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.

What do you look for in a future Grand Prix rider?

What aids do you use for piaffe and passage?

What causes a head tilt and how can you fix it?

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...

They work on lengthening and collecting the canter. In collection, the horse still needs to be supple and have forward energy. It the wrong understanding that the rider must use strength to collect a horse. When coming back to a walk, it is important that the horse doesntœdrop the anchor and lose...

When collecting the walk, Steffen emphasizes that the horse should not slow down. The stride shortens, but not the energy. When positioning the horse flexion, it is important to not hold the horse there with the rein.œUse your strength to correct your horse. Dont use your strength to maintain the...

Steffen wants the horse to understand that when the rider puts the leg on, something happens even if the horse breaks to the next gait. It not always the rider using too much leg. Sometimes it using the leg too often. He also mentions that it common for a horse to slow down when going sideways, b...

When they come back to the canter the mare expresses her opinion, and Steffen helps her work through it diplomatically, emphasizing that she must have a clear understanding of the aids and respond correctly.  When the horse swings a little wide behind, Steffen points out how that does need to be ...

When they first ask for collection in the canter the mare breaks to the trot and Steffen explains how this can be a training opportunity to clarify the aids for collection versus a down transition. Steffen has her stop and ride a walk pirouette to reinforce the response to her outside leg when th...