Qualia Dressage LLC

09/19/2022

“If you look at any field, whether it’s in business or sports, the best of the best all have one thing in common: they are students and always learning. If you are a good student you will never truly ‘lose’ a competition. One of two things will happen when that competition is over: either you’ve won or you’ve learned something, and if you’ve learned, you haven’t lost. You need to always have that mindset because success tends not to be a great teacher. Failure is a much better teacher. Accepting and utilizing that is a quality of a good student.” - Ian Millar
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09/12/2022

Little Milja was a rock star for her first field trip! Huge thank you to Cassidy Hageman for giving her such a confidence-building experience—it’s so important for the youngsters. Really excited about this little mare, and can’t wait to get her in the show ring next year.

09/08/2022

That face! Sweet Vamilja (Vitalis x Sir Donnerhall II). 🥰

09/02/2022

Playing catch up on some show results! We had a super successful show at Dressage, By Chance? at the end of July. Rhonda VanLowe’s Escritor HGF was High Score Second Level on Saturday—really proud of this boy for his good effort after being out of the show ring for a year.

Sierra Stewart’s Furst of All was a superstar, winning First Level Test 2 with a career high score for me of 80.286%. 🤯
He was First Level High Score, and Professional High Score of the show.

Huge thank you to Rhonda and Sierra, for allowing me to show their super horses! And thanks Michele and team for a wonderful show, as always.

Photos 📸: InFocus by Bruce

08/29/2022

We had an amazing time at Festival of Champions. Qualifying was my stretch goal for this year, and to be honest I didn’t think we would. But we did, and it was such an honor just to be there. I’m so proud of Hans for handling the electric atmosphere so well. It was a wonderful learning experience for both of us. This was our last show for the year—time to focus on finishing the Grand Prix work.

Huge thank you to Ali Brock for coaching, and for the amazing lesson. As always, thank you to my long time coach Jeremy Steinberg (Jeremy Steinberg Dressage) for all your help developing Hans.

Cassidy Hageman was a wonderful groom and travel buddy. Thank you for giving sweet Hansi so much love.

Thank you to everyone who helps keep Hansi feeling good—body workers Rebecca Douglass and Courtney Molino, farrier Kevin Oyarzo, vet Dr. Lewis, and saddle fitters/sponsors Cate & Theresa - Maryland Certified Saddle Fitters and Custom Saddlery.

So many people took the time to call me or send me supportive messages—it made my week, thank you.

Photos by the amazing SusanJStickle.com Equestrian Photography & Design Services

08/23/2022

Lamplight photo dump part 1!

08/22/2022

Beautiful morning for a jog! We’re accepted and ready to compete this afternoon.

07/28/2022

So proud of this amazing horse for qualifying for the USEF I-1 National Championship at Festival of Champions in August. Chicago here we come!

07/18/2022

Dressage at Lexington is always one of my favorite shows of the year, and we had a great showing! Thank you VADA, Bettina and everyone involved in putting on such a big show—great job as always. I wasn’t entirely convinced I was going to be able to ride at this show—I got COVID a couple of weeks ago, and it really hit me hard. I wasn’t able to do much riding until Tuesday of this week.

Sierra Stewart’s Furst of All was a rock star, winning both of his classes on a 70% and 72%, and winning First Level High Score for Saturday.

Grace Lotsikas did her first show with my Wachenheim and did a super job, winning 4 out of 5 classes (second in the fifth class) with scores up to 67% at Second Level. They were also Second Level Reserve Champion in the SHAC.

Lucy Tidd was Reserve Champion in the GP Challenge, and fourth in the FEI Musical Freestyle Challenge.

My Hans won his FEI Musical Freestyle class on Friday on just under 70%, I scratched him from his other class and we had a nice schooling ride instead.

Jessie Ginsburg and Vodie had great schooling session on Saturday, chipping away at the GP work.

