Michelle 

Thank you for your Ask Michelle question. Start with the basics. He has to understand from the beginning to go forward. I might suggest wearing a small pair of spurs to encourage some type of reaction from the leg. The other option is to carry a whip. This way, if he doesn't give you a response, you are able to reinforce the concept. As long as you use these things in moderation, you will be fine. If problems continue, give us a call and come down for a month or two for training so that we can get past this and on with other things. 

Michelle

Thank you for your Ask Michelle question. Routing is a common problem with the connection in some horses. My advice to you is to focus on allowing Glazier to find the connection himself. You will need to encourage him to become more active from behind so that the energy that is created leads to a true connection and to a quiet receiving hand. Initially, work to get him more responsive to your leg. Be cautious that you don't confuse speed with activity. Eventually, as he becomes stronger behind he will learn to carry himself in an acceptable frame without routing on the hand. Ideally, you are working with a professional that will also be able to help you through making some positive corrections while getting him more forward. Good Luck.

Michelle

Thank you for your Ask Michelle question. I typically use lunging only to get the "bucks out". Or, with a difficult horse, I will use sidereins. I do not believe it is possible to get a horse working over his back with sidereins because of the lack of activity in the hind leg. It is best to do the training from the saddle. The use of cavelettis can be a fun thing for both horse and rider. A necessity, no. Also some jumping can be a good experience, if that is something that you enjoy. Good Luck with his progress.

Michelle

• Principles of Riding: The official handbook of the German National Equestrian Federation 
• Advanced Techniques of Riding: The official handbook of the German National Equestrian Federation 
• Dressage with Kyra

I would also recommend Rudolf Zeilinger's videotape series. 

I hope that you find them informative. 

Michelle

Thank you for your Ask Michelle question. Finances are always a concern for athletes involved in any sport, especially equestrian sports. However, there are always opportunities for talented riders who are willing to work hard to achieve success. My advice to you is to make the most out of the resources that you do have. Get the best training that you can afford. You might also consider a working student program. 

Having a horse is not a necessity. Many places prefer if you go as a working student, that you don't have a horse. What is important is the quality of the training. Eventually you will have proven your abilities and opportunities such as training grants and sponsorships will be a realistic avenue for you to pursue. Keep in mind that money is a tool, it may make your journey easier but it is not a determining factor. I am living proof of that. Good luck and much success. 

Michelle

• The energy from the hind leg forward to the bit and the elasticity it creates. 
• The horses must be happy in their work.
• Accepting that every horse is different and many need to be ridden differently from others, yet never losing sight of the points previously pointed out. 
• and finally, how the rider's seat affect's the horse both positively and negatively.

The specific ABC's are something that has to be figured out by learning and understanding the system.

Michelle

Without having seen or being acquainted with your horse I can only generalize. At two years and three months I concentrate on ground manners, leading, walk and trot in hand, grooming, washing, and asking them to pick up their feet. This work is sufficient for now. Depending on his maturity level, lunging with a saddle and bridle (first with a bridle only) is where I would begin. You want to be sure he understands the basics: large circles, accepting the lunge whip, etc. then start with the saddle. Only short workouts to start, and then when he is good with these concepts, go ahead and sit on him. Start with leaning over his back and going on from there. This will take a little while. Then build his confidence with intervals of walk and see how he is and add a few minutes of trot. A lot depends on how physically mature he is. You can always back him and then give him some time to develop and then start him for good. Good Luck.

Michelle

Thank you for your ask Michelle question. This phrase is not one that I would personally use. I find that it does not give you any direction. One thing I always try to emphasize to the professionals that I work with is the importance of their own interpretation of my philosophy and system. We all have different experiences, different horses, different strengths and because we are all different people we will have different results. No two riders will ever be the same even if they are educated in the same system. However, the principles remain the same. The examples that you have used may have been appropriate for the circumstance and situation in which they were stated. If you are interested in having a better understanding of the terminology and examples I personally use, I would encourage you to see me ride or teach or audit and participate in a clinic. Or, perhaps, plan a visit to my home base. I am certain that you will hear familiar phrases and leave with a better understanding of these concepts. You will also be able to see why I encourage my riders to sit a certain way, and how it affects the horse that they are sitting on, for example.

