Double C Ranch LLC Cville

09/20/2026

Aria is 5 and this is her first time riding Cat, one heck of a horse girl here!!! Maria Stuebben

09/20/2026

My "little" Jumper rocks the western outfit...... with back chinch .... never flinched..... just takes it like a lady.... she is just too amazing 🤩..... unreal ..... good girl Lindi 💕. We are getting a Jumping Saddle for her from Stuebben. I am super excited about that!!!! Maria Stuebben

09/19/2026

Anya is a special kind of dog lol..... she is soooo sweet so lol....... we love her 💕💕💕😂😂

09/18/2026

I should have shared this post, ..... I was on the run so and was not really thinking. Interesting isn't it :).

09/18/2026

Yes, that is how we grow up, and that is why all my students start with dressage, either western or English.

In the United States, it’s not unusual for a child to walk into their first riding lesson and be labeled a “hunter rider” by the end of the week. Trainer David Reichert believes this early specialization is one of the biggest flaws in our system.

“What unfortunately happens a lot in America is early specialization,” he explained. “You go to a riding school, and that typically happens to be a hunter riding school. After day two of being in that school, you’re considered a hunter. And then you stay in that hunter path forever. You don’t get proper dressage education, and you may not even touch [the jumpers] until way later.”

The result? Riders develop in a silo. They may be polished enough to compete in the short term, but they lack the cross-discipline foundation that makes truly competent horsemen.

Reichert grew up in Germany, where every rider learns dressage and jumping before choosing a specialty. To even enter a recognized show, young riders must first pass two “riding badges.”

Badge I: A training-level dressage test, a 75 cm jumping round judged on style, and a theory exam.
Badge II: A first-level dressage test, a 95 cm style-jumping class, and a more advanced theory exam.

Only after proving competence across disciplines are riders allowed to compete. By then, most young Germans have schooled second-level dressage and jumped 1.10–1.20m, regardless of whether they later pursue hunters, jumpers, or dressage.

“For us, it’s completely normal to grow up in both dressage and jumping,” Reichert said. “It doesn’t matter which discipline you end up choosing. If you can ride the horse, you can ride the horse.”

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/09/22/why-early-specializing-in-one-discipline-early-fails-young-riders/

09/17/2026

Malcolm is having a Spa day :), thank you Ava 💕

09/17/2026

09/17/2026

I am so proud of Monica! Today was the first time she rode with contact and she did connect beautifully with Nugget. This is of course just a glimpse of her lesson.

09/16/2026

Mr Claude..... he just loves people...... even over feed. He is the sweetest boy 💕. I can pick up his feet without a halter, all 4.... super easy. He got excellent manors (not at the eating part 😂😂😂).

09/16/2026

Mrs E and one of her favorite horses..... Nuggi...now look at this 16H OTTB...... letting Mrs. E control him (she is about 50lbs)....horses are amazing..... what a gentle soul Mr. Nugget is 💕..... that is why we love him.