They’ve been threatening it for years, and for 2027, it’s finally happening: nearly all the FEI dressage tests have some form of release of contact in them. Some it’s a “stretchy circle,” where the horse is asked to reach forward and downward. In others it’s an überstreichen, a release of contact asking the horse to stay in balance unsupported by the reins. It’s a response to those who say that dressage horses in modern sport look tense and on the muscle, and it’s been very polarizing.

I am on team “bring on the stretch.” It’s something I do already anyway in my training, so it’s no skin off my back to do so in the ring. I think it’s a great actual test of the training and the quality of the training, not just an empty gesture to the Pajama People of the Internet. And because the Pajama People aren’t entirely wrong, I think that it will help pivot training that, for some, had swung too far in the direction of pizzazz over honest training.

I also wildly reject the argument that adding these movements to the test will suddenly make FEI dressage tests boring. For those of us who care about dressage, adding literally 30ish seconds of stretchy trot will not cause us to lose interest. And for those out there who might catch a second of dressage on ESPN-5 or whatever down river sports channel might possibly be talked into showing it on TV, you think it’s the stretchy circle that’s going to prove a bridge too far for the non-horse viewer?

What I am curious about is to see how it will work, what the judges will actually want to see. Here’s what the FEI’s Dressage Judging Manual says they want to see: “In order to execute the exercise “let the Horse stretch on a long rein” correctly, the Athlete must lengthen the reins and allow the Horse to gradually and confidently stretch its neck forwards and downwards until its mouth reaches more or less a horizontal line corresponding with the point of the shoulder.”

While there is nearly-identical language in the USEF Dressage rulebook, anyone showing Training or First Level knows that the best scores seem to be given to those who, while maintaining an uphill balance, get the nose the closest to the floor. At those levels, the horses and riders are also given a full 20m circle to stretch, whereas in the new FEI tests it’s only a half a 20m circle (and having just played with this for the first time in an actual “let’s ride this like the test pattern” context, oh man, half a 20m circle on a big horse is NOT much time!), so there really isn’t a great deal of time for Dobbin to reach for the dirt and come back up again. But it will be interesting to see what scores well out in the wild.

For the überstreichen, here’s what the FEI manual says they’re looking for: “For two or three Horse lengths the Athlete moves his hands along the crest of the Horse’s neck, giving visibly up the contact. Subsequently the hands are taken back to their original position. The position of the Athlete’s seat remains unchanged. The Horse’s nose line may come slightly in front of the vertical during this exercise. Nevertheless, the horse should not change its posture or release itself from the aids. The tempo remains unchanged.”

I will be interested to see if those who cleverly slide their hands up the neck but maintain contact are allowed to get away with that trick, particularly in the tests where the movement is done allllll the way at the “A” end of the arena.

When all is said and done, I’m excited to ride these new test and demonstrate all the things I’ve always worked on with my horses anyway – relaxation, harmony, and self-carriage. I’m just going to do so no earlier than February, so that I can watch and learn from the sacrificial lambs who do so in January!

Hi. It’s been a minute.

There’s a million reasons. This summer – this whole year really, but especially this summer – has been one mess after another, some small, some seismic. I’ve been BUSY: putting out fires, coming up with solutions, traveling all over to teach. I’ve been putting my limited spare time into fitness and into trying to be a partner and a friend and a dog mom more than being a writer. And ultimately, social media has presented me with two problems. First, a shrinking attention span means that most people will glance at the photo for this blog and go no further. And second, the comments sections are increasingly horrible places to be, which makes me want to put my life and thoughts out there much, much less.

So let me catch you up. The horses are fine. I own the most horses I’ve ever owned in my life, actually, and half of them are chestnut mares, so that’s something. I’ve come into owning a tremendously wonderful older schoolmistress who’s been in my life for quite a long time, and whose owners are getting out of horses, so I’ll see her leased out within my program to those looking to learn, before letting her enjoy a richly deserved retirement.

