Tip/Quote of the Day # 4611

"Instead of gunning it to a scary fence, hold the horses head between your hands, and his body between your legs, and keep a steady deliberate pace." ~ Sascha DeAngelo

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 # 4610

"As the beginning of the session should be, the end of the session should be: long neck, stretch over the back, swing." ~ Carl Hester

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4609

Acceptance of the outside rein is key to resistance free downward transitions.

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!

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4608

You should feel like you have to ask your horse to stop, rather than simply "letting" him stop. If he stops when you let him, he is behind your leg.

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4607

To successfully maintain the elusive forward feeling hands, imagine that you are pushing a shopping cart as you ride forward into the bit.

A Spanish Riding School Exercise to Increase the Collection in Your Horse's Canter

This great exercise, direct from the Spanish Riding School, will increase the collection in your horse's canter. It will also improve your counter canter work, and is a great way to build towards canter pirouettes. Get ready for better scores in your horse's canter work!

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4606

Horses speak through their actions. Try to listen to what they are telling you.

The Order of Aids For Changing Your Horse's Bend From One Side to the Other

Every single Dressage test requires the rider to change the horse's bend from one side to the other. With some tests having as many as 20 different opportunities to show the judge how good you are at changing your horse's bend. Or maybe how not so good you are at it!

Tip/Quote of the Day # 4605

Spend time on the basics, such as straightness and suppleness, and the more difficult movements will fall into place naturally.

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.