Huge thanks as always to my sponsors Custom Saddlery / Cate & Theresa - Maryland Certified Saddle Fitters

Last but not ever least, immense gratitude to the amazing Cassidy Hageman who kept everyone going at home, doing her usual wonderful job. She also busted her butt keeping everyone going while I was out sick for six days with COVID. I could not do this without her!

06/29/2022

It looked like a photo shoot in the arena today! 👯‍♀️

05/27/2022

“Success is a label that the world confers on you, but mastery is an ever-onward 'almost.'” - Sarah Lewis, The Rise 📸:

05/22/2022

Thank you SusanJStickle.com Equestrian Photography & Design Services for these beautiful photos of Hans competing in the inaugural CDI Lexington this weekend. We were second in both the PSG and I-1, with scores of nearly 68% in both. Especially proud of his I-1 test, as this was only his third time competing at that level. Lots to clean up to earn higher scores, but I couldn’t be prouder of him. This was a really busy, electric environment (there was a hunter/jumper show running concurrently), and he focused so well. Such a good boy. 🖤

Huge thank you to my sponsors Custom Saddlery Cate & Theresa - Maryland Certified Saddle Fitters.

05/06/2022

Pretty jazzed to run my first road race in close to ten years. A series of injuries have constantly set me back (e.g.: shoulder surgery 2014 x2, 2018, 2020, 2022, and hip surgery in 2016 and 2019), so I haven’t stayed sound enough to train and complete a race at any distance, much less this distance (half marathon). But I did it! And I even crushed my goal of running under two hours, completing in 1:52:37–a personal best for me, beating out the 1:53:36 I ran ten years ago. I’m for sure no elite runner, but I love the physical and mental challenge of running.

04/29/2022

Congratulations to Cassidy Hageman on a great start to the show season with Waki! First place in 3-3 and Third Level High Score. Thanks for riding my boy so well, Cassidy!

04/27/2022

Great start to the season last weekend at Loch Moy! Hans was a rock star Saturday in the Prix St. Georges, winning the class and High Score PSG with a 71.765%. 🖤 Sunday he became slightly unhinged by the cross country clinic going on at the showgrounds, but still managed nearly a 66% in his first go at I-1. Huge thank you to Cassidy Hageman for all of her help over the weekend!

04/26/2022

“'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”
- The Velveteen Rabbit
Happy 29th birthday to my Mouse. 23 years together. So many fun memories. I love seeing you so happy in retired life. 🐭💕

02/19/2022

A good reminder at the end of what was a tough week for me personally. Horses can really break your heart sometimes. 💔

Mikalea Shiffrin with a powerful message after a disappointing Olympics ❤️

(via Mikaela Shiffrin/IG)

02/14/2022

Today, my sweet Ghosty would have turned 27. Hard to believe he has been gone for almost 7 years now. These photos by Bob Langrish do such a good job of capturing his soulful eyes. 🤍

02/09/2022

Super clinic with Jeremy Steinberg last weekend. Hans felt amazing! We’ll probably stay at the small tour level this year to continue gaining confidence and rideability in the ring, but Grand Prix is getting closer. 🖤

01/31/2022

Proud and honored to be a part of this special team’s story. ❤️

Congratulations to our 2021 CDCTA Award Winners!

Jessie Ginsburg and Vodermus
Champion – Musical Freestyle
Reserve Champion – Intermediare I
Reserve Champion – Intermediare II

"Gratitude. In 2021, I was grateful that Vodie and I were both sound and healthy all year. Vodie, at 19-years-old just keeps getting better and makes every ride a joy."

Pics of You photo.

01/14/2022

Fun memories of showing my wonderful Waki in the Grand Prix at Tryon a few years ago for . Love this special boy so much. 🖤 📸: .malmgren

01/12/2022

Lesson with Siobhan Byrne

I donated a lesson to PVDA’s silent auction. If you’ve considered trying a lesson with me, here’s your chance to do that, and support PVDA at the same time.

Auction item 'Lesson with Siobhan Byrne' hosted online at 32auctions.

