What's Inside
Search the Site
Tip/Quote of the Day # 4457
"The better the rider’s balance in the saddle, the better the communication. There are two things the rider must be – balanced, and supple. The less good the rider’s seat, then the more often the rider is in the saddlery shop buying new saddles, new stirrups. The rider has to find his balance in the saddle, not being held in position by a saddle in which you cannot move." ~ Christoph Hess
Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share with your friends! Look for the share buttons on the far right side of the page. Thank you!
Related Articles:
- Quin's Blog post # 2: The Ultimate Answer to Riding, the Universe, and Everything
- Do You Know What Skills You and Your Horse Need to Have Before Entering a Novice Level Event?
- The Most Productive Way to Begin Each Ride
- The Problems in the Eventing World Today! (written in 2014) (Current freebie!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2278
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4075
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4020
- An Exercise to Help You to Find Your Abdominal Muscles When in the Saddle
- A Simple Exercise to Help You to Relax and Reset the Position of Your Shoulders When Riding
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2053
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1671
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3771
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4411
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 55: Filling Your Treasure Chest
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 54: The Power of a Plan
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 53: Personality Part 2: Internalizer or Externalizer
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 52: Personality Part 1: Past, Present, Future
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 51: Who do you compare yourself to... it really matters!
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 50: Horses as mirrors: Does it work the other way around?
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 49: Respect: Essential for horse and rider
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 48: Working with horses is complicated... that's a good thing
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 47: Courage... Is it as simple as "Cowgirl Up" ?
- The “Floor” of Your Dressage Seat
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4394
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4216
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3799
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3307
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3230
- The Order of Aids For Changing Your Horse's Bend From One Side to the Other
- Video # 325: This is Bridget doing a Dressage test!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2710
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2668
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1899
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1831
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1497
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1491
- Lateral Work as "Medicine" For the Dressage Horse
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1424
- A Test of Your Flatwork Training (For All Levels!)
- Adding More *Scope* to Your Lateral Work - For Better Dressage Scores!
- Question # 269: I am planning to get a new jumping saddle soon, and am not sure what kind to get. Do you like saddles with big knee rolls, or saddles that are more like close contact saddles for eventing? (Anonymous)
- Dressage Canter Adjustability Exercise
- Tall and Short Rider Problems!
- The Three Point Position
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2975
- Rider Leg Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1470
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3164
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2633
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1891
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1849
- Quin's Blog post # 4: Praising the Snort
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1678
- Riding From "Front to Back"
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4502
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4000
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3967
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3735
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 59: Coping with Stress and Anxiety: Part II - Connection
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 58: Coping with Stress and Anxiety - Part I: The Worry Bucket
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2566
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 57: Desperately Dependent or Fiercely Independent: Finding the right balance
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 56: How long will this take??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2448
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 46: Safety and Security - Essential tools for learning.
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 45: Confidence: State or Trait...it matters
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2076
- Ruth's Blog post # 5: Connection Issues in Canter Transitions
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1797
- The Benefits of "Stair Stepping" Your Lateral Exercises
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1753
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1751
- Question # 277: I would like advice on how to get comfortable switching from longer Dressage seat stirrups to Stadium and XC short stirrups as a middle aged working amateur rider?
- Brianna's Blog Post # 11
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4464
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4436
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4412
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4377
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4252
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4155
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4112
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4110
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4109
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4094
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4073
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3962
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3916
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3846
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3780
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3728
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3725
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3642
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3612
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3592
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3571
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3479
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3454
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3440
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3385
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3342
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3337
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3319
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3300
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3174
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3133
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3129
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2881
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2876
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2874
- A Test to See If Your Horse is in LATERAL Self Carriage
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2815
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2715
- Basic Suppling Exercise # 5
- Question # 349: I'm pretty new to eventing, and so is my horse. are there any beginner exercises you could give us? What should we work on the most when just getting into the sport? (Josie)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2269
- Training and Conditioning the Young Event Horse
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1905
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1896
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1880
- How Your Driving Habits Relate to Your Riding Habits
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1838
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1815
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1814
- An Exercise to Help Improve Your Horse's Connection Over the Back
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1779
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1762
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1757
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1746
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1737
- Question # 327: Kayla has a question about how long a rider might get away with doing their Dressage in a Jumping saddle
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1712
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1709
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1676
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1633
- Video # 105: This is Kayla training her horse to jump!
- Question # 318: My horse and I are continuing on in training and he has really become much more balanced over all in the show jumping. Before he used to land and have such a large canter stride that it seemed like most of my focus was...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1574
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1547
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1534
- Lauren's Blog post # 5: It's a Balancing Act
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1433
- Video # 95: This is Krista and her horse Sparky!
