This week’s Growing and Developing With Your Horse Q and A was a really special one, as my mom JoElyn stepped in to host it. She shared so much wisdom from her own riding journey, from choosing horses to developing bend, setting goals, and learning to truly love the horse you have at every stage.

Why bend matters

JoElyn spent time explaining why bend is so foundational. Bend supports safety, helps the horse stay attentive, and allows the inside hind leg to step under and strengthen the body. True bend comes from the rib cage, not just the neck, and you can see it when the head and tail stay on the same line of the circle.

Your body influences the bend

She reminded us that rider position plays a big role. If we collapse or tip, it becomes harder for the horse to bend around the inside leg. Thinking about your alignment and allowing your body to guide the bend can make your aids much clearer and more effective.

Groundwork and patterns

Groundwork is a powerful way to improve bend. Asking for more bend on the ground helps it show up more easily under saddle, and riding clear patterns helps keep both horse and rider organized and balanced.

Goals and long term development

There was a thoughtful discussion about goals, from big long term dreams to small daily steps. Breaking goals down and focusing on rider position, learning, visualization, and consistency helps you make progress even when saddle time is limited.

Loving the horse you have

One of the most touching parts of this conversation was the reminder that loving your horse matters, regardless of the level. Horses can continue to grow, improve, and connect with us deeply, even as their bodies change with age.

Thank you for being part of this community and for bringing so much care and thoughtfulness to your horses and your riding.

Happy riding,

Amelia

PS Bootcamp is coming up soon. If you have not signed up yet, be sure to do that so you do not miss the daily lives, exercises, and motivation to head into the new year feeling focused and inspired. RSVP here for bootcamp.

Last night’s Q and A was such a fun conversation about horse personalities and how to adjust your riding to match the horse you have. Stacie joined us live, which was a treat because many of you know her from the comments section and as a Strides member. We covered everything from reading your horse’s natural tendencies to adjusting your own energy and building confidence in both young and experienced horses.

Understanding personality

Some horses are hot, some laid back, and many shift depending on our energy. The big takeaway was noticing the small signs and matching your approach. Raise your energy for a dull horse. Slow everything down for a sensitive one.

Groundwork builds confidence

For green or new horses, groundwork is the place to start. Leading, bending, yielding, and responding to pressure help the horse feel safe and give you tools you can use later in the saddle. It has made a huge difference for Stacy and her boys.

The basics always win

Winter is the perfect time to revisit stretching, bending, rhythm, and suppleness. Going back to basics makes everything easier when you start schooling movements again.

Thank you to the Dressage Foundation

We also highlighted the Dressage Foundation and the many grants that support riders. Stacie recently received the Gifted Memorial Grant, and our own “Dressage for All” Youth Fund will award its first grants this spring. Community support truly keeps our sport thriving.

Thank you all for joining and for being part of this amazing community. Your questions and your stories are what make these live sessions so meaningful.

Happy riding

Amelia

PS. Don’t forget to RSVP for Bootcamp coming in January!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Last night Nicole from Team Amelia stepped in to teach a super helpful session on soft hands, following elbows, and how your alignment and seat create the foundation for everything. If you have ever struggled to keep your hands steady, wondered why your elbows lock, or felt like your horse braces when you pick up the contact, this Q&A has so many clear explanations and practical tips you can take straight to the saddle.

Why soft hands start in your seat

Nicole breaks down how your alignment affects your entire arm position and shows why your hands cannot stay quiet unless your seat is absorbing the horse’s motion. She explains the difference between following elbows in walk and canter versus your elbows in the trot and how to feel the movement through your core instead of through your reins.

How to actually teach your horse to listen to lighter aids

Instead of pulling or fussing with the reins, she explains the simple sequence of fingers, wrist, elbow and how horses learn to respond to the smallest whisper when the progression is consistent. She also explains why soft hands are not loose hands and how subtlety always depends on the clarity of your seat.

Understanding the training scale

If your horse feels heavy, braced, or inconsistent in the connection, she explains how the issue rarely starts in the hands. She walks through the steps of the training scale and explains how each layer influences the feeling in your reins.

Following the motion in each gait

She uses her famous shoelace demo to show why your elbows must open and close in walk and canter and why locked elbows in canter lead to tension and loss of balance. She also shares practical tips for keeping your hands from posting with your body in the trot.

Fixing common problems

She also shared some tips for fixing some common problems many riders experience such as reins slipping, how to supple the inside rein when holding a whip, how to feel the horse’s mouth without pulling on it, how to avoid hollowing your back when you bring your shoulders back, and more useful tips!

Coming up

If this Q&A got you thinking about how much your seat influences your hands, my Independent Seat Webinar will take you even deeper, it's at 8am PT on Friday 28th November. RSVP Here! I'll cover how to ride from your core, absorb movement without collapsing, and more! I hope to see you there!

Happy riding

Amelia

This week I'm travelling so Nicole from Team Amelia stepped in to host a Q&A on developing a clearer leg, a softer following seat, and more effective communication with your horse. If you have ever wondered why your aids feel muddled, why your horse braces in transitions, or how to use your seat without gripping or driving, this session is full of ideas that will help everything make more sense.

What she covered:

Nicole breaks down the quiet signals your horse listens for and how subtle changes in your body can transform the feel of your transitions.

Why your inside leg solves more than you think

If leads are tricky, circles lose shape, or your horse drifts through the outside rein, she shares some simple adjustments that make a noticeable difference.

Nicole also shares practical ways to keep communication sharp when your riding time is limited and your horse has extra energy.