01/12/2022

So proud of Jessie Ginsburg for receiving this grant! I can’t think of a more deserving person. Jessie gives so much to our local dressage community, in addition to being an all-around great person. ❤️

Region 1: Jessie Ginsburg (VA): "I am so grateful to The Dressage Foundation for awarding me a Gifted Memorial Fund grant, which is particularly special to me as I remember watching Carol Lavell and Gifted’s rides at Grand Prix and was so inspired by them. As an amateur with a challenging day job, I greatly appreciate the Gifted Fund’s support that will allow me to get some concentrated training and focus exclusively on my riding and my wonderful horse, Vodie, as I prepare to head down centerline for my Grand Prix debut."
Photo provided by Pics of You

01/11/2022

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” — Earl Nightingale 📸: .malmgren

12/31/2021

We had a fantastic competition year, with several horses and riders from our program ranking in the top 20 in the country with USDF and/or All-Breed Awards. Congratulations to:

Lucy Tidd and Ellert HB:
1st place, KWPN-NA Adult Amateur Grand Prix
8th place, HOY Adult Amateur Grand Prix

Jessie Ginsburg and Vodermus:
11th place, HOY Adult Amateur Intermediate 2

Carol Thomas and Gentle:
2nd place, KWPN-NA Adult Amateur Second Level Freestyle
5th place, KWPN-NA Adult Amateur Third Level Freestyle
6th place, KWPN-NA Adult Amateur Third Level

Siobhan Byrne and Hans:
4th place, Fourth Level Musical Freestyle Challenge
11th place, HOY Open Fourth Level
18th place, HOY Open Fourth Level Freestyle

We also had several riders earn USDF Medals and Freestyle Bars:

Lucy Tidd - Gold Freestyle Bar
Siobhan Byrne - Silver Freestyle Bar
Carol Thomas - Bronze Freestyle Bar
Kathy Curtis - Bronze Medal

12/28/2021

Timeline photos

// Training Tip Tuesday - Higher Movements //

The four basic responses of go, stop, turn and yield underpin all we do with horses, even to the highest level. They become refined and sometimes described in more technical terms, but they still break down to these four fundamental responses.

Take 'higher movements' in dressage as an example. Each higher movement consists of two or more of the four basic responses in a specific sequence.

For example, the components of a Pirouette are:
1. The steps are shortened and collected (stop response)
2. The horse flexes and bends in direction of travel
3. The forelegs turn in the direction of the pirouette (turn response)
4. The hindlegs yield (to a smaller extent) in the direction of the pirouette (yield response).

Therefore, once the basic responses are properly trained, the horse is generally able to perform at least a single step of a movement.

Following this, the movements themselves require gradual shaping so they progress from a step to a stride and so forth.

It follows that when movements fail, trainers should go back to repair faults that will be evident in the basic responses.

12/21/2021

Super clinic with this past weekend! I made up for missing the last one (I was competing at Devon) by getting to ride three horses with him both days this time. Here’s ‘s Kayla (Ferdeaux x Metall), the fanciest little pocket rocket around! Love this mare. 🚀💕

12/08/2021

Sad to see that the father of my Grand Prix horse, Wachenheim aka “Waki” (Worldly x Westwall) has died. From looking at the photos in the article, I can see who Waki got his big ears and beautiful face from. ❤️

https://eurodressage.com/2021/12/05/hanoverian-stallion-worldly-passed-away

12/08/2021

THE RIDERS ARMS

A common issue we see is too straight an arm, this tends to set or lock out the arm so it becomes rigid and lacks the elasticity from the elbow.
The wrists, hands, and fingers have to be completely relaxed. If the wrists are stiff, they block the energy flow in both directions, and the horse will brace with his jaw and poll.

The info below is courtesy from Riding

Original post
https://www.facebook.com/RitterDressage/photos/a.626824274029086/4827621343949337/

In this photo from the Cadre Noir the hand looks very soft and relaxed, without any tension. You can also see the pelbow connection. Without a good Pelvis-Elbow connection (a.k.a. “Pelbow”), the wrists and fingers tend to be stiff.

