Endless Endeavor Equestrian

07/02/2025

Some of you may have heard I'm no longer working out of Gladden Farm, but Endless Endeavor Equestrian is traveling to farms for lessons, training rides, clinics and coaching at shows!

If you’re interested in lessons or training rides, I'm available and traveling to barns in the area.

Plus, we have some exciting things in the works. When you visit my new website, make sure to join my email list so you're the first to know what’s on the horizon.

So, stay tuned for what's next, and if you want me to come and visit your barn, send me a message and let’s chat.

Thanks for being along for the ride here. I appreciate you!

06/26/2025

The essence of dressage is about building a connection with the horse that you have and bringing out the best of what they have to offer!

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and go after your dreams!

I didn’t grow up in a barn with chandeliers.
I didn’t get handed imported warmbloods or winter clinics in Wellington.
I rode whatever I could afford, wherever someone would let me ride.

I’ve hauled to shows in rusty trailers older than my horse.
I’ve trained in hand-me-down tack and boots with holes in them.
I’ve patched things together, gear, horses, life, with sheer grit.

No grooms. No sponsors. No trust fund.

Just work. And love. And more work.

Because dressage isn’t supposed to be about glitter and gloss.
It’s about a conversation, one you earn, stride by stride, over years of showing up.
It’s about feel. Patience. Timing. And truth.

I still muck my own stalls, braid my own horse, and coached myself from old VHS videos and borrowed books.
And still, I ride.
And its not for glory.
It's because something in me needs this.

So no, I’m not the polished rider with the perfect setup.
But I am the rider who never quit.
Who showed up when no one was watching.
Who forged something beautiful from sweat, stubbornness, and a secondhand saddle.

Call it blue collar. Call it rough around the edges.
Just make sure you call it dressage.
Because it is.

And it lives in my blood.

06/02/2025

Does your horse anticipate movements in a test?

When preparing for a show, I am careful to only ride the test its entirety a few times.

Horses very quickly learn the sequence of movements in a test and begin to anticipate the next movement or think ahead of their riders. This sometimes leads to rushing, breaking before ahead of transitions, or inattentiveness throughout the test.

Ride the test in its entirety a few weeks prior to a show to identify the portions of the test that need the most attention. Then select exercises to build the strength and understanding required of both the horse and rider to better execute those movements.

To check your progress, choose segments of the test to work on, note your progress, and adjust your training accordingly. Often, this means revisiting the concepts of the “dressage training pyramid” to perfect the foundational concepts.

During the week prior to a show, ride through the test as a whole a time or two in an effort to establish a flow through the movements and refine the details.

Remember to always have fun and reward your horse’s effort! Post your show pictures and success stories below. We would love to hear them!

05/31/2025

Do you have a young horse needing to be started under saddle?

Regardless of whether you have aspirations of that horse becoming a dressage horse or pursuing another discipline, putting a dressage foundation on a young horse has numerous benefits!

All horses can benefit from improving rhythm, suppleness, relaxation, and contact. Having a horse that moves freely, is supple, relaxed, adjustable, and working properly over their top line can be an asset in any ring!

If this resonates with you and your goals for your horse, inquire today about current options available for training with Endless Endeavor Equestrian.

Send me a message to learn more.

05/29/2025

Are you looking for ways to increase the score on your next dressage test?

Riding an accurate test is an easy way to earn a few extra points, even if your horse isn’t being the most cooperative partner.

Here are a few tips to help with accuracy:

Riding correct circles is one of the hardest skills to master. However, when used correctly, they are also one of the most valuable training tools. Shorten Your Reins is a website that I have no affiliation with; however, it contains some valuable diagrams related to arena geometry and reinforces the importance of knowing the arena dimensions and distances between letters. To take a look for yourself, visit https://shortenyourreins.com/arena_geometry

Know the movements in your test that are coefficients and set yourself up to be particularly successful executing those movements.

Keep your eyes and chin up! Looking where you want to go and riding to specific points will help you keep your horse straight and allow you to aim for your target points. This will also help you maintain a posture which will help your aids be most effective.

Breathe! Breathing helps you relax and alleviate some of the tension and stiffening that tends to set in when riders head down centerline.

Use these tips to help you get those extra points next time you head down center in a test!