My four year old, Gogo (Total Gold, US-bred, Total Hope-Zack) arrived from her breeders in Oregon this Spring, promptly tried to die of shipping fever, mercifully didn’t try very hard to do so but did get problematically thin in the process, and took several months to decompress and gain condition enough to begin her employment as a dressage horse. She’s being backed thoughtfully and beautifully by my wonderful friend Jessica Fay, and we’ll take her to Florida and start the process of becoming a useful citizen.

Five year old Vera (Le Fer, Iron-Don Schufro) spent the winter in Virginia, got going again in the Spring, went to a horse show, and mostly comported herself with dignity. I took over the ride and was just starting to have a proper load of fun when she sprouted a massive sarcoid, and I took the time to have it removed, resulting in a few weeks’ setback. Since she’s already, air quotes, “behind” (because it’s not like there’s an actual schedule for these creatures), the loss of time really means nothing, and I’ll take her to some shows in Florida and dither around at First Level and keep plugging away.

Seven year old OJ (Orijinal JP, US-bred, Hennessy-Wynton) took a minute to transition the flying changes from more flying to more changing, and I feel like I really started to own them just in time for our show season to largely end in July. So we spent our summer starting to think about putting those changes in weirder places and in increasing frequency, and learning to piaffe, and generally being a Very Good Boy who isn’t really any particular level, which is great because I got to keep the thousands of dollars I would otherwise spend showing him in my pocket.

Which brings me to the big boys. Clearwater Farm Partners’ 8-year-old Beaker (Tjornelys Solution, Revolution-Rubin) had a banging winter where he showed Fourth Level and PSG and got all sorts of nice scores, and it left me with a conundrum: to try for the Developing Prix St. Georges Championships at Festival, or to park him at home and train and save money? I went to the Virginia CDI to try him in a non-qualifying version of that test, in front of the big mean international panel, and they all said he was very nice, but then I looked at gas prices and decided that it wasn’t worth it to schlep all the way to Illinois and take a week of my life to probably place 5th. Unfortunately for me, it seems like the overwhelming majority of people on horses that age made the same decision, so the class was super small, and now I have regrets. But that’s baseball, so on we trodge towards the Regional Championships and hopefully USDF Finals and whatever happens, happens. He also spent his summer working on the piaffe and passage to great success, and wins the award for Biggest Gains of the summer, so our time was very well-spent.

Last but certainly not least, the one everyone asks me about: The Elvis Syndicate’s 10-year-old Cadeau (St. Schufro-Richman), who was Reserve National Small Tour Champion last year, and won the Carol Lavell Development Prize. As these things tend to go, when one wins too many things in a year, one has to karmically pay the piper the following year and suffer a little bit. And suffer we have, mercifully on stupid things. The tummy problem. The shoe hiccup. Losing so much time (and, therefore, muscle) dithering around with those things that the saddle stopped fitting. The trailer problem, where in spite of dropping huge dollars on a new rig basically just for him, and taking a ton of time and outside expertise, we’ve concluded he really hates traveling alone, which makes getting lessons kind of a logistical nightmare. The reality of the cavern between the Small Tour and Large Tour in which every hole you thought you’d filled needs a repatching. And an ongoing conversation about how hard one-tempis are. Finally our $h*t came together in July, and we’ve been on a good roll since then.

Just as I felt the horses were leveling out, more chaos happened in July. My wonderful longtime assistant trainer and dear friend received the opportunity of a lifetime to work in Europe. I suddenly was running the entire business by myself, while also trying to interview and hire for the position, and all as I was entering a 5-consecutive-week period of being on the road teaching clinics. It took me too long to do what I should have done all along and promote-from-within my wonderful working student Stephani to the role, only to have her help a trailer-in client load her horse and get kicked for her trouble, earning her two nights in the ICU with a lacerated liver and 6 weeks off with fractured ribs. And somewhere in the middle, we faced the reality of a very different Florida season, with our numbers considerably off from years past.

It was at this point I saged the barn.

