Larkfield Dressage

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Larkfield Dressage

Larkfield Dressage, home of Grand Prix rider Serena Gordon, lessons for all ages and abilities keeping the horses welfare as the top priority.

Larkfield Dressage is run by Serena Gordon, Grand Prix rider, BD Group 2, UKCC qualified coach, trained by Carl Hester. Lessons for all ages and abilities with a sympathetic, friendly approach. Fantastic facilities, outdoor and indoor schools with mirrors and great surfaces in peaceful surroundings.

19/06/2026

I know most of what I post about Cookie is her sleeping, so just for a change, here's a bit of what she does when she's awake.
She felt great today, nice confident changes, good lateral work, and even though we've only just touched on this, she has a great natural ability to collect and find gears, especially in the canter 🖤

18/06/2026

A bit of a zen day today, I knew I had restricted time to ride Cookie before the vet was due, (nothing serious, they're all fine), so I didn't start anything too involved in case I didn't have time to finish what I'd started. So we kept to doing simple things very well, very basic work, but there is so much value and joy in beautiful basics, and we hit that flow state I love so much 🖤
I tried very hard to recreate that state with Bingo, keeping the work relatively simple but really concentrating on the quality of the basics, and, drumroll please..... I had a lovely, soft, consistent contact about 95% of the time 🎉🎉 If you know Bingo, you'll know it's his weakness, putting a bit in his mouth was was the only part of the backing process he found difficult, and he's continued that throughout his career. So today felt incredible! Everything crossed it wasn't a fluke 🤞🤞
Then some lovely clients this afternoon, yard finished early so I could get to pilates 👌

17/06/2026

I've been a bit rubbish again at keeping this page updated, sorry.
So, Cookie went out last weekend, I retired from our first test as she really wasn't with me ( probably a mistake, as the marks were much better than I expected!) Second test was much better, a couple of minor wobbles, but she was with me again, so very pleased, and she was rewarded with a win.
Monday was Bingo's turn, he went out for an arena hire, it's frustrating how distracted he can be away from home, even at a venue he knows well. But he did a nice run through of the psg, and given that we had a proper sized arena, we also tried the grand prix zig zag for the first time and that went very nicely. I also learnt that no matter how beautifully straight he has been at home, he was leaning on his left shoulder when experiencing a little stress away from home, so a useful fact finding mission.
Yesterday I went to try an absolutely delightful young horse, unfortunately either she needed to be taller, or I need to start shrinking for us to fit well together, such a shame as she was lovely.
Back to normal today, and after not riding Wonky for a few days, it never fails to amaze me how brilliant he is, I really do appreciate him so much, I never take his awesomeness for granted 🦄

10/06/2026

After being so epic earlier in the week, today Cookie reminded me that she's not a machine, and she was spooky, hot, and no flow state to be found 🔥 but that's ok, she did some lovely work when she kept her brain in her head, and no one is perfect all the time.
Bingo was busy polishing his halo and was fab again today, he's been so good since our lesson, I am beyond grateful to Carl for how he manages to inspire us both 🙏 I took the tempis onto the diagonals and he retained the straightness, and cheerfully popped in a few flip flops. In the trot I can finally feel him getting ever closer to a passage 🤞it's been the most difficult thing for him, and I wasn't sure if it would happen for him, but now I definitely think he'll find it, he's getting closer all the time and it's exciting, clever boy 💞

08/06/2026

Marvelous Monday 😀
Delighted with Bingo and Cookie today. Cookie was just glorious 🖤 she was just perfect from start to finish, the perfect balance of calm, focus and energy 👌 lovely balance, contact and she has this ability to put us both in a sort of flow state which is gorgeous, and we finished with some very happy hacking and snacking in the drizzle.
Bingo was next and because his tempis have been so good and straight since our lesson I thought it was time to revisit the ones. I've done them on and off but he's got a bit cross about them. He's the kind of horse that when he doesn't understand something he gets grumpy and says he doesn't want to play this silly game, so I've done little bits with the ones, but backed off when he's got cross.
But today he was so good, I asked for two one time changes, just a simple flip flop, and he promptly gave me three changes instead 👏 so pleased with him because he doesn't tend to offer more than I ask for, but he did it twice so lots of polos and praise! If we can preserve that attitude I think we can really move forward with them now.
So a fab start to the week from them both.

06/06/2026

I've been so pleased with Cookie this week, she's started on working pirouettes, and no surprises, she's finding it very easy, her canter, and her hind legs in the canter are just a gift for the higher level work. She's also becoming so much more confident with the flying changes, it suddenly feels like I'm not riding a baby horse anymore!
I just love this mare so much 🖤

03/06/2026

Ok, so following on from the bridleless competition at the weekend, people are still talking about it and exploring how they can try different things with their horses, I LOVE this!!
Keeping an open mind in training is so important, and whilst I've had lots of fun riding bridleless I'd really like to learn how to do it properly, rather than just take off the bridle and see what happens!
Wonky in particular loves the head collar, so here is a little bit of us having fun, bog standard head collar, no whip, no spurs 👌🦄

02/06/2026

Very pleased with the horses today, Wonky was his usual awesome self 🦄 Cookie did groundwork and we focused on lateral work, in her ridden work she's always a bit stuffier moving away from my left leg, and I'm very relieved that she's exactly the same in hand, which tells me it's just her natural asymmetry and not me being rubbish. I love doing the groundwork and being able to really see how she's using her body, and in general I'm delighted with her softness and suppleness in her work 🖤
Then it was back to work for Bingo, and the magic of the Master never fails! We only did single changes in our lesson, but really concentrating on the straightness, and today he did all his tempis on the wall on both reins and he was arrow straight 👌 absolutely delighted with him!
So a productive day for them all 😊

01/06/2026

Yesterday the UK had it's first bridleless competition with both dressage and show jumping classes, I love this!
It's such a great idea, and I appreciate how much hard work is involved in training horses to be bridleless.
I do enjoy riding my own horses bridleless, but I've never specifically trained it, I've just taken the bridle off and got on with it, but it's worked and the horses and I have had fun. But my haphazard method has really shown me how much work it takes to do it properly, so I'm so impressed with every competitor yesterday 👏👏
I hope we have more competitions like this in the future, and I hope it encourages more people to explore different training methods.

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Southam

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http://www.larkfielddressage.com/

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