Many of us have taken hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lessons over the years. Some of them with top notch trainers! Let's all help each other by sharing the most important things that you have learned! What would you say is the very best piece of riding advice you have ever received?? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Whenever you are facing any type of jump with a ditch in front of it, think of it as a "free" front rail, or a rolled out ground rail. Focus on the top of the jump (ignoring the ditch), and ride freely forward to it in a balanced, rhythmical gallop.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 1561"Only use the spur to correct. The spur is not intended to ride a movement. It cannot just support the gait or the movement. Make a clear correction with the spur. If you are constantly giving your horse an aid, he will get numb to it. " ~ Steffen PetersTip/Quote of the Day # 1560"Get comfortable with centerlines. We ride centerlines all the time in dressage, so make them your friend. Remember, nothing changes on centerline." ~ Steffen PetersTip/Quote of the Day # 1559"Cadence is thrust and power within rhythm." ~ Hilda GurneyAn Exercise For Riders at All Levels, That Will Improve Your Dressage Test!
This exercise has SO many benefits, using more attention to the corners of the arena to attain more bending and suppleness, and transitions between them to increase your horse's hind leg engagement and carriage. Read on to find out how to do it! (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
It is very hard to get a horse truly fit in an arena. You need to use varied terrain and footing to build a strong athlete that will hold up to the rigors of Eventing.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 1557"Even with hotter horses, it’s important to give them a break. It’s not such a good idea to wear them out. Even if the break is just for 30 seconds." ~ Steffen PetersTip/Quote of the Day # 1556"Half pass is a good movement for hot horses because it allows you to actually put your leg on while the horse moves sideways." ~ Steffen PetersTip/Quote of the Day # 1555
From Facebook fan Dana Ferguson ~ "Moving through the levels is really dependent on the bar that you raise for straightness. The more cognizant and careful you are to maintain it, the more the horse can work in true collection."
Tip/Quote of the Day # 1554"Stretching is important in every schooling session, but don’t let your horse think it is a break from the work. Stretching is not supposed to be associated with quitting." ~ Christine TraurigTip/Quote of the Day # 1553"At Training Level, judges want to see a horse who covers ground and moves forward to contact. Halting through a walk is acceptable as long as it is straight." ~ Hilda GurneyTip/Quote of the Day # 1552A few strides of lengthening or medium here and there in whatever gait you are working in will add energy to that gait. You can then turn that energy into engagement with a downward transition. Tip/Quote of the Day # 1551To get more bend in your half pass, precede it with a few steps of shoulder in. Be ready to come back to the shoulder in (or a volte) at any point in your half pass, if you start to lose the bend. Tip/Quote of the Day # 1550
"One of the good things about our sport is that while getting older might slow your reflexes down, the knowledge you have enables you to continue to improve, and handle the challenges better." ~ Shane Rose
About 10 years ago, I was coaching the very talented young rider in the above photo at an Event at the Carolina Horse Park in North Carolina. Her horse absolutely loved cross country, and could get very strong with her.
So, as we were warming up for that phase, I was trying to show her how to better control her strong horse in a galloping position. And to use this technique well, a rider has to have a fairly flat back (as that makes it possible to push your hips back.) Since this rider was noticeably rounding her back, I kept telling her to... (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 1549"If you can make the horse go forward, then the hands will not be tempted to act incorrectly. I want the rider’s hands forward reaching so you are bringing the horse to the bit – not the bit to the horse. If you start with the head, you are not riding the horse, you are jamming it in. You must bring the horse to the bit, so he is engaged and carries himself." ~ Ingrid KlimkeTip/Quote of the Day # 1548
To help keep your horse uphill when spiraling in on a circle, imagine that you are going up a spiral staircase. With each stride inward on the spiral, grow taller and think about going up an imaginary step.
Whether on or off the horse, the lower you center of gravity is, the easier it is to balance. So what does this mean to your riding? Keeping your balance point low, by keeping your seat close to the saddle when up off of your horse's back, and your weight sinking well down into your heels, will make you more secure.
