WHERE TRAINING MEETS ART AND FUNCTION...
The Gymnastic Development approach
TO DRESSAGE TRAINING
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The Gymnastic Development approach to Dressage Training focuses on developing the horse’s physical and mental capabilities by systematically improving balance, suppleness, straightness, and collection through thoughtfully prepared exercises. Rooted in classical principles and tailored to the horse’s individual needs, the training uses natural, gymnastic movements to strengthen and supple the horse while refining rein contact and engaging the hindquarters. Each exercise builds on the previous, addressing specific challenges and enhancing overall athleticism of the horse. This thoughtful, nature-based approach ensures that dressage movements retain their purpose and beauty, promoting the horse’s soundness, vitality, happiness, and long-term well-being.
IN THIS 3-DAY TRAINING:
In this 3-day Training, we are going to apply this gymnastic approach to the three primary challenges that the horse/rider pair tends to face as the training progresses beyond Introductory/Preliminary Level (USDF Training Level) work into Novice/Elementary (USDF First and Second Level):
Day 1: Introducing and effectively working with Lateral Movement such as Shoulder-in and Haunches-in
Day 2: Developing the horse’s energy and pushing power for Lengthenings and correct Medium gaits
Day 3: Using the Counter Canter with tact to improve the straightness and quality of the horse’s canter.
During this workshop, Thomas and Shana will condense decades of teaching and training expertise into 3 days of consecutive trainings so that you can understand how to use Dressage Movements to benefit your horse's soundness, happiness, and well-being.
At the end of these 3 days….
✔ You will LEARN... how the Dressage movements are built upon gymnastic components and how you can use the building blocks of these gymnastic components to train your horse the Dressage movements.
✔ You will UNDERSTAND... how to then USE these Dressage movements in a functional way to build your horse's strength, suppleness, straightness, and power so that you can progress further in the training without stressing yourself or overfacing your horse.
✔ You will LEARN... how to see the training in the context of gymnastic skill-sets. This will help you learn how to troubleshoot and strategize what you do in your training more effectively.
✔ You will UNDERSTAND... how any movement can be used to help or hinder the horse and that thoughtful preparation and systematic development will help you keep your horse sound and happy as a Dressage horse.
✔ You will also meet AMAZING LIKE-MINDED RIDERS who share your passion and dedication to riding and being the BEST you can be for your horse.
“Every type of work should aim at improving the horse.”
- Thomas Ritter
Featured in...
TRAIN DIRECTLY WITH THOMAS & SHANA RITTER
INTERNATIONAL DRESSAGE COACH AND CLINICIAN, AUTHOR, TRAINER
Dr. Thomas Ritter has benefitted the lives of more than 75,000 riders (and their horses) around the globe through his books, eBooks, DVDs, videos, online courses, live events, and clinics. His attention to detail, ability to troubleshoot any problem, and ability to communicate complex concepts in understandable ways have helped riders all over North America, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Asia. Thomas is the champion of the horse and the student, and you get the fortunate opportunity to learn directly from him in this special workshop.
SHANA RITTER
CO-OWNER RITTER DRESSAGE, ARTISTIC DRESSAGE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
USDF Silver Medalist and wife/partner to Thomas for nearly 25 years, Shana Ritter brings her enthusiasm and perspective (and sometimes silly sense of humor) to complement the teaching, sharing insights and experiences through the three days of the workshop.
Why an Online Workshop?
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Thomas & Shana have been teaching challenges and workshops online since 2017!
If you ride with a trainer regularly, an online workshop is the perfect way to supplement your regular lessons to fill in the theoretical gaps and gain additional perspective that will help you make the most out of your time in those lessons.
On the other hand, if you don't have access to a trainer to ride with regularly, an online workshop presents a helpful opportunity for you to get help and insights in your riding that you can't get otherwise.
Regardless, our workshops give you chance to connect with other like-minded riders who share your passion and philosophy towards horse-centered training that is healthy and good for the horse and enjoyable for both horse and rider.
Why You?
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Perhaps you feel stuck at a certain point in the training and don't know how to move beyond this point.
Perhaps you want to ride lateral movements but don't know how to introduce them to your horse.
Perhaps you would like to ride lengthenings and medium/extended trots, but when you ask for one, it feels like you are riding a deflating balloon.
Perhaps the idea of riding the counter canter makes you want to hold your breath and pray, and you have NO IDEA how "cantering on the wrong lead" is supposed to do anything to help your horse's canter improve.
Perhaps you are simply passionate about learning Dressage and revel in any opportunity to expand your understanding further.
Maybe you have a horse who isn't the typical Dressage horse and the typical instructions don't work well for your horse.
Maybe you, yourself, feel like the standard "crank and spank" kind of riding is not for you (or your horse) and you're looking for a kinder, more thoughtful approach to training.