So it’s been a summer of basically abject chaos, all the time, and I’m trying not to bemoan what feels like a lack of progress in my own riding. All the comings and goings and hiccups meant that I really haven’t gotten any coaching since the Spring. I had a few plans for things I wanted to tackle this year, and everything’s gone belly up. There have certainly been moments of great, great frustration. And all of this amid the backdrop of a world and an economy that’s hard to be optimistic about.

Here’s the thing though: through it all, it’s never been hard to find things to keep my chin up.

Because the team I have is UNREAL. There has not been a single second where anyone has looked at me and said, “we can’t handle this.” Every step of the way, clients and friends have leapt in, largely unasked, to help. We’ve had fantastic luck with part-time help who *knocks wood* has not only shown up and done the job, but been a happy, smiling ray of sunshine along the way. We’ve brought some new faces into the barn who fit right in to our phenomenal culture, people who are ambitious and serious about improvement, but also a joy to have around. And whenever I go looking for it, there’s a person or a thing that gives me a glimmer of joy. They’re never, ever hard to find.

This is a long update on a new-ish platform, and if you’ve made it this far, hello, and thanks. You’re a part of that amazing team that lifts me up when I’m feeling fried, and I’m grateful for you. Bear with me as I see if updating here is something I can sustain in my life!

2024, you were a really rough assignment for a lot of people. You brought heartache and chaos to many parts of the world, both horsey and not. You caused pain. You caused angst.

And I feel like a heel, because you were one of the best calendar years of my life.

I’ve been joking-not-joking with people about how this was the year in which I officially Arrived: I was asked to give a lecture to the US Pony Club, I won a National Championship, and I’m now sponsored by Mrs. Pastures Horse Cookies. I have MADE IT, y’all. 

And it wasn’t just those three things. I wrote a little book, and I’m finalizing a contract on a big one. I put together my second syndicate to buy another stellar horse, and between the two syndicate horses and my own, I’m sitting on the best horses of my career. I was given an amazing opportunity to own an incredible senior Grand Prix horse, on whom I was able to make it possible to let some people I love show FEI. I taught more clinics and lessons than I’ve ever taught in a calendar year. My staff is phenomenal. My clients are wonderful.

I’m terrified.

I know there’s nothing holy about January 1, no magic happens at 12:01, but it’s easy to look back and think of the year 20blahblah as good or bad, and I’ve had some bad. The year that everything died. The year(s) that I was broke. The year where what I thought was my path to success was suddenly uprooted. I’ve been in those years. We’ve all had those years. One human constant is failure, whether by our own choices or by the universe slapping us with some calamity.

And I know that there’s always dark within the light, and light within the dark. The worst year of my life, the year that I nearly went bankrupt, which was followed by the year in which everything died, was also the year that my now-husband waltzed in. This year, in which there was so, so very much good, had its ick times: a death of someone I cared for deeply, some staffing challenges, having to get real about horses in my life and what they wanted to be when they grew up. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses, just as the down times can have their moments of joy.

But it just feels like there’s been too much good, and what goes up must inevitably come down. So I’m going to prepare for it. I’m trying hard to do right by my people, setting up a 401k for my employees, and focusing hard on finding them learning opportunities (as I always do). I’m checking off some deferred maintenance, so at least when chaos descends, it’ll hopefully be unpreventable chaos, because that’s less painful, somehow, in my weird little brain. And I’m writing things like this, to remember all the triumph, all the glory, all the bright shining success of this year’s good times, because I can look back and remember what it felt like, when things go inevitably to shit.

I expressed this thought to a friend recently, who said, “that’s not planning ahead. That’s a trauma response.” And maybe it is. But I think, then, that life is inherently traumatic. But for me, the worst days in this horse business, the days when all hell has, truly, broken loose, are still a price worth paying for all the good. So cheers to you, 2024, and onward.

It’s holiday shopping time! And as a professional rider who is not remotely nice to her equipment, I’ve got some great ideas for hard-wearing and pragmatic gifts that a rider at any level will appreciate. If you’re shopping for a horse enthusiast, here’s what I suggest:

– A pair of cozy winter gloves from Roeckl. My favorite is the Roeckl Grip Winter, which is just thick enough to keep me cozy while not leaving me too bulky to actually use my hands. Pick up a pair from Misty View Equestrian here.

