Tag: Belinda Trussell teaches dressage.

  • Ride the Aid!

    Ride the Aid!

    Ride the aid. In one of my lessons this week my coach Belinda Trussell told me to “ride the aid”. What does this mean? When I give Biasini an aid I must be ready to ride the response. Is the response the one I wanted? Yes? Then ride it and remove the aid. If it…

  • Fast Twitch Dressage Muscles!

    Fast Twitch Dressage Muscles!

    OK! last week I posted abut Extreme Dressage and this week I bring you Fast Twitch Dressage. For me the concepts of Fast and Slow Twitch muscles were things that belonged to the track and field world. Think sprinter versus marathon runner. My coach Belinda Trussell decided this past week that what she wanted me…

  • Extreme Dressage.

    Extreme Dressage.

    The term “extreme sports” usually denotes high risk with the athlete risking injury and possible death. Things like running a marathon across the Gobi Desert or in equestrian sport the higher levels of cross country in eventing. So when my coach Belinda Trussell told me on Friday we would be having an “extreme lesson” I…

  • Easier said than done!

    Easier said than done!

    Well done is better than well said. Benjamin Franklin I heard this quote from Benjamin Franklin the other day and it struck a chord within for me . In equestrian sport it is so much easier to talk about how to do something well, than to actually do it well. Sitting in the tack room…

  • The Shape Changing Half Halt!

    The Shape Changing Half Halt!

    Shape Changing. I am not referring to the sort of shape shifting seen in Star Trek. This is a shape changing that refers to the horse changing shape; coming up in the withers and engaging actively with the hind quarters. What is a half halt? Even dressage riders discuss the half halt ad infinitum, ad…

  • Every Split Second!

    Every Split Second!

    “The quicker you can correct him in these split seconds he’s not going to get away.” This was the quote from my coach Belinda Trussell, in last week’s lessons, that has stuck in my mind. Belinda does not mean he will run off with me when she says Biasini will ” get away”. She means…

  • “What are you thinking? Right now!”

    “What are you thinking? Right now!”

    The corner! That’s what is important!

  • From 1000 RPM to 1500 RPM

    From 1000 RPM to 1500 RPM

    The horse has a rear wheel drive engine.

  • Coming in on a wing and a prayer!

    Coming in on a wing and a prayer!

    Coming in on a wing and a prayer. During WWII there was a song about a fighter plane, with one motor gone, they radioed ahead to say “We’re coming in on a wing and a prayer. ” How does this relate to dressage? I don’t know about you but I have ridden dressage tests in…

  • The Warmup:What have I got today?

    The Warmup:What have I got today?

    The warmup….

  • Only 45 minutes to get to FEI level.

    Only 45 minutes to get to FEI level.

    Ride from the ground? Allow the student to assess their ride and comment? At the start of my Friday lesson my coach Belinda Trussell asked me what was the teaching method that worked best for me. We both agreed that as a visual learner I benefit from watching videos of my lessons and Belinda had…

  • Attention to detail!

    Attention to detail!

    One of the things I know is necessary in dressage is attention to detail. My coach, Belinda Trussell, has an exceptional eye for detail. Every. Single. Second. After Biasini and I have warmed up (and believe me we get notes on our warm up as well!) I do my no stirrups work. In our lesson…