Coming up

Grateful Week begins Monday with daily live sessions, and on Thanksgiving morning at 8am PT I will be sharing a very special announcement that I am incredibly excited about. I hope to see you there live.

Happy riding

Amelia

In this week’s Q and A we focused on creating real suppleness and throughness in your horse. We also talked about gratitude month and shared a few updates from around the barn.

What we covered:

• Turn on the forehand

This simple exercise is one of the best ways to unlock the inside hind leg and soften the ribs. You can start from the ground or under saddle. It improves control, helps refocus a distracted horse, and prepares the body for leg yields and shoulder in.

• Suppleness from groundwork and circle work

For horses that struggle to bend, begin with bending on the ground, then add spirals and circles. Long backed horses especially benefit from this combination.

• Rider position matters

Only a balanced rider can give correct aids. When you are centered and soft, your horse can move with more relaxation and swing.

Takeaways from the Cark Hester masterclass

We also shared some of our favourite insights from Carl Hester's master class that I attended last weekend. He had powerful thoughts on balance, stretching, straightness, and how he uses simple exercises to create real change.

Coming up

To celebrate Thanksgiving, we have Grateful Week coming up with daily live sessions, a Black Friday webinar on the independent seat, and a special Thanksgiving announcement that I cannot wait to share with you.

Thank you for joining us and for the work you put into improving yourself and your horse. Suppleness comes from patient, thoughtful communication and steady practice.

Happy riding

Amelia

PS. Check out the Inside Leg to Outside Rein Workshop here.

This week’s Thursday Live was all about building confidence, on the ground and in the saddle.

Germán and I dove into one of the most important (and challenging!) parts of riding: staying calm, clear, and confident, even when things go wrong. From groundwork foundations to recovering after a fall, we shared stories, tips, and personal lessons that every rider can relate to.

We also talked about:

• The importance of groundwork and how it helps your horse relax and trust you
• Why your horse’s frame of body reflects their frame of mind (thank you, Chris Irwin!)
• Our Groundwork Essentials course, and why it’s such a game-changer for connection and confidence
• Our upcoming trip to the Carl Hester Masterclass (stay tuned for next week’s takeaways!)
• A behind-the-scenes story about how groundwork actually brought us together
• Clinic reflections with Albrecht and some breakthroughs with both our horses

We also answered your live Q&A questions, including:

• How to keep your horse active without constant nagging
• What to do after your horse (or you) has had a scary fall
• How to rebuild trust and confidence through small, consistent wins
• Understanding whether your horse is “hot” or “laid back”, and how to adapt your approach

One of our favorite reminders from this chat:

“You want to be the thermostat, not the thermometer.”

Confidence doesn’t come from pretending you’re not afraid, it comes from time, miles, and layering positive experiences until both you and your horse start to trust again.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS. Groundwork Essentials is $100 off this week. You’ll get step-by-step videos, problem-solving lessons, and video feedback sessions to help you build calm, confidence, and connection from the ground up.

This week’s live session was one of our favorites of the year, celebrating the incredible riders, horses, and transformations from the 30 Days to Round Challenge! 🎉

We announced the winners, shared your stories, and reflected on how much progress can happen in just 30 days when you focus on connection, consistency, and kindness. From nervous rides to lightbulb breakthroughs, every participant reminded us what “Dressage for All” truly means.

It started as a crazy idea, could riders really make meaningful progress online in just a month? Turns out, yes. With step-by-step guidance, the results have been amazing year after year.

Congratulations to our Trotter Trophy and Canter Cup winners, plus all the honorable mentions who showed beautiful community spirit and dedication throughout the challenge. You will have to watch to find out who they are!

We talked about how riding’s highs and lows are universal, and how the Strides and 30 Days to Round community makes it easier to stay positive and keep learning. Riders supported each other with kindness and encouragement.

Whether your win this month was a rounder horse, a softer feel, or just showing up for every ride, we’re proud of you. This community proves that Dressage for All isn’t just a motto, it’s something we live every day.

Congratulations to every rider and every horse, you make this journey so special and I couldn't be more proud of you!

Happy riding,

Amelia

PS. Don't forget to RSVP for the free Groundwork Webinar, Sunday November 2nd at 12noon PT.

This week’s live was a solo session, Germán was off at a hockey game, so it was just me chatting about introducing lateral work and sharing a few exciting updates from the barn and beyond.

Highlights

Clinic reflections: I taught a clinic in Bakersfield last week at a therapeutic riding center, such a great reminder of how incredible horses are as teachers and partners.

The new Mick series: Our Behind the Scenes with Mick YouTube series launched last weekend! It’s a real look at the ups, downs, and daily work behind bringing a horse up the levels.

30 Days to Round: Final videos are due this weekend! We’ll announce the $10,000 prize winners next Thursday!

Strides focus: This month’s theme is soft, steady hands. Remember Isabelle Werth’s advice — “ride with weak hands.” Less hand, more leg and seat.

World Cup 2026: We’re planning a live, in-person event in Fort Worth with panels and rider training sessions. Stay tuned for RSVP info.

Introducing Lateral Work

We broke down the aids step by stepfor leg yield, shoulder in, and haunches in. Remember to always start with a forward, round horse! Add leg yields at the walk if needed to build suppleness and connection. No mirrors? Try head-to-the-wall leg yields for easy feedback.

Quick tips

Strengthen obliques and glutes (side planks help!) to avoid collapsing at the waist.

If something falls apart, go back to rhythm, balance, and forward, always think about these basics!

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS. Download my Free Ground Manner PDF right here!