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What you do with your seat when you ask for the canter will effect the quality of the canter transition. If you stiffen your hips and back as you ask for the canter (as many riders do when they ask for the canter too strongly,) the horse’s movement will be stifled. If you allow your hips and lower back to be supple and follow the horse’s motion while you are asking for the canter, the horse can respond with more active hind leg engagement in the transition.

"Horses are easier to train than people, especially Thoroughbreds because they are always thinking." ~ Steuart Pittman

"When you get on, you should feel that your stirrups are a little bit short. As you warm up, as you come out of the saddle and come forward and jump, you should feel that you’re coming into a more comfortable position. If when you get on, you’re comfortable in your stirrups, they’re invariably too long." ~ William Fox-Pitt

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

Make sure there is a slight time lapse between a light aid and a correction. This gives the horse a chance to respond to the light aid - and it gives him a chance to LEARN from the correction.

Many times horses benefit from cantering early on in the warm up. Don’t wait until the trot feels perfect. Canter early on to improve the trot.

Nagging isn't giving the horse feedback, it is desensitizing him to the aids.

"Dressage is not just for competition. It is gymnastics for horses and all horses can benefit from it, as they are more likely to stay sound with a long, stretchy neck, soft body and easy movement." ~ Carl Hester

If you don't give your horse something to do when riding, he might come up with a plan to give you something to do. Have a plan, and keep him busy.

"Connection is often misunderstood. The horse must be taught to go from the seat and leg to the hand for it to be correct. But some riders will try to force it by working their hands and arms to 'work the horse’s neck back and forth to achieve that lightness,' which is incorrect." ~ Lilo Fore

With horses that like to curl their neck and become over bent, the rider needs to be careful not to get their reins too short. This will cause the horse to stay too short in the neck. Think of having longer arms that are always reaching towards the horse’s mouth.

"What is essential is not to tighten the legs during the dressage training, but rather to use them without effort while allowing them to hang softly near the horse’s sides." ~ Nuno Oliviera

"If you don't pull you won't have to kick and if you don't kick you won't have to pull…" ~ Jimmy Wofford

When a horse collects, his shoulders will come up naturally. Don't attempt to artificially raise the front end.

If you overdo counter bend to the point where your horse is falling in on his inside shoulder, it can quickly become a counter productive exercise. Do not let the horse’s neck bend excessively in any direction.

Tension and aggression breeds tension and aggression. Remind yourself of this when things are not going well in your riding.

Don't copy successful riders' bad habits. Look at what they do well. Just because they can pull off success with quirky form doesn't mean you can.

When riding on slippery footing, think about some of the same tactics that you would use to drive on an icy road. Go a little more slowly and don't make any sudden turns or changes of speed. Also think about stepping a little more into your outside stirrup in your turns, to help you be more effective with your outside aids. This will help your horse keep his outside hind leg more under his body, so his hind legs will be less likely to slip out from under him on the turns.

"Working over a single pole on the ground, notice if the young horse prefers to chip in a short stride or stretch for a long stride. Then remember this is the default that they will return to when things go wrong." ~ Eric Smiley

We must not forget that the horses we ride today are descended from the ones who did NOT get eaten by the mountain lion at the water hole. In other words, it is perfectly normal for horses to be spooky.

Dressage riders should aim to mix their horse’s schooling up with hacking and even some jumping if possible, as it will help to keep the horse more fresh and interested in his work.

Frequent quality transitions are the best way to confirm that your horse is listening equally to both the driving aids and the restraining aids.

It is a good idea to sit back every month or so and assess your training program and its current results. Be ready to add to or change your plan if you are not seeing results.

You have to have experiences to gain experience.

All You Need is Leg

(with apologies to Lennon and McCartney)

We were working on his flying changes—a middle aged OTTB with a flock of internalized tensions and a penchant for sucking back behind the leg. I was hoping to use some combinations of canter leg yield and canter half pass to make him come forward to the hand and to lessen the surprise of the change aids. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

I find that many riders are using bits that are too big for their horse’s mouths. While certainly better than a bit that is too small, when a bit is too big there is too much movement of the bit sliding back and forth in the horse’s mouth. Horses want the bit to be still in their mouths, they don’t want it sliding left and right all the time.

"The most important thing is for the horse to be thinking on its own. Unless you’re Michael Jung, you make mistakes and things go wrong. You have to teach the horse the stride isn’t always right, the line isn’t always right, and that’s why we start from trot." ~ William Fox Pitt

From member Karen Barbato ~ "Asking my horse to move laterally off my leg is NOT a negotiation. DO IT NOW (and with a happy face!)"

Great tip from member Sharon Fitzgerald ~ "It is only when you get completely out of your horse's way that you can feel exactly what they are doing and then have a hope in hell of influencing it. Otherwise you might be spending a lot of time just fixing what you are causing."

"The horse’s posture, his strength, and his suppleness, all influence very much the sensations that the bit creates in him." ~ Dupaty de Clam

"Don't take the tempo down without revving the engine." ~ Chris Bartle

The more often you give the reins, the softer your horse will be… both in the mouth and in the body.

Riding with shorter stirrups will stretch out your leg and improve your shock absorbers.

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.

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 right."

