Dressage Levels Explained: Second Level
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Crystal Forsell
Dressage and Horsemanship
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Moving to Second Level in dressage? Emphasize balance, suppleness, and collection. Non-brilliance moves hold value. Learn more!
Crystal Forsell
- Feb 21
- 1 min
Dressage Levels Explained: First Level
First Level in dressage demands heightened balance, suppleness, and thrust. Master lengthenings, transitions, and 15m circles for a polished
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Crystal Forsell
- Feb 12
- 1 min
Dressage Levels Explained: Training Level
As written on the USDF tests the purpose of training level is: “To confirm that the horse demonstrates correct basics, by showing...
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Crystal Forsell
- Feb 12
- 2 min
Dressage Levels Explained: Introductory
If you are new to dressage or showing, I’d love to bring some clarity to the different levels for you. I’ll break it down into a new...
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Crystal Forsell
- Jul 20, 2023
- 1 min
There Was A Crooked Horse... Goals for a Straight and Sound Dressage Horse
Unwinding the crooked horse for straightness and soundness
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Crystal Forsell
- May 16, 2023
- 2 min
How to track your horse’s progress– tips for photographing your horse
Tracking your horse's progress with photos. Tips for taking good photographs.
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Crystal Forsell
- May 9, 2023
- 3 min
Relaxation in Dressage Horse, Rhythm v. Relaxation: The chicken or the egg?
Which is most important for riding, rhythm or relaxation?
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Crystal Forsell
- Apr 25, 2023
- 3 min
Train and Restore Workshop -- Masterson Method and Equine Posture
Recap of a weekend of learning equine bodywork and posture.
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Crystal Forsell
- Jan 6, 2023
- 1 min
Quick Riding Position Tips
Quick tips for your equitation and horse back riding position you can do yourself.
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Crystal Forsell
- Dec 8, 2022
- 1 min
Riding Position Checklist
Do you have a checklist for your horseback riding position?
Here are ideas for creating your own dressage riding position list.
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Crystal Forsell
- Oct 1, 2022
- 2 min
Tips for body clipping your horse
Top tips for an expert clip job on your horse!
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Crystal Forsell
- Jun 2, 2022
- 1 min
Hot Weather Riding Tips
In the northern hemisphere, we are in that season of sun, sweat and popsicles! For some us, the most sand we are going to see is arena...
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Crystal Forsell
- May 20, 2022
- 1 min
Understanding Asymmetry in Your Horse
Appreciate your horse's asymmetry through your own.
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Crystal Forsell
- Feb 21, 2022
- 2 min
Grace After Time Off
Giving your horse some grace… There are times when your horse will get time off. Chances are, if your horse hasn’t been worked in a week...
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Crystal Forsell
- Dec 6, 2021
- 2 min
Allowing Your Horse to Flow with Your Intentions
In my training I always try to show the horse what I want, not what not to do. Same with small kids, if they are doing something you...
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Crystal Forsell
- Sep 14, 2021
- 2 min
The Magic in Letting Go
Let it go! Let it go! And by “it” I mean your horse’s face. I see and feel more results in the let go part of the aid than I do the...
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Crystal Forsell
- Sep 3, 2021
- 2 min
The Question of Spurs
How to use spurs and how not to.
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Crystal Forsell
- Jun 9, 2020
- 1 min
Decoding your Dressage Test
Why the negative comment on a 7 or higher? When I first started showing, I didn’t understand why sometimes I would get a negative comment...
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Crystal Forsell
- Jun 6, 2020
- 2 min
6 Reasons to Try a Virtual Horse Show
Reasons to Try a Virtual Show and 3 Handy Tips! Just a few months ago, virtual horse shows were mostly ignored. Then, overnight, they...
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Crystal Forsell
- Oct 15, 2019
- 2 min
Show him the way
Show them the way. My coach used to tell me this in lessons with young horses long ago.
It is an important theme we need to keep in our ridi
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