Testimonials
Marie Leslie-Schretzmann, Veterinarian, USA
I am a senior adult amateur rider who returned to riding in 2021 after a 20 year break. I am also a veterinarian. I am not an animal collector and would rather lavish all of my attention and care on just 1 or 2 pets, then have to worry about taking adequate care of many…
During COVID, I finally re-entered riding by buying and importing a lovely young mare from
Holland. It was a good match and we did well, but after a couple of years, I started to get a little stuck in my training. It was in the same place that I had gotten stuck on horses 20 years before.
Luckily, I was blessed with an instructor who understood what was happening and told me that my lack of dressage theory understanding was holding me back. I will never forget her kindness and honesty. It’s what got me started on my new journey.
Although my library had grown over the years, it did not provide the information I craved. On surfing the internet, I found the YourRidingSuccess channel. I was pleased with the short, direct and engaging explanations that were very clearly illustrated by the presenters’ own riding demonstrations. There was nothing else out there that was so clear and concise. I tried some of the concepts – they worked! Aha, I had found a source of nuggets!
I am a person that loves to research topics and really dive into something when I think it is worthwhile. I took the initial financial plunge and joined the Riding Institute in March 2024. I devoured every course offering I could find and filled my notebooks with nugget after nugget. I strengthened my riding posture through the position institute and submitted regular video reviews in my quest for improvement and riding progress.
Just as I was running out of new material to learn, I was invited to join a group seminar in Florida. The presenter was Alicia, the video lady! This was almost my back yard, how could I not go? Over 3 days, I absorbed more information and began to see how it integrated with some of my veterinary training. The learning speed increased, and I was able to ask questions and get detailed answers. I found Alicia to be as engaging and informative in person as on U-tube. As a bonus, I made some new friends. Going to the next seminar? A no brainer, of course I was going, it was even in Florida again!
November came and so did the seminar. I was so proud of my success. I had even received a wildcard invitation to the US dressage finals! I submitted my video for group review and eagerly absorbed the new information, asked probing questions and interacted with my new friends. But my eye was about to be better educated, Alicia pointed out gait irregularity on my video and taught the rest of the class how to see it too. I didn’t want to admit it, but after instruction, I could see it too. Hopefully just a training problem, but the recommendation was to have it checked out “just in case”. Honesty can be hard.
The next seminar was moved to Holland, and I was invited to join. Could I go? Me, go overseas to “train in Europe’? I reviewed finances, time off, and all the pieces required to make such a commitment while being a mom and business owner. I asked myself how badly I wanted this.
The answer caused me to take a leap of faith and sign up.
At the end of 2024, I knew that I wanted to keep learning and be successful on my horse. I had already learned so much but knew that it was only a teeny tiny tip of the iceberg. I was standing before a sea of potential change: regular overseas travel, a new relationship to build and increased financial commitment. My interactions with Alicia at the seminars made me want to grow this relationship and I contacted Alicia to start one-on-one coaching. She agreed with the condition that we would not proceed until my horse got the all-clear to continue. I would be stepping beyond group learning and adding additional trips for one-on-one coaching including riding FEI schoolmasters. An opportunity opened that I had never considered. I never thought something like this was even possible. This required a significant amount of trust at the start.
Once again I paused to asked myself “How badly do you want this? Badly enough to become this uncomfortable?”. Yes!
2025 has been a year of learning, challenge and change. I have found a true mentor in Alicia who has encouraged and challenged me in many ways. I have made international friends, found strength that I didn’t know I had, and taken hard looks in the mirror. I have filled more notebooks with knowledge, but have gained enough understanding, so that I don’t need to write quite as much. I have ridden horses that know light years more than me and found the courage to ride some that are firmly outside of my comfort zone. I have learned to appreciate people and ways outside of my American culture. I have been exposed to a level of riding that I didn’t know was possible for an amateur and this has caused significant change in the expectations I have for myself and others. As my goals have crystallized, I have asked myself “how badly do I want this” many times as I faced and overcame obstacles. I have found a true mentor in Alicia. She is enthusiastic and encouraging, but also honest. Through her love of teaching, she has helped me grow in knowledge, skill and emotional competence as a rider. She is not afraid to ask difficult questions and give unbiased feedback.
As I have dined, laughed, shed tears and shared feelings and goals with her, I have always found her supportive and giving. I have found courage that I didn’t know I had, and she has helped me better define my goals. I have also discovered that I don’t want my goals to be gained at the expense of the animal – it’s linked to my identity as a veterinarian. With Alicia’s guidance, support and encouragement, I have reached the difficult realization that we grow out of horses as we progress, even favorite ones.
