USDF Dressage Seminar, Omaha, NE: June Riding Session

The USDF Dressage Seminars aim to provide training and education in a workshop setting for dressage riders, trainers, judges, and enthusiasts. Topics covered often include riding techniques, focus on the training scale, judging criteria, and other aspects related to dressage. The Seminars are split up into three unique segments; Riding, Teaching, and Lunging. The Riding portion was hosted at Coda Cavallo Dressage in Omaha, NE on June 29-30, 2024, confidently led by Heidi Chote (CA) and Sarah Geikie (CT).

Participating Instructors, Auditors, and Faculty during Saturday’s lecture.

The weekend was unseasonably chilly, which made for a perfect learning environment without heat and minimal flies! The group of auditors and participating instructors began Saturday morning in the classroom taking notes about integrating the training scale into the levels of dressage, safety, rider alignment, quality of gaits, and more. Many notes were taken, questions asked, and there was a great rapport between the two Faculty Members. Following the lecture, the group proceeded to watch videos from USDF's "On the Levels" of Training through Second Level rides as elements of the training scale and quality of gaits were conferred throughout each ride, with many questions and discussion points along the way.

The rest of the day was spent in the arena watching demo riders from Training Level through PSG on all types of horses. The Faculty Members received input from the rider, and as one Faculty Member worked with the combination, the other Faculty Member would discuss the training with Participating Instructors and auditors. Every single person (and horse) in the arena was involved in coming up with exercises, evaluation, and setting goals.

Sunday was dedicated solely to the Participating Instructors, which gave the participants more confidence to speak freely and express ideas, training, exercises, and challenges in a more intimate setting without judgment. As each participant came out with either their own horse, or an unfamiliar horse, they were allowed to warm up and come back to the group with an assessment and training plan. Sarah and Heidi would similarly take turns discussing the plan with the rider, while the other would work with the group in discussing exercises, effectiveness, and so on.

It takes so much courage as a professional in any industry to stand amongst peers and confidently "talk the talk." This group embraced their strengths and weaknesses alike and supported each other throughout the entire weekend. As the host, it was a beautiful thing watching new friendships form and connections made across our large country between all levels of instructors, adult amateurs, and just plain dressage enthusiasts. I admire every person who puts themselves out in public to gain constructive criticism and better themselves for our sport, and mainly the love of the horse.

I look forward to seeing everyone again in October for the Lunging and Teaching portions of USDF's Dressage Seminars.

To sign up: Click here.

On "Biggest Take-Aways of the Weekend":

“My biggest takeaway was how much a simple exercise could improve the horse’s way of going and how each rider had to modify their plan/goal to improve their overall training session.” - Kate Kostenbader, IA, Professional

“The idea of diagnosing a weakness in the training scale and prescribing an exercise to address it makes the whole process of training/instructing so much less nebulous to me! I got some good exercises from my peers, and it was valuable to have Faculty Leaders there to approve or modify what fellow instructors suggested. It helped my confidence to hear others mention things I noticed but wasn’t ready to say out loud, as well as to hear others make mistakes and recognize that is also okay!” - Paula Guastello, NE, Adult Amateur

“The whole process of watching the different riders/horses and how each Faculty Member dealt with each situation or training situation was terrific learning.” - Mimi Benton, AR, Professional

What would participants tell someone considering participating in the Seminars?

"It felt like all the participants wanted to see one another succeed. I would suggest this Seminar for all serious students of the sport.” - Angie McClelland, NE, Professional

“For those considering attending a Seminar, I would tell you that the instructors are very knowledgeable and that is evident in the improvements they got out of the demo and participant horses. The environment is very positive and geared towards education and support, rather than “testing” participants to prove themselves. I appreciated that the instructors had something positive to say about every horse and rider with only constructive criticism. The priority was always the mental and physical wellbeing of the horse.” - Paula Guastello, NE, Adult Amateur

“If you are thinking about going through these Seminars, I would tell you to seek out a person who has previously done the Workshops and ask for their advice and help. I did that, and it prepared me very well. The help that I got from this Seminar was invaluable.” - Kate Kostenbader, IA, Professional