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Taking Responsibility for Your Own Education

Rebekah and Lizzy
Rebekah McCormick and her mare Lisianthus. She earned her USDF Bronze medal doing one lesson a week and riding outside year round, even walking on gravel roads to maintain fitness when her ring was too frozen to school.

I recently had a discussion with a fellow rider and trainer about teaching. We both recognized that our most successful students (“success” defined as progress in their ability/education, NOT strictly show ring success) have one thing in common: they take responsibility for their own education.

Before I start, let me first say that yes, of course there are also responsibilities that trainers have to students. Trainers need to be invested in educating themselves, so that they can become better teachers. Trainers need to make sure that they are giving their students their full attention during lessons, and they need to be willing to work to help a student understand a concept, if their usual ways aren’t getting the job done. They also need to teach students the theory of dressage, and how various exercises help shape the horse as an athlete. But even the best trainer can’t be there when you’re riding on your own—and that’s when taking responsibility for your own education becomes important.

Discipline is crucial. After a lesson, do you take the concepts and exercises you have worked on that day and do your best to apply them in your future schooling sessions, experimenting with your aids and noting your horse’s reactions? Or do you simply ride around by route, with no plan? If you ride a bad transition, do you analyze what went wrong and ride it again, and try to fix it? Or do you just ignore it? By choosing the latter in each example, progress will be slow to nonexistent. It is incredibly important to take the time to school on your own, to put into daily practice the things you have learned. I know that at the end of a long day at work, finding motivation can be hard (especially if you live in an area with real winter weather)—but that is where discipline comes into play. It is better to ride for 25-30 minutes with discipline and focus, than to ride sloppily for 45 minutes to an hour. And for those who may think, “Easy for her to say! She rides horses all day long!”, I will let you know that I have a day job that helps pay the bills, so I have been there and done that.

I see a lot of riders who have no idea how to ride without their trainer present and directing their every move. What happens if you go to a show and you and your trainer have conflicting ride times, and now you must warm up on your own? If you do not understand the theory behind the exercises you are doing, and you haven’t spent time putting theory into practice on your own, you will probably find the prospect of warming up on your own daunting. From my prospective, I have succeeded when my students can confidently warm themselves up when I’m not there—I know I have been successful in giving them the tools to be able to judge what exercises will best help their horse in that moment. To be fair, many instructors tend to be light on theory, for a variety of reasons. If you don’t understand why you’re doing an exercise, ASK!

Some riders mention a fear of “doing the wrong thing” while schooling. This is nonsense. As long as you are treating your horse fairly, the best way to learn is by experimenting and, yes, making mistakes. I made a ton of mistakes with the first horse I trained to FEI—and learned a tremendous amount in the process. And I still make mistakes to this day! Rather than getting worried or upset, learn from your mistakes and move on. Horses are incredibly forgiving.

Your trainer can give you a roadmap and guide you along the way, but ultimately YOU are responsible for working on improving your skills through dedicated practice and experimentation. Not even a world-renowned Olympian can put in the blood, sweat and tears for you.

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About the Author

Siobhan Byrne

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qualiadressage

Siobhan Byrne
Grand Prix Rider and Trainer
USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist
Poolesville, MD
https://linktr.ee/qualiadressage

