In this "Introduction to What, Why, How" mini-course, we’re going to teach you the earliest lines and simplest patterns that all horses need to begin. Most people skip over this foundational step and want to skip ahead to the fancy stuff, but we promise you, the training goes so much smoother when you build it on a solid foundation of understanding before you progress to the fancier stuff.

In WWH Intro we’ll cover:
- Geometry of the Arena
- The Landmarks you need to know to orient your patterns
- The Basic Lines that all horses begin with in their training
- Where are my Horses's Feet?
- Introduction to Feldenkrais including 4 Fundamental Feldenkrais Lessons
- Counting Strides
- Changing Rein Part 1 (centerline, halfschool line, long & short diagonals)
- Changing Rein Part 2 (reversing out of the corner, reversing into the corner, changing out of the circle, changing through the circle)
- Exercises Worksheet
- Progress Tracker Worksheet

In Module One of Level One, we’re going to start at the foundation: Your WHY.

In Module 1 we’ll cover:
- The Purpose of Dressage Training
- The Purpose of Dressage Movements
- The Training Wheel Overview and Application for Level One
- Brief Overview of the 6 Demands for Level One
- Rhythm & Tempo
- Alignment and Arena Patterns
- Why do Circles need to be ROUND
- The Three Rider Toolboxes: The Rider's Seat & Aids, The Movements, and The Exercises
- How to Ask the Right Questions
- All About Circles
- How to use and ride exercises

In Module Two, we're going to dive immediately into why and how to longe your horse in a way that will prepare your horse best for and also complement the ridden work.

In Module 2 we’ll cover:

- Why Longeing?
- How to Longe with a Cavesson 
- Introducing the Longeing
- Longeing and Half Halting
- Transitions on the Longe Line 

In Module Three, we’re going to pull back the curtain on how to structure your horse’s training and how to warm up your horse optimally.

In Module 3 we’ll cover:

- Relaxation
- The Importance of Warm-up  
- The Objectives of Warm-up
- Different Kinds of Warm-up
- Warm up with Turning and Bending
- How to Structure the Horse’s Training
- Cultivating a Beginner’s Mindset in Riding
- Getting into the Right Frame of Mind

In Module Four, we’re going to teach you how to look at everything we ride in Dressage in terms of the 6 Essential Demands a.k.a. our Dressage Biomechanics Framework. Learning to see every movement, every exercise, every element of every ride in these terms sheds a whole new light on the training which gives you greater perspective and clarity. Rather than complicate the training, it simplifies how you see everything. Then we will dive into Element #1 which is all about going Forward.

In Module 4 we’ll cover:

- Introduction to the Dressage Biomechanics Framework
- Dressage Biomechanics Framework Overvie
- Introduction to Forward 
- Forward - What & Why
- Common Mistakes And Misconceptions In “Going Forward”
- Habit of "Balking" 
- Transitions 
- Forward Aids
- Lower Leg Aids
- Lower Leg - Walk, Trot
- Driving Seat Aids

The Rider's Seat and Aids are so important! In Module Five you get to take a luxurious deep-dive into exploring how to sit (and why to sit that way), how to use the seat, how to give your aids, and how to help the horse with your seat.

In Module 5 we’ll cover:
- Developing the Seat 
- Form and Function of the Rider’s Seat
- Rider Seat Position
- The Rider’s Torso and Shoulders
- Stirrup Length
- The Rider’s Pelvis
- The Rider’s Thighs
- The Rider’s Knees and Lower Legs
- The Rider’s Arms, Elbows, Wrists, and Fingers
- Fixed Hand vs. Following Hand
- Ways of Holding the Reins
- Ways of Holding the Whip
- Rising Trot
- Sitting Trot
- Overview of timing of the aids
- Balance and Support 
- Spreading Yourself Out  (Support)
- The Knees 
- Letting gravity pull you deeper into the saddle 

In Module Six, we continue with the theme of the six essentials by exploring how to turn the horse's shoulders. All curved lines and turns involve turning of the horse's shoulders. Why is this essential and how do you do it in a way that is biomechanically correct and beneficial to your horse?

In Module Seven we explore another "essential" which is stopping and half-halting.

In Module Eight, we explore another essential which is Bending.