– While you’re checking out Misty View’s website, treat yourself to a pair of Kingsley custom boots, and then up your matchy-matchy game by adding a Kask helmet with matching leather. My Kingsley Capris are tough as can be, even with the massive amount of riding, walking and general abuse I subject them to. And I LOVE my Kask Starlady with matching leather. Learn about custom ordering here, and be sure to keep an eye on their stock sale starting November 29!

– A (free!) feed consult from Tribute Equine Nutrition. We started feeding Tribute more than a decade ago, and our horses have never been shinier and healthier from less concentrate. That’s good for their bellies AND good for our wallets. And their team of nutritionists will do a free nutrition consult to come up with the best feeding plan for your horse, including our personal favorite product, Essential K with Fly Control. You may not need fly control over the winter, depending on what part of the country you’re from, but switching my barn over to that product has DRAMATICALLY reduced our fly population both in VA and – even more remarkably, because we’re right next to a canal – in FL. Fill out the form here and get your feed plan.

– A container of Mrs. Pastures Ring Ready treats. Unless you’re a snowbird, the next show season is, in fact, not soon. But these are just the freaking BEST treats for year round – they’re small enough for a horse to take even with a double bridle on, they contain a gut buffer to help sooth stressy tummies, they don’t disintegrate in your pocket (even when it’s hot as heck out!), and they’re super tasty. Check them out here.

– A Finesse bridle from Horse By Horse, and a Bridle Mattress to keep it in good condition. Man oh man, the Finesse bridle is just stinking magical. In a world of gimmicks in the name of horse comfort, the Finesse has actual science proving its claims, and they’ve been effective for me on a huge range of horses – ones who were great in the bridle are better, ones who want to be too light in the bridle take contact nicely, and ones that want to lean or bear down are better in the self-carriage. It’s pretty dang remarkable, and you can order them from Horse By Horse here. Then get yourself a BridleMattress here to protect it (and get a SaddleMattress to protect your saddle too!).

– New winter rugs from Bow Horse. Let’s face it – unless you’re a snowbird, your horse is, at some point midwinter, going to render his rug so foul that it’ll basically stand up on its own. Having a second set means you can always have one clean and ready to go. Bow Horse rugs are incredibly hard wearing (just ask my little chaos monkeys!), without the expense of bigger brand names. And the colors are to DIE FOR. Check them out here.

– A Ride iQ membership. Unless you’re in a full training program, you need Ride iQ, an audio lesson subscription app that grants you access to ride-along lessons with big time pros like, well, me! From grassroots to FEI, there’s a mountain of rides on Ride iQ to chose from, from warmups to teaching new skills to whole rides, all with a top professional in your ear. And your membership also gets you access to a private Facebook group that is truly the nicest horsey community on the ‘net. Click here to learn about a free trial!

– A new pair (or two!) of white Pro 2.0 show breeches from Esprit. If you show more than a handful of times a year, you know how dingy white breeches can get after multiple washes. They’re a dumb thing to spend a lot of money on, which is why I’ve loved showing in Esprit breeches this year. They hold up amazing – they’re my daily wear as well, and lord knows I’m not gentle on my equipment – and the price tag means that they’re easy to replace when they come to the end of their lifespan. I prefer the white/white, but I always keep a white/black seat in my bag in case it rains. Click here and use code lauren to get 5% off your first order.

– While you’re thinking about getting show ready, treat yourself to a new show shirt from Novella. When coats are waived, I switch to the Devin model shirt, so I’m still protected from the sun with its long sleeves and zip collar, but I don’t have to melt in my jacket. Check out their gorgeous line here.

– And as you get yourself ready for show season, Bex Bar Shampoo is a fabulous stocking stuffer for your barn mates. Shampoo bars have been my own personal go-to for years, as they’re long lasting with SO much less plastic waste. Bex Bars are formulated for animal use, smell AMAZING, and are super easy to store and travel with. Learn all about ’em here.