Even if the rider has all of their body parts generally in the right place, they will feel out of balance and out of sync with their horse's movement when the shock absorbing joints in their legs are locked and rigid.

No moment riding without stirrups is ever wasted!

From Facebook fan Andrea Monsarrat Waldo ~ "You can learn to take the best from different trainers, but first you have to have a "skeleton," a theoretical framework to hang it all on, and that takes time and some consistency of training, I think. Once you have a system you can add to it/alter it, but with no system it's just a jumble of random techniques."

"If your horse looks carefully at what they are jumping, is able to make small alterations when getting a little too close or far away from a fence, then produces an appropriate jumping effort and copes quickly with the unexpected slip or stumble, they can be said to have a ‘fifth leg.'" ~ William Micklem

"You can influence a horse but you're never really in control." ~ Chris Bartle

Most riders don't do nearly enough transitions in their daily work sessions.

It is a good idea to sit back every month or so and assess your training program and its current results. Be ready to add to or change your plan if you are not seeing results.

"The rein connection should be like a solid handshake. Don’t have a wimpy handshake. You know what a bad feeling you get when someone gives you a creepy handshake, so don’t give that icky feeling to your horse." ~ William Fox Pitt

"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

Riders who get the best out of the sensitive type of horse are good at being tactful. 

Frequent quality transitions are the best way to confirm that your horse is listening equally to both the driving aids and the restraining aids.

"Contact doesn't only refer to the hands, reins, and bit, but to the whole rider. A rider must give the horse contact through his entire seat. This means that his legs must lay gently against the horse's body, his seat must be balanced and supple, and his arms and hands must follow the horse's movement quietly and evenly. This create a smooth cycle of movement as the horse takes the rider with him. Only this then creates contact." ~ Klaus Balkenhol

The answer is really rarely "more leg," but rather to teach the horse to be more responsive to light leg aids.

"The inside rein must always be ready with a GOOD OFFER." ~ Reiner Klimke

Your horse can feel whether or not you have a strong, detailed plan of how to ride your jumping course or Dressage test. And he will gain confidence in you if he feels you are confident in your plan.

When working with horses, always be mindful of the feedback you are giving your horse at any given time... whether intentional or accidental. When your horse misbehaves, make sure you don't give him an accidental reward by stopping to regroup (which to him is a rest and a reward.) Keep moving, get the horse to do something (anything) well, and THEN stop to regroup if you must.

(Enjoying the ride leading up to a win at Rocking Horse back in November)

The halt must come from the body of the rider, not the reins.

From Facebook fan Joan Dunlap ~ "Fix your position first... then the horse will adjust theirs."

It is possible to have contact without a real connection (in fact it is quite common, unfortunately), but a true connection always involves good contact. The connection involves the horse's entire body… with energy created in the horse's hind legs traveling through the horse's supple body, and into the rider's hands.

Excessive bend in the neck, whether lateral (to the side) or longitudinal (behind the vertical), disconnects the haunches from the rein aids and allows the horse to remain locked up in other parts of the body, such as the poll and hips.

Looseness and suppleness in the horse is demonstrated by full body movement and the maximization of the horse’s range of motion in the stride of each gait.

"The art of cross country is allowing your horse to gallop along in rhythm and jump out of his stride." ~ Andrew Hoy

If you tend to ride in a chair seat with your feet out in front of you, try to think about stretching up tall, so that your seat bones point straight down… and then think of bending your knees so that your seat bones point to your heels. Eventually you need to stretch your leg back more fully and starting from the hip, but this can be a good way for riders to start the process.

When your horse is messing about with his leads or tossing his head between jumps on course, don’t let it distract you from what is most important - his rhythm.

"Infinite repetitions of one and the same problematic movement are usually a sign of insecurity in the rider and serve no purpose other than self-satisfaction. The horse doesn't gain anything from it. It leads to an overwrought horse and causes muscle fatigue and nervousness. Here, a trainer must intervene and go back to easier exercises rider and horse have already mastered." ~ Klaus Balkenhol

Shoulder in is the single best secret weapon when it comes to improving the horse's walk.

The more a horse relaxes within a lateral movement, the more gymnastic value the exercise will have. 

The more stable you are able to keep your outside rein connection, the more quickly your horse will learn to accept it. Stable, yet elastic... like a bungee cord. 

Ask, insist (if necessary,) and then reward.

"It's the rider's job to make his horse sensitive enough to anticipate half halts, for it is the anticipation factor that makes horse and rider harmonious. The use of the horse's anticipation should work greatly to your advantage in daily training and in riding a dressage test. For example, most dressage movements follow the riding of a corner in the arena. When you ride a half halt before every corner throughout the course of a horse's life, he anticipates that he is going to be more balanced and uphill before, during and after every corner, and then the corner becomes the half halt. Because the horse's brain and body are already in harmony with the rider in the corner, all you have to do is concentrate on the movement that follows." ~ Oded Shimoni

You may need to "do whatever you need to do" to get things done sometimes in competition, but in practice you should aim to always do things the right way, with no shortcuts.

"Contact doesn't only refer to the hands, reins, and bit, but to the whole rider. A rider must give the horse contact through his entire seat. This means that his legs must lay gently against the horse's body, his seat must be balanced and supple, and his arms and hands must follow the horse's movement quietly and evenly. This create a smooth cycle of movement as the horse takes the rider with him. Only this then creates contact." ~ Klaus Balkenhol

From Facebook fan Clarissa Groesbeek ~ "Your job is to ride to the base of the fence, your horse's job is to jump it."

