Spring is here!  We've had a long, cold winter for what's supposed to be a mild climate.  In spite of the cold, a number of dedicated students have been working on making perfect practice, throughout the winter.  I'm happy to see such dedication, and welcome to the new students who are also beginning their work here.  

I posted this recently on a thread on the Ultimate Dressage forum, where I sink far too much of my internet-surfing time.  I wanted to share it here, too.

I am fairly passionate about good equitation. Dressage at the lower levels is simply a solid foundation of training for the horse - no matter what his eventual specialization may become. Often we set it apart in our minds (with a big, formal, capital "D!"), but to me it's simply part of the progress of the horse's education. Good equitation facilitates and smoothes the way for good training - allowing us as riders - hopefully - to help the horse along his path vs. hinder him. I am perpetually working to improve my own equitation (my current coach says that it takes lifetimes to really "get it!"), and I can't imagine that I'll ever stop working to improve my own riding, for as long as I keep planting my buns in the saddle.

For me, this quote from one of my all-time favorite dressage books sums it up beautifully: 

"When Louis XIII began his riding lessons with Antoine de Pluvinel, the first thing he asked was, "What do you expect first of your pupil?" De Pluvinel answered, "That he be an elegant rider." ("Qu'il soit bel homme de cheval.") The King then asked, "What distinction do you make between an elegant rider and a good rider ("bon homme de cheval)?" To this de Pluvinel answered, "I make a great distinction because it would be very embarrassing to be a good rider without being an elegant rider." This conversation took place during the 16th century when, of course, nobody had ever heard of dressage competitions. Unfortunately, today it is a fact that elegant riders are seen rarely, and that good riders are not at all embarrassed by the fact that they are very often not elegant riders. This is a pity, because I am convinced that the functionally correct position is an elegant position." --Dr. HLM van Schaik from his wonderful book: Misconceptions and Simple Truths in Dressage 

Whenever we sit on a horse, we are training that horse.  In this respect, we are all trainers, and hold a responsibility to, and for the horse.  This quote sums it up wonderfully:

"The horse you get off is not the same as the horse you got on. 
It is the job of the rider to ensure that, as often as possible, the change is for the better."  - Unknown  

As we look forward to 2009, I want to wish all our students and friends a New Year filled with hope and success.  I value each and every one of you greatly!