Just a quick reminder that Nov 17 is the deadline for the Dressage Mentor Reunion in Wellington Fl on Jan 21-24. We’ll have 4 days chock full of education, information, and just plain fun!

We’ll be watching lessons, brainstorming,  and I’ll have headphones for you so you can listen to critiques at one of the big dressage shows.

For more info, click on the link for Dressage Mentor. Hope to see you there!!

Check out this horse doing one of the dressage movements required in First Level Tests–a balanced and straight counter canter. You can see the straightness because his shoulders lie softly between the two reins (not leaning to the left), and his shoulders are directly in front of his rider’s hips.

It’s on my new Facebook page called Solve Horseback Riding Fears at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Berlin-Vermont/Solve-Horseback-Riding-Fears/149140361379

The Facebook page started out as a resource to help riders deal with fear, but it’s expanded into much more.

I have all sorts of videos and articles on all sorts of dressage movements like this counter canter clip as well as stuff from all the dressage tests including First Level as shown here.

Click here and check out my blog for more info on dressage movements and dressage tests.

Some of my favorite features of the online Dressage Mentor site are the video sessions of dressage lessons and the Hot Seats. The sessions not only include real time dressage lessons with “normal” horses and riders, but there are also videos of some of my own lessons and competition rides!

The lessons are always fun. But, for me, the greatest feature on the site is the Hot Seat. Dressage Mentor members can send in either a video clip or several photos of their horse. Not only will I critique the videos and pictures, but I give all kinds of homework to help riders with their positions and with their horses.

Click here if you’d like to learn more about the online dressage lessons and Hot Seats on Dressage Mentor.

Tomorrow is the last day to get your free 3-Day pass to my online dressage training site Dressage Mentor. To get your pass, go to www.dressagementor.com/3day

Here’s just some of what you’ll find in Dressage Mentor:

• Training techniques (like the half halt!) that are broken down into understandable pieces so that you can re-create the lessons at home.
• Comparison and contrast of the right and wrong way to do things so that you can learn the difference between correct and incorrect training.
• Audios on everything from training to squashing your mental monsters to hearing about my horses and the lessons they’ve taught me so you can improve your riding both physically and mentally.
• Watch “normal” horses (not expensive warmbloods!) and average riders sorting through training issues so you can really relate to what people go through in training and problem solving.
• Interviews with Guest Experts like judges, massage therapists, dentists, sports psychologists, trainers, and clicker trainers so you learn “other” approaches to help your horse.
• A supportive community in the Forum where you can share experiences and brainstorm so you never feel like you’re “going it alone”.

Once again, click here to get your 3-Day Pass to my online dressage training site, Dressage Mentor.

Your FREE 3-Day Pass to browse around behind the doors of my online dressage training and coaching site Dressage Mentor forum is available NOW. You can get your free pass at www.dressagementor.com/3day. The Pass is only good through Thursday, October 22.

On this online dressage training site, you’ll find videos, audios, articles, expert interviews, as well as Hot Seats where you can send in a video or photos for me to critique and Ask Jane where you can ask me dressage training questions.

Your FREE 3-Day Pass to browse around behind the doors of my coaching site Dressage Mentor forum is available NOW. Sign up for the newsletter at www.janesavoie.com to get your password. The Pass is only good through Thursday, October 22.

Did you know I have a dressage blog on my Jane Savoie website? It’s filled with pages and pages of articles on everything from training to sports psychology. I update the blog with new content every week.

Just click here on dressage blog.  Once you’re in the site, look under the second tab on the site for the blog. Have fun!

Did you know that there’s a very active, supportive community on the Dressage Forum on Dressage Mentor?

When I started Dressage Mentor 1 year ago, I asked people if I had included everything they wanted on the site. The site includes interactive coaching with me through Ask Jane questions and through “Hot Seats” where you can send in a short video or some photos and I do an audio critique for you. It also has videos of training sessions including some of my own rides as well as Audios on everything from training to sports psychology to stories about my own horses and the lessons they’ve taught me to interviews with experts like judges, animal communicators, psychologists, and equine dentists.

I thought I had covered everything, but overwhelming you told me you wanted a dressage forum. So I added the forum, and I have to say how proud I am of the members. This community is totally supportive. They brainstorm with each other, problem-solve together, and act as cheerleaders for each other when things get tough. It’s a great place to hang out!

Click here to check out what’s on the Dressage Mentor dressage forum.

Increase Horseback Rider Confidence with this simple technique called Advance and Retreat.

It’s completely reasonable that you might have some fear when horseback riding. After all, you’re dealing with a reactive (reactive means bolt, spin, buck, shy, or rear!) animal that outweighs you by a lot! But you can solve those horseback riding fears by adopting an attitude of gratitude.

The first thing you need to remember is that 99% of the things you fear never come to pass.

So why waste all that energy worrying about things that will probably never happen. Mark Twain summed it up when he said. “I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened. ”

So don’t focus on what you’re afraid of. Destroy horseback riding fear by focusing on what you’re grateful for.

Are you afraid of getting bucked off your horse? Be grateful that you get to spend time outdoors with beautiful animals. Are you afraid you’ll bomb at a competition? Be grateful you’re strong and healthy enough to compete. Are you afraid of getting sick? Be grateful you’re not blind or crippled. Are you afraid of becoming blind or crippled? Be grateful that you have a sharp mind. Are you afraid you’re not smart enough? Be grateful you have a loving heart. Maybe you don’t like your job? Be grateful you have work so you can pay your bills (…and then go about finding your passion so you can do what you love and love what you do!).

Gratitude actually attracts more of the things you appreciate and value into your life. Do what Oprah Winfrey does. Start a gratitude journal.

Everyday, jot down five things you’re grateful for. If you can’t think of five things, at least write down, “I’m breathing!”

If you’re having a really bad day, and you ask yourself what you’re grateful for, you might end up growling, “Nothing!”

If that’s how you feel, ask a better question. Ask, “What could I be grateful for?”

I bet you’ll come up with all kinds of answers to that question.

I’ll get you started. How about:

The kindness of strangers

Your health

Your family

Your horse

Not having to cook tonight (my personal favorite)

Daydreams

Toilets that flush

A cleansing rain

Doing a great job and having your efforts appreciated

Music

The smell of gardenia

Air conditioning

Your favorite song

A nap

Petting a dog

Bright colors

Eating popcorn at the movies

Sunshine

The absence of pain

Electricity

Old friends

White chocolate

Modern appliances

Finding a parking space exactly where you need one

A good book

A hot shower

Savoring the scents of life (flowers, food, the earth, your child’s hair, the barn)

The gift of sight

Days off

A gentle breeze

Laughter

Rocking chairs

Restaurants that deliver

Your plane landing safely

Breathing!

Solve your horseback riding fear (and any other fears!) by nurturing this attitude of gratitude. Suddenly your horse’s behavior won’t seem so scary, the jumps won’t seem so big, the course won’t seem so overwhelming, and the judges won’t seem so threatening. Click here for more info on solving horseback riding fear.