Qualia Dressage LLC
It looked like a @kasteldenmark photo shoot in the It looked like a @kasteldenmark photo shoot in the arena today! 👯‍♀️ #matchymatchy #fancy #kasteldenmark #dressage #hanoveriansofinstagram #fjordhorse
“Success is a label that the world confers on yo “Success is a label that the world confers on you, but mastery is an ever-onward 'almost.'” - Sarah Lewis, The Rise
. 📸: @susanjstickle
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#dressage #dressagerider #dressagehorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #fei #dressurpferde #kwpnhorse #equestrian #handsomehansi #midatlanticdressagefestival
Pretty jazzed to run my first road race in close t Pretty jazzed to run my first road race in close to ten years. A series of injuries have constantly set me back (e.g.: shoulder surgery 2014 x2, 2018, 2020, 2022, and hip surgery in 2016 and 2019), so I haven’t stayed sound enough to train and complete a race at any distance, much less this distance (half marathon). But I did it! And I even crushed my goal of running under two hours, completing in 1:52:37–a personal best for me, beating out the 1:53:36 I ran ten years ago.  I’m for sure no elite runner, but I love the physical and mental challenge of running. 
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#equestrian #dressagerider #runner #runningafterinjury #hiplabraltear #shoulderinstability #latarjet
Congratulations to Cassidy Hageman on a great star Congratulations to Cassidy Hageman on a great start to the show season with Waki! First place in 3-3 and Third Level High Score at First Chance at Dressage, By Chance?. Thanks for riding my boy so well, Cassidy! 
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#dressage #dressagehorsesofinstagram #hanoverianhorse #equestrian #squawkiwaki
Great start to the season last weekend at Loch Moy Great start to the season last weekend at Loch Moy! Hans was a rock star Saturday in the Prix St. Georges, winning the class and High Score PSG with a 71.765%. 🖤 Sunday he became slightly unhinged by the cross country clinic going on at the showgrounds, but still managed nearly a 66% in his first go at I-1.  Huge thank you to Cassidy Hageman for all of her help over the weekend! 
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#dressagehorse #dressurpferde #dressagetraining #kwpnhorse #equestrian  #fei #feihorse #handsomehansi
“'You become. It takes a long time. That's why i “'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”
- The Velveteen Rabbit
Happy 29th birthday to my Mouse. 23 years together. So many fun memories. I love seeing you so happy in retired life. 🐭💕
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#oldiebutgoodie #retiredhorse #retiredlife #dressagehorse #dressurpferde #hanoverianhorse #devilmouse
It was wonderful to have Richard Malmgren back thi It was wonderful to have Richard Malmgren back this weekend to work the horses in the long lines. Hans was a superstar as usual 🖤, and new addition Vamilja got to meet Richard for the first time. She was a perfect girl! 💓
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#dressage #dressagehorse #dressagetraining #kwpnhorse #danskvarmblod #danishwarmblood #equestrian #longlining #handsomehansi #mightymilja
Today, my sweet Ghosty would have turned 27. Hard Today, my sweet Ghosty would have turned 27. Hard to believe he has been gone for almost 7 years now. These photos by Bob Langrish do such a good job of capturing his soulful eyes. 🤍
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#prehorse #purarazaespanola #dressage #dressagehorse #equestrian
Super clinic with Jeremy Steinberg last weekend. H Super clinic with Jeremy Steinberg last weekend. Hans felt amazing! We’ll probably stay at the small tour level this year to continue gaining confidence and rideability in the ring, but Grand Prix is getting closer. 🖤 
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#handsomehansi #dressagehorsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #kwpnhorse #horsesofinstagram #roadtograndprix #piaffe #equestrian
Fun memories of showing my wonderful Waki in the G Fun memories of showing my wonderful Waki in the Grand Prix at Tryon a few years ago for #throwbackthursday. Love this special boy so much. 🖤
. 📸: @richard.malmgren 
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#tbt #dressage #dressagehorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #dressagetraining #fei #grandprix #hanoveriansofinstagram #equestrian #squawkiwaki
“Never give up on a dream just because of the ti “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” — Earl Nightingale
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. 📸: @richard.malmgren 
#dressage #dressagetraining #dressagehorse #kwpnhorse #equestrian #handsomehansi #mondaymotivation
Super clinic with @jeremy_steinberg this past week Super clinic with @jeremy_steinberg this past weekend! I made up for missing the last one (I was competing at Devon) by getting to ride three horses with him both days this time. Here’s @tiddlucy ‘s Kayla (Ferdeaux x Metall), the fanciest little pocket rocket around! Love this mare. 🚀💕 #dressage #dressagetraining #younghorse #kwpnhorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #equestrian #dressurpferd
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Qualia Dressage
Poolesville, MD
732.406.9606
siobhan@qualiadressage.com

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