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So our balance seems to be getting better because Ranger no longer feels the need to run into our departures. We can’t quite get one from a walk, but we can from a very slow jog. Now we are working on keeping consistent contact through them. To the left he actually is doing a lot better, but to the right, he uses his head and neck for leverage to pick his front end up when he makes the transition. Most of the time, he is really good and consistent with the contact up until that step off into the canter, so I can’t really abort the transition. Any advice? (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

Glad to hear that things are improving, and your horse no longer runs into the canter! That kind of progress is always rewarding, isn't it?? When horses try to hollow in upward transitions, it is usually because... (Click on Question Title above to read full answer)

Question # 342: Kayla has a question about how to set distances for jumping training, with a horse that has a shorter than average stride.

My horse's natural stride length is ten feet, so for all our courses I've been setting distances to his stride, not a twelve foot stride. But I know that all the courses we ride in competition are based off a twelve foot stride. So should we work on developing a stride length to match, and should we ride in that all the time? (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

This is a great question! As MANY riders have horses that don't have a natural 12 foot stride! Some riders are on huge horses with a natural 14 foot stride. And many others are on smaller horses or ponies who have a natural 10 foot stride, or even smaller! So do all of these riders have to make their horses conform to the normal 12 foot striding to make the distances happen smoothly on course? And do you have to school over 12 foot distances at home if that isn't the length of your horse's stride? Well, yes and no... (Click on Question Title above to read full answer)

Question # 341: Amy has a question about a new horse she is riding, who is not a big fan of flatwork!

I recently took over the ride on a talented but fairly willful Half Arab, a breed that's a bit outside of my wheelhouse having always owned and ridden OTTB's. He's a dream to jump and is light and responsive over fences, but is the complete opposite with flat work.

He did not have the best start, being jammed into a false frame with a kimberwick and pelham from 3-5 years old, so now at 6 I have quite a bit of undoing to do.(head tilt and all) He's making progress in straightness and leg yielding, but he's a total crab about it all. He'll try all the evasions(above the bit, behind the bit, the occasional rear) to get away from actually using himself before he realize I won't give up, then he grudgingly does what I ask. It is getting easier as time goes on, but I worry about making him sour, but I also know that I need to get him through it, So I have to find that balance of insisting he do that work and but not over doing it.

So I guess my question is do you have any strategies for a horse with a defiant personality like this? Any exercises that you could recommend blending to together that could mitigate his dislike of flat work? I have started to end my flat sessions with just a few jumping lines to remind him that we have fun too.

I'd love to know your thoughts. (Amy)

Hi Amy!

This sounds like a good challenge for you! Every horse has something to teach you, and it sounds like this horse will have plenty of things to teach you. :) Have a look at this article, which discusses dealing with horses that are somewhat dominant or defiant by nature. You say that since he likes to jump you let him end your flat sessions with a few jumps... But what I would try instead is... (Click on Question Title above to read full answer)

Video # 315 and Question # 340: Kaley has a question (with video), about his horse's jumping form, and whether or not his horse might still have upper level potential, despite the form he shows now as a green horse.

I would like to ask your opinion regarding a horses natural jumping technique and how much it can be improved. I can set fences at home to get him jumping with better technique but then we go to a show and he reverts to jumping like this. He had been having 4 to 5 rails every round. How much can a horses jumping technique be improved? My feeling has always been that you can improve what they naturally have to an extent but you're not going to turn a "3" into a "10". And right now I think he's a 3 or 4. (Kaley) (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read the answer and the critique of this video)

Question # 339: Kayla has another question about how to stay with her horse's motion over jumps.

I feel like I land really heavily on the saddle on the back side of fences. Watching some of my videos (like the one I sent you a couple weeks ago), it doesn’t look like my leg is too far back, but I perpetually feel behind the motion when we land. I did shorten my stirrups and that has helped a little, but I feel like there’s a crucial piece that I’m missing in either my muscle tone or my position that would fix it, or at least help? (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

The rider's ability to smoothly stay with the horse's motion over jumps requires these 5 things: (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Question # 338: Nancy has a question about one of her legs, which tends to be too far back.

