Alt Dressage

12/31/2025

2025 Wrapped 🎧
As the year comes to a close, I’m feeling incredibly grateful for the horses, riders, and team who made it what it was.

From clinics and shows to long days at the barn, this year was full of learning, growth, and steady progress.

Carrying a lot of gratitude into the new year 🤍

12/29/2025

This quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year is giving the horses and me some much-needed rest and a reset. I’m not entirely sure what day it is, but time is a construct and the feed schedule is the only real clock we follow🐴🪣

Wishing the AD Family a wonderful holiday season. Can’t wait to get back to work with you all in the new year!

11/27/2025

There’s so much to be grateful for, but I’ll keep it simple: to the horses, clients, parents, barn owners, barn staff, vets, farriers, and everyone in between—thank you for making this dream a reality… even on the days it feels a little (or a lot) like organized chaos.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving from Alt Dressage 💜

11/18/2025

We had the chance to clinic with international dressage competitor José Luis Padilla Liekens from Mexico, and the experience was fantastic. His depth of knowledge—especially with the Iberian breeds— along with his great eye for horses and riders and enthusiasm for teaching brought so much insight to both riders and auditors!
Thank you for such an inspiring clinic, José. We can’t wait for the next one!

11/08/2025

Had a great chat with one of my students today. Her ride went well, but she was still frustrated from a previous lesson, beating herself up over what didn’t go perfectly. I could see all the good moments, but she could only see the negatives.

I’m a firm believer in failing forward. In riding, like in life, we have to make mistakes to learn and make progress. Those mistakes aren’t failure; they’re an opportunity to try again and grow. Some of our toughest rides end up teaching us the most, and the best students are the ones willing to put themselves out there, fail, and learn.

So, happy Friday. Let’s fail forward!

11/03/2025

If you know anything about me, you know that I’m passionate about the idea of riding with gratitude— gratitude for the horses, our teachers (and tolerators!), for the privilege of being part of this sport, and this life with them.

It’s gratitude for the people who make it all possible. For the kids, that means the parents and families who support their passion, endless driving to lessons, paying for shows, and cheering from the sidelines. For the adults, it’s the mentors, the learning moments (both humbling and rewarding), and every chance to grow with and through our horses. And for me personally, it’s gratitude for every opportunity to keep learning—through lessons, clinics, and every horse I have the honor of riding.

I’m grateful for the people who have supported me, challenged me, and pushed me to grow. For the clients and horses who make this all possible. For the chance to wake up each day and do what I love, even when it’s hard work. Because at the end of the day, this life with horses is a gift, and I’m endlessly thankful to be part of it.

So, what does riding with gratitude mean to you?

11/01/2025

Some of the AD ponies wanted to show off their costumes! We think the greys must have coordinated their costumes this year🤨

Either way… Happy Halloween👻🎃🪦

10/20/2025

Good horsemanship and focused riding start the moment you walk into the barn, not when you swing your leg over your horse. How you get your gear ready, how you groom your horse and notice where he’s at in mind and body, tack up, and plan your ride sets the tone. Being deliberate about straight lines, good corners, and clear transitions in your warm up before a lesson and in every ride build habits that carry you forward. Your energy, focus, and attention to detail shape today’s ride, tomorrow’s progress, and next month’s goals. The little things are the big things, and how you begin is how you go on.

10/14/2025

Progress doesn’t come from perfect rides; it comes from consistent ones.

Small steps in training are what prepare a horse for the big ones, just like the steady effort from a rider builds skill and feel over time. In both cases, it’s about continuing to move forward, one ride, one day, one step at a time toward the road ahead.

Keep up the consistency, something good is coming.

09/25/2025

What a week at Championships — full of great rides, even better company, and so many moments to be proud of! 🌟
🏅Elliot wrapped up the week with a 6th place finish in both the DSE Medal Semi-Final (scoring a 70%) and the CDS JR/YR Training Level Championship. A fantastic showing in two very competitive classes!
🏅Kyla and Francisco also made a strong debut in their first championship together, holding their own in a large and tough open division. So much promise ahead for this new pair!

Now it’s time for some well-deserved rest and recovery for our equine athletes before we gear up for a busy few months of lessons, clinics, and lots of learning. Thank you California Dressage Society and United States Dressage Federation Official Page for a great show!

09/11/2025

Sorry for the radio silence—it’s been a busy stretch at the barn! Between hosting clinics, preparing for championships, and helping our junior riders settle into the school year, time has flown.

Here’s a moment from one of Kyla’s rides during our clinic with Tanya Vik a few weeks ago. We’re so fortunate not only to learn from incredible riders and clinicians, but to have routine access that allows for continuity from clinic to clinic and steady progress over time!

Stay tuned as we head out to CDS Annual Championships next week!📺

09/11/2025