Achieve collection in a fair way
Do you encounter resistance in your training? Have you always wanted to experience true self-carriage but don’t know where to start? It is possible to achieve your goals without losing sight of the welfare and happiness of the horse in the process.
Discover a clear and comprehensive method to acquire lightness and collection. Bart’s teaching draws inspiration from classical dressage and riding art throughout the ages and modern insights into equine behavior and welfare. Using a unique approach to postural alignment of both horse and rider, he enables anyone to ride with minimal aids and true collection.
Particular emphasis during the lessons is placed upon the posture and seat of the rider. A seat that follows the motion of the horse is one of the core principles being a good rider. Imagine that without a rider, the back of the horse moves freely, without meeting any resistance. However, some riders sit stiffly, lean forward or sideways, or move in the wrong direction and with incorrect timing. This will result in the horse stiffening the back muscles and not bending properly. To achieve lightness the rider must learn how to use the right muscle groups to move synchronously with the horse.
Bart Hartogsveld
Bart’s passion for horses and riding started at a young age, like many others. After discovering classical dressage in 2016, he studied with numerous influential and well-known instructors, both during clinics and private daily mentoring. In his lessons, Bart additionally draws from his experience about learning processes, reinforcement, and stress that he acquired during his master’s and PhD studies in psychology and neuroscience. Since 2018 he focused on teaching the art of dressage through international clinics and private lessons locally.
Historical research
Throughout the years Bart has studied the literature from the 16th to 20th century on equitation and classical dressage as an independent researcher. The goals of dressage throughout the ages, riding with invisible aids and complete unity between rider and horse, are still relevant today. One of Bart’s most well-known projects is that he compiled a comprehensive database, established in 2019, to preserve the valuable knowledge that can be found in the literature. This database is publicly available on this website, including free access to digital versions of the books.
English 
Dutch