From Facebook fan Kathi Knox Hammond ~  "If I look AHEAD toward where I want to end up, and quit looking down and worrying about whether I have enough bend and am angled correctly, things kind of work together on their own. I finally 'get' that looking down kills energy."

If you merely practice your bad habits, you will wind up making the same mistakes perfectly.

Balance and rhythm go hand in hand. Focus on maintaining an even rhythm, as every time the rhythm changes, the balance changes.

You need to decide that, from this day on, your horse will respond to light aids. If you don't expect him to, and don’t give him the appropriate feedback, he probably won't ever be as attentive and responsive as you would like him to be.

"I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don't do things half heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half hearted results." ~ Michael Jordan

"Incorrect training is as if you buttoned a sweater wrong. In order to fix it you must unbutton it and start over again." ~ Reiner Klimke

No matter how balanced a horse is moving, he will never be in self carriage if he has a rider that is hanging on his mouth.

Riders who get the best out of the sensitive type of horse are good at being tactful.

"A good trainer on a Thoroughbred will spend lots of time reassuring the horse that all is well." ~ Steuart Pittman

Transitions act as a test of your connection. If the quality of your connection is lacking as you begin a transition, it will be particularly evident as you execute it.

One of the most important things for you to think about during your Dressage Test is to maintain a consistent rhythm and tempo in each gait throughout. Even if other things are not perfect, maintaining that consistency will produce the best possible score.

In a good connection, you should strive to feel your horse's hind legs in your hands.

"The horse is the fastest learner of all domestic animals—including children. If you stay alive by running away, you better learn fast." ~ Robert Miller, DVM

"Don’t ride to a jump, looking for a spot.  You don’t jump a spot, you jump a jump." ~ Unknown

The short side of the arena is a great place to show your horse's movement off to the Dressage judge. If your horse is in lovely self carriage, push your hands forward a bit and show it off!

Your basics are the base of your success. The stronger your base, the further you will go.

From Facebook fan Jodi Waldrip ~ "I've learned that a saddle that truly fits can give you a totally different horse to ride."

Your horse can feel whether or not you have a strong, detailed plan of how to ride your jumping course or dressage test. And he will gain confidence in you if he feels you are confident in your plan.

From Facebook fan Barbara Martin ~ "What happens on the ground is just as important as what goes on in the saddle. Make sure you are giving clear signals to your horse as to who is in charge. We forget this sometimes, I think!"

"I was riding in a warm-up ring with Bill Steinkraus--you know, the greatest rider America has ever produced? That Bill Steinkraus?--and I asked him, on average, how many fences on a course of ten does he get to accurately. He thought about it and said "Seven." I said "Oh." But I was THINKING: "Oh. What does that say about ME?!" ~ Jimmy Wofford 

From Facebook fan Joan Dunlap ~ "If your horse's SI joint is compromised so is their ability to come through from behind with any ease."

-- This is SO important, as most horses with sacroiliac issues don't show a lot of signs, so pain in this area is often missed. If your horse is reluctant to really use himself or carry weight behind, and/or has canter lead issues, or displays bucking or balking behavior - get his SI joint checked out by a well qualified lameness vet. 

When a horse is crooked his energy gets stopped up like water in a hose with a kink in it.

If your horse is behind your leg or inattentive, he is challenging your authority to some degree.

The issue is free choice forage feeding...


I respect and honor the way horses are made – they are different – unique, really. In a suitable, native environment, they are quite capable of taking care of themselves. They are free to eat and roam and be, well, horses. Domestication involves removing them from their natural setting; but that doesn’t change who they are. Horses have physiological and mental needs and those needs are being ignored. (Click on Blog Title above to read full entry)

There is no point in working on flying changes until you have the right canter. Start before they are truly ready, and you run the risk of making the flying change forever an anxiety filled movement for the horse. 

From member Sharon Fitzgerald ~ "I have learned that if I want my horse to be steady and up to the bridle then I have to provide a steady target [quiet hands] and use leg to keep him up there."

Speed magnifies mistakes. Therefore your basics had better be fairly solid before you start jumping at speed.

Groundwork can help build a better relationship between horse and rider. The trust and respect built during work in hand will carry over to your under saddle work IF you approach it the same way.

The extra thrust created by lengthenings will solidify your connection if it was correct to begin with. The extra impulsion created can then be turned into real collection.

From Facebook fan Jodie Stowell Potts ~ "Every horse must be treated as an individual, and what was fine a couple of weeks ago may not work today."

Just putting in the time does not guarantee success. You have to be practicing correctly to improve.

We all know it is a bad thing for the horse to carry its poll too low. But too high can be a problem as well. If the height of the poll does not match the amount of true collection behind, the horse will be moving with a hollow back, and the gaits will become flat... losing their supple, elastic swinging nature. 

Never forget that our goal as riders should be to do as little as possible. Allow the horse to perform.

You can't balance or collect energy that you don't have. Forward first!

