STRIDE Dressage of Ocala, FL

08/19/2025

Grant for YOUTH deadline approaches!!

Upcoming Grant Application Deadline for Youth & Young Adults!

Cynthia Aspden Youth & Young Adult Development Fund

Deadline to apply: September 1

Grants from the Cynthia Aspden Fund provide $1,000 to recipients to aid in the development of dressage. Applicants must be under the age of 25 and have a detailed and obtainable training plan to be used for educational purposes outside of their normal training plan (clinics, Dressage4Kids, concentrated training, etc).

For more information and to apply visit https://bit.ly/3QwdUe1

Questions? Reach us at 402-434-8585 or at [email protected]

Photo is of 2024 Cynthia Aspden Youth & Young Adult Development Fund grant recipient, Cordelia Valle. Photo by Mane Frames Equine Imagery.

08/19/2025

Do you know a special youth who goes above and beyond? Nominate them!!

Promoting and encouraging a high standard of accomplishment in dressage throughout the United States, primarily through educational programs.

08/18/2025

Have you never attended the USDF Convention? You are missing so much!! Apply for a grant to attend! Deadline is 8/31 Group Members can apply for the Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund Grant, which allows one deserving individual to attend the 2025

Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention, by providing funds to cover the cost of attendance. Applications must be received by

August 31.

08/16/2025

Imagine being able to intensely train for a week with your fav trainer!!
The Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs provides grants to have the opportunity to be in an extended training situation (five – seven days of concentrated training) that is different from their normal training plan.

Amount of Grant: $1,500

Application Deadline: September 15

Here's the link to the Grant info on the TDF website:

The Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs provides grants to have the opportunity to be in an extended training situation (five – seven days of concentrated training) that is different from their normal training plan.

08/12/2025

Another cool lateral exercise!

Training Tip Tuesday - Riding the square with a twist... literally. This a great lateral work exercise for improving suppleness, engagement and carrying capacity of the hindquarter, lateral mobility and sensitivity to the aids.

This exercise can be placed anywhere in the arena. Here is it shown around "X." It may be easiest to being the exercise at E or B, although it is possible to being at the centerline as well. Let's start at E, begin riding a shoulder in on a short diagonal line toward the centerline. Upon reaching the centerline perform a 1/4 pirouette or turn on the haunches and proceed in travers. Continue switching between haunches in and shoulder in at every 1/4 point of the diamond/square.

This exercise can be ridden in all 3 gaits - although the turn on the haunches or pirouette would be replaced with a corner or turn when ridden in trot. In walk and canter, the turns could be ridden as 1/4 pirouettes.

If your horse is not ready for shoulder in and haunches in, you would try alternating between leg yields to the left and right. That does not have quite the same effect, but would encourage the horse to step under the body and carry more weight behind. It will also improve suppleness.

Enjoy the ride.

08/05/2025

Another good exercise! ( be careful in the heat!)

Training Tip Tuesday... Like last week's exercise, this also tests several levels of the Training Pyramid.

At A, we begin with the rhythm and relaxation in a basic working gait. The 15 meter circle in the corners, along with the figure 8 in the middle, will help with bending and suppling the horse. At C, perform a halt and rein back before proceeding immediately in trot or canter. In the transition to trot or canter, you should feel the horse "sit" behind and push upward into the transition (aka: impulsion & uphill transitions). Proceed across the diagonal line and ask for a lengthening or extension before returning to the working gait.

This exercise will really test your geometry and whether the horse is in front of the leg. Suppleness (both lateral and longitudinal) should be a priority here as the horse will not be able to perform the proper bend or upward transitions correctly if the rhythm, relaxation and connection are not present in the preceding figures.

Have fun with this one. 🤩 This exercise is a great tool for improving several aspects of the training pyramid. It is also a phenomenal diagnostic tool, because it tests so much of your training thus far and exploit areas that need work.

07/30/2025

Expandable hose recall! I know I have seen these used at shows. This one is fairly distinctive.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled hoses. Consumers that purchased products from Ace Hardware, Do It Best, Home Depot or Walmart should bring their hoses to those stores to return them for a full refund.Consumers who purchased products from other retailers should cut off the regula...

07/22/2025

Attention Western Dressage riders with a horse registered with AQHA!
This coming show season, Stride Dressage of Ocala (Stride) will have two of their shows approved by AQHA for earning points! This is a huge deal for AQHA members. The Stride shows are one day shows held at the Florida Horse Park. Stride has supported Western Dressage since the beginning, offering our discipline the opportunity to show locally at well run, cost effective events. Mark your calendars for their October 19th and December 7th shows to show locally and earn AQHA points in a welcoming, low stress environment. And while you are at it, consider showing at their other shows this season which will be held on January 4th, February 15th, and March 22nd. Stride offers an excellent year end awards program, too! Be sure to learn all of the show requirements from their website at stridedressage.net. Hope to see you there!