Michelle

Thank you for your Ask Michelle question. I believe that cross- training is a beneficial pursuit for athletes in any sport. I encourage my riders to be well- rounded athletes. As with any athletic endeavor a sound fitness and nutrition program is important. Because I spend so many hours in the saddle each day, I personally do not get to the gym as often as I would like. Riding is a wonderful avenue for building strength, however, it does not do as much for cardiovascular fitness. I would encourage you to pursue a fitness and stretching program and am confident that you find it to be beneficial for your strength and endurance in the saddle.

Michelle

Juliana,

Thank you for your Ask Michelle question. Your horse needs to be walking significantly forward in front of the leg. You have to react quickly, before he backs off, to send him forward. It is okay if he trots or canters off initially, bring him back to the walk and ask again. The second you begin to feel him want to stop, send him forward from the leg or whip. What is important is that he makes the effort to go forward. Good Luck!

Try a larger (medium) loose ring snaffle. Work at getting him connected from back to front. He has to make the contact. As you can imagine its going to take time and patience, however the more he is in front of the leg the better he will get. I am sending you training information directly to your e-mail address. 

Michelle

Thank you for your Ask Michelle Question!

We have a very busy competition schedule this year. We are just finishing up the Winter show season in Florida. Many of my students are showing here and doing quite well. I have been concentrating a lot on coaching but I am eager to return to the competition arena myself. I have some very nice horses in training that I plan to campaign in the future. I have also found a horse for myself that I am trying to put together the financing that will enable me to purchase him. I have enclosed a list of all the shows that I will be attending this year. I hope to qualify riders for the USET Festival Of Champions again this year. I also have riders trying to qualify for Junior championships and the North American Young Riders Championships. Coaching is keeping me pretty busy for now!

Michelle

Thank you for your Ask Michelle question.

I conduct clinics throughout the United States and Canada. My clinic schedule is posted on the calendar page. I spend the months of December through March in Wellington, Florida, for the winter equestrian festival. Riders wishing to work with me from Florida usually travel to Wellington for their training. However, I will conduct clinics in other locations in Florida, but I do not have plans for that this year. Clinic rates vary depending on the organizer. They usually divide the costs among the participants. Any one who would like to organize and host a clinic for next year or inquire about training or lessons while I am in Florida may contact me by email. I wish you all the best with your horse.

Michelle

Thank you for your Ask Michelle question.

No, It didn’t just happen. It took focus, determination, hard work, and humility. The time in Germany under the right circumstances is a great experience. I think the best advice I can give you is to be the best rider that you can be, and by following that path you will go where you want. 

Whether you train in Germany or America, the emphasis must be on the quality of the training. You must find a method that you can believe in and also do some research on the instructor that you are interested in training with.

Michelle

The only way to get to know the industry is to get involved in it. Therefore, I suggest that you contact the German riding school and the German Federation in Warendorf, Germany. Your instructor/ trainer gave you honest advice. Good luck to you!

Michelle

Thank you for your ask Michelle question. 

I was born on February 25, 1969 in Laurie, Maryland and shortly after moved to Roswell, Georgia. I attended high school and have since completed eleven years of training in Dressage. My outside interests include fishing, gardening, and dancing. I'm single, with close family ties with my mother and father and two sisters. I'm fluent in German and have a border collie dog named Markie. 

Michelle

Thank you for your question. We are happy with our Precision EQ footing. I've asked Brad Thatcher to respond to you since he installed the arena and footing himself.

Regards, Michelle

I am very happy with Precision EQ footing. It does not require water for proper consistency, it stays in place, less grooming is required, grooming is only smoothing, as there is no need to "fluff" it up. I completely reworked my arena base, putting in a self drainage layer of gravel. Rain falls right through the Precision EQ, and percolates through a layer of #8/10 to another layer of # 7 stone where it then drains out to the sides. Your long narrow arena lends itself well to a self draining design if you run the crown down the center line. I asked Precision EQ to send you some literature. If you don't have budget to rework the base, you can add Precision EQ to the existing footing material, add some C33 sand and probably get good results. If your maintenance staff can help you, the best way is to add a little at a time if you don't do a complete rework. That way you can evaluate how it works for your particular conditions. Get drainage problems solved before you start, as they wash away your progress.

Be sure to review the USDF footing pamphlet "Under Foot". It is available for about $10 from USDF. It does not have the magic answer for your arena, but the discussion is useful to teach you what to look for. I hope this helps. I'm happy to answer questions. 

Regards, Brad