One of my lower legs tends to be too far back. I have been told to get it forward by the girth, but I feel crooked when I place more weight in that heel even though I was told that corrected the problem. Not sure if muscle memory needs to be relearned... eventually it will feel normal? Or if the problem may be coming from up higher in my hip and seat. (Nancy)

Hi Nancy!

This is a common problem! Very few humans are natually symmetrical to begin with. And many of the things that we do every day only serve to make us even more one sided! Think of how you... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Video # 314, and Question # 337: Lauren has a question (with video) about her new OTTB mare.

I just got this ottb mare, who came off the track last year. She's hot but not out of control. But if I relax my seat and loosen my reins she is wanting to go into the next gait. She won't relax. She's very tense, but not in a scared way. No transitions or anything. Almost like she is still on the track. I did alot of circles, big and little. When she begins the circle she quiets down and gives her head but coming out of the circle (Or the other side of the circle) she speeds right back up. Do you have any advice on getting her to relax, and quiet down? I feel like our whole ride was half halts. Also during our circle she will fall to the outside, so i close my outside leg a little more and then she falls inside. Maybe im asking for the bend/turn the wrong way? (Lauren) (Click on Video or Question title above (in blue) to read the answer and the critique of this video)

Question # 336: Kelly has a question about an OTTB that she is trying.

I’m looking at an ottb, and put him through some trot poles today. I believe it’s his first time over poles under saddle. He tripped over them and knocked them every. Single. Time. How do you feel about that in terms of jumping potential? I have lunged him over a couple of jumps, small only and he jumped ok. Other factors are super temperament and good looking, moves well, very active hind end. (Kelly)

Hi Kelly!

This is actually pretty common... especially for highly strung TBs! Very often they have to learn how to slow their mind up to actually be able to think about what their feet are doing. Here are a few ideas to help him learn this. (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Video # 313, and Question # 335: Kayla is riding in a jumping lesson, and wants to know why she got jumped out of the tack on the first jump!

I was wondering why I got caught in the rear on the backside of the first jump? (Kayla) (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video, and the answer to the question)

Question # 334: Kayla has a question about how to go about training the horse to do the more difficult lateral movements that require the horse to move in the direction of the bend.

We actually managed a couple good steps of a walk pirouette the other day and it was super exciting! It’s also very hard. Is there any way to help teach a horse to look and move the way his haunches are pointing, except the obvious “by little degrees at a time?” (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

How fun to feel some good steps of a walk pirouette for the first time! Yes, it can be a challenge at first to teach the horse any of the lateral movements that require them to move into the direction of the bend. The way I like to introduce this concept to them is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Question # 333: Kayla has a question about core/ab exercises for her horse.

What are some good core/ab exercises for my horse? The vet says his back is in good shape, but his abs are weak, and we should work on getting those stronger as soon as we can to keep from ruining his back down the road.

Also, the last couple days I’ve noticed the little triangle muscles at the base of his neck (right in front of his withers) working differently at different times. When I ride him with his neck flat and out in front, they only work a little bit, and they don’t work at all when he’s giraffe-ing or when he tucks his nose even if he’s on the vertical. They seem to work quite a bit though at some other times. Are those muscles an okay indicator of whether or not he’s using his topline? (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

It is so good to hear a vet say that! As having a strong core is just as important to horses as it is to people. It is one of the secrets to being able to maintain a happy and healthy back, and to be able to access the horse's full power. First I want you to read this article on strength training for the equine athlete. This article will give you a comprehensive strength training program, and outline all the various tools available for building a strong equine athlete. And the 2 core specific exercises that I will add to that are: (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Question # 332: Ellen is having some difficulties when trotting fences.

My gelding who wants to rush and jump long (or big) REFUSES to trot over ANYTHING. He gets completely discombobulated, has tantrums, throws his head up, won’t go forward etc. What can I do to make him trot? (Ellen)

Hi Ellen!