"I like to think of the tension in a Thoroughbred’s body as it seeks to learn the meaning of our aids as an intense desire to please us." ~ Steuart Pittman

Throwing the reins away to the point that they are so loose that there are loops in them is not the answer to solving your problem of being too strong/tense/rigid in the hands and arms. You must keep a connection, and learn to be elastic within that connection. That is the only way to advance.

In no way does holding a horses neck in a position build up correct muscle. The horse has to actually be using those muscles correctly to improve musculature in the topline. 

"Allow your horse the opportunity to use his neck more." ~ Reiner Klimke

If becoming a great rider wasn't hard, everyone would be able to do it. It's the hard that makes it great.

The horse should be in front of the leg and carrying itself without support from the rider - every stride.

Bounces teach horses to be quick thinking - an essential quality in an Event horse.

A good halt is square because it was a good halt. Not because the rider has taught the horse the "trick" of squaring up after an unbalanced halt.

Keep your hands forward thinking at all times - don't be "stealing" from the hind legs.

"Create a work station on your yard, where everything to do with work happens – for example, tacking up and washing off – and keep his stable for relaxation only. Then your horse knows he can totally relax when he’s in his stable and won’t be expected to work." ~ Carl Hester

"A major consideration concerning the horse’s posture in all lateral movements is the bend in the rib cage behind the withers. For achieving this bend is the foundation for the suppleness of the entire horse. One will never achieve this bend if one rides the lateral movements on four tracks too early, or if one tries to force these movements with crude aids, and if one forgets to reposition one’s legs in the transitions from one lateral movement to another." ~ Borries von Oeynhausen

From Facebook fan Elise Vandover ~ "I often tell my students that the outside rein is like the vinyl wall of an above-ground pool; elastic, stretchy and flexible, but enough of a boundary to keep the 'water in the pool'."

Remember that to balance your horse in front of a fence you do not necessarily have to slow down. Many times you simply need to change the shape of the canter stride - i.e. bring the horse into a more uphill frame.

Always finish an exercise with a proper transition to walk, don't just fall into a heap.

From Facebook fan Kristin Powers ~ "It takes WAY MORE outside rein than you ever think it does!"

Stop looking for that "perfect" take off spot, and focus on the quality of your canter. A horse that is well balanced, with the right amount of impulsion for the jump at hand, can comfortably leave the ground from just about any reasonable takeoff spot.

"In practice, do things as perfectly as you can: in competition, do what you have to do." ~ William Steinkraus

"When the horse jumps, you go with it, not the other way around." ~ William Steinkraus

A running martingale that fits correctly does not come into play unless the horse tosses its head, or tries to stick it straight up in the air. It should not be used to keep the horse's head down.

"NEVER fight the oats.” ~ William Steinkraus 

Who can tell us what this means? 

"It's amazing what the horse can do, when you teach the rider to ride." ~ Hans Biss

After being abroad for two months, nothing felt better to me than climbing into the saddle and working Lucy. One of the many things I love about her is that you can leave her on stall rest for a week or not ride her for two months and she will be the same exact horse as when you stopped riding. She has a wonderful mind and attitude for work (now that we've established a relationship) and the biggest challenge is working through her tension. (Click on Blog Title above to read full entry)

We first have to teach the horse to enjoy learning.

From Facebook fan Marilyn Kostuch ~ "Becoming very aware of the rhythm helps a horse's mind become calmer."

The horse's favorite reward is the release of the aid.

"The seat must be able to absorb the energy from the horse like a sponge, and then redirect it forward" ~ Bill Woods

"Don't let over-jumping or a dull routine erode the horse's desire to jump cleanly. It's hard to jump clear rounds if the horse isn't trying." ~ William Steinkraus

A social media post came thru my newsfeed today, wherein the poster complained about the recent riding at the Falsterborg (SWE) show. She used the words “rough” and “abusive” and feels that type of riding is prevalent in today’s FEI CDI rings. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Things will not get better on their own - it's up to us as riders to ensure progress. This means being proactive, working hard, and using every available tool to improve your knowledge and skills.

We always talk about not riding with too much inside rein, but it is also possible to ride with too much outside rein. Holding too strongly on the outside rein will prevent the horse from bending to the inside, and may cause him to tilt his head. 

"My father always said, 'Things just take time.' He did not believe in quick tricks or things like draw reins. Rather than using such things, he said it is better to go on the circle and do things like half-halts and transitions to get the horse under himself and light in your hand." ~ Ingrid Klimke

"Great horses bring an unquenchable love for the game, and a fierce competitive desire to every competition." ~ Jimmy Wofford

Strive for the feeling that two thirds of the horse is in front of you.

Professional trainers and instructors are faced with a continuing dilemma. Is teaching accomplished along classical methods that have been proven over time OR does the Pro acquiesce to the client and do what they say (the goal in most cases of getting little Johnny or Janey a ribbon or the horse moving up)? (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

"Necks that are pulled in stop the muscles of the back developing and interfere with the natural paces." ~ Reiner Klimke

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.

"If we ask novice riders how much of their focus is on the horse’s head, most of them, if they are honest, might say 80 percent. But the head is perhaps 10 percent of the horse’s body, so be sure you are not using 80 percent of your focus on 10 percent of the horse. Ride his body and influence it." ~ Kyra Kyrklund

When jumping into deep water, you must approach at a slower pace. Too much speed jumping into deep water will make it much more likely for the horse to fall on landing.

