Heather Jones Dressage

11/06/2026

Want better dressage contact? Start with your hands, seat, and timing working together.

10/06/2026

🐴 Re-study the Video: What is This Horse’s Default? 🐴👀

Take a close look at the video of this young horse I am schooling under saddle.

Our main focus during this session was on transitions—keeping him freely relaxed over his back and pushing forward in both downward and upward transitions from the hind leg into a soft, elastic contact. But look a bit closer... Before you read any further, what do you think this horse’s natural "default mode" or hiding place might be? Drop your first guess in the comments before reading on! 🤫👇...

The Reveal: The default mode for this talented young horse is to drop and tuck back from the contact if allowed. In reality, he finds it all too easy to let the rider take up a contact, which can create a false frame. What I am actually doing in this video is allowing the front end with my hand, while using my seat and legs to encourage a much more open frame. As soon as I feel I am losing sight of his headpiece—meaning the poll is starting to drop down from my vantage point in the saddle—I allow, check with my seat, and push forward from my leg. This encourages a more open throat latch rather than a sharp 'V' shape. I am looking for a softer, half-circle shape through the under neck, with the nose pushing forward in front of the vertical.

🛠️ 4 Arena Exercises to Open the Frame & Power the Hind Legs If you have a horse that likes to curl, drop the contact, or lose connection in transitions, try these four exercises to get them truly utilising their hind legs and staying soft over the back:👇

1. The "Allow and Drive"

On a CircleOn a 20-meter circle, establish an active trot. For 3–4 strides, deliberately give the inside rein forward toward the horse's mouth ("allow") while simultaneously closing your inside leg to drive the hind leg up into the space you just created. This teaches the horse to reach for the bit rather than suck back.

2. Progressively Shorter Transitions (Walk-Halt-Walk)

To stop a horse from dropping the contact in downward transitions, ride walk-to-halt transitions, but only hold the halt for one clear second before immediately pushing forward into an active walk. This keeps the hind leg active and "thinking forward" even as they slow down, preventing them from sinking their back and dropping the poll.

3. The Transitions on a Square.

Ride a large square instead of a circle. In each corner, use your outside aids to turn, and on the straight lines, ride a transition (e.g., trot to walk, or walk to trot). The straight lines force you to push the horse straight forward into both reins, while the corners naturally engage the inside hind leg without letting the neck over-bend.

4. Leg Yield to Upward Transition.

From the quarter line, leg-yield back to the outside wall. Just as the horse’s outside shoulder touches the track—and the hind legs are deeply crossing and engaged—ask for an immediate upward transition (e.g., walk to trot, or trot to canter). The lateral engagement forces them to push from behind into an open, reaching frame.

👇 Over to You! Go back, re-watch the video, and tell me:

now that you know his secret, what do you notice about his shape and my aids when you look back at it?

Let me know your thoughts or if you try any of these exercises with your own horses this week! ☺️

please like 👍 or follow my page 😁for more arena tips and exercises. Please share the post out to others that may find helpful. 🥰

🙂 UKCC3 Accredited Freelance Coach and Rider 👇 website in comments should you wish to contact me or book in ☺️

10/06/2026

How do you know if your horse is listening, or just moving through the steps? It starts with connection and clear cues. When your horse is engaged, each movement has purpose and life.

What signs do you look for? Share below or DM me to talk about building a stronger partnership.

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09/06/2026

So the evidence is there 👇👇 please do read up about Gastric Ulcers and how they are so much more common than we would think. Always be aware of the signs to look out for and take the required action needed to make the horse as comfortable as possible.

👇 Share your experience and thoughts so we can all learn from each other as we know not every horse presents the same 🤔 what did you experience and what was your course of action, it’s great to talk about these things within the community.

Gastric ulcers in dressage horses: prevention through feeding and management Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is now recognised as one of the most common health concerns affecting performance horses, including dressage horses. In this expert guide from D&H, the latest research highlights how fee...

09/06/2026

Work hard, but make sure you enjoy life too. ❤️✨If you press play on the video below, you will see three very important faces: my husband, my 5-year-old son, and myself, all smiling. It looks like a simple, happy moment—and it is.

But behind that smile is a journey of learning how to actually show up for those moments without a mind full of stress.

I recently completed the Coaching for Excellence Course 2025/2026. It was a massive eye-opener. As coaches and specialists in our fields, we get so incredibly caught up in the daily grind of what we do. We live and breathe our work. For me, stepping outside my door every day means dedicating myself entirely to equine welfare. I am trying to make a real difference and be the best I can be for the horses and the people who care for them.

🤔 But here is the honest truth: I am just a person. I laugh, I cry, I get burnt out, and I have pivotal moments just like anyone else.

The course highlighted how easily we lose ourselves in our expertise. It taught me how to prioritise my life so I can deliver the best results for my clients and my family, but most importantly, for myself. If we want longevity in this industry, we cannot run on empty.

I don’t always get it right, but it is the awareness and acknowledgment of that balance that truly counts.

Want to realistically put this into practice in your own everyday life?

Here is how you can start today:👉 How to Start: 👇The "Non-Negotiable"

AnchorPick one small, realistic thing every day that is strictly for you or your family. It could be a 15-minute coffee in silence, or uninterrupted playtime with your kids. Protect that time like it is your most important business appointment.

👉 Best Practices Going Forward:Set Clear Boundaries: 👇

When you step back inside your door, consciously shift gears from "expert" to "human, partner, and parent".

👉Audit Your Energy: 👇

If you feel the burn-out creeping in, acknowledge it immediately. Do not wait for a total crash to slow down.

