Dressage with Amelia

• Independent Seat Webinar Replay

  Yesterday I held one of my all time favorite webinars, the Independent Seat Webinar, and I’m excited to share the replay with you. If you’ve ever wondered why your horse feels stiff, why your hands won’t stay quiet, or why transitions suddenly fall, it usually comes back to one thing: your seat.I hope it inspires you to make this winter your season for building real lasting stability in the saddle.If you want more step by step guidance and personalized feedback on your position, the Rider Position Blueprint is open now, with a 50% discount available through until Wednesday Dec 3rd.

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• Soft Hands & Following Elbows Q&A

  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 seatNicole 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 aidsInstead 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 scaleIf 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 gaitShe 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 problemsShe 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 upIf 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 ridingAmelia

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• Effective Leg & Following Seat Q&A

  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 thinkIf 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 upGrateful 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 ridingAmelia

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• Suppleness & Throughness Q&A

  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 forehandThis 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 workFor 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 mattersOnly 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 masterclassWe 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 upTo 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 ridingAmeliaPS. Check out the Inside Leg to Outside Rein Workshop here.

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• Confidence in the Saddle Q&A

  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 youWhy 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 confidenceOur 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 togetherClinic reflections with Albrecht and some breakthroughs with both our horsesWe also answered your live Q&A questions, including:How to keep your horse active without constant naggingWhat to do after your horse (or you) has had a scary fallHow to rebuild trust and confidence through small, consistent winsUnderstanding whether your horse is “hot” or “laid back”, and how to adapt your approachOne 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,AmeliaPS. 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.

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