05/27/2025

Do you get off your horse feeling exhausted from having to push them every single stride?

When we continually use our leg aids to push our horse forward, or in an effort to get them to move away from our leg without the desired result, we begin to “nag” them — and they begin to tune us out. This leaves you as a rider having to continually use stronger aids and work tirelessly in an effort to get your horse to respond.

Teaching a horse to respond to light aids in an obedient manner is achieved through intentional riding and consistent reinforcement of the desired response.

For example, if you give your horse the aids to move forward from halt to walk, he should freely step into a forward marching walk. If the aids are applied and there is no response, ask once again and be prepared to provide reinforcement to achieve the desired response.

Some possible forms of reinforcement may include:

- a quick gentle tapping of your heels on both sides. I often give the analogy of quickly knocking on someone’s front door. The quick fluttering often is enough to get the horse's attention,

- a verbal command,

- a swish of the whip in the air beside or above the hind end of the horse or, lastly,

- a tap with the whip on the hind quarters.

Once the horse moves forward, even if it is to a trot, reward the effort, bring the horse back, and repeat the exercise. The goal is to repeat this several times, rewarding the proper response until the horse begins to respond by moving forward promptly to the initial light aid alone.

In training, the aim is to achieve the desired response using the lightest aid possible. It is the responsibility of the horse to continually move forward into the contact within a gait.

When you continually use your aids to keep the horse moving forward, you will lose the ability to use the aids associated with your seat, leg, and hands to produce other movements.

Now, it’s time to apply what you’ve learned.

Next time you ride, test how quickly your horse responds to your aids. If you feel like you’re having to push them with every stride, give this exercise a try.

Questions? Leave them below and I’ll do my best to help you out.

05/14/2025

Does your horse have a nap time? Every day, around 9 to 10 a.m., it’s nap time for Shanghai. It’s great to see him comfortable in his stall and reassuring to know he rests well for periods of the day.

Being aware of your horse’s daily routines is very important for both owners and farm managers. Subtle changes in behavior or routines can be the first sign of discomfort or an underlying concern.

Since horses are prey animals they often mask ailments as a protective defense, so it’s vital to know what’s normal (or not normal) for each horse.

This is one of the things I enjoy about working with a variety of horses — learning their different behaviors and routines. Just like people, they have preferences and quirks that make them unique individuals.

What habits or behaviors make your horse unique, entertaining, or at times frustrating? 👇

05/12/2025

The show season continues on for MarriedInShanghai and Shilhouette with Dressage at Blue Goose this past Thursday!

Both horses competed in First Level Test 3 and Second Level Test 1. First up was Shilhouette scoring a 69.306% on her First Level Test for 2nd place and a 65.429% on Second Level Test 1 to win the class. She was a classy lady all day, despite Shanghai having strong feelings about being away from his mare for his rides!

Trailering a mare and gelding to a show together can be challenging, and I was extremely grateful to have Kelsey Brinegar as my wonderful groom and photographer for the day! Shanghai was experiencing a bit of separation anxiety when Shilhouette was away from him. Kelsey was a key player in keeping the day running smoothly, ensuring Shanghai stayed settled on the trailer, and keeping the “fire-breathing dragon” moving, allowing me an opportunity to rest between rides! His racehorse roots show through from time to time.

Even with all of his separation anxiety, when it came time for his tests, Shanghai went in the ring and pulled himself together to earn a 65.972% on First Level 3 placing 4th and a 64.143% on Second Level 1 to also win his class. He gave me a great effort and received higher marks on some of the elements we have been working to improve.

Thank you to Dressage at Blue Goose and all of their volunteers for hosting a great show! I am very fortunate to have a great group of supporters who come to cheer us on at the shows, and I am grateful to those who made it out on Thursday. Thank you!

05/11/2025

Endless Endeavor Equestrian would like to wish all the wonderful mothers out there a “Happy Mother’s Day!”

I am blessed to have this wonderful lady as my Mother! She is always there for me on a daily basis spending time with me at the farm, video taping rides, helping me sweep up the barn, supporting me at shows, and filling in for me on the home front making sure our three boys are able to get to all their events and commitments on time! It really does take a village and I’m ever grateful to have her as part of mine! 💗

Happy Mother’s Day!