- Question # 291: I want to get my mare to PSG in Dressage, and I'm dabbling again in jumping at novice level. I've been riding her Dressage for the last 5 years, with hardly any jumping. I ride mostly off of seat and thigh aids, with very little lower leg,
- An Exercise to Help Improve Your Trot to Canter Transitions
- Develop an Independent Seat!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4425
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4151
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4080
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2813
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1870
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1774
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1383
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 762
- A Trainer's Responsibility! (That's YOU!) (Current Freebie!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4152
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3900
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3637
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3490
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3484
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3178
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1864
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1787
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4476
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4183
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3966
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3944
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2974
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2925
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2647
- An Exercise to Help You Improve ALL of Your Downward Transitions
- "Reset" Your Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1902
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1649
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 963
- Develop an Independent *Hand* - an Essential Skill That is Key to a Good Rein Connection!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4482
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4479
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4441
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4353
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4343
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4339
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4308
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4294
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4284
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4275
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4254
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4245
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4237
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4230
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4208
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4201
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4196
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4170
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4143
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4121
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4083
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4057
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4024
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4001
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3979
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3957
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3919
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3860
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3808
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3752
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3745
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3719
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3693
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3563
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3519
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3506
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3497
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3488
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3486
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3477
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3472
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3411
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3400
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3395
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3380
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3318
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3217
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3171
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3159
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3130
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3104
- Is Your Free Walk Really FREE? And Do You Make Good Use Of It?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3040
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2968
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2846
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2845
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2831
- The 'Half-Go'
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2723
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2650
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2604
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2491
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2284
- Is Your Horse Sore in These Very Common Areas??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2142
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2116
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1897
- Question # 341: Amy has a question about a new horse she is riding, who is not a big fan of flatwork!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1878
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1875
- Dr. Haefner's Blog post # 9: A Different Take on a Performance “State of Mind”
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1816
- An Exercise to Teach Your Horse to Be More HOT to Your Inside Leg Aid
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1789
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1788
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1776
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1773
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1772
- Question # 333: Kayla has a question about core/ab exercises for her horse.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1745
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1743
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1719
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1707
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1674
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1648
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1647
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1619
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1604
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1603
- The *Volume* of Your Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1587
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1530
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1525
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1467
- Help to Ensure That Your Horse LIKES His or Her Job!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1449
- Signs That Your Performance Horse Might Be Sore
- Does Your Horse Pick Up the Canter With His Haunches In?
- Question # 306: Do you recommend getting a pure showjumping coach or an eventing coach to help with showjumping issues? (Ashleigh)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1286
- Keep Your Aids Dynamic
- The Mysterious Half Halt (Current freebie!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4509
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4497
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4456
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4437
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4429
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4419
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4415
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4380
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4366
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4341
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4336
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4329
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4328
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4315
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4310
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4283
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4250
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4240
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4235
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4214
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4199
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4181
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4178
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4174
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4144
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4061
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4040
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4035
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4034
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4023
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4005
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3973
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3970
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3943
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3928
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3886
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3825
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3818
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3805
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3790
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3783
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3764
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3762
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3744
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3739
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3713
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3710
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3702
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3694
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3684
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3662
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3658
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3634
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3628
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3601
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3564
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3541
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3500
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3493
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3398
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3333
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3313
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3287
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3281
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3270
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3258
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3256
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3233
- Guest Blog # 118: Why Counter Canter? by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3216
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3205
- Guest Blog # 117: IT’S A HOLD UP! by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3102
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3084
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3062
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2985
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2908
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2892
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2891
- Canter Pole Exercise # 1
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2800
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2745
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2660
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2583
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2539
- Question # 354: Linda has a question about one of my quotes on "giving the reins."
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2425
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2334
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2308
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2300
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2281
- Video # 319: This is Kayla, working on her flatwork!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2268
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2241
- Photo # 80 and Question # 347: Ellen would like to know how she can get her horse to travel with his hind legs more underneath himself.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2196
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2162
- An Exercise to Improve Your Horse's Carriage in the Dressage Ring
- All Roads Lead to Rome.... Or Do They??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2021
- The Counted Walk - a Tool to Improve Your Horse's Carriage in Dressage
- A TEST of Your Horse's Rideability & Adjustability
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1885
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1873
- Advanced Trot Pole Exercise # 2
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1850
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1735
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1729
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1724
- Video # 310: This is Susanne and her lovely horse Corelli, schooling cross country!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1704
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1680
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1669
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1662
- The Crest Release, the Automatic Release, and Everything In Between (With Pictures!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1617
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1579
- Video Discussion # 101: I love this horse's naturally round and relaxed gallop stride on cross country!
- Guest Blog post # 89: "> or < ?" by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1416
- The Adjustability Exercise
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1377
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1362
- Question # 311: After reading your article on whether to look for a distance or focus on the quality of the canter, I have a few questions for you....
- Discussion # 153: What does this rider need to work on??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1309
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1298
- The Function of the Rider’s Elbow Joints
- Question # 295: I am just getting into Eventing after about 10 years of riding in the H/J world. What advice do you have for me? Things I need to focus on, etc? (Jesse)
- Question # 294 and Video # 92: My question is about banks, specifically jumping down....
- An Exercise to Improve Your Cross Country (For Riders at Every Level !)
- Dressage Canter Adjustability Exercise # 2
- Photo # 72: This is Eileen!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 953
- Different Half Halts For Different Situations
- The Classic Galloping Position
- Question # 246: I was wondering what your favorite exercises are to work on rhythm at the canter? My trainer says my horse is the horse of a million canters, and this especially comes through over fences...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 343
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4347
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4157
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3968
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3894
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3812
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3623
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3291
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2921
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2782
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2556
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2509
- Advanced Jumping Exercise # 1
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1881
- Question # 339: Kayla has another question about how to stay with her horse's motion over jumps.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1376
- Video Discussion # 49: How to ride a square halt.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4243
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3848
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3746
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3666
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3614
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3605
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3603
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2829
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2313
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4281
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4195
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4003
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3923
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3920
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3467
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3114
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2996
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2709
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2692
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2558
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2180
- Quin's Blog post # 3: How are you and your horse communicating?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1691
- A Funny Story - With an Important Message! (Current freebie!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1452
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1154
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 974
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4511
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4508
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4506
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4505
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4493
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4483
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4480
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4470
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4469
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4468
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4467
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4460
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4458
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4455
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4453
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4446
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4444
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4443
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4439
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4428
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4421
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4418
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4414
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4400
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4396
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4393
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4386
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4385
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4384
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4381
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4379
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4373
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4360
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4359
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4350
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4344
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4335
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4334
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4331






