This week's live Q&A was all about preparing for the canter and the 5 essential elements that set you and your horse up for success.

We talked about why the canter feels so different from the walk and trot, shared some stories from riders who've been there (including a horse who went from bucking and head-tossing to round and soft in just 30 days), and covered some of the most common roadblocks like explosive transitions, wrong leads, and that moment where your brain just stops working the second you pick up the canter.

There are also some really helpful takeaways on groundwork, why your trot quality matters more than most people realize, how to close the energy gap between gaits so departures stop feeling like an event, and why visualization is one of the most underrated tools for riders.

We also talked about knowing when you're ready, and why it's always better to wait one more minute than to create a problem you didn't need to have.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS. The 30 Day Canter Challenge starts today! If you're a Strides member, you are automatically enrolled. If you're not in Strides, you can check it out here!

This week’s Q&A is all about the canter seat and how to feel more secure, balanced, and confident in the canter.

We shared a few canter stories, talked about why the canter can feel so powerful, and broke down some of the most common rider position challenges, like leaning forward, holding your breath, gripping with your knees, locking your elbows, or trying too hard to “make” the motion happen.

There are also some really helpful takeaways on looking up through the transition, staying balanced on a circle, keeping tone without getting tight, and learning how to follow the canter without overdoing it.

We also talked about why preparation matters so much, especially for adult riders or anyone rebuilding confidence. The better you understand the steps, the aid, and what your body needs to do, the easier it is to set yourself and your horse up for success.

Happy Riding, Amelia

PS. The 30 Day Canter Challenge starts May 1, If you're a Strides member, you are automatically enrolled, if you're not in Strides, you can check it out here!

This week’s Q&A is a mini webinar all about overcoming canter anxiety and building confidence step by step. Nicole shares a really helpful perspective on why the canter can feel so intimidating, and how breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces can make it feel so much more doable.

In this mini-webinar, you’ll learn:

1. Why the canter feels so intimidating and what’s really happening
2. The foundation for confidence through position, balance, and preparation
3. Simple strategies to build confidence step by step

One of the biggest themes in this session is that confidence comes from preparation. She talks through the key foundations that make the canter feel safer and more rideable, from position and balance to the trot exercises that directly support better canter work. There is also a great discussion on how improving the basics can take away that feeling of surprise and give riders more control.

Nicole also shares a simple exercise, “bookending the canter” that is especially helpful for nervous riders, plus answers questions about rushing, unstable lower legs, horses that speed up instead of striking off, and how to rebuild confidence after setbacks. If the canter has ever felt overwhelming, this episode has a lot of encouragement and practical ideas to help you feel more secure.

Download the free canter checklist here.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS. The Canter Challenge is now open for enrollment, so if this is something you’re working on right now, it’s perfect timing to dive in a bit deeper. Check it out here.

This week’s live looked a little different as we wrapped up 30 Days to Dressage and celebrated some of the amazing final projects from riders in the course.

We shared a look at the heart behind 30 Days to Dressage and why this program was created to give riders a simple, encouraging starting point with groundwork, rider position, aids, and exercises. One of the best parts of this episode is seeing how creative everyone got with their final projects, from written exams to art pieces, videos, and even songs.

A big theme in this episode is that dressage really is for everyone. Riders from all backgrounds and disciplines took part in this course and it helped them build confidence, create more structure in their rides, and better understand how the basics carry over into everything they do with their horses.

We also talked about how important it is to keep learning fun, to appreciate the partnership with your horse, and to recognize that steady, consistent work really does add up.

There are also a few exciting updates about World Cup in Fort Worth, I would love to see you there!

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS. My Training Scale Webinar is coming up this Sunday, RSVP here if you have not signed up yet!

This week’s Q&A was a fun mix of rider position, balance, and some great behind the scenes updates from Florida. I was also joined by Nicole from my team, it has been so great to have here for a few days!

I shared some great takeaways from my clinic with Sue Martin last weekend.

We shared a few exciting updates about wrapping up 30 Days to Dressage, upcoming World Cup plans, and some really encouraging progress with Mik. One of the big themes in this episode is how much consistent training adds up over time, even when it feels like progress is slow in the moment.

We also talked through some really helpful rider position ideas, and had a great discussion about posture, lower leg position, and how small rider habits can make a big difference in balance and communication.

Then we answered some Strides member questions about canter transitions, lower leg placement, tipping forward in the canter depart, and what to do when horses get inverted or motorbike through the turns.

Happy Riding, Amelia

PS. Are you joining us at World Cup? We would love to see you there! If you have not RSVP’d yet, here’s the link to save your spot.

This week’s Q&A was all about mastering the canter transition, and there were so many helpful takeaways for riders working through the tricky parts of canter departs.

We talked about why the canter can feel intimidating at first. When the horse shifts gears, you really feel the power and strength, and that can make the transition feel a little overwhelming. A big theme in this episode is learning how to feel more confident, more organized, and more prepared in those moments.

We also dive into timing, especially for walk to canter and trot to canter transitions, and discuss why asking at the right moment can make such a difference. There’s a great conversation about preparation too, finding that balance between having your horse ready without over-preparing and accidentally blocking the transition.

We also talk through what to do with horses that throw their head up, get hollow, or rush into a fast trot instead of stepping smoothly into canter. We share some favorite exercises for helping horses stay softer, more balanced, and more connected, including patterns like trot-walk-trot, the snowman, and leg yield into canter.

We also answer questions about picking up the correct lead, what to do when one direction feels harder than the other, and why straightness, timing, and rider position all play such a huge role. There’s a really nice reminder in this episode that canter work is full of nuance, and that sometimes it takes patience and repetition to find the right feel.

If canter transitions have ever felt frustrating, awkward, or inconsistent, this episode will definitely help you better understand what might be happening and give you some practical ideas to try in your rides.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

Last night in “Problem Solving In Riding And Training Q&A,” we had a really fun and practical conversation all about working through the everyday challenges that come up in riding and training. We talked about leg yield and why it is such an important exercise for building suppleness, straightness, and that all-important inside leg to outside rein connection. We also shared updates from the horse show, including some exciting firsts and honest reflections on what it feels like to get back out there and trust the process.

We answered questions on rhythm, tempo, sitting trot, downward transitions, bending, relaxation, and how groundwork can help uncover what is really going on with your horse.

We also talked about the mental side of riding, from patience and confidence to learning how to slow down, stay thoughtful, and make each ride count.

It was such a good reminder that progress is rarely perfect, but every challenge gives us an opportunity to learn. I hope this episode leaves you feeling encouraged, inspired, and a little more confident in your own riding journey.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

In this episode, Nicole from Team Amelia stepped in while I'm away at a horse show and she hosts a live Q&A all about one of the most important concepts in dressage: contact.

Nicole starts by breaking down the difference between contact, connection, and roundness, and explains why good contact isn’t created by the hands alone. It comes from a horse that is moving correctly through the body and a rider who is balanced, aligned, and able to follow the motion.

From there, she answers a variety of great rider questions from the community. The conversation touches on what to do when a horse lifts the head or stays inverted, how to maintain connection through transitions, how rider position affects the feel in the reins, and exercises that help horses learn to stretch into the contact.

If you’ve ever struggled with finding a steady, elastic feel in the reins or wondered why contact sometimes feels inconsistent, this episode offers helpful perspective and practical ideas to try in your own rides.

Thank you for being part of this community and for continuing to learn and grow alongside us!

Happy Riding,

Amelia