night Germán and I has a great chat about the Training Scale and how it helps for training your horse. We had some great questions sent in so we could share all about how the Training Scale can help you solve your problems with your horse. Happy Riding, Amelia PS. RSVP for the Training Scale Webinar here

Did you watch this week's YouTube video ? Germán and I have been giving each other lessons this week! In this week's video Germán is riding Poppy and working on the leg yield to the canter, it's a super exercise for helping the inside hind be a little more engaged. It can really help you get the correct lead or if you are having trouble with canter transitions or your horse tends to throw their he...

Have you watched this week's YouTube Video yet? Watch it here , see Germán working on transitions with Poppy to help his connection and balance with her! We had a quick recap on Bootcamp, we had the most epic week, I loved seeing everyone's progress, and I think my favorite part was seeing everyone's posts with their #ilovemyhorse comments and photos! Happy Riding, Amelia PS. This month's Strides...

night's live we had a super quick session as we have so much prep to do for tomorrow's Bootcamp session, we're going to be doing an epic demonstration on riding position so I hope to see you there! If you're not registered for Bootcamp, sign up here so you can come tomorrow !

Last night Germán and I talked about how to ride in the arena with other riders. Nothing is worse than not knowing who has right of way, so we shared some important tips! Bootcamp starts next Wednesday and we are SO excited, tune in to hear some important updates and see the schedule of events. If you still need to RSVP, you can do so here ! Happy Riding, Amelia