My Virtual Eventing Coach One on one help and advice for you and your horse!

From Facebook fan Annette Gaynes ~ "The love affair with two point continues, and galloping in two point in the desert has us starting changes as I learned by accident how naturally she does them. So let the horse loosen up and go, even if you're a dressage rider, and good things may happen."

Horses usually add a stride when jumping uphill.

Always remember that horses are herd animals and read the emotional status of their herdmates to know when there is danger lurking ahead. Every time you ride or handle a horse, you become a part of your horse’s herd. When you tense up, he expects trouble. When you keep your cool, he takes confidence from you.

"Every ride that ends in a voluntary dismount is a good ride." ~ Unknown

"Lightness, whose characteristic lies in the elastic and springy flexibility of all joints and muscles, can only be acquired after all resistances have completely disappeared, that is, with the disappearance of all inopportune contractions." ~ Alexis François L’Hotte

"On the whole, there are only few mouths that cannot be taught a good rein contact by giving the horse the appropriate degree of balance." ~ Borries v.Oeynhausen

From Facebook fan Alysa Tarrant ~ "The best punishment for your horse is not to engage, so that he has no good reason to fight back."

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

"To the degree that the horse perfects his flexibility, his obedience increases and opposition decreases. As soon as the horse is completely flexible and through, his unconditional obedience is secured as well." ~ Ernst Friedrich Seidler

An exercise to check if you are sitting straight and putting your weight equally down into both stirrups is to stand straight up for a few strides, and notice which stirrup you have to consciously put more weight into to keep yourself balanced.

"Regular stretching is so very important. Without it, the horse will not develop a correct, well muscled top line, especially the muscling behind the saddle." ~ Carl Hester

"Horses have taught us that progress in learning takes place in an environment of contentment. Fear and tension block success. Boundaries must exist, be clear, and be consistent. Within those boundaries our horses are encouraged to express themselves." ~ Steuart Pittman

"Just because your horse goes around with his nose in, doesn't mean he is on the bit. And just because you can make him go sideways doesn't make him Second Level." ~ Bill Woods

Try to make it a habit to always pet with your inside hand when rewarding your horse under saddle. There are several reasons for this. First of all, you want to be in in the habit of keeping your outside rein connection consistent. And it is also a good way to create a habit of softening the inside rein - which is something a rider should do often.

Tightly clamped thighs make you lose your nice deep seat, and drive the horse's back down into a hollow position.

From Facebook fan Jenny Ferro ~ "When schooling babies over XC make sure you make it fun, enjoyable, encouraging, and let them figure out how to get themselves out of a bind. Sit up, look up, and kick on!"

"I have had to work to get flying changes because I didn't have a schoolmaster when I was learning. I count the steps: 1, 2, 3. Here is what I do:

• I check that my horse is listening to me by doing a big half halt. If he is not listening I don't ask for the change until he is sharper.
• I take my new outside leg back.
• I ask for the change." ~ Kyra Kyrklund

"I love hot horses. I hate kicking. I’m a lazy rider. I love to just sit and steer." ~ Charlotte Dujardin

The old masters learned early on that riding accurate arena patterns is the key for improving a horse's balance and straightness. Always keep this in mind in your training.

"Flex your horse to the outside when necessary to improve the horse's acceptance of the connection." ~ Chris Bartle

If you want your horse to build the right topline muscling, you need to ensure that they are truly connected and moving correctly through their bodies while you do things like hillwork and cavaletti. If you do these things with a horse that is hollow backed and not using his body correctly, you will only build the muscles that push the horse along, not those that help him carry himself properly with ease.

"A good rider lives on the small number of good steps and he builds on them. He forgets about the bad things. Inexperienced riders think mostly about the bad things." ~ Kyra Kyrklund 

The purpose of transitions is not just to get from one gait to the next. But to do so in a way that further gymnasticizes the horse, and improves his carriage. 

“If the leg is required at every stride to maintain the impulsion then it is necessary to return to the basic priorities again in order to teach the horse to remain active and forward thinking without constant use of the leg.” ~ Chris Bartle

"The important thing in the canter is to try to keep that jump, because a lot of riders, in trying to collect the canter, make the canter flat or, in trying to build power, will often rush the tempo. The most important thing is to hear the rhythm of the canter." ~ Hilda Gurney

Remember that tension inhibits suppleness - so make sure that you are not trying to force your horse to perform.

It can be a good exercise in awareness to exaggerate both extremes of an aspect of your position, such as leaning all the way to the left and then all the way to the right. Whichever way feels easier or less awkward for you might indicate that you tend to regularly sit to that side. Experiment with that and try to find the middle.

"It is good to ride with closed eyes once in a while." ~ Nuno Oliveira

On the basics of training - "You think it’s quite boring, but this is the foundation. It’s like building a house. If you have a bad foundation, you’re going to have a bad house." ~ Charlotte Dujardin

You need a short bouncy energetic canter in water. Not just to the jump in, but to any jump out or otherwise related to the water. Getting long and flat can be especially disastrous at a water jump.

Since most horses are more narrow in their shoulders than in their hips, you need to be thinking about a slight shoulder fore positioning whenever along the rail or wall. If you allow their left shoulder and their left hip to be the same distance away from the wall on your left, for example, the horse would be traveling with his right hind leg further towards the center of the ring than his right front.

From Facebook fan Annette Gaynes ~ "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."

No moment riding without stirrups is ever wasted.

In order to do successful lateral work, a rider must have an independent seat, so their aids can work precisely and independently.

Turn your horse from the middle of his body by using your seat. And use both reins together to turn him from his shoulders. Turning with the inside rein only turns his nose, leaving the rest of his body to derail.

"Under no circumstances (except to save your life) is see-sawing on the bit ever allowed. Nor is sneaky jiggling. The bit should only be moved by the chewing action of the horse." ~ Catherine Haddad Staller

The elasticity in your connection should come from your elbows, not from the rider having open or active fingers.

"Don’t set the horse up when cantering over a pole — allow the horse to make mistakes and learn to adjust its own stride to negotiate the pole." ~ Eric Smiley