Thoroughbred Dressage

09/08/2026

🎤 podcast guest 🎤

We want to hear from you you!!! We are looking to bring some extra and bonus episodes of the pod; ‘All Aboard The Racehorse’ for the two week period covering the RoR champs and National Racehorse Week

Whether you are competing at the champs for the first time, your 10th time, you are an owner of a racehorse, you’re attending your first national racehorse week event you are involved in a community event or you are a volunteer we would like to hear from you.

Drop us a message

06/08/2026

🏕️ CAMPS CAMPS CAMPS 🏕️

Anyone interested in what has to offer for the remainder of the year? Camps are brilliant fun, educational and a place where you make friends 🥰🥰 more info head to the post below ⬇️

🏕️ Don't Miss Your Final RoR Midlands Camps of 2026! 🏇

There's still time to secure your place at our fantastic end-of-season camps!

🍂 1st–4th October
RoR Midlands & RoR Northern RoR Autumn Camp
📍 Somerford

⭐ 5 lessons – completely your choice!
Train with our fantastic coaching team:
✔️ Bruce Haskell ETC
✔️ David Llewellyn Equestrian
✔️ Louise Robson Thoroughbred Dressage
✔️ Sam Hobbs Eventing

Plus:
⚖️ Dengie Horse Feeds Dengie Weighbridge
🎤 Lloyd Crabb Equestrian joining us on Saturday

🔗 Book here: https://horsemonkey.com/uk/equestrian_event/88019/RoR+Midlands++RoR+Northern+-+Autumn+Camp+Somerford+2026

🍁 9th–11th October
RoR Midlands Two-Day Camp & Day Camp
📍 Pickering Grange Equestrian, LE67 1EZ

⭐ 4 lessons – tailored to what you want to work on.

✅ Full camp or day camp options available on both days

Coached by:
✔️ Louise Robson
✔️ Sam Hobbs

🔗 Book here: https://horsemonkey.com/uk/equestrian_event/90232/RoR+Midlands+-+Two+day+Camp+and+Day+Camp%2C+Pickering+Grange+Equestrian%2C+LE67+1EZ

🍂 29th November
RoR South East & RoR Midlands Day Camp
📍 Unicorn Equestrian Centre Stud, GL54 1JZ
⭐ Fantastic training with Bruce Haskell
✅ All levels catered for – whether you're just starting out or looking to progress your retraining, this day camp is for you.
🔗 Book here: https://horsemonkey.com/uk/equestrian_event/89920/RoR+South+East+and+Midlands+-+Day+Camp+With+Bruce+Haskell%2C++Unicorn+Equestrian+Centre+Stud%2C+GL54+1JZ

🐎 Whether you're starting your retraining journey or looking to progress, these camps offer something for everyone. Places are limited, so don't leave it too late to book!

06/08/2026

🏡 Looking for a new home 🏡
16hh Chestnut Mare, 6 years old, has been in training so RoR eligible

The sweetest of sweet mares, who is kind, affectionate, talented and a joy to ride, train and have on the yard.

Superb to hack alone or in company, isn’t the sort who has to be ridden every day. Still green/learning the concept of a contact in the arena, but shows three very good paces (her canter is almost ‘too uphill’ for her to be able to balance herself. Happily goes over poles and is a mixture of; forward, responsive, yet safe and a kind horse.
Has been to the beach in previous home.

Would suit either a happy hacking home, an all round home, or someone with a dressage focus. She is at the brilliant stage where she is learning and finding what she loves to do post training.

Good with the farrier/to load /travel/handle. Currently goes in the field with two geldings

Only for sale due to owner’s circumstances changing otherwise she would have been staying to be produced for dressage.

Long term home required for this wonderful horse with someone who will love, enjoy and develop her.

No novices/loans/loan with view to buy

Location; Buckingham, Buckinghamshire

07709510393

05/08/2026

🥳 We have just opened up 30 more spaces on our Yard Open Day for National Racehorse Week 🥳

📆Saturday 29th August
⏰10am start
🔗 https://nationalracehorseweek.uk/yard/lou-robson-thoroughbred-dressage/
💵 FREE ENTRY

Come along, meet the horses, see them ridden and how we look after and train them post racing. A fun day for all

04/08/2026

⬇️ Do we get obsessed with ‘head down? ⬇️

For most of our former racehorses they start off their ridden career with the appearance of ‘head in the air’. We know, long term, that to be able to develop their posture,working over their back, topline and balance, that we have to develop their understanding of ‘working forward into the contact’ with the appearance of them having their ‘head down.’

We sometimes misinterpret ‘head up’ as;
⬇️Hollow
⬇️ Not working over the back
⬇️Not travelling forward
⬇️Rider not able to ‘sit’ on the horse
⬇️Quarters in and out
⬇️ Appearing ‘stiff’ in the way of going

Instead of looking for the ‘imperfections’ and the ‘non instagram worthy’ perfect picture, we have to appreciate that at the early stages (and to brutally honest, at every stage) we have to consider the BRAIN AND THE BODY. If your horses brain isnt curious to training and wanting to go for their rider there is no way that you can even consider ‘working from behind into a contact’ or something similar to that effect.

