I'm looking for some advice. My discipline is competitive trail and we've done well in the three years I've participated in the novice division. My partner (Hero) is a 13yo arab gelding who is my "horse of a lifetime." I'm thinking of moving to the open division next year, which means farther and faster. And so, fitness-wise, I'd really like to incorporate dressage to further his athleticism. Currently we do long slow distance, interval training, ground poles, and hills under saddle; Ground poles, low jumps, and "playing" at liberty; and sometimes we'll try long reining. I don't have an arena in which to work, and I have $0 to spend on lessons. I see/hear so many benefits from adding dressage into the routine, but I'm just not sure where to get started with the resources I have available. Any advice?
101 excersises for dressage - I think is the title -- it explains the whys and wherefores of each excersise and presents them progressively - I think that book is a good bet if you don't have an instructor - but an instructor would be best...
Philippe Karl has a series of 4 CD's which covers a whole range from aids, to "gymnastics", "dance", "training progress, one year later". Even if you can find some one on one coaching, this would certainly give you plenty to work on beyond that. Video with narration gives you a better "picture" than trying to get it from a book.
-- Edited by Marlene on Saturday 10th of September 2011 11:57:16 AM