This video explains, in a nutshell, one of the most important concepts in the Dressage Naturally program: The Basic Alignment Exercise. Karen uses a clear visual example to explain it. This exercise is key to breaking free of trying to ‘hold your horse straight’ or ‘hold the bend on’ with stronge...

This 10 minute video taught by Sylvia Vitazkova Houston teaches you how to set up and practice three Powerful Yoga Poses to ease tightness in the lower back, outer hips and side, and shoulders. (Note that if you are currently having an acute problem with your sacroiliac joint, please leave out th...

In this video, Karen shows you a simple exercise to teach a horse how to stay out on the circle. Instead of always pushing the horse away, you can use a marker and teach the horse to go to the outside of the marker. This is a great way to show the horse what you want him to do while preserving hi...

Karen coaches a student to help her maintain the canter. This can be challenging for many riders because you want to suggest they keep going, but you don’t want to chase them or push them and ruin the quality of the canter. This video will give some tips for things to do to help you have more suc...

It's the little things that matter! For some horses and humans, washing the face can be a difficult thing to do. Karen will give you a couple tips that can make it something you both can enjoy (and you don't have to have water running down your arm ever again). Every moment is a moment to build p...

In this video, Karen plays with young horse, Quora, again to show you her progress with Circles and Sideways yields. She narrates through this simple session to explain her decisions.

In this video, Karen helps a student to find her working posture. It shows how quickly you can make a big change when you have the ingredients in place and you play with confidence. Pay attention to the questions I ask Ellie and you can ask the same questions to yourself as you ride!

This video ...

This video pulls out some of the concepts behind many of Karen’s exercises, particularly from the video: Empower Your Rider Position. These concepts apply to how to train your horse. Once you know these concepts, you will start to notice them being used in many of Karen’s videos, even if she does...

Karen teaches a student to find the sweet spot of her HQ yields in motion. This is an important exercise for connection throughout the horse's entire body. This video follows a concept introduced in the video: 'Good Habits in HQ Yields' and is excellent for anyone who is seeking a better physical...

Karen coaches a student through shoulder-in and haunches-in on a square at the walk. This highly specific and powerful exercise is excellent for building coordination, flexibility, engagement, and straightness. You will get a very good look at these lateral positions from different angles and wil...

Karen and Solana demonstrate a fun exercise with basic yields. This exercise can help you increase your awareness of where your horse's feet are, sensitize your horse to the yields in order to build greater responsiveness, and can give you a way to measure the success of your yields.

This video ...

Karen coaches two riders through two different ways to ride a shallow loop serpentine at the trot and the canter:

With changes of bend
Without changes of bend
This shallow loop pattern is a great way to really refine your and your horse's skills for more advanced work, but it can be done at the ...

Karen talks a bit about what it may look like when you don't have all the ingredients of the sweet spot. She uses humorous cartoons to help us recognize the exaggeration of what it is like when you are missing one of the conversations of Relaxation, Energy or Balance

Karen coaches a student on a 3-yr-old to set up good habits with HQ yields to avoid problems later. This video takes a look at the very basic HQ yields and gives the rider a tip for avoiding an over-bent neck that will create balance problems later. This video is great for everyone

In this video, DN Licensed Instructor, Michelle Young shows you how she uses a simple foundational pattern in a way that can improve the posture, alignment, and flexibility of the green horse she is riding. She narrates exactly what she is feeling and doing. This video is all at the walk, and is ...

In this video, Karen shares the technique of not using a technique when wanting to build your horse’s confidence about something they are afraid of. Sometimes even having the intention of introducing something to your horse is enough to cause pressure and create more fear. You’ll see me coach a s...

In this video, Karen takes a big picture view of different types of sessions you can do with your horse. You can focus on teaching them something specific, or exercising their bodies, letting them have time to reset, or you can give them more exposure to different things and situations. She uses ...

In this video, Karen shows the importance of waiting until your horse gives you permission to do something. This is less of an exercise and is more about how to be in a cooperative friendly relationship with your horse. This concept is what can make small moments become powerful pieces of your co...

Riding bareback can be a fun way to get a close feel for your horse and to improve your balance. If you have never ridden bareback before, this video will give you the very first steps to help you have a successful start! DN Licensed Instructor Shelby Hume shares some valuable tips for beginning ...

Karen warms up Jedi for a session on schooling canter pirouettes. You will hear her talk through her warm up and her thoughts for the session. Included are 2 bridle-less exercises. This video will be helpful for students ready to warm up to do more collected movements ... Whether that may be toda...

In this video Karen shows you a simple leading exercise that will help prepare your young horse for riding. It introduces the outside rein and helps you position yourself closer to where you will be when riding. It’s a simple exercise, but it requires preparation. Quora does a good job of showing...

Karen answers some student questions at a clinic. The first is about how to know who to learn from with all the different methods and systems 'out there'. Karen will give you a formula for determining who you want to study with. The second question is about Straightness. This can be a confusing s...

In this video you’ll see Natilla do the Haute Ecole pattern 1 from the Baroque Equestrian Games & Institute (BEGI). You’ll hear my commentary as well as insights from Bruno Gonzales of BEGI. You can learn more about BEGI, and check out their patterns at Baroquegames.com

In this video, Karen plays with Natilla primarily at the halt to improve her posture. You will see how Karen builds enthusiasm so Natilla puts in effort, making her posture not just about her body but about her mental/emotional state as well. This exercise is the beginning stage of school halt. Y...