"This mobility of the wrist enables the fist to feel gently, which contributes so much to the pleasantness as well as the skill of riding, whereas a stiff joint cannot help but be hard, transmitting all rein aids in a rude manner, without any sensitivity or delicacy."
(Christian Ehrenfried Seifert von Tennecker, 1805)

12/01/2021

Thank you to Susan J Stickle for these beautiful photos of Hans at USDF Finals. 🖤 📸:

11/30/2021

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other. “
- Walter Elliot
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11/22/2021

I’m extremely proud of my student Abby Rowe, who was selected as a recipient of the 2021 Cynthia Aspden Grant. She’ll be using this grant to help her attend the D4K WIT program in Florida this winter.

11/20/2021

My assistant trainer, Charlotte, observing my remote lesson with Jan and Grayson. 🤍 Jan moved to Colorado in August, but thanks to the wonders of technology, I am still able to teach her and Grayson via the Pixem system! And teaching by the fire in windy, 40 degree weather ain’t bad. 😜

11/17/2021

Hansi says thanks Auntie Melissa for the delicious cookies!

11/14/2021

Third place in Fourth Level Open Freestyle at USDF Finals with a 71.289%. So proud of this amazing horse. 🖤

11/14/2021

Very proud of Hans for finishing third in the Fourth Level Freestyle Open division at Finals today. We had a rough go in the regular Fourth Level championship on Saturday—he warmed up super but got really overwhelmed in the Rolex arena. Due to the pouring rain the day we arrived, I was never able to ride in there—not a recipe for success with him at this point. The combination of very cold weather, wind, and lots of atmosphere is very challenging when you have a hot, sensitive horse.

I was honestly pretty bummed out, as I think he is so special and want to give him the ride he deserves always. I considered scratching, but decided we had to try again and give it our best shot. Well, he totally stepped up and we had a great go in the Alltech this morning, earning a 71.289% and finishing third. Because I am a crazy person, I redid my freestyle with new music and choreography two weeks before Finals, practiced it at home twice on Wednesday, and showed it for the first time today. 🤪

Huge thanks to:

JJ Tate for the support and warm up help today, as well Richard Malmgren who is also always so supportive of me and my horses.

My coaches Jeremy Steinberg and Ali Brock, for all of their continued help and advice.

Lucy Tidd for being the best friend and horse show road trip pal a girl could want. Each of us got in over 20k steps (over 8 miles) on Saturday walking each other around forever on our spicy young horses. 🌶🔥

Custom Saddlery for their sponsorship and Cate & Theresa - Maryland Certified Saddle Fittersfor always taking care of me and my clients.

Our fantastic farrier Kevin Oyarzo who squeezed Hans in for an earlier shoeing before we left so his toes would be in tip top shape.

Courtney Molino of Hands on Horses for making a special trip to give Hans, Ellert and Kayla some pre-show body work.

Our wonderful Locks Edge staff, who take such great care of the horses.

All of my friends and clients who blew my phone up with text messages! 🥰

And lastly, huge congratulations to my friend Ashley Perkins for winning this class! Way to go, lady. ❤️

11/12/2021

Timeline photos

// Friday Fact - Genetic potential //

Every horse is different. All horses vary in their genetic potential. Some horses may 'trial' certain behaviours such as bucking, or they may be over-sensitive to pressures, or less sensitive and prone to what some might call 'laziness'. These are learned responses, not personality disorders. Whatever the genetic potential, training can confirm or deny these behaviours, and their potential to escalate. Early training is therefore critical in targeting the correct responses and resolving tension so that undesirable behaviour is not practised and never becomes a habit.

It is erroneously believed by some that because all horses are different, they require different techniques of training. The truth is, however, that all horses learn to respond to leg or rein pressures by the same processes, so training should tap into these learning processes. Differences among horses are accounted for by differences only in the amount of pressure required to produce responses as well as the number of repetitions. Some aspects of training require more emphasis than others. These differences are not related to the horses' intelligence, but to their inherited and learned sensitivity.