2026 promises to be a new year of experiences. I feel that I have shed an old coat and now am in the process of donning a new one. By learning to be open to change, I am becoming a rider that I never dreamed of becoming. I suspect that the skills and confidence I will gain will make me almost unrecognizable to my old self and my American riding circle by the end of the year.
Tea Guttsman, Lawyer, Sweden
For as long as I can remember, I’ve seen the image of myself riding at Grand Prix level — clear, vivid, alive. Yet the how was always blurry… until I met Alicia…
From the very first moment, something shifted. She became the bridge between my vision and my reality.
Alicia has this extraordinary gift — she instantly senses the gap between where you are and where you’re meant to be, and she fills it with clarity, confidence, and alignment.
With her, change doesn’t feel forced — it feels inevitable.
Julie Clifton, Business Owner, UK
Dressage is hard. Riding is hard. But something inside me which would be really hard to explain to non horse people makes me want/need to passionately pursue this. I can’t seem to help myself…
I just have to be around horses and keep trying to find the very allusive balance/harmony I know exists but was out of my grasp.
Even with no logical plan forward I kept trying to find the answers. But didn’t even know what the questions were!
Lots of money spent on lessons but knowing these lessons are not answering my questions or giving me the knowledge or skills I need to succeed or even vaguely move forward.
Along with the lessons I started signing up for online courses. I believed there must be a way of learning how to do this. All the courses I signed up for and learnt from are really great but I still knew I hadn’t found the platform I needed.
Thank goodness for Alicia Dickson and the Dressage Institute. If you don’t like truth steer clear. However, if you can take the truth, want the knowledge and skills and an actual program that can if you do your bit take you to your dreams then jump in.
She is a brave woman who is out there providing something so completely different but something that actually works.
Dressage Institute is the place that has allowed me to make sense of it all.
This is the one which is giving me the knowledge and truth I need to pursue that dream of balance and harmony with a horse. A magical place to aspire to.
Matthew Kermode, Accountant, UK
My journey started with Alicia and DI in November 2023 at the London Marylebone seminar. I had big dreams and wanted one day to ride at Grand Prix. To start with realistically I just wanted to ride without fear and with confidence…
I had a horse which I came off a lot and it completely wrecked my confidence. I knew I needed help and was determined to get it. At the seminar, I looked for a moment to speak to Alicia to ask for help. We talked about my goals and where most coach’s had scoffed at my dreams, Alicia listened. She helped me to set goals which were achievable but also realistic. The difference from other people was Alicia believed that I could do more than I thought possible. I was lucky enough that Alicia and DI chose to sponsor me to help me achieve my goals. With the plans starting soon, I needed to make some personal changes to help me be successful. I was overweight and terrified. The fear I hoped would get better with time but I knew I could do something now about the weight. I worked hard and lost 10+kg over the next 3 months between the seminar and starting the programme. Alicia helped me into a different mindset in order to start my journey. Overall, I have now lost over 24kg, my body shape has changed totally and I actually have muscles now!
The first thing we needed to do, was to help build my confidence. Alicia and I decided we should get started abroad and then I continue to do a trip there every month. So we went there for a trial ride. The plan was for me to ride a schoolmaster and when I went to get on I was shaking because I felt so scared. However I had a good ride and Alicia was able to coach me through the fear. The next morning we rode again but there was a huge thunderstorm! Fortunately we were inside, which was good but again the fear was hard to breakthrough.
Luckily Alicia had been thinking, the yard where we were had a very safe quiet schoolmaster and they were kind enough to let me ride their horse, to help build my confidence.
We concluded that I needed to have more miles on the clock and to also have a successful ride each time. So soon after, I went abroad once a month for 2 days, riding 4 times during each visit. Twice on each schoolmaster. By being able to switch between the horses, I was able to develop quickly. Anytime I felt scared to try something new, I was encouraged to ride the very safe quiet schoolmaster and try it out on him first. This horse was pivotal in helping me to build my confidence . For example actually getting on the horse was one of my biggest challenges due to the fear. He would stand still and wait patiently for me to get on and I will forever be grateful to him. He also enabled me to ride the other schoolmaster much better too with much less fear and more confidence every time. My instructor understood what I needed to progress and helped improve each ride and I was having a blast.
Although I didn’t ride in between each visit abroad, Alicia would do a video review with me plus some theory and encourage me to continue to work on my fitness. It’s seems crazy to think that I was actually improving every time I went abroad without riding in between. At one point my instructor abroad said she was shocked I hadn’t been riding in between my visits. The difference was so great each time.
When I started I was not able to get a horse into a frame at all and had no confidence and within 6 months I was able to achieve this every ride with ease. Alicia and I had hoped I might be at this point by the end of the year but I was well ahead of the schedule.
