Hello everyone. I took a little bit of a break from this group - not because I felt any less passionate about it, but because I had a lot of in-person work to do with riders and that divided my attention. One of my big goals for 2026 is to continue to grow this community. I feel strongly that a supportive community is such an important part of a rider's confidence journey. Please bring any and all of your questions to this group. The questions that you all raise are not questions that only you have - and sometimes other people will ask questions we didn't know we had either. If you're not already, follow me on IG @nwdressage and Tiktok @nwdressage2 where I already have some video content posted. But in the meantime, keep your ideas coming. Answer the following two questions: What was your toughest moment this year? What was your best moment?

Do you ever experience difficulty mounting? Or does someone you know? Riders of all ages can struggle with this, as the range of motion required to get onto a horse - and over a saddle - can be more than we expect. Stretching will help, but take a look at this video for some technique tips on mounting your horse more easily! One more tips - If you are experiencing difficulty, take a good look at the equipment that you're using. If the saddle is too bulky or has a cantle (that's the back!) that is too high, you can be making it more difficult than it needs to be. This can actually be dangerous if you get hung up during mounting or dismounting. A switch to a different brand or style of saddle, along with a better technique, can help mounting go more smoothly and safely

A late transition. A drifting circle. A crooked line. These can seem like "wrong answers" from the horse. But did your horse still slow down even though you asked for a halt? Did your horse speed up even though you asked for a trot? Your horse heard you and tried! And if you ride that try—by softening, redirecting, and praising—you’ll keep the conversation open! Ask your horse: “How can I help you find the right answer?” 💬 Question for riders: Do you feel like your horse is trying? Even if it isn't perfect?

Regular lessons with a trainer that you know and trust are a good way to make progress with your horse and your riding. How are regular lessons different than riding in a clinic? A clinic is a lesson or set of lessons that are given by a visiting instructor. This can be set up at your home barn or at an outside location. The outside instructor may be visiting from another area, may be more specialized than your regular coach or even work in a different discipline. A clinician can offer new perspective and new challenges for you and your horse to work on. Some things may work well for you and others might not be as good of a fit in the long run. It is always good to take the opportunity to broaden your knowledge base and experiences. Don't hesitate to tell the clinician what you are working on or what you feel you need help with. This will set your lesson up for success! Most clinics allow an audience or auditors who are not riding. This means that you can learn from the clinician by listening to them and train your eyes by watching others ride. If you aren't sure you're ready to ride in a clinic, try watching first to gain some insight into the clinician's teaching methods.

Thank you for joining our community! Let's get to know each other! I'm Nicole, a dressage trainer based in Los Angeles, and I’ve helped countless riders overcome show nerves, overcome their doubts or fears, and ride with confidence. Building confidence is a process that - like training a horse - happens one step at a time. I’m so excited to support you on your journey! ✨Step 1: 👇 Introduce yourself and where you're from What's your favorite breed of horse? Or what kind of horse do you have? Add A GIF for extra flair! ✨Bonus: Become a Level 2 member FAST for free courses 👇 Reply to at least two other group members and start real conversations! When you are done - CLICK ME FOR STEP 2 👈