– Tired of having to replace your rubber Fillis stirrup pads when they lose tread? Upgrade to one of the Tech Stirrup dressage models. Go traditional with silver or black, or tart it up with the GORGEOUS titanium pair I just got. Click here to see all their options.

– Lastly, all of Spectra Therapy’s product line is phenomenal, but if you want the most bang for the least buck, bring home the neck/body wrap and two tendon bootkit. The neck wrap can be used way more places than just the neck – I put it on top of the saddle area before rides on tight days, or I’ll flip it upside down to use on the belly for horses who have an upset tummy. And the leg wraps are great for legs, but they’re also easy to wrap around my own legs or back when one of them is flaring up. Spectra Therapy offers Class 3 Lasers in wearables, so you can literally set it and forget it for hours, even overnight. Laser therapy is the best modality out there for healing and reducing inflammation. We use ours every day! Check out that package here, and check out the rest of the site for more wearables for you, your horse and your dog.

Over the years, through breeding my own and selling them, through the help of some incredible people, through a few really creative loans, and through a HECK of a lot of hard work, I’ve managed to own many of my own horses. Owning my own means I answer to no one, and it means that when they go right, the proceeds of their sales funds the next group. My goal is that each one I train and, as I’ve yet to find my Team mount, sell leads to the purchase of two more young horses to bring along; I’m ok when the sale of one leads to the purchase of one.

But the stinky part about owning my own is that I’m on the financial hook if they don’t work out. And sometimes, when I’m in a rough patch, the sale of one doesn’t fund the next; I have to sell two to fund the next. And that’s where I am right now.

By the end of this year, I’ll have found new homes for two of mine that were bought young and, to my great dismay, aren’t going to be what I need them to be. And that means that, next year, I’ll start the search for what’s next. Again: this is not happening right now. So if you read this and then ping me about something that you have for sale RIGHT NOW, you will have wasted your time. But I love supporting American breeding, I love a good plan in advance, and I’m writing this while bored on an airplane and with a fire in my belly to trying to improve upon our next Olympic performances. Plus you just never know what’s out there – not just what horses are out there, but also what breeders or owners might be interested in a creative situation – until you ask. So here’s what I’m looking for.

– gotta be under saddle. Again, we’re talking in 2025, so it may not be under saddle now, but it’s gotta be going. Yes, I realize that horses already under saddle cost more than those who aren’t. Yes, I know my money could go farther if I got one that wasn’t yet backed. I’m old and I’m crunchy and I’m willing to spend more money to have more of my questions answered. With that said, the reality of my financial situation is that it’s likely I’m going to only be able to afford something that, in 2025, will be 3 or 4.

– gotta be tall. 100% for sure it’s silly for most people to rule out a horse that might be an inch or two above or below your dream, because body type is a factor. But I’m a leggy 5’10”. There’s not a chonky enough 16.2 hander to be big enough for me. They’ve gotta be 17h+ at maturity.

– it’s gotta move like hell. And I really can’t believe that I have to say this, but it has to have a warmblood pedigree. I am sure your Arab cross, draft cross, Irish Draught or TB cross is a LOVELY animal, I am. I am not a snob. But I’m a realist, and I want to play at the highest level. Only something bred out the wazoo is going to have what is needed to play in the big ring.

– if she’s a mare, she’s gotta have a team player personality, and not an alpha bitch one. As an alpha bitch myself, there can only be one of us in this relationship, and it’s me. (As an aside, I have no patience for a lecture on why I should love bitchy mares, and I REALLLLLLY have no patience for a lecture on why I’m a crappy feminist for using the b-word. Get over it and move on.)

– if he’s a stallion, and I will personally own him outright, he will be gelded. If you have an interesting stallion that you want to keep intact and maybe retain ownership of, we can chat, but I won’t own one myself.

