How-To Archives - Dressage Today https://dressagetoday.com/category/instruction/how-to/ Dressage Today is the training and educational resource for dressage riders at every level. Videos and instructional articles offer tips. Fri, 08 May 2026 20:14:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://s3.amazonaws.com/wp-s3-dressagetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/09180459/DT-Favicon-150x150.png How-To Archives - Dressage Today https://dressagetoday.com/category/instruction/how-to/ 32 32 The Unwritten Rules of Dressage Test Riding https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/how-to/unwritten-rules-dressage-test-riding-janet-foy/ Fri, 08 May 2026 20:11:08 +0000 http://ci020277a080062586 Do you understand the tacit "rules" of riding a dressage test—the ones that aren't in the rule book? FEI and USEF judge Janet Foy offers her insights on the unwritten tenets of test riding to help you maximize your scores.

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]]> The Golden Rules of the Dressage Warm-Up Arena https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/how-to/the-golden-rules-of-the-dressage-warm-up-arena-29955/ Tue, 05 May 2026 17:22:33 +0000 http://ci0202779c80032586 Four top dressage instructors offer their tips and insights on the rules and etiquette of the dressage warm-up arena to help you stay sane amid the pre-test chaos.

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]]> Dressage 101: How to Create a Lesson Plan for Each Training Session https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/how-to/dressage-101-how-to-create-a-lesson-plan-for-each-training-session/ Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 http://ci0202779f90022693 It's easy to lack focus when you're not under the direction of your trainer. Hilary Moore Herbert teaches you how to design beneficial lesson plans that will help you and your dressage horse ride with more purpose.

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]]> Dressage Solutions: Improve Your Alignment and Deepen the Connection to Your Seat https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/dressage-solutions-improve-your-alignment-and-deepen-the-connection-to-your-seat/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:50:43 +0000 https://dressagetoday.com/?p=20096 To improve your self-carriage and alignment and deepen the connection to your seat …

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]]> Can Wiggling My Fingers Help Get My Dressage Horse on the Bit? https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/how-to/can-wiggling-fingers-get-horse-on-the-bit/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0000 http://ci0202779e00022586 USDF gold medalist John Zopatti offers an honest opinion on wiggly fingers and explains the correct way to establish contact.

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]]> Improve Your Leg and Develop Soft Contact with Shannon Peters https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/how-to/improve-your-leg-and-develop-soft-contact-with-shannon-peters/ Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:28:18 +0000 https://dressagetoday.com/?p=19938 In Part 2 of this series, Shannon Peters provides exercises to improve your leg position and help you develop soft, supple contact to become an overall more effective rider.

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]]> 4 Tips to Ride Accurate Figures https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/4-tips-to-ride-accurate-figures/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:25:26 +0000 https://dressagetoday.com/?p=19901 Use these four tips to improve your accuracy when schooling figures at home with your dressage horse.

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]]> Dressage 101: The Jack-in-the-Box https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/how-to/dressage-101-26380/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 http://ci0202779f00032586 Akin to its children's toy counterpart, the dressage jack-in-the-box includes a box, plenty of turning and a surprise finale. Learn how to ride and put together these three geometrically challenging exercises to improve your dressage horse's performance in the show ring.

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]]> Power of Position: The Benefits of Correct Alignment in Dressage https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/how-to/the-benefits-of-correct-dressage-position-30596/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000 http://ci0202779d30062586 Developing a correct dressage position is about more than creating a pretty picture. Courtney King-Dye examines a photo of six-time Olympian Steffen Peters and explains why his correct position is as effective as it is beautiful.

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]]> Loosen Up to Improve Your Position—and Ride Better! https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/loosen-up-to-improve-your-position-and-ride-better/ Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:10:09 +0000 https://dressagetoday.com/?p=19838 Is your desk job sabotaging your position? Shannon Peters explains why sitting for too long weakens your position and restricts your ability to follow your horse and offers exercises to help you loosen up to rider better.

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