Start Where You Are: A Practical Guide to Progress in Dressage
Start Where You Are: The First Step Toward Real Progress in Dressage
Are you having trouble making consistent progress in your riding?
Does improvement seem to elude you—no matter how hard you try?
Do you feel like you’re just going around in circles, making the same mistakes again and again?
If so, it’s time to take a breath, step back, and try a new approach: Start where you are.
In dressage—and in life—lasting progress begins with honest self-reflection. That means taking stock of your skills, habits, mindset, and connection with your horse. Dressage is a multifaceted sport. It’s not just about the movements or the frame—it’s about feel, timing, communication, and partnership. When you can assess your riding with clarity and kindness, you can finally stop spinning your wheels and start moving forward.
🧭 Step 1: Self-Evaluate with Compassion and Clarity
Begin by grading yourself on key elements of your riding. Think about:
Your seat and balance
The quality of your contact
Your horse’s way of going
Your use and understanding of aids
Your ability to ride with feel
Be honest, not harsh.
This isn't about judgment—it's about clarity. The goal is to understand where you are right now so you can create a thoughtful, targeted path forward.
💡 Step 2: Identify Strengths and Weaknesses
Once you've evaluated your skill set, note where you shine and where you tend to struggle. Ask yourself:
What feels easy or natural in the saddle?
What do I avoid practicing?
Where does my horse give me consistent feedback—good or bad?
This process helps you focus your time and energy on the areas that will give you the most return.
🎯 Step 3: Set Realistic, Rider-Centered Goals
Based on your self-assessment, set goals that are meaningful to you—not just what someone else expects.
Break big objectives into smaller milestones that you can chip away at consistently.
[For example: Instead of “Ride Second Level,” try “Improve counter-canter balance on a 20-meter circle.”]
This shift will help you stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
🛠️ Step 4: Create a Smart Training Plan
Develop a strategy for how you’ll address the areas you want to improve. This could include:
Working with a coach or mindset mentor
Attending clinics or workshops
Scheduling focused solo sessions to practice one skill at a time
Videoing your rides to track progress and gain perspective
The more intentional your plan, the more likely you are to stay on track.
📈 Step 5: Track and Adjust
Check in with yourself regularly:
What’s improving?
What still feels stuck?
Is your plan working—or does it need a few tweaks?
Celebrate small wins.
Progress in dressage is often slow and non-linear, but those subtle changes add up.
🔁 Step 6: Stay Committed—Even When It’s Hard
Dressage rewards consistency. Stay the course—even when it feels like nothing is changing. Those “boring” days? They’re building something.
[Remind yourself: Progress doesn’t always look like progress. Sometimes it looks like patience.]
💬 Let’s Make a Plan Together
By starting where you are and creating a realistic, customized path forward, you’ll gain confidence, clarity, and momentum.
You don’t have to do it alone.
📩 Ready to make real progress?
Reach out to me directly—I’d love to help you set clear goals, build a strategy, and support you as your accountability partner.