– it must have a quiet mouth, and I’m personally annoyed by the flinchy spooky ones. Hot is fine, and a cheeky weirdo will, alas, lol, fit in just fine around here. But I like brave.

– lastly, while I’m not a nutcase about PPEs and x-rays, it must have excellent feet, clean legs and – above all else – a solid neck. Everyone’s got the thing that makes them spook, and for me, it’s necks.

This is a thing I will be looking for no earlier than January 2025, so if you have it right now and need to part with it right now, I’m not your girl. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, so I’m putting this out to the universe. And if you think you’d like to be a part of a journey on the development of a horse up the levels, whether it’s something from your own breeding program that you’d just like to stay a part of, or you’re a rockstar enthusiast who likes adventure, I want to hear from you, too. My email is lauren@spriesersporthorse.com.

Animal abuse is unacceptable, and those who commit it need to face serious consequences. Period. Hard stop.

My heart has broken watching the videos that came out this week of an Olympian – an OLYMPIAN – torturing horses, and hearing the stories of the mental abuse of the riders in his world as well. This, and the findings of the Operation X documentary about life at a prominent training farm in Denmark have me desperately, desperately afraid for our sport.

Because those farms clearly had a cultural institution of what is obviously animal cruelty. Wailing on horses with a whip, horses that are clearly not understanding what is being asked of them. A conversation between grooms about the best way to cover bloody spur marks so that the horses can be shown to potential buyers. These are easy things on which to draw the line, on which to say “this is absolutely not ok.”

But there’s a lot of things that experienced horsemen would completely understand, and the average muggle would not. Can you imagine why the non-horse-person would look askance at a chain lead shank over the nose of a horse that can get boisterous, even though we horse folks can clearly see it as an extra line of security when a 120-pound human leads a 1500-pound flight animal? Can you imagine seeing a six foot long whip, if you were a non horse person, and imagining the worst, even though such a device is a common tool to help tactfully and fairly teach piaffe from the ground? It’s long because horses are big, and we use it to touch the hind leg or top of the croup from a safe place, free of the kick zone, but the non-horsey don’t know that.

It’s why the broad-stroke social media comments like “The double bridle is torture” are really unhelpful. I saw that one recently. The double bridle is a tool. It can be used with tremendous tact and compassion. A snaffle is not inherently better, nor is a bitless bridle. I’ve seen plenty of ick riding in both. I’ve seen plenty of tactful use of spurs, just as I’ve seen plenty of ick use of them. And when we paint the internet with these broad strokes, we run the risk that the uneducated read them and perpetuate them. And that’s bad for sport.

Remember when the Modern Pentathlete had the rough go in 2021, and her coach reached through the fence and slapped the horse on the bum? The muggles lost their minds. The experienced horsemen of the world saw the unbelievably bad riding over pretty substantial fences, saw the horses that were TOTALLY unprepared for the job of taking beginner riders over big jumps, and saw how the horses were not allowed to be schooled by good riders to give them confidence in between rounds OR allowed to be pulled from the draw pool if they were starting to struggle, and thought… the open-palm slap is the thing the world is focused on?

This is the problem. The muggles don’t know enough to separate the real, honest-to-god horse abuse from the drivel. We should continue to have productive conversations about how best to do right by our animals, and we should ALL strive to live our lives as if a hidden camera is watching us do it. But we need to remember the consequences of MISGUIDED hysteria. Let’s talk about these things with level heads.

One of the things that I pride myself in the most is not being a shill for products. When I recommend something, I want people to know that I truly believe in it and use it in my day-to-day life. But I’m also a girl who’s gotta pay her bills, so if there’s a way to make a few pennies recommending stuff I’d be recommending anyway, then game on.

Enter the Amazon Affiliates program. So yes, I’ll get a kickback if you order via these links. But I pinkie promise that these are things I use on a regular, sometimes even DAILY, basis, and I’d tell you they were great anyway.

