Rachael Liddle Dressage

12/10/2026

I've thought long and hard about writing this, and even longer and harder about posting it - so if you're seeing this on social media then I must've decided to put these thoughts forward. If you choose to read beyond this paragraph, thank you for receiving my words with compassion - the emotional fatigue of this industry sometimes [more frequently than I would like to admit] feels too heavy to bear.

This past month we've done two post mortems on behalf of a veterinary practice I am absolutely blessed to be able to work with -

The orthopaedic findings were pretty significant with both horses, with one horse having fractured withers and concurrent trauma to the surrounding soft tissues, multiple fractured ribs and evidence of a healed fracture with bony irregularities on C7.

You could palpate the irregularity over the horse's withers but her posture, whilst not normal, didn't look like the typical slabbed-up fractured withers you commonly see. She had restricted range of motion in her neck and she also found receiving hoof care extremely challenging.

She had significant behavioural things going on, and thankfully her owner and her vet advocated for her brilliantly - she was retired from ridden work and when her welfare state declined, a difficult decision was made.

A little while ago, I was doing my infrequent scroll on Facebook - something I have increasingly been avoiding because I don't appreciate how strangers on the internet can somehow have the power to completely hijack my mood... but I guess sometimes I can't help but be the perpetrator of my own suffering.

I happened across a post which essentially proclaimed that horsemanship really started to die when people stopped hitting their horses to reprimand them for biting. The comments section was filled with people proudly gloating about how they do indeed hit their horses, discussing the many ways and contexts that they do it, and justifying it with "horses in the wild punish other horses for unwanted behaviours".

And honestly? I absolutely despair.

I despair about the lack of empathy towards another being on this planet.

I despair that we are apparently so ignorant to the fact that just because we don't fully understand another animal doesn't mean they are stupid, or lack feelings.

I appreciate that horses do weird things that we don't understand, and have the propensity for injury we cannot imagine or comprehend, let alone work up with a vet or diagnose with imaging -

I think of the horses that we have post mortemed recently, their respective behaviours and the subsequent findings, and I can't help but think about all those horses out there who may be dealing with debilitating pain that are - frankly - being abused for trying to communicate their lived experience.

I despair that, when the only way a horse can communicate is through their facial expression, oral behaviours and behavioural expression, there are people out there who, instead of thinking about why they might be doing it in the first place, still see fit to punish them.

I also think about all the people who are gaslit into behaving like that by the very professionals that should be advocating for their horse.

And how, despite an ever growing body of research, we apparently still have so much work to.

A question that I can't help but ask is this:

Do we really love our horses?

Because some people sure have a bizarre way of showing it.

"If I assume that all animals have subjective feelings of pain, fear, hunger, and the like, if I am mistaken in doing do, no harm will have been done.

But if I assume the contrary, when in fact animals do have such feelings, then I open the way to unlimited cruelties...

Animals must have the benefit of the doubt, if indeed there be any doubt"

- Anonymous via Marc Bekoff, The Emotional Lives of Animals

09/10/2026

A little bit of a happy moment from tonight’s ride 🐴

A nice line of 9 x 2 tempi changes with Jenga tonight, and one of those moments where you can just enjoy what you and your horse are managing to achieve together.

Changes are one of those movements that require so many things to come together at once. The preparation, the balance, the straightness, the timing and, of course, making sure you’re not getting in your horse’s way!

It’s easy to get caught up in what needs improving and what comes next, but it’s equally important to take a moment to appreciate the progress you’re making along the way.

Very lucky to have this horse to learn with. ❤️

29/09/2026

I’m looking for FIVE riders with a confidence issue… 👀

I’m trying something a little different with my mindset coaching and I want five riders to be part of it.

If there’s something you know you’re capable of, but confidence, nerves or overthinking keeps getting in the way… this could be for you.

There’s a bit of a twist to the offer — but I’ll save the details for anyone who’s interested. 😉

Think this might be you? Comment below or send me a message and I’ll tell you more. 👇

29/09/2026

Some very wise words here

You are plenty good enough to practice.

I’m currently trying to work out better ways to support riders and horse owners. A very small percentage of people I work with need me to help them find the best angle of half pass or how to weight an outside hind leg.

MOST people need me to help them find the confidence to try. The self belief that good enough is more than enough. Because, I know, one of the major reasons people don’t practice when they’re by themselves is they don’t believe they could possibly know what to do. They wait for me, or another instructor, to talk them through what to do and when. And without someone else there, they don’t practice. Not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t really believe they can.

