Dressage Coddiwomple
Welcome to my blog - my dressage coddiwomple - a meandering life journey which has and continues to take me down interesting roads where I have discovered extraordinary trouvailles and whimsical crooked paths.
Although I do not consider myself a writer of any grand quality, I am a bit of a spontaneous gallivanter who enjoys sharing and writing about my experiences and observations. I view writing as another way to learn and cement the ideas further into my understanding.
Writing allows me to dig deeper into the subject material and gives me more reason to research and explore. I love learning new things and I enjoy sharing what I learn with others.
Writing is also healing and I have written many stories thoughout my life, some of which I share here in my "Other Odds and Ends" section. I am interested in many things and originally maintained this blog for my equestrian passion but have now decided to broaden the topics to other areas of interest and passions. If you continue to explore my dressage coddiwomple, I hope you will find my writings interesting and of some value.
Enjoy! Maribeth
Charmeur & Maribeth 2023
Longeing tips
There are many benefits and reasons for longeing. Longeing is an art itself and it takes many years of good practice to become effective.
The Mysterious Half-Halt
The half-halt is a hardly visible, almost simultaneous, coordinated action of the seat, the legs and the hand of the rider, with the object of increasing the attention and balance of the horse before the execution of several movements or transitions between gaits or paces.
Taking Care of Your Tack While Maintaining Your Investment
If you take the time to take care of your tack, it should last many good years and maintain your investment.
Flexion & Bend / Lateral & Longitudinal
There are two types of flexion and bend, lateral and longitudinal. Lateral has to do with the right and left sides of the horse. Longitudinal has to do with the topline of the horse.
Dressage test riding tips
Just like anything new that one undertakes, it makes good plain sense to gather a little knowledge before loading up your horse and heading for the show grounds. Here are just a few tips that might help to make your first showing experience go a little smoother and help to set you up for success…
Getting the most out of your lessons
As dressage riders, many of us spend a great deal of time, energy and money trying to learn dressage.
Components of a Good Position
The position of the rider is perhaps the most important thing when studying dressage.
Dressage tests
The purpose of the dressage tests is to show the steady, consistent development of the horse. Dressage tests are ridden in shows and are used to measure the correctness of the horse’s schooling. The tests are arranged in specific levels, which build upon each other to show the progression of the horse’s development.
Traveling the road less traveled
There have been times in my journey with my horses that I seem to be on a different path than most others.
Navigating the terrain of dressage
I like to think of dressage as a process or a journey. You’re navigating through unknown terrain, and a key element that is needed to make a safe journey is patience and an understanding and acceptance that this is a process.