*Updated to include links to some virtual lesson gear, and also a handy chair I love for my desk-job riders!*

SUN HATS: I’ve got a big head. I’ve also got long hair. And I’ve got super fair skin, so if the sun touches me, I will quite simply burst into flames. I’ve got two sun hat recommendations for those of us with bigger noggins, though they do come in normal noggin sizes as well. And they both have ponytail holes!

This one is cute and foldable and straw-esque. They make a big deal about how you have to steam it; I didn’t and my life has, somehow, managed to go on even though my hat does get slightly creased. Definitely has been worn at the barn, though it’s so dang cute that I keep it more as my muggle hat.

My dedicated barn hat is this guy, which does fold up, but doesn’t roll up, so it’s not as easy to pack. But it’s comfy as hell and breathes well, and it’s a super-solid brim; no rays are getting past this bad boy!

SUNSCREEN: On the subject of being a Paleface, this is my favorite sunscreen. Mineral sunscreen means gentler on your skin, as well as VASTLY gentler on coral reefs, but straight up zinc oxide is actually whiter than I am, something I didn’t think was possible. Australian Gold tints this product in a few different skin tones (I wear the “Fair To Light” color) so it’s not so chalky, and of all the tinted ones I’ve tried, this is the smoothest to apply and most comfortable to wear.

BANDS: If you’ve ever ridden in a clinic with me, I’ve probably put a band on you. This band – which I use in the XS/Blue size – goes diagonally across the body from heel of boot over opposing shoulder, and is great for activating the rider’s leg and core, as well as proprioception. I’ll either use one on a rider’s weak side, or more often I’ll use them as a pair.

This is the band I put a rider’s wrists through, so they have to push their wrists out against it, activating their core muscles and also making it much harder to ride with the elbows out.

The bands I connect to the rider’s thumbs, behind the back, to both encourage breathing and proprioception into the back, as well as to discourage pulling back on the reins. The pickle with these bands is that they only come in sets of 12; if you want to order just one, I’ll sell you one of mine, or bring it to a clinic for you. (Shoot me an email.) But here’s the whole set. 

And not quite a band, but a chair. If you’re a person who works at a desk all day, you have tiiiiight hip flexors. I love this chair for you all, because it allows for some longer leg (though you may need to raise your desk to get maximum benefit), as well as a complimentary core workout at the same time.

VIRTUAL LESSON NECESSITIES: If you take virtual lessons, these are the things you need. First up, the Pivo is far-and-away the superior virtual lesson system. It’s cheap, there’s no subscription fee to use, and unlike certain (ahem) expensive-as-hell systems out there, if the Pivo gets distracted by a bumblebee or something, your instructor can take over the robot. I bring my Pivo to shows – with multiple horses in the warmup, where the Pivo tracking algorithm would be useless – and my coach can just take over the robot and control it herself from her computer.

You’ll also need some industrial-strength bluetooth headphones. Your earbuds aren’t good enough – not enough range, not enough sound quality. These headphones have the range and quality you need, and are designed for athletes so you can sweat on them or ride in the rain without a disaster.

I’ll update this list for anything we use a ton of in the barn!

I didn’t know Jimmy Wofford long, nor did I know him well. But from our first meeting he dazzled me with his tremendous respect for the horse and for horsemen. He treated me, a nobody dressage trainer from Nowhereland, like a peer. He was quick to help, and earnest in his passion for helping horses be their best. And he was so tremendously proud of his charges.

We’d met a few times before I reached out to him two years ago to talk fitness with Elvis, a horse who’d always felt to me like he would muscularly burn out. Jimmy took time out of his busy life to take me through a conditioning program, and then again through his thoughts on downtime, that changed our lives, and allowed Elvis to become a Grand Prix horse.

I kept Jimmy updated on Elvis’s adventures, and we playfully called him “his dressage horse.” He always had a kind word (even about a sport he claimed to not understand), and I’m so sad they never got to meet.

He was a joyous person, respectful and brilliant, and yet always with a twinkle in his eye. One of our last interactions was this one, after I’d bitten it off a young horse I had in training with a friend who runs out of Fox Covert, the Wofford family farm:

I hope Jimmy’s friends and family find comfort and peace. May we all live a life so highly regarded, and be so universally loved.

