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Improve balance, strength and communication without carrying rider weight
Discover a clear, horse-friendly step-by-step approach to long reining in this free 7-day mini course.
Imagine being able to improve your horse's balance, strength and collection without carrying your weight.
Or helping your horse learn the first lateral movements in a calm and logical way from the ground.
That's exactly what you'll learn in this free 7-day mini course.
✓ Improve balance and straightness
✓ Build strength without rider weight
✓ Learn the first lateral movements
In this free 7-day mini course, starting on June 13, you’ll build a safe and logical foundation to get started. From proper preparation to your first lateral movement.
Registration is currently closed. Join the waitlist to be the first to know when registration opens again
30+
Years of experience helping horses
20.000+
Students & Horses
15+
Countries
Who teaches this mini course?
My name is Astrid van der Ploeg, and over 30 years ago my mission began: to better understand horses and to give them a voice and a future.
In the early years, I bought slaughter horses from horse markets and started to focus on helping them recover mentally and physically.
Through various trainings and years of hands-on experience, I specialized in working with restart horses, behavioral challenges, rehabilitation of horses with movement issues, and training horses in a horse-friendly way according to the principles of classical dressage.
Over the years, I have trained thousands of horses, with long reining being an important part of that work. It is a way to gymnasticize horses without rider weight and to work step by step towards balance and lateral movements.
Why This Course Is Different
Many long reining courses focus on exercises.
They show you what to do, but often not why you are doing it, how your horse experiences it, or how to create true understanding.
In this course, we take a different approach.
At The HorseTransformation Club by DressuurNatuurlijk we believe that every exercise starts with understanding. Horses learn best when they feel safe, relaxed and can clearly understand what we are asking of them. Instead of pushing for results, we focus on building communication, confidence and balance step by step.
Long reining is much more than teaching your horse to move in circles or perform exercises from the ground.
It allows you to see your horse from a completely different perspective.
You can observe how your horse moves, where balance is lost, where tension appears and where support is needed. Because you are walking alongside your horse instead of sitting on their back, you can help them develop strength, coordination and body awareness without the weight of a rider.
This makes long reining especially valuable for young horses, horses in rehabilitation, older horses and horses that need help developing balance and confidence.
Throughout this mini course, you will not only learn the practical skills of long reining. You will also learn how to recognise what your horse needs, how to communicate more clearly and how to build exercises in a way that makes sense for your horse.
The result is a horse that becomes stronger, more balanced and more confident — and a rider who understands how to support that development in a horse-friendly and logical way.
Because when a horse truly understands what we are asking, learning becomes easier, movement becomes better and training becomes something both horse and human can enjoy together.
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Many horses gain confidence when they finally understand what we are asking.
Long reining gives you the opportunity to guide your horse from the ground, helping them become stronger, more balanced and more comfortable in their body.'
You want to help your horse, but where do you start?
Many horse owners want to improve their horse's balance, strength and body awareness in a horse-friendly way.
But perhaps you recognise one or more of these challenges:
✓ Your horse struggles to stay balanced
✓ Bending and straightness are difficult
✓ Your horse finds lateral work challenging
✓ You want to build strength without adding more rider weight
✓ You've heard about long reining but don't know how to begin
✓ You want a clear and logical plan that both you and your horse can understand
You're not alone.
Many riders know what they would like to achieve, but aren't sure how to get there.
That's exactly why we created this free mini course.
Over seven days, you'll discover a simple, step-by-step approach to long reining that helps your horse become stronger, more balanced and more confident — while giving you the knowledge and confidence to train with clarity.
The course starts June 13 and lessons are released day by day so you can follow the program together with the community.
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Laura & Nero – Germany
"My horse often became confused when I introduced new exercises. The step-by-step approach helped me become clearer in my aids and more patient in my training. Finn is much more confident and willing to learn now."
Danielle & Max – Netherlands
"The biggest change was not only in my horse, but also in myself. I learned to observe more carefully and communicate more clearly. As a result, Max became softer, more attentive and much easier to guide."
Karen & Bella – Sweden
"After an injury, I was searching for safe exercises to help my horse regain strength. This course gave me practical tools that were easy to apply and easy for my horse to understand. It became an important part of his recovery."
Working on the long reins is both enjoyable and incredibly valuable.
It combines the fun of working closely with your horse from the ground with the benefits of dressage training.
Over these 7 days, you will build a safe and logical foundation that helps your horse become more balanced, stronger and more responsive to your aids. Together, we'll work step by step towards your first lateral movement on the long reins.
▶ Day 1 – A Good Preparation
What exactly is long reining?
What equipment do you need?
And how do you set yourself and your horse up for success?
A good preparation is half the work. By the end of this lesson, you'll know exactly what you need and feel confident to get started safely.
▶ Day 2 – Preparatory Groundwork
Which exercises should your horse understand before you begin long reining?
And how do you create clarity and understanding from the very beginning?
This lesson helps you build a solid foundation, so your horse can learn with confidence instead of confusion.
▶ Day 3 – Stepping Forward and Halting
How do you teach your horse to step forward confidently?
And how do you ask for a halt with clear, logical and light aids?
You'll learn how to create clear communication, so your horse understands exactly what you're asking.
▶ Day 4 – Straight Lines and Corners
How does your horse learn the difference between going straight and turning?
How do you teach a response to the outside rein?
This lesson improves straightness, balance and understanding, helping your horse move with greater confidence and coordination.
▶ Day 5 – Circles
How can you use the aids you've learned to create circles and improve your horse's bend and suppleness?
You'll discover how circles can help your horse become more flexible, balanced and comfortable in their body.
▶ Day 6 – Changing Direction
How do you safely change direction without confusion?
And how do you keep your horse attentive and connected during transitions?
Once your horse understands this, a whole new range of exercises becomes available, making your training more varied and effective.
▶ Day 7 – Shoulder-Out
How do you take the first step towards a true lateral movement on the long reins?
And how do you use this exercise to strengthen the inside hind leg?
This lesson introduces your horse to lateral work in a clear and horse-friendly way, helping develop strength, balance and body awareness.
By the end of these 7 days...
You'll have a clear understanding of the foundations of long reining, know how to communicate effectively from the ground, and have a step-by-step plan to continue developing your horse's balance, strength and lateral movements with confidence.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need any previous experience with long reining?
Is long reining suitable for every horse?
What equipment do I need?
What if my horse has never done groundwork before?
How much time do I need each day?
"My horse struggled with balance and often became tense when learning something new. I wanted a way to help him become stronger without adding more rider weight.
The exercises in this mini course were easy to follow and made a real difference. I could see him becoming more balanced, relaxed and engaged, and our training sessions became much more enjoyable."
Emma & Finn (rehabilitation horse)
📍 Netherlands
How does this mini course work?
Starting June 13, you will receive a new lesson by email every morning. Each lesson includes a clear explanation and practical exercises you can work on that same day.
Do you have questions, are you running into something, or would you like to share a video of your training?
You can join our private community group, where you can ask your questions and share videos so we can support you along the way.
We do this together!
Joining is free.
We start on June 13.
Would you like to build this foundation and learn how to work safely on the long reins?
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