👉Value the Memories: 👇

Remember that the work will always be there tomorrow, but your family and your health need you present today.

🙌Let's make memories every single day, work with passion, and protect our own well-being. 🐴💫

British Dressage - South & East Region British Dressage

09/06/2026

Before asking for more collection, check that your horse is relaxed and responsive. Look at balance, rhythm, and connection so the work stays soft and rideable. What do you check first?

learn more https://www.jones-dressage.co.uk

08/06/2026

🐴 Beyond the Arena: Why My Schooling Sessions Start (and End) in the Field. When you hire someone to school your horse, what are you actually paying for?

For me, a training session does not start when I mount, and it certainly does not end when I walk on a long rein in the arena. As a British Dressage Accredited trainer, qualified to school horses under saddle up to and including Advanced Medium, I look at training holistically.

My routine begins the moment I arrive to halter your horse in the field or stable, and it only ends when they are turned back out. Every interaction is a training milestone. How a horse catches, leads, and stands at the block dictates their focus before we even touch the reins. The work we do after the schooling arena focus is just as vital for their physical and mental longevity.

Here is the exact checklist I use to transition a horse safely from schooling under saddle back to pasture life:

The Active Active Cool-Down: 👇

I spend at least 10 minutes walking on a completely long rein. This allows the heart rate to drop safely and stops blood from pooling in the limbs.

Biomechanical Stretch: 👇

Encouraging a long, low stretch at the walk lets the topline muscles lengthen. This dissipates lactic acid build-up and prevents next-day stiffness.

The Post-Work Assessment: 👇

Back at the tie-up, I do a full physical check. I run hands down every leg to check for heat, swelling, or structural changes, and ensure shoes are secure.

Grooming as Therapy: 👇

Sweat must be thoroughly washed or brushed away. Dried sweat causes girth galls, saddle rubs, and skin irritation under blankets or rugs.

The Final Mindset Shift: 👇

Turning a horse back out into the pasture is the ultimate mental reward. A good roll just like the one i schooled in this video! is not just fun. It is a natural chiropractic adjustments that allows them to stretch their spine and release residual tension.

I do not just train movements; I manage equines from when I turn up whether they be in stable or the field - through to turning back out as found.

Whether you are looking for coaching to improve your own partnership, or you need an experienced rider to school your horse correctly up the levels under saddle, I am here to help 😌

Ready to start your training routine?

I currently have limited slots available for both freelance coaching and under-saddle schooling. Send a DM to the page today to book a session or discuss your goals! Link in comments 👇

08/06/2026

Is your warm-up actually building suppleness or just adding minutes?

True suppleness shows in your horse's relaxed movement and smooth transitions, not just time in the arena. Focus on rhythm, softness, and your horse’s response, not the stopwatch.

Try feeling for looseness in the jaw, back, and hindquarters as your warm-up progresses. When those come, you know you’re on the right track.

How do you check for suppleness in your warm-up?

link in bio https://www.jones-dressage.co.uk Life

07/06/2026

Morning arena vibes! 🐴✨. Started my day with this 8:00 AM coaching session, as you can see below we are discussing our next plan right before heading into our next exercise.

As a coach, having this open, clear discussion with my riders before they start an exercise is an essential part of my training philosophy. Taking a moment to pause, check goals, and discuss the "why" ensures the rider is a thinking partner in the process, not just someone following orders.In this session, my rider’s main goal was keeping the canter forward-thinking and preventing her horse from dropping out of the gait.

Her instinct was to apply more leg. But because we took the time to talk it through, we realised the horse didn’t need more driving pressure—she needed suppleness. 😊

It’s the ultimate golden question we must discuss as a team: Do you actually need more leg, or is there a missing component in the horse's biomechanics?

🤔Often, when a horse breaks gait or feels heavy, piling on the leg aids just creates more tension. If you want a truly adjustable, forward-thinking canter, you have to assess the suppleness first.

How to Assess Suppleness in the Canter:👇

✔️The Elasticity of the Stride: Does the canter have a clear three-beat rhythm with a visible moment of suspension, or does it feel stiff and flat?

✔️Lateral Bend: Can the horse maintain a uniform curve through its entire body on a circle without dropping the inside shoulder or bulging outward?

✔️The Softness of the Contact: Is the horse light and chewing the bit elastically, or is it bracing against your hands to balance itself?

✔️Ability to Lengthen and Shorten: Can you seamlessly adjust the frame and stride length forward and back without losing the rhythm or balance?

🤔 Why "Working Over the Back" Changes EverythingTo fix a dropping canter, the horse must be round, soft, and open through the back. When a horse blocks in its topline, the energy from the hindquarters gets trapped. By opening up the back and allowing the spine to swing elastically, the power from the hind legs can flow freely forward into a soft contact. This structural alignment allows the horse to naturally carry itself in a forward rhythm, completely eliminating the need for constant, exhausting leg pressure from the rider!💬

😊 Riders, let's talk: Does your trainer take the time to discuss the "why" behind your exercises, or do you find yourself just riding the circles?

Let me know in the comments!👇

Want a coaching experience that prioritises real communication and understanding? I have a few mobile coaching slots available this month. Head over to the link in my comments👇to view my current travel zones, pricing, and to book your session.

!

07/06/2026

How do you know when your horse is ready to move on, or needs a simpler question? Here are three signs to watch for in your sessions:

Ready to move on: relaxed breathing, steady rhythm, and responsive transitions.
Needs an easier question: tension, confusion, or hesitation.

Noticing these can make a real difference in your training progress. What signs do you look for with your horse?

Link in bio