Duclos Dressage

06/01/2019

This is a very long read - but... It should sound familiar! Find the bending rein, make sure it works softly, then add the outside rein! There can't be an outside rein if there is no bend!

Although it is always dangerous in riding to single out individual parts of the horse for discussion, i would like to mention a few things about the neck of the horse. This is a part of the body that demands special attention from the trainer. The basic gaits and the neck of the horse determine the....

05/29/2019

This was a very fun read! I completely agree with this woman about training! Today my oldest daughter band I went to the rail trail so I could practice tempi changes and she could practice riding her first single changes. Make it fun!

German Olympian Helen Langehanenberg shares stories of her equine partners to illustrate how the same basic training techniques help horses with different temperaments and body types excel.

01/28/2019

This was a good article. Maybe a touch long, but the best part come from the second paragraph....

Your instructor should be widening your vocabulary...not scaring you into submission with it!!!

Uberstreichen: The Fine Tuning Before the Concert Posted on April 1, 2016 by horsemagazine Uberstreichen – it’s a hard word to pronounce, but one that shouldn’t frighten you! This useful addition to your vocabulary will provide yet another test to check your progress- and German trainer, CHRIS...

01/04/2019

Hello everyone!
Lesson prices for 2019 are listed below. I wanted to take a moment and update you all on my list of credentials. I have been teaching in the area for many years and I have not updated my bio in a LONG time! As a matter of fact, some of you probably don’t know much about me!

I am a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist since 2000. This means that I have earned 3 scores of over 60 percent at Open Recognized shows in First level through Prix St. Georges. I earned these riding a horse I trained myself - and he was formerly a saddle seat horse! Not to mention that he was Half Arab in a time when Arabs were just not doing dressage! I am currently working on bringing my third horse to the FEI levels!

I have a 3 star rating on Centerline Scores. I am very close to the 4 star rating - needing only 2 more points at PSG level and 3 at the Intermediare level! I have earned this rating all on horses I have trained myself!!
According to www.CenterlineScores.com “The 4* and 5* designations are significantly harder to attain and these riders/trainers should be considered well-rounded, experienced and among the upper level of US dressage talent, performance and experience.”
I am confident that I will have my four star rating this summer when Kip enters the FEI levels. This rating system is an easy way to compare instructors’ qualifications because it takes into account that riders need to be able to train different types of horses to earn stars.

I was a classroom teacher for 14 years! I actually believe this is my greatest asset as an instructor. I am professionally trained to recognize how people learn! I am able to assess my students’ learning styles and then adapt my lessons to help each individual meet their goals by breaking things down into smaller steps, and then putting all those smaller pieces together for a lovely finished product.

I utilize many natural horsemanship techniques to get the best performance out of each horse. I can help you teach your horse to self load, to lunge better, to lead better - all these things make for a horse that you can enjoy each and every day!!

I was an avid eventer in my younger years! I evented several horses to the Preliminary level and loved showing in the jumper ring as well. I understand what event horses need to do and I enjoy helping them use their bodies more efficiently to perform better in the dressage arena.

Travel Lesson rates for 2018
***** Minimum of 3 rides. Locations with less than three rides is by Private Treaty and based on distance and availability.*******

$65 - Private lessons 45 mins (but are scheduled on the hour to keep it easy to remember your ride time!)

$45 - Half hour lessons also available and are a good choice if you want to come in and get right to work.

$45 - Semi private 60 minute lessons are also available if two riders want to ride together

Lessons at my farm
$55 - Private lessons 45 mins (but are scheduled on the hour to keep it easy to remember your ride time!)

$40 - Half hour lessons also available and are a good choice if you want to come in and get right to work.

$40 - Semi private 60 minute lessons are also available if two riders want to ride together

Cancellation Policy
Once the schedule is set each week riders will need to give 36 hours notice based on the start time of the first ride of the clinic to avoid being charged for their time slot. Less than 36 hours are expected to pay for their lesson slot.

Please be aware that I am understanding of extenuating circumstances. Please be sure to contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding this policy.

01/04/2019

Megan Lazzaro and Amie Hasener Lebo this is good advice! Worded much fancier than the way I say it!

"In the tradition of the old Spanish Riding School, three repetitions of the same exercise were defined as a reprise. That is a good structuring device, because you start to see a trend after three repetitions. The horse's gait and posture will either improve or deteriorate. If you ride something once, the outcome could be a coincidence. If you get the same result three times in a row, it's a pattern. If there is no improvement within the first three attempts, it's unlikely that things will get better during the next hundred repetitions. Therefore, you should then modify the aids or the exercise, or in extreme cases abandon the exercise completely for the time being.
After the first reprise, you change direction and ride a reprise on the other rein. Then you compare in which direction the exercise was more difficult for the horse, and in which direction it benefited the horse more. In the past it was customary to ride a third reprise in the more difficult direction. This protocol prevents mindless drilling and thoughtlessly repeating the same mistake over and over."
(Thomas Ritter)
Painting: Ludwig Koch

06/26/2018

The Ride for Life was a fun show! Quite hot, but very nice staff and the rings (except for ring 5) were all well groomed.
Kip earned his BLM qualifying score and 2nd place in 4/2. Sophie and I qualified in Pas de Deux, Josie qualified her MFS and Barbara and Bean qualified in 2/2 and got one more score for Bronze Medal! Megan and Teddy made some great improvement in warm up tactics!

06/07/2018

Had a great afternoon and evening teaching at TLC! What a super fun group of people. Thanks for riding late Pat Cave!!!

06/02/2018

Dressage is about having fun! Pas de deux today with my ten year old daughter - priceless fun!
She was a rock star - the elastic on her safety stirrups broke.... She rode the whole thing with one stirrup!!!
The judge gave her a standing ovation!

05/30/2018

Once again I have neglected this page... I really need to learn how to easily update here from my phone!
The kids and I have a show at Loch Moy this weekend - I am vowing to make sure I do an update after that show!!

11/07/2017

I really need to work on updating this page!!! The next rainy day....

06/12/2016

Duclos Dressage had a great outing at the WPDA Recognized show. Kip won his Third level classes with solid scores (64+ and 66). He is so fun! The show was very well run. I highly suggest entering the July shows there!