Ailish Hill Dressage Training

11/11/2025

🐴 Fun & Learning at Ailish Hill Dressage! 🐴

We had a fantastic time yesterday learning all things horsey with a great group of beginner horse enthusiasts!

At Ailish Hill Dressage, we explore every aspect of horsemanship — from building strong relationships and clear communication with horses to understanding welfare and improving riding skills.

We also make sure learning is fun, with games, friendly competitions, and engaging activities to build confidence and connection.

✨ We currently have some availability for a teen girls’ group, meeting weekly or fortnightly.
🌿 School holiday groups can also be arranged — a perfect mix of horsemanship and riding!

📞 For enquiries or to book, contact Ailish on 0421 849 439 or send a PM.

04/11/2025

Trail Ride Thursday is happening this week 3pm to 5pm. If you would like to join a small group of like-minded others for a guided trail ride in the beautiful Eumundi State Forrest, then reach out today!!

40pp

Reach out if youd like to join!

28/10/2025

Trail Ride Thursday is happening this week 3pm to 5pm. If you would like to join a small group of like-minded others for a guided trail ride in the beautiful Eumundi State Forrest, then reach out today!!

14/10/2025

Benefits of Trail Riding

The Natural Instincts of Horses
Horses are naturally curious animals, built to move across varied terrain while foraging for food and water. Their instinctive need to explore and navigate different environments is an essential part of their wellbeing.

Enhancing Fitness and Engagement
Trail riding is an excellent way to build fitness in both horse and rider. More than just a physical activity, it stimulates the horse's curiosity and sense of adventure, which can be particularly beneficial for horses that become disengaged or irritable when confined to repetitive arena work or a predictable routine.

Progression Beyond the Basics
Once the basic skills—such as stopping, going, and transitioning between walk, trot, and canter—are established and your horse can confidently face challenges in a confined area, trail riding offers the next step. Riding in a more open setting introduces new experiences and begins your journey into trail riding.

Guided Trail Rides with Ailish Hill Dressage
Ailish Hill Dressage is once again offering guided trail rides for those interested in exploring the outdoors in a safe environment. These rides are suitable for both first-timers and experienced riders who appreciate company and may have training questions along the way.

Social and Learning Opportunities
After the ride, participants are welcome to enjoy lunch or morning tea and connect with like-minded individuals, sharing experiences and building a sense of community.

Session Details
Trail rides are scheduled for Thursday evenings or Friday mornings, with other times available upon request. The cost is $50 per session, which includes guidance and answers to any horse training questions.

Thursdays 3pm – 5pm
Fridays 9am – 11am

contact Ailish for bookings: 0421849439 or DM

07/10/2025

🐎 Training Tip: Understanding and Redirecting Rearing Behaviour
Rearing is a form of communication, not just a behavioural issue. Horses rear for different reasons—fear, confusion, resistance, or even playfulness. You’ll often see young horses frolicking in the paddock rearing as part of their natural expression. It’s important to distinguish between playful energy and something more serious.

🩺 Step 1: Rule Out Pain
Always begin with a vet check to ensure the behaviour isn’t pain-related.

Ill-fitting tack, dental issues, or musculoskeletal discomfort can all trigger rearing.

🔄 Step 2: Redirect Before the Rear
If pain is ruled out, redirect the horse’s energy before the rear happens.

Ask the shoulders to move—this gives the horse a job, a direction, and a boundary.

Shoulder movement engages the horse’s mind and body, shifting focus from vertical resistance to lateral responsiveness.

🧠 Step 3: Groundwork & Awareness
Use groundwork to reinforce clear communication and spatial boundaries.

Remember: everything we do with our body is a message to the horse.

If a horse rears and we instinctively walk backward, we may unintentionally invite them into our space.

Instead, stay grounded, redirect, and maintain a calm, assertive presence.

🧭 Pro Tip:
Rearing is often a horse saying, “I don’t know what to do with this energy.” Your job is to guide that energy into movement, clarity, and connection.

18/09/2025

What do you think River.....a new activity, who's got roller blades🤣

10/09/2025

Nervous System Reset Clinic Recap – Rhythm, Connection & Mindfulness

Last Sunday, we had a truly special group of riders and fence sitters join us for the Dressage Nervous System Reset Clinic! The energy was supportive, curious, and full of connection.

🌿 Our theme of the day? RHYTHM.
We focused on establishing a rhythm that is balanced and comfortable for the horse, and reinforcing that with positive cues — a lighter seat, softer aids, or simply praise. These small shifts helped our horses feel less pressured and more connected to their mentor — the rider or handler.

✨ One powerful lesson stood out when a horse repeatedly rushed or leaned in/out. We recognized this behaviour as an attempt to return to his “safe spot”. Once the rider understood this and was given tools to create new safe spaces in the arena, both horse and rider began to move in better harmony and balance. It was beautiful to witness the transformation.

🧠 We also dived into a nervous system education session, which included a surprise ice foot bath — bringing everyone's survival instincts online! It was a playful yet profound reminder of how quickly our systems respond to stress… and how simple it can be to reset with breath, awareness, and mindfulness.

🌬️ After grounding with some light meditation and self-reflection, we moved into a practical, hands-on session with our equine partners. For those facing challenges with groundwork, we explored the fundamentals of body language and energy in lunging, with a focus on attunement and building trust.

Thank you to everyone who showed up with open hearts and minds. You made the day what it was 💛

🐴 Stay tuned — we’ve got another clinic in the works, and possibly a riders retreat on the horizon!

24/08/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1GoZ2HBSuA/

Another great analogy.....
This is why understanding where in our body we feel tension naturally and emotional regulation for us humans is so important in effective riding and training. Our horses feel everything!

Happy Riding 🐎

🐴DRESSAGE SOLUTIONS🐴 Improve Rein Connection

To improve your rein connection ...

Imagine your point of contact with the bit is in your elbows, triceps and back, and that your arms, wrists and hands are just extensions of the reins. This allows the connection to be held in your body rather than your hands and allows the hands and arms to be soft.
~ Jessica Miller

🎨 Sandy Rabinowitz