Tip/Quote of the Day!

The opening rein acts like a vacuum, moving the horse's shoulders easily as desired, especially when supported by the opposite leg and rein.

"Adopt a classical position, resist all fads and gadgets, and ride the horse quietly and softly between the two straight lines of the stirrup leather and the elbow to the horse's mouth. It's simple. It's just not easy." ~ Jimmy Wofford

While it is important to have a plan when riding, you should be ready to adapt that plan as necessary. Ultimately, you ride the horse and not the plan!

If there is a jump on your cross country course that you are worried about, you certainly don't want to have to face it twice! So ride it like you are mad at it, and "get 'er done"! 

"When your horse has reached its potential, leave it. It's such a nice feeling when you and your horses are still friends." ~ Reiner Klimke

From Facebook fan Mary Apfel-Vandeyacht ~ "Riding is a lot like driving a manual transmission... You may be able to make it go (when learning how to ride), but you're going to break it and look like a schmuck unless you learn to do it right."

"We all experience struggles, but your attitude is what makes you a winner, not the trophies or ribbons." ~ Mellisa Davis Warden

"In the half halt that creates carrying power, we are asking the horse to slow down and carry more weight when his hind leg joints are closed and his hind foot is on the ground. The levade, in which the horse sits on his hindquarters, is the ultimate example of this kind of closing of the joints while carrying the weight." ~ George Williams

The use of "half steps" in your training can be very beneficial, as it can help the horse to understand the idea of engagement without increasing speed. 

Only precise riding trains the horse correctly. Be exact in your geometry, figures, and lines.

From Facebook fan Stacey Ellen, "At dressage shows I like to watch the [good] pros; their hands are in serving tray position and they always seem to be offering something to their horse not containing them."

Be extra careful when conditioning both young horses and older horses. Young horses have tendon/ligaments/bones that have not yet been strengthened. And the older horse’s ligaments and tendons tend to become less elastic and resilient over time.

"I'm a big fan of ground lines. I think it teaches the horse to have better technique in front. Everything that we do is connected — the way we start on the cross rail to this, it all connects. We're building through our training." ~ McLain Ward

Keep breathing. It is much easier to remember a Dressage test or a course of jumps with the benefit of a little oxygen. If you have difficulty with this, try talking out loud while on course, or in your head during a Dressage test. This will help you to relax and breathe naturally.

You should always be at least a touch behind the horse's motion when jumping at a high rate of speed.

The difference between good riding and bad riding is that good riding is difficult to see.

Confidence is something you need to build for yourself. It is something you have to actively pursue and proactively work to maintain.

When you ride powerfully "forward to the base" of your jumps you allow your horse to jump in such a way that is actually the easiest and most natural for him. Powerful, but not necessarily fast. This is about impulsion, not speed.

Building the horse's power right to the base of the jump means that he stresses his hocks less on the takeoff. The horse that is underpowered has to push that much harder to get over that jump. And being balanced with his hind legs well under him means less stress on his front legs on the landing side.

Cross training is SO good for horses. Horses will likely enjoy their job even more after a "change of scenery", or by trying something new. Much as we often do our jobs with a better attitude after doing something different for a while and then going back to the job.

"Believe in classical dressage, particularly if you have a horse who is a tough subject. Eventually, it will pay off and you will have a happy, healthy, sound horse who wants to do the work."

Keep the horse's back up into the halt by riding each step from behind into your hand.

When you first begin to work on movements like shoulder in and haunches in, always start out with minimal angle and focus more on the quality of the bend.

"Sit on your bum. If you do that you’re part of the movement. If you squeeze with your thighs you can’t sit. Stay soft in your hips, draw yourself into the saddle and keep the calf just against his rib cage." ~ Bettina Hoy

If you are nervous right before you enter the show ring, take a moment to talk to and pet your horse. And make it genuine, no matter how your warm up went! It will relax both of you, and help you to focus.

Without understanding and some degree of feel, you will have a hard time reproducing the good moments that you might achieve in lessons. This is why it is so important that your instructor has the ability to help you understand the details of each training concept, and to help you to learn how to feel those details.

"If the rider can halt his horse in any lateral movement, so that it stands quietly in the same position, or ride straight forward without hesitation, it is proof that the horse was going well between hands and legs." ~ Borries von Oeynhausen

"A horse doesn't get collected through hand and spurs, but through exercises." ~ Georg Theodorescu

You should strive for the feeling that you can feel your horse's hind legs in your hands in your connection.

Too much repetitive motion has a tendency to inhibit muscle symmetry. Always aim to mix things up in your training (whether horse or human), so that you can develop balanced musculature. 

Training a horse can sometimes be quite a long process! But it's worth it. And you don't get the same feeling from shortcuts.