I have had the great fortune to be able to watch you perform in Wellington. You are without a doubt one of my favorite riders and authors. How would you approach a student that feels like a trainer in the area may be teaching me the wrong way to ride and train my horse? This is what I am hearing being said: 1. You ride off the inside rein because that is what some horses need….I was always taught that the inside rein is for flexion only and the outside rein is to direct the horse to move through their intire body from pole to hind quarters. Also that you need to recreate the horses trot because he was a TB off the track…Again I thought that you were suppose to work with the horses natural gaites. Third the horse is barely training level w/t/c and this trainer in 6months says that the rider/horse will be showing third level in 6months. I thought that each level is suppose to build upon the other and she also mentioned just skipping 2nd level showing at all. Can if you are able give me some feedback. I feel totally confused after reading many dressage books, dressage today etc.

Thank you
Debra Rose Morell
4340 SE 150th St.
Summerfield, Fl 34491

I recently found your site and I love it! I read through the Moshi and Indy entries yesterday and Annie’s story had me in tears. I tear up now just thinking about it. One of my horses is a 27 year old gelding. He’s Navicular, arthritic, a hard-keeper and just plain ornery (although I kind of like that ornery part!). He’s been comfortable with the corrective shoeing, his senior cocktail of supplements and chiropractic adjustments but every time he comes up a little off, my mind immediately goes to the “is this it?” line of thinking and I fall apart. I can’t bear the thought of losing him or having to make … the decision. Thank you for sharing Annie’s story. It helps ease my mind when I think about the future for my senior guy.

Also, I joined your Riding Light Facebook page. While I am not siginificantly overweight – size 12, large-boned and 5′8 – there are quite a few pounds around that love me so much they refuse to leave despite regular exercise and watching my diet. I’ve struggled my entire life with body image and thinking I am much larger than I actually am. The page and its members have been an inspiration. Focusing on the positives has changed so much for me in just one week! Thank you thank you thank you for creating it and for sharing all that you do. You’ve helped more than just my riding!