‘Tis the season – the season where many people are thinking about holiday gifts for their dedicated barn staff, horsey caretakers, and equine enthusiasts. Here are a few great gifts for the horse person in your life – professionals, amateurs, and youth riders alike.

1. A Ride iQ membership. Ride iQ is a revolutionary app that provides audio lessons on a huge range of subjects – dressage, jump work, ground work, sports psychology for riders, fitness, and more. Members get real-time instruction from some of the best in the business (including me!), plus access to an awesome Facebook group for members, some terrific podcasts, and more.

2. Fir-Tech goodies for horses and riders. Fir-Tech is a ceramic fiber from Catago, and is of similar quality to other similar products from other brands, but at way better pricing. I particularly love Elvis’s Stable Boots at horse shows when he’s not able to get the same amount of turnout as he does at home, and the Neck Brace for me. It’s great for when I’m a little stiff… which never happens, obviously, as a professional rider…

3. Kingsley Boots. Kingsley came to me four years ago and wanted me to try their boots. I’d been a longtime proponent of another prominent German riding boot, but the Kingsleys had me at hello, with their stiff exterior but remarkably short break-in time, their custom fit, and their many many fun options (even though I’m their most boring rider and my boots are rarely all that exciting). I just retired my pair of everyday boots after FOUR YEARS – an incredible run for a pro! I think everything Kingsley makes is wonderful, but I’m a huge fan of their fleece lining, which they can put into any of their boots, including these stunning work boots.

4. Roeckl Gloves. I live in Roeckl Gloves year-round, because they’re hard to kill… and lord knows I try. Much of the year I’m in the Madrid, but my winter favorite is the Winter Roeckl Grip. They’re warm enough for winter riding but thin enough that I’m not burdened by bulk.

5. The Mantra bangle. Everything from Swanky Saddle is gorgeous, but I particularly love these Mantra Bangles, especially the GRIT one – my fav, and based on my cool tattoo! And they’re on clearance right now, so go get ’em.

6. The Neue Schule Turtle Top Snaffle. What I really want everyone to do is bring in my friend Stephanie Brown Beamer for a bit fitting, but she’s one person, and she can’t be everywhere. But riding in a quality bit that fits well is a great start, and this is my workhorse bit. Almost everything in my life is going in a version of it, so it’s as close to a sure thing as exists. By the way, you’re probably riding in a bit that’s too bit as well – even Rowan, the 100% Irish Draught in my life, goes in a M. You just do not need a 6″ bit, friends, it’s not possible.

7. A Pivo. I first bought a Pivo to record my rides for my own review, and it gets a solid B at that job – easy set up, holds a charge well, but every now and then does this Exorcist thing where it spins around and loses me. But the real superpower of the Pivo is its virtual lesson capacity, because the instructor can take over the robot. It’s so easy (I’ve been meaning to make a video for social media on how I do it, and I’ve just been slammed; hopefully this will light a fire under my ass to get it done), the lesson hosting system is free to use, and they’re on sale for 50% off right now.

8. The Pro Lite Multi Riser half pad. Why not wear a shock absorbing saddle pad when you ride, and protect your horse’s back? This is my favorite because the pockets for shims allow me to get creative and extend the fit of my saddles as my young horses develop and change. Every horse, every day!

9. OneK Avance with MIPS. Do me a favor and check the date on your helmet. If it’s older than 3 years, time to get a new one. If you don’t know how old it is, time to get a new one. If you’ve bonked your head in it, it’s REALLY time to get a new one. And frankly, if it’s not a MIPS, it’s time to get a new one. MIPS technology is really worth the investment, because it’s so superior in its protection to a traditional ASTM hat, and the OneKs are such great bang for your buck. I like the Avance for its sun protection, and you can also customize your helmet with some great color pieces.

10. A gift card for a car detailing. Horse girl cars are… something else. A nice detailing is such an incredible gift, and it’s something certainly we horse pros never do for ourselves!