Training through the levels with Laura Graves at the South Florida Dressage Association clinic
By Olivia J. Banyon; Photos by Katy In Design
The South Florida Dressage Association (SFDA) hit the jackpot when they secured Laura Graves for a two day clinic at Blue Marlin Farms in Wellington, over the 2026 Valentine’s Day weekend. For many of us, spending a weekend with our equine partner is the best Valentine we can hope for. This Valentine’s weekend, we were treated to an even sweeter box of chocolates in Laura’s wisdom and positivity. She brought about positive change in every horse and rider.
Horses and riders of all levels and ages were treated to Laura’s unique feel from the ground, and innate ability to tailor solutions to each challenge to bring out the best in every ride – with kindness and joy.
Several themes emerged over the two days: corrections, reliability and consistency, balance, and the use of the rider’s body. There were even a few life lessons.
Corrections
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No matter what level you are riding, be reliable and consistent in how you ask, what you ask, and how you correct. Corrections must be quick – within three seconds – and make a point. If the horse did something different than your aid asked for, make a correction.
The aid always has one definition and application. A correction makes the point and draws attention to the horse that he missed the aid. Always remember to focus corrections on separate and distinct problems – don’t try to correct multiple problems with one correction. And always let the horse know you love the response if you think it is the right one.
Laura provided some examples of kind corrections that every rider can implement:
- For laziness or a behind-the-leg horse, your body needs to react before it becomes an issue. For instance, take your leg off and keep your heels bouncy. If your horse breaks, use your leg quickly and deliberately to make the point that breaking is the incorrect response. You have three seconds to make a correction, so be disruptive and quick. Don’t be afraid to be annoying, but don’t keep putting constant pressure on as he continues to ignore your aid. Be cognizant if you are clucking, as well, as this is really just your subconscious wishing you were going faster.
- When working on flying changes, if your horse anticipates the change, or leans or bulges, make a 10-meter volte after each change, and do it quickly! As in, within the first stride on the new lead.
- If the horse has a tendency to run in the trot, sit double your weight in your posting to regulate your speed.
- If he is spooky, find a place in the arena to allow him to feel safe. This could be a circle off the rail, for instance.
- In pirouette work, apply small precise corrections rather than bringing him off task; stay focused on what you want, regardless of mistakes. If the horse loses activity in the canter within the pirouettes, bring him back to a walk (but stay on the pirouette path) then return to the canter. This correction is still staying on task.
- Fourth Level and Prix St. Georges insights:
Remember there are only two walks at this level – collected walk and extended walk. In the walk, your leg needs to be off until you need it for the canter aid.
Loss of line in the volte is because of loss of outside rein. Learn to use your outside rein to help create straightness and the line you want to be on.
Fundamentals in the use of the rider’s body
Keep your legs loose, elbows down and moving as part of your hips and seat, keep the belly button up, push the hips through the elbows and both reins, and use your seat to push the horse’s ears up. Make the heels more active to create more bounce in the gait. The rider’s legs should not hold, be rigid, or apply constant pressure. The hand regulates, not controls. When sitting trot, feel like you are posting with a bounce and swinging hips. Hands must stay down by the buckle of the saddle. Think of pulling your abs down into the saddle by bringing your belly button up. Set the tempo with your seat. Envision pulling the saddle up and down with your seat.
Most riders were asked to shorten their reins. Laura provided a clear explanation of why many had not heard that before: with shorter reins you can actually have a more refined half-halt that is not stronger or pulling. Focus on the “give,” which can be more deliberate with shorter reins.
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Make your outside rein the bouncy half-halting rein, while the inside rein is steady and determines the distance and length of the horse without pulling back, and do not create inside positioning, or bend, unless it is intentional.
If your horse makes you give up the distance or he is pulling you out of the saddle, you can use a “grab strap” attached to the d-rings on the saddle or, under the guidance of a trainer, a polo wrap can be tied around the horse’s belly in front of the girth to connect your hands and reins to help pull you down into the saddle. Using one hand to hold onto the strap will allow your hand to remain steady and dictate the length of the horse without being pulled out of the saddle, while leaving the other hand free to supple and half-halt.
Balance
Balance, for both horse and rider, is key no matter whether riding at Training Level or Grand Prix. This includes making sure the horse is not solely using his neck for balance. When you disrupt the horse’s natural balance by asking him to sit more and increase collection, understand that it will not be easy initially. It’s important to consider the natural ability and style of the horse as well, so they do not get over-faced or injured.
In piaffe, the focus needs to be on how regular and balanced the steps are, not how high the knees are. If he loses his balance and becomes crooked, creep out two steps and bring it back. If the horse loses balance in the extended trot, help him find it with a half halt. Don’t come back to the collected trot to reestablish balance.
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Straightness
Contemplate a different definition of straightness: “being equally supple on both sides of the horse.” Even the half pass should feel straight in the bend and connected with the outside rein. Both sides of the body need to be the same length in the half pass.
Youth Life Lessons: Don’t compare.
Laura also held a special Question & Answer session for the junior and Dressage4Kids (D4K) youth riders. There she shared some invaluable life lessons that resonated with many adults, too.
When asked about the most important advice she would give to young riders, Laura answered without hesitation: learn to do everything around horses really well so you only need to think about riding. Work with your horse on the ground so he respects you and has manners. Learn to load and unload your horse on the trailer by yourself, and learn to clip, braid, and bandage your horse. She was also very serious about not comparing your horse or yourself to others. Don’t wish that you had a fancier horse or longer legs. Instead, focus on bringing out the best in yourself and your horse.
When teaching one of the junior riders, Laura focused on geometry to address the horse’s tendency to bulge out. Laura was resourceful, using water bottles to help the rider focus on her 10- and 20-meter circles, to see if the horse was on her aids and the circle was “perfect.”
Laura is not only an exceptional rider, but she is also an exceptional person, full of joy, thoughtfulness, and determination. A Valentine’s Day spent in her company was one to love.
Laura Graves rode as the anchor of the U.S. dressage team from 2014 to 2019 with her career-making partner, Verdades. Together, they became America’s first number one ranked rider on the FEI Dressage World Ranking list (October, 2018). Verdades, whom Graves’ mother picked from a video as a foal, was brought up the levels by Graves, under the guidance of Anne Gribbons and, later, Debbie McDonald. She is based out of Wellington, Florida.
The South Florida Dressage Association (SFDA) promotes and supports dressage as both an art and sport throughout South Florida’s equestrian community. SFDA is committed to promoting an educational framework for the fair treatment of horses, fair competition, and activities directed towards fostering a better understanding of Classical Dressage. SFDA is expanding and hosting several exciting clinics, educational webinars, shows, and exhibitions under president Holly Zickler’s leadership.
Blue Marlin Farms is owned by Dr Kristy Lund, an adult amateur Grand Prix rider. She is also a practicing small animal veterinarian in Boca Raton, Florida.
Katy in Design Photography is an equine and pet photographer serving South Florida.
Author Olivia Banyon is an adult amateur rider newly competing at Prix St Georges with her Lusitano, Ebano. She resides in West Palm Beach, Florida, and boards Ebano at Blue Marlin Farms.