In Module Nine, get into the nitty gritty of Voltes and using voltes as an integral part of your horse's development. We will explain WHY this is so important and how it is one of your most helpful tools.

In Module Ten, you will explore the concept of Contact and HOW to establish a correct contact.

- In Module Eleven, you get to explore an extremely useful tool that you can use to support all of your under saddle training: work-in-hand.

In Module Twelve, it's time to work on the canter. You will get a solid foundation on how to evaluate the quality of your horse's canter as well as how to help set your horse up for the best possible canter.

In Module 12 we’ll cover:
- Prerequisites of the Canter
- Canter Departs
- When to canter & When NOT to canter
- When to canter (with a young horse)
- The characteristics of a good and bad canter
- Shaping the Canter with the Seat and Aids
- Lower Leg Aids - Canter
- How to regulate the speed and tempo of the canter 

In Module 13 you get to explore the fascinating world of Stirrup Stepping. Stirrup Stepping is a fine, subtle weight aid that is inherently intuitive for the horse. Whether you have used stirrup stepping before or you are new to this technique, you will find so much to explore in this module!

In Module 13 we’ll cover:

- Stirrup Stepping - Why? - Stirrup Stepping - What is it?
- Stirrup Stepping into the Outside Front Leg
- Stirrup Stepping into the Inside Front Leg
- Stirrup Stepping into the Outside Hind Leg
- Stirrup Stepping into the Inside Hind Leg
- Stirrup Stepping into the Diagonal Pair 
- Stirrup Steppling Important Notes
- Stirrup Stepping Practical Application
- Stirrup Stepping: The Walk and Trot
- Stirrup Stepping: The Walk Continued
- Stirrup-Stepping Legend
- Timing and Footfalls of Stirrup Stepping
- Stepping Not Stomping
- How - A-B-C-D Stepping
- Sequences of stirrup pressures 

In Module Fourteen, we will focus on the quality of the gaits. That means both the quality of the horse's movement as well as the quality of the conversation we are having with our horse through the training.

In Module 14 we’ll cover:

- Quality over Quantity
- Better Quality through Observing the Pause
- How to improve the Quality of the Walk
- What is Good Movement
- A Framework of Observation with Catherine McCrum 

In Module Fifteen, we explore another of the "essential" biomechanic movement patterns: side-stepping both in theory and in practical application. This brings us to explore our first of the 6 Tests of the Hind legs, which is a framework we learned from our teachers at the Spanish Riding School.

In Module Sixteen, we will explore the often misunderstood and under-utilized Turn on the Forehand in Motion  (TOFIM) as was passed down to us from our teachers in the Spanish Riding School Tradition. It is also a practically-based movement in Working Equitation, and you will find it supremely useful for beginning to supple your horse's hips.

In Module Seventeen, you get to investigate the classical use of the leg yield in the training of your horse.

One of the most under-utilized spot of the arena is the corner. In Module Eighteen, you will learn how invaluable corners are for your training strategy and you will learn how to ride smooth, graceful, well-balanced corrners.

- In Module Nineteen, we return to the theme of Contact in a new context. You will see that revisiting concepts again and again gives you the ability to build upon your knowledge in deeper ways.

At this point, we do our first Peer Review Assessment Process. At the end of each level, and when you are ready (you can take the course as many times as you like until you feel ready), you are invited to participate in our amazing peer-review assessments process. An incredibly warm and enriching experience, you are guided through how to evaluate your own progress as well as each others' progress.  Completion of the peer-review assessment process unlocks the ability to begin the next level.

We know you have a busy life, you need time to actually go to the barn and ride your horse so you can implement what you are learning, and you don’t want to spend ALL of your time sitting in front of a computer watching videos every week. That is why we have broken this course down into weekly modules with periodic "Break" weeks to give you an opportunity to catch up, review, and implement. This way it is doable EVEN if you fall behind. Each module should take you no more than, on average, 1-2 hours per week to go through (several weeks are a little more content-heavy, however). In addition, there are two Q&A sessions per month and two Hot Seat sessions per month, and each one lasts, on average, 2 hours. Participation in those is highly recommended but optional, of course. And then, we cannot predict the amount of time you spend in the Facebook Group because that is entirely dependent upon how much time you enjoy interacting with the other riders in there.

