Tip/Quote of the Day # 4520

Make sure you finish every training session on a good note, so that you always put the horse away happy. That will set the stage for a more positive attitude for your next ride.

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4519

Never forget that our goal as riders should be to do as little as possible. Allow the horse to perform.

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4518

Point your chest in the direction that you want to go. If you turn your horse with your body position, you will probably find that you will need a lot less hand and leg to get it done.

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4517

The rider riding backwards (too much hand and/or not enough leg) when the horse is "having a look" at the fence can easily cause a refusal.

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4516

"When training, riders should focus on the line, but sit quietly and allow the horse to use its own initiative to jump the fence." ~ Eric Smiley

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4515

It is tempting to want to repeat something over and over when you feel like you are making some progress on a movement you have been struggling with. But it will be more productive to reward one good effort, give the horse a break, and move on to something else

Interval Training For Conditioning the Event Horse

In the sport of Eventing, ensuring that our horses are truly fit for our level of competition is one of the best ways to prevent unnecessary injuries.

Monitor Your Horse's Stress Levels, For Best Results in Training

Horses become incapable of learning when they go past a certain level of fear, anxiety, or stress. This means that if you keep hammering away at the horse, trying to teach them something when they are currently overwhelmed with stress, it will not work.

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4514

For the horse, the learning happens on the release of the aid. That means if you don't release the aid, the horse will not learn.

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4513

"Don't take the tempo down without revving the engine." ~ Chris Bartle

Does Your Horse Like Rein Contact Right Up to the Point of Takeoff at a Jump? Or Does He Prefer a Soft/Loose Rein in the Final Strides? Find Out Here!

To get the very best out of every horse when show jumping, riders need to really think about the specific way that each individual horse needs and wants to be ridden between the fences. Let me help you to figure out what kind of horse you have!

The Box Exercise

This clever exercise will ensure that your horse is listening precisely to the lightest of your turning aids. It will also teach you how to ride truly accurate figures, and by doing so will naturally improve the balance and carriage of your horse's gaits.