Ashley Donadt explains how riding every corner mindfully can translate to higher test scores in competition. Her simple exercise offers training benefits such as improving your horse’s balance and focus, getting him tuned in to your aids, naturally teaching the half-halt, and ultimately setting up you and your horse for success in every movement at any level.
Donadt is an FEI dressage rider and USDF bronze and silver medalist with distinction. Along with husband/head groom Evan Donadt, she is based out of Donadt Dressage in San Diego, California. Before starting her own business in 2017, she previously worked for David Blake and his wife, Rebecca Rigdon, as well as Elizabeth Ball. Since 2019, she has been training with three-time Olympic medalist Guenter Seidel. She also has trained with FEI Dressage World Cup rider AnnA Buffini and debuted at Grand Prix on Buffini’s schoolmaster Sundayboy.
Up Next in Prix St. Georges
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Steffen Peters—Young Rider Focus on C...
Steffen Peters coaches a successful young rider currently advancing toward Intermediare I and Prix St. Georges level. Steffen explains that to succeed at these levels, the horse needs to become more sensitive overall and get in front of the leg while achieving more collection. They warm up with a...
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Steffen Peters—Training Ride on a Pri...
Join Steffen Peters for a schooling ride on his new horse, Mani’s Endeavor. Following their first time showing Prix St. Georges together, Steffen continues developing the horse. Starting with movements like half-pass and walk pirouettes, Steffen works through his warm-up and gets the horse’s atte...
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Steffen Peters – Schooling a Prix St....
Steffen Peters and the rider work on schooling piaffe. Steffen explains the rider needs to use her legs to correct the piaffe, not maintain the piaffe. He also wants to think about this work playfully. They might do some different movements in between and then test a little piaffe to see if it is...