Riders who ride with stirrups that are even slightly too long are often the first ones to stand up and jump up the horse's neck when they get to a jump!

Always keep in mind that narrow fences, angles, and corner jumps can feel even harder near the end of your cross country course. Mental and physical fatigue (of either horse or rider) can make a stupid mistake more likely to happen.

From Facebook Fan Joan Dunlap ~ "They are horses first ... beautiful, living, breathing beings ... what they do for us is secondary and should come from their heart .... don't ever let the ribbons or money rule (or ruin) your relationship with them." 

From Facebook Fan Ginger Kathleen Coombs ~ "Just because a horse isn't limping, it doesn't mean they feel good. By the time you get pinned ears, lameness, or bad behavior, you may have been missing little signs or have seen and not understood them."

When you ride with a stronger bit, your goal needs to be to use it as little as possible.

A rider's leg should lie on their horse's sides like slightly "al dente" noodles.

"Acceptance of the bit happens in the haunches, not in the mouth." ~ Thomas Ritter

"For riders: It is hard work, takes more time than you have, and requires more money than you thought. You will learn more than you ever thought possible when you began in the sport, but you will never learn it all. You will never be as good as some, but you will probably not be as bad as others if you are willing to work. It is the best thing you could ever do, and even when you fail you learn, and even if you never get a ribbon it is still worth it. Stick it out." ~ Brian Sabo

"As riders, our problem is that too often we try to provide all the upward activity ourselves instead of allowing our bodies to use the bounce provided by the ground. You can become aware of this upward energy. You cannot hold it in reserve; if you do, you'll lose it... Center yourself and become aware of this energy as your ride." ~ Sally Swift

Think of your reins as lines of communication that connect your brain to your horse's brain. The more finesse you use with your contact, the more intimate the communication with your horse will be. 

What you allow a horse to do, you teach him to do.

“Thoroughbreds tend to thrive on physical movement, and they are, like all horses, hypnotized by their own rhythms. Repetition of success creates a sense of peace.” ~ Steuart Pittman

“The best thing you can do for self-carriage is the give and re-take of the reins. It is amazing how you forget to do that when you ride on your own.” ~ Carl Hester

With horses, the slow way is the fast way in the long run. Give it time.

"If your riding and handling of horses begins and ends at the mounting block, you may be a rider, but never a horseman." ~ CW Anderson 

From Facebook fan Claire Webb ~ "Attitude determines practice, practice determines performance."

A lot of bad shoulder-in out there and often committed by riders with the best of intentions. I’m not talking about the blatant disasters—the pull on the inside rein, collapse the inner hip, pop the horse’s outside shoulder down the track kind of malfeasance. I’m thinking of the more subtle ones where the rider diligently tries to follow all the jumbled instructions and checklists in her head and it still doesn’t work. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

"Every rein aid must be preceded by an action of the torso. Otherwise you only address the horse's head." ~ Nuno Oliveira

"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

Every time you pull back on the inside rein, you block the horse's inside hind leg from stepping fully underneath his body.

Land from a jump thinking about what you are going to do next. Don't land thinking about what you just did.

“Push yourself away from your hands.” ~ Stephen Clarke

A Gentleman, A Dragon, And A Dreamer

Well I am days away from leaving life as I know it. I have made the decision to pack up my perfect little life here in Ohio and drag two horses to... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

When your horse gets tense about feeling your legs wrapped around him, do not take your legs off. That would only validate his attempted evasion. Keep your legs quietly on his sides, and do an exercise (circle, transition, or lateral step) that will encourage him to focus and relax.

Very careful horses are more likely to lose their confidence during both training and competition, so be careful to always set them up for success.

Just because you can't see your grass growing doesn't mean it's not, and the same can be said of your progress as a rider. Much of the time it is not noticeable until you stop and look back at where you came from.

To successfully maintain the elusive forward feeling hands, imagine that you are pushing a shopping cart as you ride forward into the bit.

Make sure there is a slight time lapse between a light aid and a correction. This gives the horse a chance to respond to the light aid, and it gives him a chance to LEARN from the correction.

Peanut butter? No, in this case PB stands for personal best. Once again I want to revisit the notion of why we go showing and what we get out of it. For a certain group dressage IS showing, and showing means trying to win... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry) 

Spend time on the basics, such as straightness and suppleness, and the more difficult movements will fall into place naturally.

"There's no such thing as Dressage for Eventers and Dressage for Dressage riders. It's all just Dressage." ~ Carl Hester

A rider hanging onto the inside rein can create stiffness, resistance, head tilting, and loss of the horse's outside shoulder.

You don't really do yourself any favors when you cater to your weaknesses. For example, if you only like to ride with your whip in your right hand, and it feels odd and uncomfortable in your left - you need to make yourself ride with it in your left hand. And if you are uncomfortable riding amongst distractions or with people watching, you only better yourself by seeking out those conditions.

"The horse is so honest.... they live in the moment. And what they do, whether they need to protect themselves or whether they need to accept you really is directly relative to how you make them feel." ~ Buck Brannaman

"Cross country is the only time when life catches up to the speed of my thoughts." ~ Reed Ayers

From Facebook fan Brenda Nelson Jensen, on finding a good instructor ~ "The most important questions to ask yourself after training with someone are: Am I enlightened or confused after sessions? Are my horse and I progressing safely and confidently? If I clinic with a nationally known good instructor do they build off of (not contradict) your regular instructors program?" 

