Lyric Dressage

10/15/2026

Contact is one of the hardest things in dressage to define, because it changes with every stride. Judge and trainer Gail Hoff-Carmona, PhD, breaks down what correct contact looks like from the ground and what it should feel like in the saddle, from hand position to the role of the half-halt when a horse gets heavy in the hand.

"The key to correct contact is to ride from your seat and leg, riding that small downward transition if the horse loses his balance, remaining seated using your core muscles and never pulling backward on the reins," she says.

Read the full article at the link in our comments.
📸AK Dragoo Photography

10/12/2026

✨✨Coming to Ellerslie Stables November 6-8✨✨

Please DM for more information
Michael DeCola Cameron Wyman

Lyricdressage.com

10/07/2026

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🇵🇹Lusitano volta a afirmar-se entre as cinco melhores raças do mundo na Dressage

A Raça Lusitana alcança, pela segunda vez, o 5.º lugar do ranking mundial de raças de Dressage da WBFSH, numa disciplina altamente competitiva e tradicionalmente dominada pelos mais prestigiados studbooks europeus.

Para este resultado contribuíram as prestações internacionais de Gladiador do Lis, Marques dos Cedros, Lírio, Irão, Jairo de Além e Come Back de Massa.

Mais do que um resultado desportivo, é o reconhecimento da evolução do Lusitano como cavalo de desporto de alta competição, fruto de gerações de trabalho de criadores, proprietários, cavaleiros, treinadores e Associações estrangeiras.

Uma importante ferramenta de promoção do Cavalo Lusitano, cujo Studbook é um livro fechado, sem inclusão de sangues estranhos à Raça.

🇬🇧Lusitano once again ranks among the world’s top five breeds in Dressage

For the second time, the Lusitano has reached 5th place in the WBFSH world ranking of breeds for Dressage, a discipline traditionally dominated by Europe’s most prestigious studbooks.

Gladiador do Lis, Marques dos Cedros, Lírio, Irão, Jairo de Além and Come Back de Massa were key to this result.

It reflects generations of work by breeders, owners, riders, trainers and foreign Associations. Our Studbook remains closed, with no outside bloodlines.

10/02/2026

Still helpful!!!

🐴 REMEMBER WHEN WE USED TO… THATCH A HORSE?! 😂

Right then, old-school horse people… this one might unlock a few memories. 👀

THATCHING.

Horse comes in wet?

No fancy moisture-wicking technical fabric engineered by NASA.

Oh no.

You grabbed a load of straw, stuffed it underneath a rug and basically turned your horse into a mobile haystack. 😂🐴

And somehow… it worked.

Then there were all the other bits of horsey wisdom passed down through generations that nobody really questioned.

🥣 Hot bran for poulticing — because apparently an abscess needed a nice warm breakfast.

🧂 Bran mashes after hunting or a hard day’s work.

📰 Newspaper under rugs for extra warmth.

🧹 Straw wisps for rubbing horses down.

🧴 Various mysterious lotions and potions that lived in the tack room for approximately 37 years.

And there was ALWAYS an experienced horse person on the yard who knew a remedy for absolutely everything.

Horse coughing?

“I’ve got something for that.”

Lost a shoe?

“I’ve got something for that.”

Leg fallen off?

“Hang on, I’ve got something in the tack room.” 😭

Some old-school methods were genuinely clever.

Some have been replaced as knowledge and veterinary advice have moved on.

And some probably belong firmly in the “HOW DID WE ALL SURVIVE?” category. 😂

So let’s hear them…

👇 What old-school horsekeeping methods do YOU remember?

And even better…

Which ones do you STILL swear by? 👀🍿

Horsey unfiltered Follow for more blasts from the horsey past

09/13/2026

07/25/2026

Congratulations Mandotea Farm 🖤💎💎🖤

07/16/2026

Wisdom from Carl Hester: “Expression is a dangerous word because once you put expression into it, then if you have got the wrong rider, or a rider who doesn’t ride with an independent seat, then they use their hands and that’s when you get that horrible looking, jerky dressage.” �https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2019/09/carl-hester-talks-his-horses-his-training-and-more/

06/26/2026

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“Contact does not mean that by pulling the reins we will have it. The horse should step into the contact and establish an outline corresponding to the respective pace; an outline within which it can best develop its power.” Reiner Klimke, Ingrid Klimke and Franziskus demonstrate…�https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2021/10/contact-what-is-good-contact/

06/21/2026

Reitmeister Ernst Bachinger, ab 2006 bis zu seiner Pensionierung Leiter der Reitbahn der Spanischen Hofreitschule Wien, ist nach langer, schwerer Krankheit im Alter von 84 Jahren gestorben. Er hat über sein Wirken in der "Spanischen" hinaus die internationale Dressur- und Schulreiterei geprägt. Mit dem Lipizzanerhengst Siglavy Modena in allen Lektionen der Hohen Schule am langen Zügel war er z. B. Teil der Eröffnungsfeier der Olympischen Spiele München 1972. Den Gestütsoberwart Karl-Heinz Albrecht vom Landgestüt Celle hat er dadurch motiviert, auch mit dem Hannoveranerhengst Einblick Piaffe, Passage und Einerwechsel am langen Zügel zu zeigen und damit zu einem Höhepunkt der Hengstparaden zu werden. Ernst Bachinger hat als Mensch darüber hinaus durch seinen Humor und den Sinn für erheiternde Effekte vielen Zeitgenossen immer wieder ein Lächeln ins Gesicht gezaubert, das über seinen Tod hinaus nachwirken möge. RH Spanische Hofreitschule .