Excelsior Equestrian

Home
Australia
Wungong, WA
Excelsior Equestrian

Call Directions Website Contact the business

SALLY-LEIGH WOODS - Dressage Trainer of Riders and Horses

[email protected]

16/10/2026

Good training doesn't always happen in the arena. 🖤💛
Today, Tanzen and I headed out into the paddock to work on suppleness, lateral response and freedom of movement.
She's a dainty 15hh, second-generation German Riding Pony × Trakehner. I've only been working with her for just over a year, mostly through horsemanship. I'm now beginning to develop her further along the dressage training scale.
I love slowing the footage down and looking at the finer details — how she responds, how she moves and how each exercise contributes to the bigger picture.
I'm really enjoying developing my partnership with her and seeing where the journey takes us.
It's the little things that build the bigger picture. 🖤💛

15/10/2026

What does good horsemanship mean to me?
It’s not about ribbons or how impressive a performance looks. It’s about understanding the horse, building trust and developing a willing partnership.
Good training should build confidence in both horse and rider, with the horse’s wellbeing always at the heart of what we do.
For me, success is a horse that is happy in its work, willing to learn and a pleasure to ride — and a rider who understands their horse a little better every day.
Because the horse should leave the arena happy. That matters more than anything.
Excelsior Equestrian Equip. Empower. Excel.

12/10/2026

THE WALK — PART 2

IT'S NOT JUST A BREAK BETWEEN EXERCISES

The walk is often the most overlooked pace in dressage. We use it to warm up, give the horse a break, or wander around while we decide what to do next.
But there is far more to training the walk than many riders realise.
Unlike trot and canter, the walk has no moment of suspension. The feet remain in contact with the ground, yet there is still plenty to feel — the swing through the back and the push from behind.
Sometimes riders try so hard to create more movement that they actually override the walk, rather than allowing its natural qualities to develop.
We also need to educate the horse to understand the differences between free, medium, collected and extended walk, including the transitions between them and the importance of maintaining the desire to move forward into the connection.
Understanding the footfall sequence helps us develop the timing and feel to communicate clearly with our horse.
And here's something worth remembering: the walk can be surprisingly easy to spoil, yet very difficult to improve substantially if its natural quality is poor. We can develop the horse's balance and way of going, but there are limits to what training can change.
In dressage tests, some walk movements and transitions carry double marks, too. The walk deserves our attention, not just our spare time!
Next time you walk your horse, ask yourself: am I simply walking, or am I educating my horse?
🖤💛

08/10/2026

4 Part series on THE WALK
No 1:
THE WALK — MORE THAN FOUR BEATS

Most riders know that the walk is a four-beat pace.
But can you tell me the actual sequence of those four beats?
And more importantly — do you understand what that sequence means when you're actually sitting on the horse?
The walk is something I find many riders don't think deeply enough about.
We use it to warm up.
We use it to give the horse a break.
We use it to change direction and move on to the next exercise.
But the walk can tell us an enormous amount about the horse.
Is the rhythm clear and regular?
Is the horse genuinely moving forward, or simply taking steps?
Is the movement coming through the whole body, or are we losing the swing through the back?
Is the hind leg stepping through freely?
Is the horse relaxed enough to allow the movement to develop?
And what is the rider doing that may be helping — or interfering with — all of that?
Because the walk is not simply about getting the horse to take bigger steps.
More leg doesn't automatically create a better walk.
And simply kicking harder can actually teach a horse to ignore the leg rather than become more responsive to it.
There is much more going on.
The better you understand the sequence of the walk, the easier it becomes to understand when the horse is doing something well, when something is changing, and what your influence is actually doing to the movement.
And this is where I think riders sometimes miss an opportunity.
The walk is one of the most revealing paces we have.
It can tell us a great deal about rhythm, relaxation, balance, forwardness, connection and the way the horse is using its body.
So don't just walk your horse.
Learn to really look at it.
Learn to feel it.
And learn to understand what is happening underneath you.
Because the four beats are only the beginning.

🖤💛

04/10/2026

What a wonderful day at the Golden Oldies Dressage. 🖤💛
So proud of these two lovely ladies. They both had their own challenges and their own journeys to get there, and it was just wonderful to watch them both ride so well, enjoy themselves and have such a fabulous day.
I was very happy to be part of their support crew — along with ch*****ne, strawberries, lots of laughs and some very happy riders! 🍓🥂
A really special day. 🖤💛
2 firsts 2 seconds 👏👏
Thankyou Jacqueline Anderson for capturing their moments

02/10/2026

Safe yards for your babies to socialize while you relax and meet new like minded ladies.

01/10/2026

Another lovely Midweek Mares morning. 🐴💛
It really is becoming such a lovely little community — a chance to enjoy our horses, learn from one another, meet like-minded people and share a few laughs along the way.
Midweek Mares will continue through until the end of November, so there’s still plenty of time to come along and join us.
If it sounds like something you’d enjoy, just send me a message. 🌿
🖤💛

29/09/2026

It's very hard to get good at riding without riding.
It’s very hard to get good at training horses without actually training horses.
You can watch endless videos.
You can read every book.
You can listen to experienced trainers and coaches.
You can study the theory.
And all of that has value.
But eventually, you have to get on the horse.
You have to feel what is happening underneath you.
You have to make a decision.
You have to get it wrong sometimes.
You have to learn how your horse responds.
You have to try again.
Because riding is a skill.
Training a horse is a skill.
And skills aren't developed by watching someone else do them.
We have to go to the field and DO.
🐴🖤💛

Hoofbeats

28/09/2026

Monday morning head space. 🐴🖤
Sometimes a quiet ride down the road is just what you both need. 💛

Address

2 Keenan Street
Wungong, WA
6112

Telephone

+61400059032

Website

http://www.excelsiorequestrian.com.au/

Alerts

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

Contact The Business

Send a message to Excelsior Equestrian:

Want your business to be the top-listed pet store/pet service in Wungong?