This course is suitable for thinking riders who are passionate about learning and have been looking for someone to answer all their questions. It is suitable for you:
 - Whether you are a novice or professional rider.
 - Whether you are a dressage rider, a jumper, a western rider, or anything else in between.
 - Whether you have taken every online course out there, or have never taken one before.
 - Regardless of the breed or kind of horse you ride
 - Regardless of the kind of tack you use, or whether you use no tack at all (bitless, bareback, no problem!)
 - Regardless of whether you primarily ride or do work from the ground (most exercises are adaptable to work-in-hand and at the long-rein, and we are able to suggest modifications when needed)
 - Whether you are ambitious or wish to take your time.

Honestly, if you start working through the Intro to WWH mini-course and the instant access bonus materials right away, you will already be seeing results before the course begins. That is how effective this system is.

We begin this course with the foundational elements precisely because we do not want to make any assumptions about what you do or do not know, and besides, nearly everyone has gaps in their education at some point. Therefore, this course is appropriate for you whether you are lower-level and/or just beginning dressage or whether you have been riding for many years. It is so adaptable and comprehensive that it is absolutely suitable for professional trainers who wish to supplement their education, and in fact we have many professionals in our course programs.

You need a horse to ride and a relatively level space to ride in. An arena with adequate footing is recommended but we have had course members who have had success even without a standard “arena” to ride in. In most cases, you can modify the exercises based on your riding conditions and we are able to suggest modifications whenever you need help finding a suitable way to modify an exercise for your situation. Not required but recommended: approximately 20 cones or other arena markers (homemade is fine), a smartphone/video camera/robotic camera to record your rides. You will also need an internet connection and a computer/tablet/smartphone with which to access the course materials and Facebook Group.

If you want feedback on the exercises ridden in the course, you can submit video. Each session has its own GoogleDoc on which you will sign up for a spot. In the Session, Thomas will be reviewing the submitted videos live on Zoom. He will break down what is happening. He often plays the video frame-by-frame to point it out clearly so you can see what he is explaining. He will give you exercises and tips to address what he sees. You can ask questions right there, and there is a chat where you can talk to the other participants in real-time. If you cannot attend live, you can watch the recording afterward. No submission is left unanswered. If there are more submissions than Thomas can finish within that session, we will schedule follow-up session(s).

There are usually two Q&A coaching sessions per month and two Hot Seat Sessions per month, and the times will vary so that we can accommodate our members all over the world in different timezones, with some additional sessions at the beginning of the course to help you get going with the course content.

If we do not complete all the submitted hot seat requests within the time, we schedule follow-up sessions and these are announced separately.

All sessions are held through a Zoom webinar. Instructions for how to download the free Zoom software and how to access the sessions are included when you enroll and also enclosed in each event reminder.

It is very easy to subscribe to the Course Calendar which automatically converts all the times into your timezone. You can even set reminders through your Calendar so you never miss a session!

Not a problem. All sessions are always recorded and the recordings are uploaded to the Q&A archives within 24-48 hours after the session is over. Every recording is available in downloadable video and audio format so you can watch or listen, whenever, and wherever you prefer. They are also added to the Podcast for offline listening!

The complete course is broken up into 4 Levels. Level 2 will follow Level 1. Level 3 will follow Level 2 and so on. At the end of each level, there is a Peer Review Assessment Process. Completion of that process unlocks your Level Completion Certificate and eligibility to enter the next level.

At the end of all four levels, you will be eligible for the Trainer Certification Process which is still under development,

There are break weeks integrated throughout the course for catch-up and review.

Here is the tentative content release schedule for Level One (subject to adjustment):

