Rachael Liddle Dressage

31/08/2026

🚗 Is your horse stuck in Comfort Mode?

A little while ago, I upgraded my car. Mostly because my old one was becoming slightly impractical for the amount of assorted horse equipment I seem to permanently transport around with me! 😂

But my new car has a fun little feature. With the press of a button, I can switch between Economy, Comfort and Dynamic mode.

And it got me thinking…

Our horses have their own versions of these modes too.

For some horses, Comfort Mode is their default.

And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

They’re easy to ride. They’re comfortable. They listen, they do what you ask, and nothing feels particularly difficult. They might happily trot around the arena, do their transitions, pop in a few lateral movements and generally be a very good and pleasant citizen.

That doesn’t mean they’re lazy, naughty or disobedient.

But then we get to the dressage test.

And suddenly, Comfort Mode isn’t quite enough.

If we want those higher marks, we need a little more Dynamic Mode.

More energy.
More reaction.
More engagement.
More elasticity.
More expression.

And this is where I think our training needs to be clever.

Rather than constantly trying to make our horses more forward or more reactive, which might instead just make them tense, instead we should spend some time figuring out what lights them up…

What switches YOUR horse into Dynamic Mode?

For one horse, it might be lots of transitions.

But even then, think about which transitions.

Walk–trot–walk might eventually make them a little numb, whereas trot–canter–trot might really wake them up.

For another horse, it might be lateral work that gets the hind legs firing.

For another, a few good medium canters around the arena might be enough to change their mindset and get them thinking forwards.

And for Jenga?

Usually the flying changes. 😂

Something about riding a few changes suddenly has him thinking much more forwards and listening much more closely to my aids.

The important thing is that we don’t all need the same button.

The skill is in learning which exercises, movements and transitions help your horse change mode — and then using them thoughtfully in your training and warm-up.

Because there’s a big difference between leaving the warm-up arena with a horse who is:

🐴 obedient but slightly flat
vs
🐴 awake, responsive, energetic and ready to perform.

Both horses might get around the test without any major mistakes.

But it’s usually the second one who gives you the energy, elasticity and expression that can make those marks start creeping upwards.

So next time you’re warming up for a test, ask yourself:

“Am I riding my horse in Comfort Mode… or have I found their Dynamic button?”

And if you haven’t found it yet, perhaps that’s something worth exploring in your training 🤩

30/08/2026

A lovely session with Jenga tonight ❤️

We had a bit more of a play with the lateral work, while still chipping away at that never-ending quest for better collection and softness.

He felt really happy, willing and genuinely enjoying his work tonight, which is always my favourite feeling. 🥰

And to finish we had a cheeky play with the ones! Because dressage training doesn’t always have to be serious… 😉

28/08/2026

Flatwork Clinic with Rachael Liddle

Come along to a friendly and supportive clinic with dressage coach Rachael Liddle, aimed at helping you and your horse improve your flatwork and confidence.

✨Date: Saturday 12th September 2026
✨Location: Baxter Wood Farm, Durham
✨Cost: £35 per session

Suitable for all levels – relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Ideal if you’re preparing for a competition, want to practice a test, or just work on your basics.

To book or find out more, contact me through messenger or comment below.

28/08/2026

Dressage tests aren’t always about getting it right, sometimes they’re about limiting the damage.

When we think about riding a good dressage test, we naturally think about riding the movements well - the horse in balance, a good frame, accurate movements and good transitions.

And yes, all of those things matter.

But sometimes… things just don’t go to plan. 🤷‍♀️

That’s when damage limitation becomes an important skill.

One of the biggest things that can help is knowing your test. Not just knowing the order of the movements, but knowing exactly where each movement starts and finishes.

For example, if your test says “canter transition between C and H”, but the next movement doesn’t start until E, then a problem with your transition doesn’t have to ruin the movement at E too.

You might have already lost some marks for the transition, but fix the balance, rhythm and canter before E, and you can still ride the next movement well.

The same applies if you have a break in pace.

If you can recover the pace and still make the next transition where it belongs, you may rescue some marks.

If you don’t, that one mistake can start to affect two, three or even more movements.

And sometimes, damage limitation means making a tactical decision.

If a movement has gone wrong and you know you’ve probably lost the marks for it, don’t spend the next three movements trying to rescue something that has already happened.

Use the space you have to put the wheels back on.

Get the balance back.

Get the rhythm back.

Get yourself organised.

Then ride the next movement as well as you possibly can.

Because one mistake doesn’t have to become the whole test.

Good test riding isn’t about never making mistakes. It’s about knowing how to recover from them and still collect as many marks as possible. 🐴

27/08/2026

When caring too much gets in the way😑

Many years ago, when Lark was my main riding horse, I used to do a LOT of jumping.

I know. Shocking. Ancient picture below to prove I’m telling the truth!😂

Anyone who knows me now will know that a pole lifted an inch off the ground is currently a classed jump in my head!

Back then, though, I loved jumping. I did plenty of unaffiliated eventing around 70–90cm and cross-country schooling over fences up to a metre. So naturally, British Eventing seemed like the next step.

And that’s when I got completely inside my own head.

Suddenly, everything had to be perfect.

The perfect stride.
The perfect line.
The perfect speed.

I tried to micromanage every single step, and in doing so, I completely ruined my jumping.

Eventually, I couldn’t even jump a 60cm cross pole without Lark stopping.

The irony was that Lark didn’t need micromanaging. She liked me to point her at the fence, give her confidence and let her get on with it. I knew this. I’d done it successfully for years.

But because British Eventing felt like a Big Deal, I convinced myself I needed to ride it differently.

My riding suffered, I became tense, tight, snatchy and backwards.