The first thing I would recommend is that you read this article to try to figure out what specificlaly is causing your horse to want to rush his fences. The article also gives specific exercises for the different possible causes of rushing.

While some of the exercises mentioned will help with all types of rushers, the best results will come when you have identified why your horse is rushing. As a horse that is rushing out of nerves or anxiety will often get worse with harsh corrections, while the horse that is showing a lack of respect for his rider's aids may need those strong corrections. If you are unsure as to why your horse is rushing, maybe you can send me a video, so I can help you figure it out?

Other things I would recommend are... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Video # 312 and Question # 331: This is Rachael!

This is my just-turned-four year old OTTB who is just starting into work after having a 6 month letdown post racing. The last 2 times I rode him, he was thinking about rounding and holding a steady contact to my hands. I was wondering if there are any tips/exercises I should be doing to help him learn to keep it more consistent? I know a lot of it is muscling, so I haven't been pushing very hard. I just don't want the head bobbing to become a habit. I am thinking of taking him to a schooling dressage show for Intro level just to get some experience in a few weeks. Any help would be appreciated :) Thanks! (Rachael) (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read the answer)

Question # 330: Kayla has a question about how to avoid the chair seat problem.

How to find the balance between a chair seat and my new tendency to lean too far forward. Whenever I sit up straight, I fall way back on my butt again. I am finally getting back to the gym and I’ve been doing a lot of stretching because I know my hips are tight, but I swear it’s impossible to sit up straight on my seat bones and not have my feet out in front of me. (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

You are correct in that a rider's tight hip flexors often cause the problem of the hard to fix "chair seat." Read this article for some ideas on how to help stretch them while in the saddle. The "legs away" and the "walking exercise" are two that will help with this specific problem. (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Video # 311 and Question # 329: Kayla is practicing BN test A, and has a few questions.

We practiced the BN test A twice today, and most of what needed work was actually our trot transitions (excluding the horrible miss of our left lead departure... oops). Is making those better just a matter of my position through them being better? Also, his hip has a tendency to fall out to the left in our halts. Is that because he's crooked going into them? (Kayla) (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read the answer and the critique of this video)

Question # 328: Kayla has a question about trotting fences.

We have been trying to trot more of our fences, but even at 2’, my horse still tries to treat them like trot poles, and mows them down every time. At a canter, he’s fantastic and jumping really well and carefully, but that whole jumping-from-a-trot thing seems to be lost on him. How do I teach him differently? (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

With horses that tend to be expert "energy conservationists", getting them to jump well over little fences from the trot can be quite difficult! I always say that it is a great test of the rider's skill to create a good jump over little fences, as many horses don't try very hard. Here are a few things you can try! (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Question # 327: Kayla has a question about how long a rider might get away with doing their Dressage in a Jumping saddle

At what level do you stop being able to use your jump saddle for your dressage test? I’ve finally found two saddles that both fit my horse really well, but I can only afford one, and one is most definitely a jump saddle, not even an all purpose. I don’t know what to do. (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

I am sure a lot of other riders will be silently thanking you for this question, as I bet there are a lot of riders in your situation - where you are just getting into Eventing without having a budget that would allow you to just go and buy anything that you want!

My answer to your question is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Question # 326: Ellen has a question about her horse becoming barn sour and threatening to rear.

My gelding who has always been my most consistent, reliable and easy going horse has decided at times he doesn’t want to go forward. It’s happened several times on the trail and now at home. A lot of it is being barn sour. He hasn’t gone up- yet. But I can feel it. It scares the crap out of me but I’ve been insisting he turn and move his haunches ie I bring his head as close to my knee as possible and kick his haunches over. Multiple times both directions. What are your suggestions? (Ellen)

Hi Ellen!

You definitely have the right idea of... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Video # 309 and Question # 325: Kayla is finding it difficult to keep her horse on the aids in walk to halt transitions.

