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Stories, insights, and expert guidance from the heart of Gallery Horse

In this space, Yolanda— founder of Gallery Horse and a leading figure in classical dressage—shares her experience, recommendations, and reflections to help you choose your next horse and accompany you every step of the way in the world of high-level equestrianism.

Yolanda
Yolanda Rama
January 15, 2026

Why We Don’t Work With Long Chains of Agents

In an international market full of intermediaries, information gets diluted and accountability disappears. At Gallery Horse, we don’t work with long chains of agents because clear, direct representation protects the horse’s welfare, the owner, and the buyer. One consistent voice means honest context, reliable answers, and better long-term matches — not the fastest sales, but the right ones.

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Yolanda Rama
October 29, 2025

Kissing Spines in Dressage Horses: Understanding, Diagnosing, and Managing a Hidden Challenge

Kissing spines (overriding dorsal spinous processes) are often feared in dressage, but they’re not always a career-ender. We explain what they are, how to spot them, why training and saddle fit matter, and the paths—from rehab to surgery—that can bring a horse back to work.

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Yolanda Rama
October 14, 2025

The Power of Lateral Work: From Leg Yield to Half Pass

True suppleness isn’t built overnight — it’s shaped step by step through correct lateral work. From the leg yield’s quiet obedience to the half pass’s collected strength, each exercise teaches balance, elasticity, and communication. Together, they form the language of harmony — the poetry of dressage in motion.

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Yolanda Rama
October 9, 2025

The Heart of Dressage: Love and Horsemanship Above All

Dressage begins and ends with love for the horse. Beyond medals and scores, true excellence comes from harmony — a partnership built on trust, patience, and understanding. Because when training is guided by love, the result is not just technical brilliance, but joy — the kind you can see in a horse that wants to dance.

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Yolanda Rama
October 8, 2025

Stable Vices: Contagious or a Management Problem?

Cribbing, weaving, and stall kicking are not contagious — they’re cries for help. When several horses in the same barn develop the same bad habits, it’s not imitation, it’s a management issue. Lack of turnout, poor feeding schedules, and social isolation are the real culprits. Stable vices don’t spread like viruses. They spread like stress.

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Yolanda Rama
September 26, 2025

How Long Can a Horse Be Ridden?

We often focus on when to start riding a young horse — but what about when to stop? Age is just a number. A 12-year-old with a weak topline may be more at risk than a well-conditioned 6-year-old. Riding longevity depends on muscle, balance, conformation, previous injuries, and honest observation. A horse can be ridden as long as they can carry us without pain — not based on age, but on function.

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Yolanda Rama
September 21, 2025

What Is Failing in Dressage?

In this post, we explore the real bottlenecks of modern dressage: from the physical and mental demands of a 10-year journey, to the pressure from competitions and market expectations. We question whether today’s system — including breeding priorities, test design, and progression structure — is truly sustainable for horse welfare and long-term success. Maybe it’s time to rethink the way we measure excellence.

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Yolanda Rama
September 9, 2025

The Best Rider Is the One Who Listens

True dressage mastery lies not only in technique, but in the ability to observe, feel, and adapt. Horses don’t speak with words, but they communicate everything — through tension, stillness, movement. The best riders are those who listen when the horse “says” something’s not right. At Gallery Horse, we believe that building a deep relationship, based on respect and awareness, is what transforms a rider from good to exceptional.

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Do People Really Know How to Handle a Horse?
Yolanda Rama
August 11, 2025

Do People Really Know How to Handle a Horse?

In dressage, it’s increasingly common to see exceptional horses that never reach their full potential — not because of a lack of talent, but due to how they’re managed. Many riders, breeders, and trainers overlook the horse’s true nature: a social herd animal designed to move, graze, and interact for most of the day. Instead, horses are often confined, isolated, and subjected to unsuitable routines, leading to stress, health issues, and wasted potential. At Gallery Horse, we’ve seen remarkable transformations when horses are given space, fair training, social contact, and consistency. True horsemanship starts with deep knowledge, empathy, and respect for the horse’s physical, emotional, and mental needs.

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