Katie Erpel Dressage

08/31/2026

I always tell my students to “half-halt up” ✈️

DRESSAGE SOLUTIONS: Achieve an Uphill Half-Halt

To achieve an uphill half-halt ...

Remember that it’s not just about closing your legs and reins at the same time. You also need to rebalance the energy with your seat. Imagine you are on a bicycle and are about to pop a wheelie. Engage your abdominal muscles, lift your chest and still your lower back to lift the front wheels of the bicycle up off the ground. In the saddle, this same feeling tells the horse to lower his hindquarters and lift his front end—just like the front of the bicycle lifts off the ground.
— Chrissa Hoffmann

🎨 Illustration by Sandy Rabinowitz

08/19/2026

Proud of Stella de la Noche and Excel Star Renaissance making their Second 3 Debut at the “Too Hot to Trot” Stable View Show 🌟

Both horses have been with me in training for a year give or take and have gone from green Training Level to Second Level horses, now developing the strength to progress up to Third Level work 🤩

I was super proud of how Stella handled the show environment after not showing since Training Level a year ago 🙌

The scores were respectable but with the extreme heat, we ran out of gas in the show ring🥵 Non the less, we got out, received constructive feedback, had fun, and lesson learned to keep my show schedule to the cooler months ☀️

Onward and upward 🙌 🦄

As always, thank you to their owner, Lee, for entrusting her horses with me!

And to Meghan Benge Photography & Design for the most beautiful photos! 🦄

08/08/2026

The corner reveals the quality of your connection: when energy flows from the inside leg into the outside rein, it creates bend, suppleness and balance. When it doesn’t, the corner exposes the gap.

07/31/2026

Creating an honest bend is one of the important skills to be able to keep a horse balanced and functionally straight in a turn.
Here I show the student that the horse has to give in the base of the neck laterally, which creates lateral flexion in the poll and "fills out the outside rein". The position of the inside hand close to the withers would be in charge of that. The horse also has to yield in the "armpit" in order to give in the rib cage, which is the job of the inside leg.
The outside rein and leg, have to frame the horse so neither shoulders or haunches fall out.
Most important is the rider's position, with rotation in the body to turn the horse with the seat so leg and hand can frame the bend.
It is important to reevaluate the alignment every stride and gently use the aids accordingly, rather than thinking it is a static holding.

07/26/2026

I’ve got 2 for sale that match this description 🙌

"People think, 'He’s not a big enough mover, and I won’t win with that.' But learn the pedigree, and then you know what you’re getting, and then give it time," writes Grand Prix trainer Chrissa Hoffmann. "That’s training, and that’s what we should all be doing. That’s the fun of it for me. I love creating my own work of art. It’s my passion, and I especially love an underdog who got overlooked."

Read her full column at the link in our comments.

07/23/2026

🦄☀️Training Stall Available in September☀️🦄

Due to another dear, long-term client moving out of state, I will have 1 Full/Partial Training Board Space Available at my personal farm in Windsor.

☀️ Quaint, boutique training facility offering personalized care and training with USDF Silver Medalist, Katie Erpel working alongside and managing the farm with her mother, Shirley Rumpel, USDF Silver Medalist and 40+ year horsewoman.

☀️ Located conveniently off of Charleston Highway just 15 minutes from Downtown Aiken on the Windsor/Williston line

☀️ 20X60 Regulation Dressage Arena with Mirrors and GGT

☀️ 5 acre Cross-Training Grass Field with Cavalettis

☀️Safe, No-Climb Fencing and Electrobraid Paddocks

☀️Owners live on-site

☀️Katie offers a lifetime of knowledge, education, and experience. Her passion and joy lies in tapping into the talent of each individual horse no matter the breed and helping develop each horse to reach their athletic potential through a methodical Classical Dressage training program that utilizes a focus on horsemanship, ground work, and quality, back to front riding.

☀️ Katie’s approach has been described as patient, yet effective. Katie is also passionate about teaching and enjoys developing riders with a focus on rider position, correct aiding, and teaching riders how to feel their horse.

☀️Katie loves and can help all horses with Dressage to work over their backs and build confidence - from Warmbloods, Iberians, Friesians, Quarter Horses to Ponies - her portfolio is diverse and extensive - from starting under saddle to developing to the FEI and training the upper levels, as well as being a brave/feeling intuitive rider to handle the more sensitive types.

☀️ Trailer-In Lessons Welcome for Katie and Shirley - Limited Availability for Travel Lessons/Rides

☀️ Short Intensive Training/ Bootcamps Available at her farm with an RV Hookup

Feel free to text/call for more information or to visit the farm 3057785336 🦄

www.katieerpeldressage.com

Enjoy the collage of photos to see just some of the fun horses we’ve had over the years!

07/13/2026

🌟 Excel Star Renaissance 🌟

☘️ 2015 Irish Sport Horse Mare for Your Consideration

🎖️ Second Level Debut with a 66.7% from Janet Foy

📍 Located in Aiken, SC
📞 3057785336

Thank you Meghan Benge for the lovely photos 📷💕