We just cannot finish our halts connected. Even if I ease him into them (so I don't get hung up on "right now" and pull), or even leave the reins with big loops in them, he always hollows/comes above the bit in that last stride. I feel like it's primarily because I've just always let him get away with halting terribly, but now that it's so ingrained, I'm having a terrible time undoing it. We spent 45 minutes working on that on Friday, and we only got one decent halt. I'm at a loss. Is it something I'm doing wrong? Or just a matter of working on it for a while and insisting that he maintains the connection, and making a big deal of him when he does? (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

This is actually a fairly common problem! At least to some degree. Walk to halt transitions tend to really point out any issues or weaknesses that horse and rider may have with downward transitions. What I would suggest to you is to... (Click on Question or Video Title above (in blue) to read the answer to this question)

Question # 324: How do you transfer the better position from riding with no stirrups into riding with them again?

...I actually ride without them (in the saddle and bareback) quite a bit, so I don’t have any issues riding without them. But then I go back to my stirrups (mainly in dressage) and I either lose my stirrups constantly or feel like they’re way short and I start to brace/stand up in them (it’s not so much an issue when jumping because I’m in two point most of the time). Can I just do my dressage tests with no stirrups? 😂 (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

You are certainly not alone! Many riders find it easier to sit without stirrups in Dressage, and probably quite a few riders would prefer to do their tests without them! But that is not yet allowed, unfortunately.

The reason it can be more difficult for riders to sit well on the flat with stirrups than without is because... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Video # 108 and Question # 323: Kayla has a question (with video) about her horses tendency to fall out through his right shoulder when going to the left.

My horse is super bendy going to the left, but he runs right through the outside rein. In our flatwork today, I was trying to get him to step into it before we made our downward transitions from canter to trot, and he would immediately hollow (both vertically and horizontally) and just run sideways, no matter how much I tried to bring his shoulders back. I used the lightest leg aid I could, but it didn't seem to matter. To the right, he doesn't bend as well, but that outside rein actually means something, and he seems to be comfortable stepping up into that one, just not going left.

I added links to all of our videos from today, but our big fiasco was on our attempts at left lead transitions, however, I'm sure you can probably see where I'm wrong in any of them. I'm sure it's something I'm doing wrong, whether with my body position (I caught myself leaning left HARD in the lead departures), or with my hands, but I don't have any idea what, or how to fix it. He also seems to be twisting his head to the outside when we go left, but I'm not sure if he actually is or if it's an illusion because of the way his mane lies (and I can't see the muscle bulge if he's doing it both ways). (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

What you are describing is actually very common! Most horses have a natural tendency to over bend their necks to the left. This causes them to lean on their right shoulder. And once a horse is heavy on their outside shoulder, they cannot respond properly to your turning aids, no matter how much they want to! (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer and the critique of this video)

Question # 322: Kayla has some new jumps and has a question about what to set up for a green horse.

I finally have enough parts to make 10 jumps (with standards)! I’ve also got some odds and ends that I jump (12” high piece of pipe, cross rail set up with cable spools, etc), but these will be my first “real” jumps that look like a stadium round. I’ve got about 25 acres to set them up in, so I can space them way out for a sort-of-cross-country school, but I would really like some advice on how to set them up in a smaller area to simulate a stadium course. And if you know a few good exercises offhand for us super-greenies to work on, that’d be awesome too (especially ones for a horse who doesn’t seem to mind if he knocks down every pole in the pen 🙄). Thanks!! (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

How exciting that you have some new jumps to work with! That's always fun! First I want you to read this entry on how to... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Video # 107 and Question # 321: Kellyn has a question about her lovely OTTB, along with a video

This is Maverick, a 9 year old TB I took off the track last year, and the half brother to my 2016 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover horse, Bauer. Maverick was supposed to be my 2017 RRP project but he's a bit delicate minded and we weren't ready to go.

So we're plugging along at home, taking our time and working on basics. Very very slowly. He has (I think) some balance issues and there are moments when he sort of loses his back end on turns (see video). When this happens he panics and gets a bit wild. We've been working on large circles and big figure 8's at home for months and have made a very small amount of progress. He can't handle serpentines or lateral work right now without losing his mind (he's rather dramatic and prone to going airborne). What other exercises can we do that would help this issue without getting him frustrated?