Training has to be fun and sympathetic to the level of balance and training of the horse. We have to find ways to always be able to praise and encourage, regardless of what it may look like in the ‘early’ stages and be brave enough to stay in those ‘early stages’ frame and way of going until the horses brain and body is able to ask the ‘next question. Its not about ‘more hours’ in the saddle/arena/trying something new to ‘get their head down’ or to be able to ‘sit deeper’ but becoming a better trainer and understanding person to our horse, what do they need and how can I keep it interesting whilst developing them

To learn more we are doing a webinar ‘The Thoroughbred and The Frame’ Wednesday 5th August, 7pm GMT.

Sign up link in comments below ⬇️

03/08/2026

🌟 FINAL CALL FOR BOOKINGS - RoR Club Morning with Louise Robson from Thoroughbred Dressage 🏇

📅 9th August 2026
📍 Cambridge Park Polo Club, CB25 9HF

Don't miss your chance to join us for a morning of flatwork group lessons with the fantastic Louise Robson of Thoroughbred Dressage. These sessions are a great opportunity to improve your horse's way of going, develop your partnership, and receive expert coaching in a supportive environment.

🔹 Group Flatwork Lessons – Book your place here:
https://horsemonkey.com/uk/equestrian_event/89704/RoR+South+East+-+Club+Morning+with+Louise+Robson%2C+Cambridge+Park+Polo+Club+CB25+9HF

👉 Individual lessons are also available. To book a private session, please contact Louise directly using the booking link on the Thoroughbred Dressage page.

03/08/2026

⭐ TOMORROW ⭐ Introducing RoR Member Stories 💚🐎
FREE WEBINAR

📆Tuesday 4th August
⏰ 7pm GMT

Horse ownership isn't always straightforward. That's why we're launching RoR Member Stories, a brand-new webinar series where RoR members share the real-life journeys they've had with their former racehorses, hosted by Lou Robson from Thoroughbred Dressage.

Hear honest experiences, learn from others who have been there, and ask your own questions in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Our first is on Tuesday 4 August at 7pm, when RoR member Nicola shares the rehabilitation journey she and her former racehorse, The French Horse, have been on.

While kissing spine is part of the story, this webinar is about how receiving a diagnosis became a turning point, helping Nicola better understand her horse physically and mentally, and transforming the way they developed together.

Our educational webinars are free for RoR members, thanks to the generous support of Agria Equine Insurance

👉 Book your place: https://tinyurl.com/RoR-MemberStories-0408

(Can’t make the date? Register anyway and you’ll receive a link to watch the webinar after the event.)

29/07/2026

🧘🏽‍♀️Why Greg isnt worked ‘Long and Low’ under saddle, yet is an advanced dressage horse Post Racing🧘🏽‍♀️

For Greg, working ‘long and low’ under saddle would not be a benefit for him. This does not mean that he doesn’t ‘stretch’ or doesnt have the ability or understanding to be able to change his frame whilst working in all three paces-he can and he does.

Gregs conformation is naturally ‘croup high’. His bottom is far higher than that of his wither and the way the rest of his conformation is put together means that, especially in the early years, he would ‘over power’ himself from behind. This would feel like:
* The feeling of being very strong in the rein
* Leaning of the leg
* Slightly braced through the base of the neck and would struggle to turn and do any transitions.
* He would have moments of being sharp to leg, followed by behind behind the legs and tight in the neck.

For some it might be that they need to start off slightly ‘high’ in front to be able to gain their confidence, for others it might be working in two point seat for the duration of the schooling session. Frame, balance and way of going, looks different or each horse and rider set up

It was important to be able to work with his balance, for his level of training and conformation. Understanding ‘what frame and when’ is so important for any horse, but especially for the thoroughbred that has a language from their first career, with a body built for speed

Interested in more? Come and join our webinar on Wednesday 5th August 7pm GMT

Sign up link in comments below

27/07/2026

⭐ Members Stories-Free Webinar ⭐

📆Tuesday 4th August
⏰7pm GMT

Very much looking forward to this new webinar with the Retraining of Racehorses. Hearing your stories and learning through shared experiences ❤️

Playback available to all who sign up. Link is in the post below ⬇️

Introducing RoR Member Stories 💚🐎

Horse ownership isn't always straightforward. That's why we're launching RoR Member Stories, a brand-new webinar series where RoR members share the real-life journeys they've had with their former racehorses, hosted by Lou Robson from Thoroughbred Dressage.

Hear honest experiences, learn from others who have been there, and ask your own questions in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Our first is on Tuesday 4 August at 7pm, when RoR member Nicola shares the rehabilitation journey she and her former racehorse, The French Horse, have been on.

While kissing spine is part of the story, this webinar is about how receiving a diagnosis became a turning point, helping Nicola better understand her horse physically and mentally, and transforming the way they developed together.

Our educational webinars are free for RoR members, thanks to the generous support of Agria Equine Insurance

👉 Book your place: https://tinyurl.com/RoR-MemberStories-0408

(Can’t make the date? Register anyway and you’ll receive a link to watch the webinar after the event.)