...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)
"I see photos of even top level riders turning or doing lateral work with the inside rein going backwards, and just want them to see the photos and realize, this is neither bend or engagement, but crooked and blocking the engagement and the ability to ask the horse to "track true" and for the horse and rider to start to learn to collect and carry themselves uphill." ~ Peter Shaw
While a thicker mouthpiece is generally considered to be more gentle than a thinner bit, the horse with a small mouth or a low palate often prefers a thinner bit.
"If you find the half pass challenging, try this exercise:
Ride shoulder-in. Ride a 10-meter circle. Return to shoulder-in for a few strides. Turn the shoulder-in into half pass. This exercise is effective because it breaks down the pieces of the half pass (shoulder-in and the 10-meter circle) and then puts them back together in a logical sequence.” ~ Charlotte Bredahl-Baker
From Facebook fan Rachel Rogers Laliberte ~ "First you must be able to follow a horse's mouth perfectly before you can add any 'ask' for a frame....because contact comes from the leg."
The more impulsion you have at any given moment, the more submission you need. And submission is not the same thing as subservience. Submission is the willingness of the horse to follow your instructions.
"Think about riding your horse up and in front of you. Every chance you get, put your hands forward so you can meet the contact out further. Keep thinking about the frame and keeping your horse growing in front of you." ~ Charlotte Bredahl-Baker
Tip/Quote of the Day # 1537When doing a turn on the haunches or a pirouette, the rider must keep their weight centered over the horse, with an engaged inside seat bone. I see far too many riders (at all levels) letting their weight fall to the outside, which is a hindrance to their horse in those movements. Every step or two within the movement, think of sitting over and engaging your inside seat bone. Tip/Quote of the Day # 1536
"I can really only execute an exercise properly when I fully understand the theory – why and how I am riding the exercise to begin with. For this, I need the relevant knowledge, which is either imparted to me by my riding instructor, or which I gain by reading books, listening to special lectures, watching DVDs, or attending clinics." ~ Ingrid Klimke
Lunge work provides a sound foundation for your work under saddle. It helps young horses to develop confidence in their handlers, helps them to find their own balance at all three gaits, and builds their strength for carrying a rider.
Bending and lateral work stretches the outside of the horse's body. As with any type of stretching, increase your demands gradually as the horse becomes more supple.
When you are teaching your horse something new, begin to teach it to him in the direction that he finds the easiest, so that it is a more positive experience for him.
From the website of Graemont,Inc. A fairly realistic, in my experience, rundown of what dressage horses cost in the real world. There are exceptions, but be grateful when you come across one! (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 1531
"You must teach the young horse to clearly understand the difference between yielding versus bending on a circle." ~ Christine Traurig
I love this horse's naturally round and relaxed gallop stride on cross country! While a more elevated and uphill gallop stride like this is certainly not as efficient at top speeds as a longer, flatter stride - it is makes for much better jumping! Who can tell us why?? And how can you train for and encourage this type of carriage at the gallop in your horse? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 1530When your horse is learning something new, and he starts to "get it", giving you a correct response, let him stop and think about it for a minute. Reward, and then say nothing with your aids for at least a few seconds. If you give your horse that moment to digest what he has just learned, you will find that he learns faster and more easily. Tip/Quote of the Day # 1529
You have to keep your horse straight in the body when you ask for lateral flexion at the poll, in order to actually get true lateral flexion at the poll.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 1528When turning off of the center line in the Dressage ring, be careful to NOT let your horse drift right before turning left, or drift left before turning right at C. This is such a common mistake, and is an unnecessary way to lose points. Tip/Quote of the Day # 1527
"The quality of the [rider's] seat determines whether we can even speak of 'riding', or whether the horse simply has to 'deal with' the load on his back." ~ Kurt Albrecht
After your initial halt at X, don’t be in a hurry to move off, just because the judge is watching you. Keep thinking about what your horse needs at that moment. If you need to stand for another second and ask for flexion at the poll towards your horse’s stiff side, for example, that extra moment taken can help you move off with a better connection. However, if you feel like your horse is getting antsy, and wants to move, then it can be best to go forward like it was your idea.
This very basic (and often overlooked) jumping exercise will improve your horse's rideability, as well as the overall harmony between you and your horse when jumping courses. It may not be easy to do well at first, but it will get better and better with practice! Here's how to do it: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
