The Best Horse Practices Summit will convene April 4-6, 2025, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Our talented presenters are: Katrin Silva, Daniel Dauphin, Ben Longwell, and Jec Ballou.

We bring together presenters from different backgrounds to COLLABORATE on two days of presentations. This approach, something that we’ve shared since our 2017 inception, is pretty special in the horse world. As riders and horse owners know, the industry is dominated by “gurus” who believe their way is best and who enable riders and horse owners to follow them regardless of costs. Those costs are financial, mental, and even emotional as open-mindedness and experimentation may be discouraged. Not here!

Please note that the following presentations are subject to change, but we strive to give you an idea of how these two, fun-filled, educational days will unfold:

 Katrin and Jec: Seat, Positions, Frames.

The seat as a tool for horse-rider communication. When might it be good to ride with a light seat? What is a light seat? When might it be effective to ride with a firmer seat? What does that mean? A demonstration around how our seat effects the horse, related to lift, collection, and extension.

Jec and Daniel – High RPMs!

What are the mental and physical aspects of riding fast? This crucial aspect of riding requires mental and physical preparation and best practices, for both you and your horse. How can we structure rides? What do horses show us with their body language?

Ben and Daniel – Practical Groundwork.

What does good ground work really look like? We’re not talking about Seven Silly Exercises. We’re talking about the fine points of haltering, gate work, leading. There are scores of details you’ll benefit from being attentive to BEFORE you step up into the saddle.

Ben and Katrin – Dressage versus Vaquero.

Finding common ground and common goals between these esteemed traditions.

Especially at higher level, these disciplines are deeply dependent on riders feeling and knowing their horses’ footfalls. Ben and Katrin will compare frames and techniques central to maneuvers and balance. They will demonstrate exercises which will help riders appreciate the differences and similarities between dressage and vaquero riding.

Katrin and Daniel – Contact.

What is contact, especially when considering the differences between Western and English riding? When is it appropriate to be in contact?

Ben and Daniel – One-handed Riding.

We can ride one-handed when using a lariat, a garrocha, a cup of coffee. Ben and Daniel discuss proper preparation and transition from two-handed riding. What’s the most appropriate and logical progression from two hands to one? How best do we hold the reins when one-handed?

 

More presentations to come!