High Tide Equestrian Center

09/17/2026

Anna had her third riding lesson today, and she got to ride the wonderful Bennie! He was a superstar! (Even though he really, really wanted to get to his dinner!)

09/17/2026

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

I’m working on a new program for little riders, aged 4-6, an intro to ponies program!! Please reach out if you’re interested!

The details are still being ironed out, but will likely be a small group of kids, working on safety around ponies, grooming, and some leadline riding.

The focus will be learning through playing games, keeping everyone safe, and cute, well behaved ponies 🙂

09/16/2026

There’s something really special about a kid gaining the confidence to handle a pony by themselves. I’m so lucky to have a couple wonderful kid size ponies in the barn to help with lessons! We have a few openings for Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings kids lessons!!!! I have a pony in every size, small medium large :) perfect for kids !!

09/15/2026