Maybe you want to help your horse be sound, healthy, and happy... and you want to deepen your relationship with your horse THROUGH the training.
This Workshop will give you the understanding and tools that will help you become the thoughtful and effective rider you want to be.
Why Free (and why VIP)?
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We believe in the principle of paying it forward. We want to help as many horses and riders as possible. To do so, we periodically offer free challenges and workshops to share our knowledge, strategies, and tools with riders who share a common love for Dressage, horses, and training with integrity.
If you sign up for free, you will have access to the recordings until January 3, 2025. The VIP option gives you lifetime access to the recordings. You can even download them!
Additionally, if what we teach resonates with you and you want to take it further... at the end of this workshop, you will have the opportunity to sign up for our What Why How Level 2 course beginning in January 2025. This workshop gives you the opportunity to get to know our philosophy and style of teaching and training to see if it is right for you and your horse.
"Everyone is happier AND we make better progress"
"Through their instruction and examples, I've transformed from a skilled but driven, frustrated, rider into one who is calm, happy, and analytical in my training. Despite having had decades of excellent instruction, it took the Ritters to teach me to be calmer, more analytical, and therefore much more effective in my riding. Everyone is happier AND we make better progress. My horses and I all thank Thomas Ritter and Shana Ritter."
- Anne Z.
And get 3 days of live trainings RECORDINGS with Thomas and Shana Ritter worth over €300
"Learning and training doesn't take place in a linear form. It always involves ups and downs, detours and dead-ends. That's part of the learning and discovering what works and what doesn't work. The "bad" days, poor decisions, and "failures" are just as necessary and valuable as the good moments when we get it *right*." - Thomas Ritter
A STELLAR MINI-COURSE!
“I suspect that in hindsight this will be the most significant step forward in my riding. I need to know not just movements and exercises but their affect on each horse, especially as I seem to collect damaged discarded horses. Until now I have been quite tentative in applying the work because I lacked the wherewithal to analyze the details. This Challenge has given me confidence and the skills to choose exercises more intelligently - and even more importantly, sympathetically. It is a stellar mini-course! Thanks a million. ”
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Ruth U-G.
FINALLY CLICKING INTO PLACE
“My gratitude for you guys and this course is overwhelming. Nothing about riding has ever been explained to me like this before, and it seems that I have fallen even more in love with the concept of Dressage and may passion to learn and become better is overwhelming. Thank you guys so much for this knowledge, FREE KNOWLEDGE. It’s incredible that you are so willing to share this information and answer questions. I think things are finally clicking into place and I’m very excited to start thinking about my riding and Dressage exercises as diagnostics to improve my horse.”
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Sara C.
BEEN SUCH A HUGE HELP
“Loving it! I have to say I have gotten so much help with my horse with your detailed explanations of what to do when and possible reasons why he got resistant. Discovering the Ritters has been such a huge help in my riding and teaching. In many cases you have confirmed my basic thoughts of what to do (I lack confidence and think I may be making things up) and in other areas, you have given me insight into why things are happening and thus help me to work through it. So grateful for this work!”
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Ann L.
The Workshop Daily Schedule
A 3-day online event taught by Shana and Dr. Thomas Ritter.
This even was run live December 11-13, 2024, but you can still sign up, watch the trainings and access all the content -
This workshop consisted of:
✔ 3 DAILY live trainings, each followed by a Q&A.
✔ Optional Homework (riding exercises) each day to solidify your understanding and explore further.
✔ Support in our private Facebook Group.
Day 1 - Introducing and effectively working with Lateral Movement such as Shoulder-in and Haunches-in
Day 2 - Developing the horse’s energy and pushing power for Lengthenings and correct Medium gaits
Day 3 - Using the Counter Canter with tact to improve the straightness and quality of the horse’s canter.
“Every interaction with the horse must serve its physical and psychological well-being. Every interaction with the horse, every aid we apply, every exercise or movement we ride is a learning experience and makes the horse either better or worse.”
- Thomas Ritter
When You Join The Gymnastic Training of the Dressage Horse Workshop, you’ll get:
OPTION 1 (JOIN FOR FREE)
✔ Watch the 3 recorded training and Q&A sessions with Thomas Ritter. Over 4 hours of training.
✔ Actionable homework to help you implement your learning - each day of the workshop
✔ Participation in lively discussions about the trainings, get your questions answered, and feedback on your videos in the Facebook Group.
✔ Access to the recordings until January 3, 2025.
OPTION 2: VIP Participation
✔ Everything in the Free Participation PLUS...
✔ Downloadable recordings, slides, and PDFs.
✔ Lifetime Access to all of it - the recordings, slides, and PDFs. (Keep it all and review it as many times as you like, or watch it later if you don't get to it all by January 3rd).
