Tip/Quote of the Day!

Think of keeping your shoulders aligned with your horse's shoulders (or where you want them to be), and your hips aligned with your horse's hips (or where you want them to be.) This is especially important to think about during lateral work.

"If one induces the horse to assume that carriage which it would adopt of its own accord when displaying its beauty, then, one directs the horse to appear joyous and magnificent, proud and remarkable for having been ridden." ~ Xenophon

"It is only when the horse is tense that he puts his front leg out way in front of himself, and then brings it back. He never does it when he is relaxed, and the rules say that the horse has to be relaxed. Some people may think this trot looks nicer, but it is not correct." ~ Georg Theodorescu

"Be positive when teaching (anything). Say what you'd like to see, explain how to achieve, praise what you see that you like." ~ Jodi L.Waldrip 

"A good rider can hear his horse speak to him, a great rider can hear his horse whisper, but a bad rider won't hear his horse even if it screams at him." ~ Unknown

"Get the transition done with the least amount of commotion. Be as light and invisible and efficient as you can be." ~ Joe Fargis

"Dressage is not just a sport. Yes, a part of it is about competing, and trying to come in first. But dressage is only beautiful when it is done well, when the rider and horse dance in harmony. If a rider has not reached that stage with his horse, he should stay home. He should not perform in public." ~ Georg Theodorescu

"Horses should finish [a training session] just loving life." ~ Joe Fargis

"Be precise on the flat. Then jumping a course will be easy." ~ Joe Fargis

Your outside leg is a very important ingredient in your bending aids. And many riders seem to forget all about it! Don't forget to keep it down, back, and close to your horse's side. 

Leg is for adding energy, and the rider's seat governs the length of stride.

Did you know that your spine doesn't end at your neck?? It goes all the way up into your head! So when a rider looks down, or juts their head and chin forward, they are compromising that stretched up, vertical spine.

"The rider must listen into the horse, in order to judge when the moment for an aid has come, which aid is needed and how intense it must be. He must know how to create or wait for the right circumstances, to prepare the horse." ~ Gustav von Dreyhausen

If you learn the whys behind each aid or exercise used in each specific circumstance, you will become a more educated rider with a greater ability to be productive. If your instructor doesn’t tell you why, ask!

So many people seem to think they can teach riding just because they can ride. These are actually two VERY different skills!

On riding your horse in a round frame: "If you have the body, you have the head - if you have the head you don't (necessarily) have the body." ~ Jack LeGoff

A tip for instructors... Turn on the forehand can be a great way to teach your students about the importance of the outside rein.

When jumping in muddy or deep conditions, you need to have extra impulsion within your horse's stride. Make sure you have it before you need it.

Always think about the depth of the water when deciding how fast to approach and negotiate a water obstacle. Riding too fast in deep water can easily cause the horse to lose his balance or even fall.

"Energy from the horse's hind engine must be coupled with mental and physical suppleness." ~ Christine Traurig

Think about "collection" when asking for a trot or canter extension, so that you remember to keep the rein connection and think about being more up in front, instead of down and out. This will help you to create a more uphill frame with more true hind leg engagement. 

Any rounding of the shoulders is a weakness that immediately disconnects the rider's arms from the back and seat.

Never rush a horse into a complex of jumps that might be hard for him to understand quickly. The more complicated the combination, or the greener the horse, the more time you need to give them to assess the situation clearly.

Give the inside rein in your upward transition into canter.

"Today, people learn to compete before they learn to ride, and that makes it difficult for them to be truly competitive and to progress to other levels." ~ Jack Le Goff

From Facebook fan Joan Childs ~ "Your hands must be free in order to use them effectively. You can not pull, push, follow, open or close your reins if they are busy being a source of your balance."

The more leg you regularly keep on your horse while riding, the less they will feel your aid when you try to apply it.

Walk is the "explaining" pace, so whenever possible ride every exercise in the walk first.

Never "go for the long one" at any jump into water that involves height. If you do, one of 2 things are likely to happen:

1. The horse will (quite rightly) ignore you and add a stride.

2. The horse will listen to you and take off early, but will probably hit his stifles hard on the fence on the way down.

"Don't try to see a distance, your horse has a pair of eyes and you need to let him use them. The more you do in front of a fence the more you will distract them." ~ Chris Bartle