4DimensionDressage international

4DimensionDressage international Equine Health & Training; The key to horsefriendly training and good performance.

Twenty years ago, the same horses kept coming back with the same problems. Treatment after treatment, but no lasting cha...
20/08/2026

Twenty years ago, the same horses kept coming back with the same problems.

Treatment after treatment, but no lasting change.

The root cause was almost always in the training itself: imbalance, incorrect posture, a myofascial system that was never taught to function properly.

That's what the 4D method was built to address. Our mission? To create a world where horse-friendly training is the norm, not the exception.

What made you rethink how you train your horse? 🐎

Why positive tension is also important in the rider!A while ago we wrote a post about positive tension in the horse and ...
16/08/2026

Why positive tension is also important in the rider!

A while ago we wrote a post about positive tension in the horse and why it is so important.

Just briefly, what positive tension is. Our body is made up of bones, muscles, and connective tissue. The muscles and connective tissue run in different chains throughout the body. In one chain, there are several muscles that are all connected by the connective tissue. You can think of the connective tissue as little elastic bands that connect the bones. The muscles pull the elastics to the right tension when they are activated. This right tension is called positive tension.
As a rider, you need positive tension to achieve good core stability. Good core stability is strong but still soft; otherwise, you can't absorb the horse's movement.
For a horse, a rider with positive tension is nicer to carry because the rider's body moves as one unit and is well-coordinated.

Additionally, the rider can divide his weight over a larger area because they can distribute their weight over the seat bones AND the insides of the upper legs. This makes it lighter for the horse to carry the rider.
When riding a sensitive horse, it's important to quickly notice the signals from the horse's body so you can anticipate (unexpected) movements in time. This is only possible if you have positive tension on your system. That way your system will quickly notice small changes and your nervous system quickly processes the information and the response that is needed.

A sensitive horse needs a rider with a stable core. The horse can organize itself under the rider and finds security in the form of balance and comfort.
A relaxed rider is important for a sensitive and responsive horse, but the rider shouldn’t be too relaxed, making him too unstable and too slow.
A horse likes a rider with correct positive tension, creating a stable yet soft body that can follow the horse's movements and anticipate (quick) changes. Mentally, a horse likes a rider who is alert but confident, so the horse can soften because it feels safe and comfortable under the rider.

Of course, this is easier said than done. We humans also have our challenges, like a hypermobile body that’s hard to organize and stabilize. And we can’t always prevent ourselves from feeling unsure or anxious on a horse because of things we’ve experienced in the past. Improving yourself as a rider is an ongoing process. So don’t judge yourself. Judgment creates stiffness in your body. Just do your best, and that’s great! Because that positive energy that comes with the intention of wanting to do well, but also being okay if not everything turns out perfectly, gives exactly the vibes a horse loves.

Have you ever experienced positive tension in your own body with or without a horse? How does it feel for you? Let us know in the comments!

A horse doesn't move in one way, so why would we only train in one? 🐎Our 4Dimension Training method looks at the horse's...
13/08/2026

A horse doesn't move in one way, so why would we only train in one? 🐎

Our 4Dimension Training method looks at the horse's body and movement across four dimensions that focus on balance, posture, and the myofascial system working together in harmony.
Training your horse so he stays healthy is the goal.
Training in a way that maintains health and that you both enjoy is an art.
Our courses, workshops, and clinics are for true horse lovers. For go-getters who dare to think and act differently.

👉 Visit our website for more information and to find a course that suits you and your horse.
🔗 https://www.karinleibbrandt.com/en-gb

🐴Hypermobility in breeds where you wouldn't expect itHypermobility doesn't only occur in long-lined, long-legged sport h...
10/08/2026

🐴Hypermobility in breeds where you wouldn't expect it

Hypermobility doesn't only occur in long-lined, long-legged sport horses. It also appears in breeds that look robust and compact. In fact, it often occurs in these breeds.

Examples include the Friesian horse, Irish cobs, and various types of draft horses. The Friesian horse has been increasingly refined over the last 30-50 years, developing from a “work horse” into a sport horse. This could be an explanation for the increased hypermobility. In Irish cobs and different draft horses, there hasn't been a selection for sport qualities in particular. The original horse has been largely preserved, yet we still see an increase in hypermobility.
All these horses show the same hypermobility traits as sport horses: hypermobility in the spine, the pastern joints, and possibly in the other leg joints.
One characteristic is quite specific to the robust workhorses; that is how the tissue feels. The tissue is softer, more fluffy-like. This says something about the amount of collagen fibres (connective tissue) in the muscles.
Young animals have relatively little connective tissue in their muscles, which is why veal is more tender than the meat of an adult cow. As the animal gets older, more connective tissue develops, creating thicker layers and making it stiffer.
You feel this as tissue resistance. This is different from tonus (tension) on the tissue.
Muscle tissue with few collagen fibres feels softer and provides less stability. This means the horse has to work harder with its muscles to stabilize its body and this is a tough job because the body of a draft horse is relatively heavier than that of a sport horse.

This means stabilization takes more energy, and the horse can handle less load.
In addition, hypermobility can cause all sorts of other issues related to, for example, sugar metabolism, the immune system, and the nervous system. So if your horse has complaints that are hard to explain, it's a good idea to keep hypermobility in mind, even with robust draft or draft-like horses.

Is your horse hypermobile? Let us know what you notice in your horse! Minder weergeven

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