My alternative proposal is they actually have more than enough insight, experience, intelligence and capacity to give ‘working something out’ a go. Which sadly is not what our education system has encouraged. It has instead promoted the learning of ‘correct’ answers in a limited range of subjects, in a very limited number of mediums. And the assumption that the teacher at the front has the authority and those correct answers.

Whereas in real life, the reason people create, develop, and innovate is because they scratch their head about something they can’t do or don’t understand or would like to share or explore - and give it a go.

When it comes to personal practice with a horse it’s mostly just a case of trying something out, evaluating what’s happened, and making a decision about what to do next with the information gathered and physical experience had. Most horsewomen I know have more than enough knowledge and experience to at least ‘try’ something in their personal practice. They know how to pick out feet, put on saddles, mount, they very often know how to put a half tonne flight animal in a metal box and drive it down the motor way. During their lesson with me they’ve gathered information about foundational ground work, or the basic aids, for instance.

If they just took a bit of time to evaluate all this gained experience and gathered knowledge and information, they would see they have more than enough to start to practice by themselves. They most likely don’t need to watch more videos, or to spectate more clinics, or wait for their next lesson. Instead, they could take themselves and their horse somewhere quiet together and ‘have a go’ at learning something.

The thing is once you start and it becomes a habit, it’s pretty addictive. Because YOU worked something out with your horse and that is a pretty cool feeling. After seventy billion hours of personal practice Des and I worked out how to piaffe. And now we’re developing passage and experimenting with flying changes. Not something I personally have ever taught a horse before. I’ve ridden horses who someone else has schooled to this level, but the satisfaction of working this stuff out in my own personal practice - well it’s sweet. Easy, no. Satisfying, yes. Of course, I’ve had excellent teachers along the way to provide suggestions and ideas, but most of it has been uncovered privately - just between me and my horse.

And I have the firm belief that everyone I teach has the capacity, capability and more than enough knowledge to start to practice by themselves. Even if that’s leading your horse with quality for two 15 minute sessions twice a week. Or working out how to help your horse not fall in on the lunge in one 30 minute weekly session. Or leading them a short distance off the yard 3 times a week. You start where you are, and just tell yourself you do have the capability and are good enough to ‘try’ working it out. At the very least this will provide more information for your next lesson…

Photo shows a ‘point of desperation’ practice session where I read a book and sat with Capri for 5 days in a row. Who knew this would be such a turning point…

29/09/2026

25/09/2026

I have some unexpected spaces this weekend, if anyone would like to squeeze in a last minute lesson then let me know!

21/09/2026

Think you’re ready to move up a dressage level because you can do the new movements? 🤔

When we think about stepping up a level, we tend to focus on the obvious things:

Can I do the half pass?
Can I ride the flying change?
Can I show a medium trot?
Can I manage the counter canter?

And yes, obviously, you need to be able to do them.

But that’s only part of the step up.

Every time you move up a level, the expectation increases for the quality of the horse’s way of going, the quality of the movement, the accuracy AND the preparation.

And I think that last one catches people out and why they see their marks drop suddenly.

Take the medium trot.

At Novice, you can make a progressive transition into it.

At Elementary, you need a clearer transition closer to the marker.

By Medium, you’re expected to start at the marker and continue to the end marker.

Same movement.

Very different level of ex*****on.

And then there’s the bit nobody really talks about…

The movements start coming at you much faster.

If you finish a half pass in good balance, with good energy and a good connection, you’ve basically handed yourself the ingredients for the next movement.

If you finish it losing the balance, losing the connection and with the horse running out of energy, you’ve now got to fix all of that and prepare for what’s coming next.

And you might not have much time.

At the lower levels, you might have half a long side and a short side before your next big ask.

By PSG, particularly once you get into the canter work, you can be lucky to have the short side.

So you simply cannot wait until you’ve finished one movement before you start thinking about the next one.

You need to be preparing within the movement.

You need to know where your half halts need to happen.

You need to finish movements properly.

You need to maintain the balance rather than having to find it again.

And you need to be thinking ahead.

Because moving up the levels isn’t just about learning more movements.

It’s about being able to ride the movements you already know with more quality, more accuracy and much better preparation.

And honestly, I think that is one of the biggest shocks when you step up a level.

What caught you out when you first moved up?

Was it the new movements — or was it how quickly the test suddenly seemed to come at you? 👇

18/09/2026

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 10th October 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.

12/09/2026

Thank you Wolds Exclusive Bling for the beautiful bridle 🥰 it’s so well made, and such a nice fit.