Tag: Muscle


Will Faeber’s Introduction

3rd July

What I would like to start off with is a little thing I call, what are we trying to do? Which is something I ask people all the time who are riding horses. What are you trying to do? and what are you trying to accomplish? I am amazed at how many people can’t answer that question. Another one I get in dressage is, what is collection? I am amazed at how many people can’t answer that question as well, especially when they are supposed to be a dressage rider.

What we are going to start out with today is trying to learn what working gaits are. Working gaits mean the point at which you are working through the back and the horse is working it’s topline. The point at which you are working the topline is where you are in …



My trainer insists that I only feed grass hay and almost no grain because my horse is too “high” and is too difficult to ride. My horse is quieter now but looks thin with no muscle. What should I do?

Get a new trainer. A person who feels they have the talent, expertise and know how to call themselves a trainer should not be starving horses into submission they should be training them. Even if a horse is difficult, making them weak isn’t training, just like turning them out and exhausting them isn’t either. No matter how difficult or “high” a horse is a trainer should know how to begin a process that will develop their minds while not depleting their bodies. Horses need to gain muscle to be able to perform the movements we are asking of them and to gain muscle they need to have a bit of surplus energy not a depletion. Neither should the horse be allowed to become too fat, this would also hamper their abilities.

We are also careful not to let the horse become …



From the Blog!

Join me as I post weekly blogs covering many topics relating to Classical Foundation Training. I have intentionally left out the word "dressage" because many people have a negative association with the prevalent "crank and spank" approach or that it is a sport for only those who are afraid to jump.

Dressage as it is meant to be is an understanding of how to best optimize a horse's movement and ability to carry a rider, surely a benefit for any horse, any discipline. It is also important in maintaining your horse's safety, soundness and sanity.

Art2Ride Associate Trainer Program: Marnie: 2021 Yearly Submission

Art2Ride Associate Trainer Marnie gives her yearly update for 2021.

Art2Ride Associate Trainer Program: Ryanne: 2021 Yearly Submission

Art2Ride Associate Trainer Ryanne gives her yearly update for 2021.

Art2Ride Associate Trainer Program: Marie: 2021 Yearly Submission

Art2Ride Associate Trainer Marie gives her yearly update for 2021.