Nowadays I see the same thing happen in dressage, particularly in the lead-up to championships.

It’s almost like Championship-itis.

A rider who normally produces lovely, fluent tests suddenly becomes tense. The horse becomes tense. The horse spooks. The rider gets frustrated and tries harder… and the whole thing spirals downwards.

This doesn’t actually start a lack of confidence, it’s just because you care so much.

We put so much pressure on ourselves to perform that it changes our thoughts, our nervous system and our bodies, and ultimately, our riding.

We start trying to control everything instead of trusting what we’ve trained.

Then we struggle to do things we know we can do, which knocks our confidence even further.

It’s a horrible cycle, and sometimes, the answer isn’t another lesson or another attempt.

Sometimes you need to step outside the cycle and look at what’s actually happening.

That’s where mindset and confidence coaching can help.

Not because there’s something wrong with you or your riding, but because sometimes you need someone to help you understand why you’re getting in your own way — and how to change it.

If you’re struggling to reproduce performances you know you’re capable of, perhaps it’s time to look at what’s happening in your head as well as what’s happening in the arena.

💬 My one-to-one mindset and confidence sessions are tailored around you, your riding and your goals, and can be unmounted or mounted.

Sometimes the biggest thing holding us back isn’t our horse.

It’s us.

23/08/2026

✨Fear Less, Ride More✨

Confidence Workshop Series

Fear Less, Ride More is an interactive workshop for equestrians who want to better understand fear and develop practical strategies to overcome it.

Whether your fear stems from a fall, loss of confidence, competition nerves, or simply feeling stuck, this workshop will help you understand how fear affects the brain and body, why it can be so difficult to move past, and how small, practical changes can help you rebuild confidence.

Topics include:

What fear is and why it exists
How fear affects our thoughts, emotions and performance
Recognising the signs and impact of trauma
The power of changing one thing at a time
Why fear prevents action
Practical techniques to begin rewiring the brain for confidence
Unmounted workshop, suitable for riders of all ages and disciplines.

Date: Tuesday 8th September
Time: 6:00pm
Venue: Houghall Equestrian College, Durham

Online bookings at https://horsevents.co.uk/events/?e=54301

Or message me with any queries ☺️

Horsevents provides access to horse and pony show dates and schedules throught the UK for ALL equine events including affiliated dressage, unaffiliated dressage, british eventing, BSJA, unaffiliated showjumping, hunter trials, show cross, pony club activities, riding club activities and any training...

18/08/2026

Ever worked with a rider who knows what to do - but still can’t pull it off when it matters? They can explain the steps, they’ve ridden it before… but under pressure, they freeze, hesitate, or unravel.

You tweak their position, adjust their approach, remind them of everything you’ve worked on, yet it feels like their skills are locked away.

That’s where coaching often hits a wall. Because riding isn’t just physical - it’s mental. When fear, doubt, or overwhelm show up, no amount of technical correction will fix it.

Tension changes everything:
✨ It blocks smooth, coordinated movement
✨ It disrupts breathing, balance & timing
✨ It interferes with clear communication with the horse

Here’s the part most coaches miss: it’s not just about “confidence", it’s about knowing how pressure and mental state impact performance.

That’s exactly what I’ll be sharing in my FREE 90-minute Masterclass:
🎯 Confident Riders Start in the Mind
📅 Tuesday 8th Sept | 7.30pm (UK time)
📍 Live on Zoom

This is for riding instructors who want to:
✅ Get better results with their clients
✅ Understand the hidden barriers that block rider progress
✅ Learn mindset-first tools no one teaches (but every coach needs)

👉 Click here to register now: https://flyingchanges.mykajabi.com/mc-masterclass-sept26-registration

17/08/2026

BUILD CONFIDENCE IN THE SADDLE 🐴

Practical mindset coaching for all riders.

As an experienced riding coach and qualified equestrian mindset coach, I help riders overcome the mental barriers that can hold them back - from nerves and fear to self-doubt and performance pressure.

I offer tailored mindset coaching packages, including support with:

✨ Confidence and self-belief
✨ Competition nerves
✨ Fear and anxiety
✨ Returning to riding after a difficult experience
✨ Focus and performance under pressure
✨ Breaking through mental blocks

Most mindset sessions are off-horse, giving you the time and space to understand what’s holding you back and develop practical strategies that you can take into your riding.

For riders who want a more hands-on approach, my Confidence Coaching Package can combine off-horse mindset sessions with on-horse coaching, helping you put those strategies into practice in the saddle.

Because sometimes the thing holding your riding back isn’t your ability - it’s what happens in your head.

Ready to feel more confident in the saddle?

📩 Get in touch to discuss which package would be right for you.

11/08/2026

A resistance band isn’t a magic wand… but it can be a pretty useful tool. 👇

In yesterday’s lesson, we used a band around the rider’s back and connected to their hands to encourage them to think forwards into the contact.

The aim was to create a more elastic connection and help the rider feel what it means to ride the horse from back to front.

And it helped. 🙌

The short clips here are just a little snapshot of the exercise in action - but you can see how the band helped the rider change their feel and, as a result, improved the horse’s way of going.

Was it perfect? Absolutely not.

The horse still needs to become more secure and confident in the contact, and the rider still has work to do with hand position and developing an even softer feel.

Because tools like this aren’t a fix-all.

They’re targeted. Used for the right rider, at the right time, for the right reason, they can help create awareness, change a habit and give you a feel for something you’re trying to achieve.

The goal isn’t to rely on the band.

It’s to use it to create a change that you can then carry into your riding without it. 🐴

Want to incorporate some resistance band work into your riding? Drop me a message and I can help you work out how to use it effectively. 💬