You should know where your horse is going to land from a jump before he takes off. How? The type of canter in the final strides of the approach will dictate the shape of your horse's jumping effort, and the trajectory of his jump. 

If your horse gets heavier in the reins as you increase your collection, he is NOT going correctly.

"That they stay loose is the most important, the most mistakes are made when the riders start to collect them. Collection is not slower or shorter, collection is more cadence, more energy behind, and that only works with a really loose back, with suppleness – and that is what they lose. We have so many super super good three and four year old horses, you see them moving at the Bundeschampionate, and it is unbelievable how many super super good horses – but how many go on to the sport later? Because most riders when they go to collect them, make them too stiff, too tense, too often it is only with the hand, that they only make the neck up, short, instead of making them lower behind. To collect them, you have to start behind, and not in front." ~ Hubertus Schmidt

"Up your game, ask for more!" ~ Stephen Clarke 

From Facebook Fan Trisha Francisco ~ "As I’m working my way back in to horses, I'm reminded constantly by little things here and there & discussions that there's a reason classics are classics... There's a reason they're still around, as they still work... Remarket it and repackage things all you want but classical dressage and classical horsemanship usually can't be beat no matter how hard you try... They are recipes for success."

Always keep your spine stretched upward when riding. When you slump, your head and shoulders will become heavy, and your horse will likely become heavy in your hands.

From Facebook Fan Anne Rawle ~ "Never teach a horse something you don't want him to learn." 

From Facebook Fan Tricia Carr ~ "In a recent lesson my mare reminded me that when approaching a fence, my mind set and my aids have to agree. I can "think" I want to go over the fence, but if I ride defensively, and my aids, (or lack thereof) don't match my what my brain is thinking, that equals a run out. I'm pretty timid over fences and sometimes it gets the best of me."

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."

Lots of things stand in the way of someone becoming a really good rider. Among amateurs high on the list is guilt—guilt for not riding as elegantly as Charlotte DuJardin (or whomever their hero might be). Maybe you are beyond this stage, but many amateurs always want to have their horse and them  look like the finished product, when skill level aside, they are really just a work in progress. (Click on Blog Title above to read full entry)

If your horse struggles to maintain a consistent rhythm, think of using your breathing to help him stay regular. This is one reason why counting is so useful, as when you count, you will breathe in that rhythm.

Lightness is not the looseness of the contact, it's the way the horse moves over the ground.

A horse that is well balanced, with the right amount of impulsion for the jump at hand, can comfortably leave the ground from just about any reasonable takeoff spot.

"Make him a short horse with bigger paces rather than a long horse with shorter paces." ~ Stephen Clarke

A popular baby boomer product touts "for when the moment is right. . . "


At Edwards Air Force Base where the space shuttle used to land it was no coincidence that the main runway was more than three miles long with a flat overrun of many more thousands of feet. The pilot had the ability to set the shuttle down right on the numbers at the threshold. But he didn't have to. He could wait till the moment was right. 
 
Similarly, some new movements when first called for in a dressage test grant you that same leeway. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

When working with horses, always be mindful of the feedback you are giving your horse at any given time... whether intentional or accidental. When your horse misbehaves, make sure you don't give him an accidental reward by stopping to regroup (which to him is a rest and a reward.) Keep moving, get the horse to do something (anything) well, and THEN stop to regroup if you must.

A word about the double bridle: The curb bit is a tool for refining the aids, not for applying more force. If the double bridle is used because otherwise the rider can’t ride his horse on the bit or because he can’t control it, neither the horse nor the rider is ready for the double bridle.

When strength is needed, such as when riding a strong horse, a rider needs to be able to find their strength in the center of their body - their core. Many times they attempt to find their strength in their arms or shoulders instead, and this is counter productive. As instead of being an anchor against the horse's strength, the horse thinks the rider is instigating a pulling match.

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

Riding is about 80% mental. Control of your mind is even more important than control of your body.

From Facebook fan Jessica Fuller Stewart ~ "When my horse is truly forward he can not bulge his shoulder in the corners as easily. If I let him back off just a little in the corner he can then bulge very easy. Forward is everything!"

"A tense horse's lateral suppleness can be improved by very forward canter leg yields." ~ Carl Hester

Some riders seem to think that if they can just sit perfectly enough, their horse will naturally bring his body together and move in a balanced way. And that is not necessarily true. While it is very important to sit correctly, horses are likely to remain on the forehand until the rider actively improves the horse's balance through specific exercises.

Many issues that you might have at the canter are usually there at the walk too... but just don't bother you as much because you're not going very fast. And it's easier to fix things at the walk, so it is wise to start there. 

From Facebook fan Alexis Soutter ~ "While teaching the girl who rides my horse this week, it was reinforced how important it is to be willing to pause and regroup if you and/or your horse are stressed or upset. By going back to an exercise you do well and re-establishing your breathing, rhythm, and connection, you're much more likely to succeed at whatever else you're trying to accomplish when you go back to it (even if that's another ride). If you try to just 'push through it' you might complete the exercise, but at the risk of damaging the communication and trust between the two of you. Better to back off but continue to put deposits in your horse's trust bank then force the issue and empty that account." 

