Versatility and flexibility are important for the horse and rider … and it’s a pretty good idea for the instructor, too.

Before I became a saddle fitter, I spent many years making my living as a dressage trainer and instructor.  Just the other day, I was doing a fitting for a customer who does endurance and competitive trail, and noticed that the horse’s back was pretty underdeveloped.  I mentioned to Rhonda, the owner, that some basic dressage work would help.  Nancy Okun, who’s a good friend of Rhonda’s, was working with us as well, and said that dressage lessons would be a big help with her young horse.  They began discussing the logistical challenges of finding dressage lessons, and I began thinking that maybe putting my instructor’s hat back on might be fun, particularly since I’d be working with riders outside the typical dressage parameters.  Upshot is that we’re going to do our first lesson in two weeks, and I’ll have a progress report for you in the September newsletter!