Larson-Downes Equestrian

Larson-Downes Equestrian Lessons - Training - Western - English

Helping horses and riders find a better connection

05/03/2026

Sometimes all you need is to be surrounded by the right people to reach your full potential. It’s all coming together for Fiona and I, I’m so proud of us.

Well doing the logical steps hasn’t worked so we are resorting to “witchy voodoo stuff” now for good fortune going into ...
05/02/2026

Well doing the logical steps hasn’t worked so we are resorting to “witchy voodoo stuff” now for good fortune going into the show season. Happy Beltane everyone! Yellow ribbon in Fiona’s mane to ward of bad spirits and a “may flower” to bless the space for the summer to come 🌼🌻🌕 had a great ride, maybe it’s already working ;)

More photo dumping because it’s important to celebrate the good days 💕
04/22/2026

More photo dumping because it’s important to celebrate the good days 💕

Big steps for this girl! We are getting so excited to get out and strut out stuff. ❤️ I am just so proud of of her!! I a...
04/22/2026

Big steps for this girl! We are getting so excited to get out and strut out stuff. ❤️ I am just so proud of of her!! I am also very grateful to the folks around me. and everyone at .equestrians for being so supportive and helping to guide Fiona and I to our full potential.

04/16/2026

Fiona would like to remind everyone that despite the snow it is actually spring!!! It’s in the air and she’s full of fresh energy! 🌸💐🌼

My pretty girl 🖤 🥰
03/05/2026

My pretty girl 🖤 🥰

Western & English — Training & Lessons Start 2026 off right, send me a DM to see how I can help!
12/31/2025

Western & English — Training & Lessons Start 2026 off right, send me a DM to see how I can help!

Swipe left to see the evolution 🤩 Can we talk about frames? I usually steer very clear of making posts talking about tr...
12/11/2025

Swipe left to see the evolution 🤩 Can we talk about frames? I usually steer very clear of making posts talking about training choices, frames, contact, connection… it’s a bit of a controversy- if you know, you know.

Over the summer and fall, I have been working with Sam and her horse Fox. First of all, Sam is such a wonderful rider. Her position in these pictures is just so classic and wonderfully aligned, she works hard at It every day!

This pair is a textbook example of a couple of important things to remember when we think about developing a dressage horse (or any horse but that’s a conversation for another time 😂) Fox is an 11 year old OTTB mare with all of the usual challenges: a bit stiff, on the forehand, likes to either doddle behind the leg or gets fast and off balance. From the beginning my approach with Fox has been this: long and low is a trap. Ride her out open and forward most of the time with a following contact and the rest will come with time.

It’s very tempting to see a horse with a stiff neck who likes to go behind the leg or fast and choppy and work “long and low” for a couple of reasons: 1) when the horse goes long and low we see her use different muscles in the neck and it creates the illusion of suppleness and roundness. 2) it temporarily resolves the problems with forward and balance. It is especially important that Fox learns how to carry the rider by pushing with her back legs instead of pulling herself along with her front end so that when she’s ready to start travelling more uphill and think about collection, the conversation is already about the back legs and how to move forward in balance.

We wouldn’t be able to achieve any of this by working her long and low. Eventually we can go there, but first we need to be okay with a slightly “above the bit” feeling so that she can develop enough strength to lift her front end off the ground. When I watch a horse go, I look at the conformation and think “how is the horse moving forward and how is the horse carrying the rider… what is going to help the horse learn to lift the rider and travel with relaxation and rhythm” more often than not, it starts with “out open and forward, then moments of flexion and bend”

I’d also like to do a shout out to Catherin The Equine Bodyworker, she has helped us so much with keeping fox feeling great as well as Precision Saddle Fitting for guiding us through the foggy and challenging world of saddle fit!

Such beautiful smiles Fiona 😅 we need to learn a new trick
12/05/2025

Such beautiful smiles Fiona 😅 we need to learn a new trick

12/03/2025

Dotty and Ariana putting in the work 😍

Address

Airdrie, AB
T4B2B5

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 7:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 7:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 7:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 7:30pm
Sunday 9:30am - 7:30pm

Telephone

+15878774541

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Larson-Downes Equestrian posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category