Have you ever wondered how it is that you know how to do something.........
Maybe it's something you've known how to do for YEARS.............
and in certain circumstances.............
no matter how well prepared you are.............
you revert to Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum? (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 663Sally Swift gives a good explanation about why the best riders are often not the best instructors: "Many of the great riders have the gift of natural balance and coordination so that they never have to question how to do anything with any part of their body. If they know what they want to do, their body will respond. Because of this innate coordination, they have not needed to know how one makes a leg move, or how one breathes, or how one balances. It just happens. Therefore it is usually difficult for them to explain to the rest of us less-coordinated mortals how to move some particular part of our bodies."Tip/Quote of the Day # 662Don't feel like you have to stick with the same movements or even the circle size of the Dressage test you are about to do in your warm up. It can be very helpful to utilize some smaller circles and lateral work (if you and the horse are both capable) in your warm up, to increase your level of engagement and improve your connection. Video Discussion # 84: Let's watch this Dressage test ridden by Steffen Peters!I particularly like his entrance, with a lovely, soft transition from canter to halt. This shows a good example of a correctly forward ridden transition to halt. What other strengths do you see in this test? Do you notice any weaknesses, or movements that show that the horse might be green for this level? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
"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
Discussion # 118: Let's discuss how to constructively open yourself up to attaining new information!Recently I saw a situation where a rider voluntarily missed out on an opportunity to walk their cross country course with one of the most respected trainers in the sport. They said that they had already walked the course with their regular coach, and were concerned that they might become confused with any new or different information. This brings up a good point for discussion... If we are not constantly opening ourselves up to new information, how can we grow and improve? How do you personally handle any situation where you might be getting feedback or advice that is very different from what you already know? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)Tip/Quote of the Day # 659"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 StallerTip/Quote of the Day # 658Throwing 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.Tip/Quote of the Day # 657
"At the beginning of every ride you must be willing to explain 'yet again' to your horse what you expect of him with sympathy and empathy. Dressage is our dream, not theirs." ~ Yvonne Barteau
Wrong! When you think about it, there aren't many sports in which "cheating" isn't de rigueur— not just expected but accepted and intrinsic to the way the game is played... (Click on Blog Title above to read full entry)
Here is a simple exercise that can be incorporated in a subtle way throughout your work to simultaneously test your horse's straightness, his evenness in the bridle, and his suppleness in the poll. (Click on Article Title above to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 655Shoulder in to the right really strengthens the right hind leg, which will help to improve the horse's ability to do haunches in and half pass to the left. And vice versa.Tip/Quote of the Day # 654From Facebook fan Rachel Rogers Laliberte ~ "The hands make contact with the mouth but the riders use of driving aids (leg and seat) create the connection." Tip/Quote of the Day # 653When jump schooling, it can be a good idea think about changing direction after each jump, unless you have a plan to do otherwise for a specific reason. So every time you approach off of the left lead, you turn right afterwards, and vice versa. This way, you get lots of practice with your lead changes (simple or flying), and you will help to ensure that you do an equal amount of practice jumping off of each lead, which is important. Tip/Quote of the Day # 652When lunging, pivot with one foot so that you keep yourself still and centered in the middle of your horse's circle. This way, he will learn to make an actual circle shape, rather than an odd shape.Video # 81: This is Sarah again, this time on cross country!(Click on Video Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 651Neutral riding means the rider maintains their position, but with the absence of aids. Aim to return to neutral as much as possible after every aid. Tip/Quote of the Day # 650"Finding an honest connection and throughness can be as elusive as trying to find your true image in a fun house mirror." ~ Yvonne BarteauFirn's Blog post # 13Do's and Don'ts of Your First Event
With Arwen and me fresh from our first event - an amazing, terrifying, and exhilarating experience I will gladly repeat - I am left to look back on a weekend that in many ways went horribly wrong, but as usual under the guidance of the Lord, also went perfectly right. I made plenty of mistakes, so I shall put them together for the world to see and hopefully learn from. Hence, some do's and don'ts for the beginner event rider. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 649"Cross-country saddles should have room for five fingers breadth behind your seat. This allows room for you to slide your seat backwards. This will give you a 'safe seat'. The ability to do that depends on the length of your stirrup--they must be SHORT." ~ Chris BartleTip/Quote of the Day # 648
You turn your car by turning the wheels on the front axle, not by turning the hood ornament (dating myself here... I know). And similarly, you should turn your horse from his shoulders, not from his nose.