LEVEL ONE
Starts January 22 with Orientation
Module 1 - January 26, 2024
Module 2 - February 2, 2024
CATCH-UP/ASSIMILATION BREAK - February 9-15
Module 3 - February 16, 2024
Module 4 - February 23, 2024
CATCH-UP/ASSIMILATION BREAK - March 1-7, 2024
Module 5 - March 8, 2024
Module 6 - March 15, 2024
CATCH-UP/ASSIMILATION BREAK - March 22-28, 2024
Module 7 - March 29, 2024
Module 8 - April 5, 2024
CATCH-UP/ASSIMILATION BREAK - April 12-18, 2024
Module 9 - April 19, 2024
Module 10 - April 26, 2024
CATCH-UP/ASSIMILATION BREAK - May 3-9, 2024
Module 11 - May 10, 2024
Module 12 - May 17, 2024
CATCH-UP/ASSIMILATION BREAK - May 24-30, 2024
Module 13 - May 31, 2024
Module 14 - June 7, 2024
CATCH-UP/ASSIMILATION BREAK - June 14-20, 2024
Module 15 - June 21, 2024
Module 16 - June 28, 2024
CATCH-UP/ASSIMILATION BREAK - July 5-11, 2024
Module 17 - July 12, 2024
Module 18 - July 19, 2024
CATCH-UP/ASSIMILATION BREAK - July 26-August 1, 2024
Module 19 - August 2, 2024
Module 20 (Peer Review Process) - August 9, 2024 - October 5,2024

Just because the modules are released on this schedule does not mean you need to complete the content at that pace. You can take as much time as you need to go through each module. You have lifetime access to the materials, all course upgrades, and the Facebook Group, so you can work through it all at the pace that best suits you and your horse. You can come back to it at any time, you can start over at any time, and you can pick up wherever you left off whenever you like.

Every single video, audio file, every exercise PDF, diagram, checklist… EVERYTHING is completely downloadable and yours to keep forever. You can also download the podcast to listen offline.

This course is yours to learn from however it suits you best. Some of our other members are instructors who no longer ride anymore but they use our trainings and exercises to improve their teaching for their students. We have had members join when they are unable to ride due to injury, illness, pregnancy, or life circumstance. It is not a problem. You can study the materials and apply the riding exercises later, etc.

When you enroll today, you lock in access to all future upgrades and versions of the levels you purchase. That includes access to all of the Q&A and Hot Seat Sessions for those levels. So when we run the course again, you can take it again alongside all of the Alumni and new members.

The What, Why, How course is our Flagship course about learning to use gymnastic biomechanics-based exercises to train your horse. It contains all of the material you will need as a foundation for any other course you take, and it covers the complete overall biomechanics structured training of the horse. Our other courses are spotlight courses on specific aspects or elements of the What, Why, How system and enable you to go in even deeper into those specific aspects (i.e. specifically as the training relates to the canter, flying changes, simple changes, straightness, timing of the aids, contact and connection, groundwork, etc.)

All of the Dressage Biomechanics Framework (DBF) content is included within What, Why, How but it also goes much beyond this. DBF is a superb starting point for WWH!

Ritterize is a monthly membership with exercises to inspire you along your path, but it lacks the complete and comprehensive theoretical framework that you will find in the What, Why, How course. However, if you enjoy how we teach the what, why, and how of each exercise in Ritterize, you will love the What, Why, How course.

It is all well and right to get the exercises and theoretical trainings, but what really makes this course work so successfully for the members is the ongoing support through the Facebook Group, live Q&A coaching sessions, and live Hot Seat sessions. Wherever you are, you can come to us with your questions and we will give you fresh ideas, or help you isolate the problem you are dealing with so you can better identify the solution.

For additional support, it is possible to purchase additional 1:1 online lessons with Thomas for spotlight help in specific areas.

You will gain membership in a prosperous and enthusiastic private Facebook Group. Right now we have no live in-person events scheduled, but it is something we would like to include at some point in the future. Of course, you would be notified of any future events, when they become reality.

There are three things I need to address here.

1. Joining the Facebook Group is not mandatory.

2. We preserve a supportive, nurturing environment in our Facebook Group, so it is not like any other group you have ever experienced before.

3. If you simply do not want to be on Facebook at all anymore, we share your sentiments. You are not alone! We are actively  investigating other options and we are open to your suggestions! If and When we transition to another platform for our community, you will have lifetime access.

No. You will have instant access to most of the bonuses and the WWH Intro Mini-Course as soon as your payment is processed, so you can start there. However, we begin Level One of WWH on January 22nd and each subsequent module is released on a schedule from then on.

Yes, absolutely. It isn’t necessary to have a home instructor, but it can be an advantage if you do. We have many members who have regular riding instructors and take lessons, some regularly and others more periodically. In any case, the regular lessons are an advantage because you can get feedback from your instructor on how you are implementing the lessons learned in the course. In most cases, the members in our courses have reported back to us that their instructor helps them go over the course materials and helps coach them through the riding exercises. In several cases, we have then had those instructors join our courses, too, and they work through the materials with all of their students.