I then started riding more in the UK on some Grand Prix level schoolmasters with Alicia now teaching me and was able to improve even more. She encouraged me to ride different horses to help fill in some of the gaps in my learning. Without being able to switch between so many different horses I don’t think I would have improved at the rate I have. Because I have become secure in my seat, I am now more able to stay balanced regardless of what the horse does and this has helped boost my confidence even further.
We continued for the rest of the year and I noticed it wasn’t just my riding which had improved. My mindset had shifted, I was growing as a person and developing into a better human! I never expected that would happen when I first started this journey.
Alicia and I started the next year and had the goal to be able to ride independently in all paces, with tempo control, in a frame no matter what I was doing.
Initially I rode in the UK for a little while. Then Alicia and I decided it would be good if I went back abroad during March/April to ride the original schoolmaster I had started on. However this time to ride him independently, whilst knowing I could have the instructor to help, if I needed it. This went so well that I was even asked to exercise the other schoolmaster for them as well.
Horses that I had struggled to put into a frame before, were now going into one straight away and it was almost a foreign concept to me to not be in one automatically. I was most proud of my riding independently as I was finding I was able to problem solve issues, such as the horses quarters coming in during canter work, without any outside assistance.
Towards the end of this trip I was very lucky to again have the opportunity to ride some PSG/Grand Prix horses, with the instructor abroad. With her direction I was now able to do leg yield, half pass, pirouettes and tempi changes, all while maintaining straightness and allowing the horse to open up over the back.
Alicia and I had reached a point again, where we had smashed our goals, months before we expected. I am continuing to ride in the UK and now am working on more actively thinking while riding and focusing on the horses shape and what I would like his/her body to do. I feel like the sky’s the limit with my riding now and am very excited for the future, whether that be to continue training or start competition.
I never expected how much growth I would have, not just in riding but also in my life. I feel I have changed as a person for the better and grown so much in all aspects of life with the help of Alicia and DI. I am now taking next steps in my professional life as well as my riding life and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Katarina Hallnér, Lawyer, Sweden
Before I started working with Alicia, I was truly stuck in my way of riding. I had experience, but I didn’t have the theoretical framework to understand why certain things worked and others didn’t…
Despite years of dedication, I felt as if I was missing the key that connects feeling to knowledge.
I had never competed and honestly never even imagined that I would. Today, I am preparing to compete — not because my goals have changed, but because my understanding has.
Alicia teaches in a way that combines the precision of a Grand Prix rider with the clarity of someone who can explain the theory behind every single movement. For the first time, everything makes sense.
I now ride horses I would never have dreamed of being able to ride before, and it all comes back to the basics — the very foundation that Alicia builds everything upon. Riding has become not only deeply fulfilling but also genuinely joyful again.
Veronica, Advanced Dressage Rider, Australia
After some challenging experiences in the sport that I love, which was emotionally a very challenging time in my life, I found the Dressage Institute…
I can only thank Alicia and the DI team for their patience and belief in me, especially when I couldn’t. In the Dressage Institute I have found a community where I feel safe to be vulnerable, to take risks, be myself and to learn.
The learning is the most AMAZING thing. For years and years I have been fumbling in the dark trying to work it out!! As an amateur rider I am now riding horses and movements I never even dreamed I would be capable of riding and a new stronger, more self-confident person is emerging.
Jade Johnson, Business Owner, Australia
I started horse riding 3 yrs ago at an adult riding school. I had an old Cleveland Bay who’s Head was way up in the sky, and I could walk trot and canter (so I thought)…
I went to a seminar and met ALICIA. I thought that I could sit in the saddle at least but I realised that actually no , I wasn’t sitting properly. My legs were way too long and I wasn’t balanced at all.
Now I feel confident and secure in the saddle and that’s just the start !
I then had to learn how to use my rain aid and get a horse on the bit. That was very challenging for me. I had no concept or idea of what I was doing or how to do it or what I’m looking for ,what it feels like. A very frustrating process.
Alicia teaches these essential steps in such an easy , matter of fact way that it’s easy to understand and then apply. I started with my hands jabbing and strong , lifting to the ceiling, and going all over the place. ALICIA is now refining and finessing my hands and rain aids. I can now proudly say that my hands stay together in front of me and I’m starting to get my horses not only on the bit but connected !!!! In 10 months !!
My rising trot is getting better and better and I’m now learning the canter transition , very exciting!
Im really really happy with my progress, being educated off the horse is the massive key that gives you the real understanding and quick progression.
Besides riding, she is more than happy to help with other aspects of owning a horse.
I think that anyone can do this sport if you have a good leader and a passionate coach who really is there to help you and actually wants you to succeed and be great !
The excitement and joy she shows when teaching is infectious and I’m glad that I can call her not only my coach but also a great friend.