I've ruled out physical issues - he has no previous injuries, clean x-rays, good teeth, and no chiropractic issues. He is prone to ulcers and has been on ulcer treatment for a year now. (Kellyn)

Hi Kellyn!

The first thing I have to say is... (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer and the critique of this video)

Video # 106 and Question # 320: Kayla asks if her horse looks to be accepting the bit as she lunges him in side reins.

(Click on Video Title above (in blue) to read the answer and the critique of this video)

Question # 319: Question about your advice to do lots of transitions back and forth from trot to canter to loosen up a horse's back...

...This only works well if your horse can do the transitions correctly, right? So what if your horse is so anxious and tense about them that you can't do them right? (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

You are quite correct, in that transitions are only productive if they are done well! So if you are struggling to do good trot/canter/trot transitions, I would advise that you... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

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...

...getting him re-balanced between the fences. My coach is now wanting me to carry a bit more pace throughout the show jumping in preparation for moving up to Prelim in the future and I am having a hard time figuring out the balance of covering more ground, trying not to always pick at him and wait for the shorter spot and yet having him balanced enough so that we don't take down a pole. (Susanne)

Hi Susanne!

First of all, how exciting that you are getting ready to move up to Prelim! Woot woot!! But I do know exactly what you are talking about... the faster you need to go, the harder it can be to keep that canter well packaged.

This can be especially true with a horse like yours, who tends to push really hard with his hind legs! The key will be to teach him how to... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Question # 317: My mare ALWAYS lands on the right lead after a jump...

...Sometimes I can get the left lead if I am trying really hard but in a show environment I can't get it. She does not know how to do flying changes yet. It does not seem to help that she is quite balanced counter cantering on the right lead so she has little incentive to switch. Do you have suggestions of exercises we can do to practice getting the left lead and suggestions on how to go about teaching her flying changes? (Or should I worry about that? She's currently competing at novice but we're getting ready to move up to training). Thanks in advance! (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

When a horse always lands from jumps on one canter lead they are showing you that they are using one hind leg more strongly than the other when they push off over the jump. Think about a car with one tire that is low on air. The car will tend to lean and pull one direction, no matter what you do as a driver, until you can make the tires even (straightness.)

There are several different possible causes for a horse to push off unevenly behind when jumping... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Question # 316: My horse is afraid of ditches in competition. When schooling I give him time to see ditch and walk around it he will jump right over. But in an event he will stop at a new ditch...

...My question is how do I get him used to ditches he can't see before hand? Some trainers tell me to be more aggressive... but that seems wrong if he's truly scared? (Kristin)

Hi Kristin!

This can be a fairly common problem for horses that start out with a strong fear of whatever their particular "bugaboo" fence is - ditches, water, trakehners, etc. Most, but not all, horses will come around with time, experience, and training. Here are a few things you can try: (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Question # 315: My half halts seem to work pretty well on the flat, but between jumps my horse tends to blow me off. He fights the bit and just keeps going at whatever speed he wants. What can I do to make him listen to me? (Aimee)

Hi Aimee!

This is a very common problem! Many horses get excited about jumping, and tend not to hear their rider's aids as easily as they do on the flat. With horses like this, riders need to make a conscious effort to show their horses how to apply their flatwork to their jumping... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Question # 314 and Video # 99: This is Susanne!

I really feel like my horse has continued to improve as far as his ability to sit and compact his canter step, his lead changes have also gotten smother with less extravagance and better balance. I am trying to sit in the saddle and keep my shoulders back before the jumps like you suggested and I do feel like that is helping him hold himself together better and also trying to be less rigid with my arms which is hard!! I wanted you to take a look at this video because I have a really hard time feeling like I am staying with him through the gymnastics, he has so much power and thrust and he is rushing a bit and I want to be with him, not against him so any tips you might have on what I need to do with my body to be in better balance with him would be great! (Susanne) (Click on Question or Video Title above (in blue) to read the answer and critique of this video)

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