Steffen’s overall goal for a horse is that he is supple enough to yield forwards and sideways to each leg and each rein. The horse needs to relax and understand why the bit is there, and the rider always has to check in to see how the horse feels on each rein. That suppleness should then be match...

After Steffen rides, the owner gets back on her horse and tries to replicate Steffen's work. He stresses that the rider must make a point, but then can be passive when the horse is good. The rider needs to guide the horse into a frame where he can relax and use himself correctly.This allows the h...

The work continues in canter. The horse first needs to have an active, supple collected walk before asking for canter. When the rider holds with the leg, the horse gets tight, tense and actually loses energy. When that happens, the rider needs to go back to making a point with the leg and then re...

This particular horse likes to go long and low, which he can use against the rider so Steffen wants the rider to focus on collecting the canter. He reminds her not to try to keep the horse cantering. If the horse makes a mistake, that’s okay. She can fix it. A travers canter on the circle does a ...

Finally, they finish the session with half steps to train for piaffe and passage.

When the horse becomes strong in the changes, Steffen asks for a pirouette canter before asking for the changes.

Steffen gives the rider an exercise to improve the crossover behind in the pirouette at the walk.

Steffen has her work on entering the pirouette from a straight line after collecting him instead of using the turn into the pirouette to collect him. He helps the rider guide the horse to drop his neck in the movement. They ride a schooling pirouette while changing the flexion from the inside to ...

Next, Steffen has them work on their passage and talks about how to train to improve the piaffe and passage.

They now apply more productive and responsive half halts within the trot to ask for transitions between passage and piaffe.

Steffen begins by explaining that correcting any issue comes from the use of the only three aids: leg, reins and seat. They work on going from medium canter to a pirouette canter on the long sides. It proves more difficult on the centerline, but is great preparation for the pirouettes.

U.S. Olympian Steffen Peters helps this pair confirm their aids for upper level movements including canter pirouettes, piaffe and passage. This 7-part series offers exercises to improve the pirouettes with an emphasis on correctness.

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In this candid Q&A session, Steffen Peters and Scott Hassler share not only their training philosophies, but answer questions and give people a unique look behind the struggles they, too, face in a sport that is so near and dear to us, but also so very demanding.

One on one interview with Steffen Peters, USA Top Dressage Rider

Modern Trends in the Dressage Horse - Cor Loeffen and Steffen Peters

Modern Trends in the Dressage Horse - Cor Loeffen and Steffen Peters

Modern Trends in the Dressage Horse - Cor Loeffen and Steffen Peters

The rider gets on and feels the difference in the horse after Steffen work. He wants her to really understand the steady connection to the horse mouth. While Steffen appreciates the rider patience, he wants her to be more assertive. They work in trot and canter, which is the horse's best gait, an...

Steffen rides the horse to work on getting a better reaction to the leg as well as being even on both reins. He continues to work on getting the horse to bend, soften and use his topline. The horse uses himself better in the canter, and Steffen finishes his session with some nice, stretchy trot.

They ride small circles to the left and right working on the horse bending, suppling and relaxing. Steffen stresses that horses need to let go both physically and mentally. And while the horse needs to learn how to carry himself, the rider needs to help the horse learn how to best do that.

Steffen helps a rider find the frame and tempo where her horse is comfortable in the training. He wants the rider to isolate one rein and one leg at a time so the horse understands and starts to relax. Anytime the horse gets tense and out of balance in the trot, it best to come back to the walk a...