A still tail carried close to the horse shows the inactivity of the back muscles in the loin area.

“The secret in riding is to do few things right. The more one does, the less one succeeds. The less one does, the more one succeeds.” ~ Nuno Oliveira

Your basics are the base of your success. The stronger your base, the further you will go.

On the meaning of the phrase "Having the horse between the hand and leg" --

"When I close my leg, the result is a change from potential energy to kinetic energy. When I close my hand there is enough kinetic energy to balance back into potential energy." ~ Jocelyn Thibodeau

In all situations, and at all levels, riding in rhythm gives the horse confidence.

"A horse with good foot work will rarely fall. A horse who is not given the chance to practice that footwork because he is always brought to the right spot will come big time unstuck when the s*** hits the fan and the fallible human on top gets it wrong."  ~ Lucinda Green

"The horse must collect as a result of many transitions, not because the rider’s hands have asked for collection. Lots of transitions – that is what gets the horse’s hind legs underneath him." ~ Christoph Hess

"I make my students ride in gallop position in trot and canter with no rein contact and no hands on the neck, as there is no point in trying to progress until a good balance is in place. It is a great concern to me that so many riders are out of balance between fences, and then too stiff and upright on the approach to the fence" ~ William Fox Pitt

Generally, the slower you are approaching a jump, the more leg you may need to apply in the final strides.

What's it like to return to riding after an injury?

It's tough. My first real experience riding after falling and breaking my wrist was on the lunge line on one of the safest horses in the barn. And I was SCARED. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

"One of the goals of dressage is to recreate the natural beauty of the horse’s gaits under the rider, so that the horse moves as beautifully under the weight of the rider as he does at liberty. In order to achieve this, the swinging of the horse’s back has to pass through the seat of the rider undiminished. The back has to be able to rise and fall with the same ease, regardless of the rider’s presence. If the rider merely sits passively, his weight alone can sometimes be enough to diminish the freedom of movement of the horse’s back. In these moments, the rider has to enhance the upswing of the horse’s back with an active contraction of his abdominal muscles, which helps the rider’s pelvis to swing more forward-upward, without tilting forward, however." ~ Thomas Ritter

Always introduce new exercises in a slow and progressive manner, so you are building confidence and not inviting problems.

Mention the term "behind the vertical," and most people will immediately think about that straight line from the horse's poll to the ground, and whether the horse is on that line or behind it. This horse, for example, is exactly on the vertical line to the ground:


(Note - this photo is NOT being used as a perfect example of what a good connection should look like. It is only showing us what a true vertical line to the ground looks like.)

However, you can ONLY use that line vertical to the ground as a guideline if the horse is in a frame similar to the horse in this photo, with the poll being generally the highest point of the neck!

In order to correctly judge the horse that is stretching downwards with a low neck, you need to look at the angle created at the poll, and whether or not the horse is closed in the throatlatch area. I have drawn on some pictures to show you what I mean: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

For success in learning to ride, as with most things in life - talk less and listen more.

Always finish an exercise with a proper transition to walk, don't just fall into a heap.

Think of riding your downward transitions in an uphill manner, so that the horse’s poll comes up as his croup lowers and his hind legs come under his body.

Always keep your spine stretched upward when riding. When you slump, your head and shoulders will become heavy, and your horse will likely become heavy in your hands.

Always finish each ride on a good note. Do something your horse does well so he can feel good about himself.

An anxious horse will tend to not be able to hear your aids, as his nerves will override them. Your first goal needs to be to get your horse to relax.

"Think of using your skeleton to turn your horse, not your muscles." ~ Catherine Haddad 

This idea may not "click" with everyone, but I think it will help many to better use their body without negative tension in the muscle, which only causes resistance in the horse. 

Don't confuse being left behind over a jump with a defensive seat on cross country. They are very different. The rider who is in a defensive position on cross country is a nickel behind the motion, while still not interfering with the horse in any way. The rider who is left behind is catching the horse in the mouth and slamming their backs on landing, both the ultimate punishment for the horse jumping the fence. If you are getting left behind often, it may be time to move down a level and work on your basics.

"Horses don't WANT to jump badly! They jump badly because of US! Ever seen a horse get loose in a steeplechase? It jumps like a BIRD!" ~ Jimmy Wofford

Interval training is one of the safest ways to develop the horse's ability to do more work over longer periods of time, as it helps to prevent fatigue and a build up of lactic acid in the muscles.

"If a horse becomes more beautiful in the course of his work, it is a sign that the training principles are correct." ~ Colonel Podhajsky

It is much easier to keep your horse forward and straight when you are looking up and in the direction that you want to go! 

"Boldness comes from confidence, and confidence comes from success. So it's the trainer's job to create lots of success." ~ Jack Le Goff

"Expressive and relaxed collected work shows that the rider has understood the steps that led up to it." ~ Klaus Balkenhol

Rhythm is the key to success in ALL riding disciplines.

"In the last few strides there should be a transfer of responsibility for the jump from the rider to the horse." ~ Eric Smiley 

Reiner Klimke Couldn’t Sit That Trot

I really don’t understand why the sitting trot is so elusive. 

(Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Horses are often so quick to bend their necks (which is one of the most flexible areas in the horse's body) in response to the rider's request to either flex laterally at the poll, or to bend in the body. Make sure you have sufficient connection on the outside rein with either request to keep your horse's neck straight.

If you don't have forward, you won't be able to achieve a true half halt. And without an effective half halt, it will be hard to improve the horse's balance. 

"In flying change training, the horse is ready when counter canter is firmly established and horse can easily perform correct simple changes. If the horse offers a flying change early don't punish him. 'What a child knows, it knows'" ~ Reiner Klimke

"When should I make a half halt?" she asked me. The obvious answer is when you need one, but if she's asking that question, maybe the answer isn't so obvious after all! (Click on Blog Title above to read full entry)

Using a volte (a 6, 8, or 10 meter circle) before a lateral exercise like a shoulder in, haunches in, or half pass allows you to establish the bend for those movements even before you begin them.

Varying the degree of your half pass can improve your horse’s suppleness from all angles, as well as increasing his responsiveness to your aids within the movement. In other words, while going in half pass across the diagonal, half halt, and do a few strides with a steeper angle (more sideways than forward), then go forward again.

A horse can become unresponsive to the aids within a single ride - if you allow it to happen. 

Both horse and rider should learn to love that deep takeoff spot. If either one is not truly comfortable there, the pair will be at increased risk of falls or refusals.

Practice your two point position.

If you want to have a really solid position over jumps, practice it a lot. 

Discipline

(The mare who has inspired a great deal of my discipline!)

I have been reading another book, this time of my own accord which means no date to procrastinate to. It is The Road Less Traveled written by M Scott Peck. The Road Less Traveled is an analysis of human behaviors, tendencies, and misconceptions. It reveals many ugly truths to the way we perceive our world via the educated eyes of a psychiatrist. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Always keep your spine stretched upward when riding. When you slump, your head and shoulders will become "heavy", and your horse will likely become heavy in your hands.

If you do all of your training on the exact same kind of footing, i.e. either all firm ground, or all sand - you might be putting your horse at an increased risk of possible injury. Training on a variety of different surfaces will develop both the strength and the elasticity of tendons and ligaments, which will help to prevent injury.

You must train your horse to understand that he should stay at whatever speed you put him in until told otherwise. Remember that every time you allow your horse to make a decision about his speed or energy level (or you don't realize that he has done so), you are training him to make these decisions on his own.

Nearly every rider will experience plateaus in their training. Only those that have the patience to keep a good attitude while pushing through them will ever get there.

Whether flatwork or jumping, you never want to look at any time like you would flip off the back end of the horse if someone cut your reins.

Moving the bit in the horse's mouth to keep him from bracing against it is preventing the symptom without addressing the underlying cause.

In a movement like shoulder in, where the horse is likely to try to evade the difficulty of bending his body by swinging his quarters out, it can sometimes be helpful to bring your dressage whip forward, and touch the horse with it right in front of the saddle. This helps to reinforce your inside leg which should be up at the girth, and shows him to yield in that specific part of his body.

“You cannot combat a mistake by making another one. Stay focused in the present and make the round the best you can be.” ~ McLain Ward

“Why not ride your dressage movements out in the open, in the field or the back paddock? Chances are your horse will be brighter, more forward, and focused.” ~ Michael Jung

(Click on Photo Title above to read the critique of this photo)

Always keep the cheeky type of horse busy by giving them lots of little tasks to do, or they may look for a way to amuse themselves.

There are some trainers who teach "lifting" the horse with your hands on the takeoff of the jump, to assist the horse off the ground. This is somewhat of a slippery slope, as the more you offer to lift the horse, the more the horse will rely on it and lean into it. Instead, create the type of canter that will allow your horse to rock back and lift his front end easily for himself. Then stay out of his way and let him do just that. This will help to produce a horse that wants to jump clean on his own, rather than one that needs micromanaging.

Balance and rhythm go hand in hand. Focus on maintaining an even rhythm, as every time the rhythm changes, the balance changes.

It's not unusual for a novice rider to emerge from a dressage test and announce, "Wow, that whole thing went by in such a blur!" Later when that same rider has worked her way up to Fourth Level, if she has an occasion to ride another horse back in First Level she's apt to observe how luxurious it is to have all that time in the test to prepare for the next movement. In the same vein I've heard Grand Prix riders remark on how much "free time" they have when they ride a Prix St. George test... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Most teachers have nefarious designs on your mind—ones that they may not admit to. You just may want nuts and bolts explanations of the "which leg goes where" variety. Most times that's not all you're going to get... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

I used to live by the mantra, "Frustration begins where knowledge ends."

If I was having a hard time with a horse, I would stop and think, "What don't I know about this situation?"

It could be that I just didn't have enough tools in my tool box to get to the right answer. Maybe I hadn't done my homework and I was asking for something more advanced than we were ready for......

And then there is the Dunning Kruger effect.... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

There's a time (we hope) in everyone's riding where a transformation takes place. It's when you start to find your "voice" and begin to exercise it. Before this can happen, riders struggle through some predictable stages. Typically, even while working on their own, their heads are filled with the scolding words (not even intentionally directed at them) by their teacher reminding them of their assorted malfeasances and inadequacies. When they get past this stage and their confidence grows, they begin to have a “voice”.... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)