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Dressage


Dressage (a French term meaning "training") is a path and destination of competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from amateur to the Olympics. Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse. At the peak of a dressage horse's gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider's minimal aids by performing the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless. Dressage is occasionally referred to as "Horse Ballet." Although the discipline has its roots in classical Greek horsemanship, mainly through the influence of Xenophon, dressage was first recognized as an important equestrian pursuit during the Renaissance in Western Europe. The great European riding masters of that period developed a sequential training system that has changed little since then and classical dressage is still considered the basis of trained modern dressage.

Early European aristocrats displayed their horses' training in equestrian pageants, but in modern dressage competition, successful training at the various levels is demonstrated through the performance of "tests," or prescribed series of movements within a standard arena. Judges evaluate each movement on the basis of an objective standard appropriate to the level of the test and assign each movement a score from zero to ten - zero being "not executed" and ten being "excellent." A score of nine (or "very good") is considered a particularly high mark, while a competitor achieving all sixes (or 60% overall) should be considering moving on to the next level.

Monday, March 26, 2018

Weeeeeeee! Certified Personal Coach!

Today marks a big day for me ! I finished (and passed, and am now Certified!) my Core 100 Coaching Course ! This is an exciting step toward my future goals. I have really enjoyed the class. The program has been so helpful to my already motivated mindset! Now I have many more tools to utilize in my dressage lessons,  training business and my new endeavor, Personal and Performance Coaching, Carousel Coaching. MToday y website will be online soon.  In the meantime interested clients can email me at nancylaterdressagehorses@gmail.com for a free introductory session. If you need support in any area of your life; competition, health, family or you know someone that could use a boost please email me for more information. My passion is to help young people with their riding goals, identifying and nurturing strengths and gifts and balancing the complications of life as they move through the inevitable challenges of growing up. 
           In the meantime, the winter in Florida has been wonderful. We have had beautiful weather. I have been able to catch up with some old friends and make new ones. I have had the honor of showing two super horses at Global and I am eager to continue keeping them in the ring and successful. My Glorious has been struggling with some stamina issues. I am excited that we may have answered some of the questions about why we are experiencing these problems. I am always and forever grateful to my amazing vet Brett Gaby for his consistent support, advice and creativity as we travel this road together. This winter I have also had some great expert help from Meg Miller and I value her input and feel extremely lucky to have her close by.
            Karen Barth has entrusted her beautiful Enzo to my care and training and this has been one of the highlights of the winter. Karen is a force to be reckoned with and I have needed her encouragement and energy at times, I am so lucky and I feel blessed to have her on my team. Her partner in crime Vicky Canuso has also been a delight and I am eager to see Vicky moving forward with her own Truman in the months to come. Vicky's loving care has brought Truman back from layup and he is getting stronger every week, this is beautiful to watch.
            Andrea McCauley has been a super help with her watchful eyes at the horse show and continued support. Andrea and Casey have been diligent about keeping up with their lessons, and the improvement over the weeks is great. Roxanne is always getting stronger and Casey figuring out this difficult sport, getting more and more feel for the movements and it is always so powerful to watch as the horse and rider come together. Andrea has been working with her own Rubin to get him up and running after a pasture accident a while back. The fact that he is working and even doing the upper level movements is nothing less than remarkable. Andrea has been diligent in his care and rehab and Rubin is looking better than ever after a long road. I look forward to their continued improvement and for her to reenter the show ring in the summer.
            We are sad to loose our Brittany :( This week she will head back to Massachusetts to embark on the next stage of her life. Brittany has made some fantastic progress with her own horse Ravi, including getting him out to a real dressage show this winter!! Ravi has grown up this past year so much and Brittany has done an amazing job of supporting him through some real problematic health issues. He is on his way now up the levels he will climb and we wish them all the best of luck and success in the years to come.
                Brittany's departure leaves me looking for my next working student, so please pass the word along if you know of any ambitious young person looking for some education to use in the horse industry. I am incredibly thankful to Paul for his hard work and expertise as we say good bye to Brit.
          

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