It can be a really tough call sometimes, for sure! Honestly, I think the reason I never gave up on him was because... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Tip/Quote of the Day # 647"If your rein aids are not working it is because your leg aids are not working. Piece by piece fix the response to your leg aids first. Every horse should be able to do a proper turn on the forehand so start there." ~ Yvonne Barteau
Rule quiz! We've all seen the Rolex riders wearing them… so we know they are legal for FEI events. But are ear fly bonnets legal for the Dressage phase of a USEA event? (Click on Quiz Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 645It is commonly taught to wiggle or move the bit when the horse is trying to lean on the rider's hands. But while that makes it less attractive for the horse to lean on the bit, it only covers up the real problem rather than solving it. The only real way to fix it is to solve the cause of the problem, which is to use exercises to rebalance the horse. Tip/Quote of the Day # 644Allow with the reins coming into a drop into water. Holding too much in the last strides can cause the horse to not use his body fully over the fence into the water… which can cause a stumble or fall on landing in the water. Tip/Quote of the Day # 643A sound horse's head does not move in the trot. So if your hands move at all in the trot, you are moving the bit and disturbing the connection from the horse's perspective. Guest Blog post # 52: "The Stuff that Dreams are Made of" by Bill Woods
For most of us life is dictated by routines. They provide structure and order which can translate to comfort. Or, if unchallenged, they can bury you in a rut. Years ago at my first teaching job my rut took me on the two mile drive from home to barn and back three times a day with little variation.
One morning I had to go someplace—I don't even remember where—on an inconsequential errand. And I was shocked to see all the people out and about on the roads doing things. Had anyone asked me beforehand what I expected to see, I'd likely have nailed the answer, but I was surprised anyway. In my rut I'd forgotten to imagine the possibilities.
As riders we have to imagine the possibilities too. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 642 The more you can teach your horse to gallop in balance between fences on cross country, the less you will have to do in front of the jumps. And your horse will also be more likely to remain sound. Galloping long distances out of balance is very punishing on the horse's front legs.Bringing a Horse Back Into Work After Illness or Injury
Bringing a horse back from a long lay off always needs to be done in a thoughtful manner. But when that time off is due to illness or injury, extra care needs to be taken to ensure the horse is not pushed too hard too fast. The last thing you want to do is risk re-injury, or even cause a new one! The key to success is to... (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 641The best reach and push forward through the neck in Dressage comes as a result of the horse's back lifting... much like a bascule over a jump. Photo # 64: This is Brianna!(Click on Photo Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this photo)
There are some who say that balance and impulsion are somewhat contradictory terms… that the more impulsion your horse has, the more he will push himself on the forehand, and out of balance. But this is not really true.
Real impulsion implies balance through engagement - even at the gallop. Impulsion is stored energy created by the desire to go forward, and supported and contained by the carrying power of the "coiled spring" of the hindquarters. We must be very careful to not confuse speed with impulsion. The horse that loses his balance and gets heavy on the front end when he goes faster has more speed, but not real impulsion.
Your thoughts?? Can you explain how you can tell the difference between the horse that has mere speed vs one that has true impulsion when you are watching them on the approach to a jump? (Click on Discussion Title above to read this educational discussion)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 639"Make him proudly independent of you so that he understands his job so well you merely walk the course and then show him the way. Tell your horse what you want him to do, and then allow him to do it." ~ Jimmy WoffordTip/Quote of the Day # 638When riding, always be true in the moment. You need to react to what is actually happening underneath you, rather than you what you are expecting to happen.Tip/Quote of the Day # 637 The more you can teach your horse to gallop in balance between fences on cross country, the less you will have to do in front of the jumps. And your horse will also be more likely to remain sound. Galloping long distances out of balance is very punishing on the horse's front legs.Tip/Quote of the Day # 636The key to a good trot lengthening or medium trot is in the preparation. If you can sufficiently coil the spring of the horse's hindquarters beforehand, the lengthening will happen naturally when you allow it. If you don't have enough stored energy, and have to push to try to get it, that is when the horse will lose rhythm or balance, or break into the canter. Guest Blog post # 51: "One Year Later..." from member Amy Cave, showing just what good care, conditioning, and training can do for a horse's body! One Year Later...
This weekend is Nick's one year anniversary of actual work. Possibley the only year in his almost 20 years, that anything has really been asked of him since his very brief stint as a race horse in 1997. He's taken it all in stride for the most part, (pardon the pun) and even though he can be an emotional red head, he never really says no and means it... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 635Half halts work best when applied within the rhythm of the horse's stride. Tip/Quote of the Day # 634The deeper the water you are landing in at your water jump, the more slowly you must approach the fence into the water.Tip/Quote of the Day # 633"Whenever a horse has learned a new movement or a new aid in its basic form, the rider should give him a break and deliberately ride something else for a few days or weeks. When he returns to the movement, he will notice how much more easily the training will proceed." ~ Reiner KlimkeVideo Discussion # 83: Let's watch this video about schooling the leg yield!What are your thoughts on the quality of the leg yields shown as examples in this video? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
When the horse makes a mistake or misbehaves and you stop him and regroup, you can easily be sending him the wrong message. Stopping and taking a break is often perceived as a reward to the horse. Be careful what you reward.