Yes, absolutely. In fact, how advantageous that you have the option to learn this way when you have no access to local instruction. You can fall back on the live Q&A coaching sessions and the Facebook community for camaraderie, support, and feedback in the absence of a local instructor.

No other program teaches our framework, our system, our methods, and our exercises. And no other program has the support of Thomas and Shana to give you pinpointed answers to your questions.

Yes! In fact, you won’t be the only one. We have a growing community of non-traditional horses and riders in our courses. It is a melting pot where everyone finds common ground through the love of the horses, the passion for learning, and the ability to apply the principles and exercises regardless of the breed of the horse, background of horse or rider, or the preferred equipment to use.

Family members in the same household can share an account and individual access to the Facebook Group. All can participate in the Q&A sessions but please choose person to participate in each Hot Seat Session (it's ok if it is one person one week and another person another week).

If a second family member in the same household wishes to fully participate in the course, including the hot seats, and the assessments, so that you are both able to move through the levels -  a second full seat on the course can be purchased. This would be priced at 70% of the current course fee. Please get in touch with us by email to request this if required.

Email: ritterdressage@gmail.com 

You can access everything with an internet browser, however there is a free app for the course content which enables you to easily navigate the course materials on your mobile device. You may also wish to download the free Zoom app to access the Q&A sessions. We give complete instructions inside the course platform.

Perhaps it will be even better than you expect! But nevertheless, if you are unhappy with it for any reason, we have a 30-day full money back guarantee.

Refund Criteria: We want you to make a fully informed decision before you request a refund. Therefore, before we grant you a refund, you must show that you have completed the course content up to that point and have attended at least one Q&A or Hot Seat session.

Where you have purchased the course as an ‘early bird’ the 30 day period will be extended to include a period of 30 days from the start of the course (January 22, 2024)

We cannot guarantee success. That is up to you. There is no quick-fix method to anything. You still have to show up, study, and implement what you learn. But knowledge is power and the more access you have to knowledge and tools that WORK, the more you increase your chances of success. As far as satisfaction with the course, we have a 30-day money back guarantee. Try it and see if you like it for 30 days before making your final decision.

Our Guarantee:

If you’re not 100% satisfied with the What, Why, How course program, the training exercises and strategies, or our extensive support after 30 days, we will offer you a full refund, rider’s honor!

That means you can enroll today, and you don’t even have to decide if you’re in for good! Take the full 30 days to explore the materials, bonuses, and the life-changing experience of the What Why How family and Ritter Riders culture, and make your decision then. That enables you to make the decision then based on the experience you have first-hand in the course materials, rather than making the decision based on what you don’t yet know.

Refund Criteria: We want you to make a fully informed decision before you request a refund. Therefore, before we grant you a refund, you must show that you have completed the course content up to that point and have attended at least one Q&A or Hot Seat session.

Where you have purchased the course as an ‘early bird’ the 30 day period will be extended to include a period of 30 days from the start of the course (January 22, 2024)

Yes, many! We have riders who have used this system to finally transcend being stuck at one level for many years, despite trying every solution that came along and then being frustrated and defeated that it didn’t work. We have had riders who have used it to take their horses from green to FEI. We have had riders who have never been able to find a learning style that worked for them who have told us it is like we are speaking their language and how grateful they are to finally find someone who can answer things in a way they can FINALLY understand.

You can do this course however it suits you. You do not need to join the Facebook Group if you prefer not to be on Facebook, but you are welcome to do so. You do not need to participate in the live Q&As or Hot Seat sessions, but you are welcome to do so. You do not need to post video of yourself for feedback, but you are welcome to do so.

Just email us at ritterdressage@gmail.com  . If you would like to schedule a short zoom session to discuss whether it is right for you or not, just email us at ritterdressage@gmail.com .

Click the button right here. Select your payment plan and currency preference. You can pay in full, or select a payment schedule. Then enter your details and payment info. You will receive an email with your login information and a link to the course platform where you will find further instructions. You will also then receive instructions on how to join the Facebook Group and the live Q&A sessions. If you have any trouble, email us at ritterdressage@gmail.com so we can help.

If you are within the EU and wish to pay via bank transfer, just email us at ritterdressage@gmail.com .