As the warmup continues, Olivia moves on to trot and works on making both sides as even as possible. In the canter, she wants the horse to push up in her topline. The goal is trying to keep the same ratio of forward energy to connection with the reins. In addition, she wants to find the causes of...

Once warmed up, Olivia demonstrates the 10-meter circle in canter. The proper amount of bend will allow you to just see the inside eye. She compares it to driving two cars parallel to each other around a turn. You must ride so that the horse is equal in both reins and on both sides.

Olivia coaches a rider working on second level movements, including 10-meter circles. In the trot, she emphasizes using shoulder fore in both directions to engage the inside hind leg. In the 10-meter circles in canter, she stresses keeping the horse on the outside aids throughout while keeping th...

Grand Prix competitor AnnA Buffini shows how to introduce your horse to the idea of riding a square. Practicing it at a walk shows your horse tendencies but gives you more time to adjust compared to doing it at a canter. The goal is for the horse to be straight on the lines and bending through th...

Grand Prix competitor AnnA Buffini demonstrates riding a square on a 4-year-old mare. With a young, or lower-level horse, the focus of the exercise is on straight lines and bending through the turns, which helps teach the horse how to balance back, how to turn and how to go forward off both legs....

FEI 5* Judge Janet Foy works with a rider on a second level horse to warm up properly. It is important not to just let the horse go on the forehand, but this horse starts too low and behind the vertical, so she works on having the horse bend and stretch in the neck and reach toward the bit. Half-...

In Part 7 of the Training Scale series, Felicitas looks at Impulsion from the horse's point of view. She talks about the German word Schwung, which comes from swinging. Some horses have natural engagement, impulsion and swing, but we need to make sure the horse is relaxed enough that we can take ...

In Part 8 of the Training Scale series, Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel looks at Impulsion from the rider's point of view. In this video, she talks about how the rider can develop impulsion by finding the swing in the hips. She stresses the importance of not driving the horse forward with the seat, w...

Steffen discusses the three aids that we have available to communicate with: the seat, the leg and the rein, and these need to be established clearly in the warm-up.

USDF-Certified Instructor Beth Baumert explains that when your horse is balanced, he can have a relaxed rhythm. From this state, his movements become easier, his gaits improve and he becomes more beautiful and mentally relaxed. This video series helps you determine why your horse is out of balanc...

USDF-Certified Instructor Beth Baumert explains why your horse is inclined to lose his balance laterally and how to maintain it by riding shoulder-fore. She shares exercises to introduce and improve the shoulder-fore: Develop flexion, narrow the horse inside hind leg so it steps under your seat, ...

USDF-Certified Instructor Beth Baumert explains why your horse is inclined to lose his balance longitudinally and how to maintain it by riding an effective half-halt and transitions. She offers a simple definition of half-halt, including the rein, leg and seat aids, as well as the timing of those...

This Young Rider, who has ridden through the FEI Levels, starts Day 1 with Olympian Ashley Holzer who cautions the rider not to rider her horse too forward when the horse tends to be behind the leg. Dont run the horse off her feet. Instead, find the balance and allow her to find the confidence in...

5* judge Janet Foy discusses the new 2019 Second Level tests.

In this video, Janet works with this horse-and-rider pair on Second Level, Test 1. At this level, Janet reminds us that there is no three-second rule in the halt before the rein-back. This halt just needs to be settled, and the essence of the rein-back is the diagonal pairs stepping back and the ...

Next, Janet helps the rider though Second Level, Test 2. She first discusses the new things we see in this test, including travers, turn-on-the-haunches and the simple changes, and offers valuable tips on how to ride each.

In this next video, the rider works through Second Level, Test 3. At the start of the test, Janet suggests we practice lengthening out of the halt so that the horse starts to think about going forward from the halt. She also insists on seeing true transitions; making them more obvious. In the cou...

Janet takes questions from the audience about the 2019 Second Level tests.

Walk-canter transitions then finishing the ride with a stretchy trot.