(Excerpt from the book 'Academic Horse Training', p. 14)

11/09/2021

Timeline photos

The use of positive reinforcement is appropriate as soon as the horse responds to light lead-rein signals that arise from correct pressure/release training (negative reinforcement). Research shows that caressing the wither area is rewarding and so as a primary positive reinforcer it can conveniently replace food in most situations.

Secondary reinforcement means association the caressing with a marker such as the words 'good boy' or 'good girl'. To be at all effective, you must say the words at the precise moment of the correct behaviour and then follow soon after with the caress on the withers. It is also important not to devalue your secondary positive reinforcer by saying the words 'good boy' carelessly and without whiter caressing or you will decrease its reinforcing properties.

At basic attempt and obedience level, you should use secondary positive reinforcement for each correct response that arises from a light aid, and then gradually diminish the reinforcement to an occasional basis as you progress through the later criteria of each response.

(Excerpt of the book 'Academic Horse Training', p. 63)

10/26/2021

Tuesdays, amirite? 🤪

10/25/2021

“Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.”
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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10/19/2021

Congratulations to everyone on their success at Regionals! We had a great time and got a few horses qualified for USDF Finals as well.

Abby Rowe and Freewill had an outstanding showing, winning both the Junior Team and Fourth Level Jr/YR championships on 68%+ scores with lovely, harmonious riding. So proud of this team.

Jessie Ginsburg and Vodermus had some unfortunate tension problems in their I-2 championship, ending up in 5th. Still so proud of these two, who only moved up to I-2 in August. Anyone who has done that leap knows how hard it is, especially when you and your horse are both green to it.

Carol Thomas and Gentle were 8th in the Second Level MFS championship, and third in a huge Second Level AA championship with a solid 66%+. This team is all qualified for USDF Finals!

Lucy Tidd and Ellert HB had a fantastic go in the Grand Prix MFS championship, earning a 71%+ and placing 4th. In the Grand Prix AA championship they received a 64%+ for 3rd. Lucy and Kayla were Reserve Champion in the First Level AA championship with a 72%+. Both horses are qualified for USDF Finals as well.

Hans and I struggled with some tension at the beginning of this show, but he got better and better as the weekend went on. We were 7th in the Fourth Level MFS championship, with a huge unfortunate problem in one movement that put me way off my music and pattern. But on Sunday we had our best go of the weekend, earning 5th place and a wildcard score for Finals with a 68%+ in the Fourth Level Open division.

Very proud of everyone. It was a fun (albeit long and exhausting 🤪) weekend, but we had a lot of laughs and everyone was so supportive of one another. Looking forward to a break in showing, and getting to train without interruption for a while.

Photo of Hans in the ring by Kyle Peiffer.

10/06/2021

A few of my favorite photos of Hans at Devon, taken by the very talented Richard Malmgren!

10/04/2021

Closing out the weekend at with a victory lap. Thank you, Hansi. 🖤

10/04/2021

So this happened today! So, so proud of Hans for winning Fourth Level Test 3 today at Dressage at Devon with a 67%+. This was a challenging show for him with the electric environment, and he got better and better every day. Still working on being able to keep the level of relaxation and swing we have in the warm up in the show ring, but I know it will come with time and experience. He is just the sweetest, most genuine horse—it’s an honor to work with him, and I just love him so much. 🖤

Huge thank you to my coaches Jeremy Steinberg and Ali Brock for their help prepping for this show, and to JJ Tate for the super coaching this weekend. Thank you as well to Richard Malmgren for taking beautiful photos, and being so encouraging.

Thank you to everyone involved in getting ready for this weekend—my sponsor Custom Saddlery / Cate & Theresa - Maryland Certified Saddle Fitters for making sure Hansi’s saddle was fitting perfectly, Kevin Oyarzo with his impeccable farrier work, and the whole Locks Edge staff, who care for all of the horses so well. Not to mention all of my friends and clients who were so supportive in person or via text! You’re the best.