This is hard for me to say for sure without watching you and your horse go... but what I will say is that... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Tip/Quote of the Day # 597“Most horses are either slightly lazy or crazy. We hope to find one that is somewhere in the middle.” ~ William Fox PittTip/Quote of the Day # 596
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.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 595“Often people think that the easy way of stopping the horse from charging is by putting on the handbreak — and that’s actually the cause in the first place." ~ Harry MeadeTip/Quote of the Day # 594From Facebook fan Elizabeth Owens ~ "I finally realized that my horse's lead issues were due to the fact that I sit crooked. It's rarely the horse's fault... look to the rider's faults first."Brianna's Blog Post # 10
Riding With Fear
(Molly and I when I would hold on with everything, even my toes ;D)
I was raised right in the sense that I, like many others, had the privilege of owning a pony. My adoring little pony was a gift from my late grandfather. Not only was my pony a mare, but she was a fury red mare. She was devilish and her lessons were brutal but it seems I still enjoy riding so her lessons were not enough to drive me away. Molly was and still is that cruel teacher that snarls and states “grow up or get out”. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 593Because one hind foot is always in the air in the trot, it is harder for a horse to refuse a jump from a trot approach vs a canter approach. So it can be a good idea to trot into a spooky fence that you think your horse might want to stop at. Just make sure you keep riding that trot until your horse is safely in the air.Video Discussion # 82: What causes this horse to "drop" his hind end after landing in the water twice in a row?Let's watch this horse go through two different water complexes. Watch how he loses his hind end upon landing after both drops into the water. What do you think causes this problem? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 591Focusing on carrying your head correctly will correct most posture bad habits.Video Discussion # 81: Top British Eventer Harry Meade talks about creating the right canter for Show JumpingHarry Meade makes some great points about finding the right canter for Show Jumping. At first I thought he was saying that the horse was the one doing the stalling in the corner on the approach... but after thinking about it, I think he is really just talking about the rider taking back and shutting the engine down a bit. Which usually does cause the hot horse to charge at the fence after coming out of the corner on the approach. Can anyone relate to this? If you ride a horse that tends to rush or charge to the jumps, do you think you may have a habit of taking back or holding too much through the corners? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to watch video, and read this educational discussion) Tip/Quote of the Day # 590If you have jump poles with stripes on them, make sure you take advantage of them, by practicing jumping or stepping accurately over the middle stripe.Caroline's Blog Post # 2: Patience is Key
So it’s currently February 7th and I am taking one of my first days off weekends off in MONTHS. I haven’t been a good blogger because I’ve been so wrapped up in working, teaching, riding and planning for 2015 that I haven’t had a moment to stop and think about how to form a coherent thought for a blog. My apologies!
Now – what exactly have I learned that’s worth sharing from the past few months? Phew, where to start? (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 589As you are about to come down the center line in your Dressage test, briefly think about something that you know will make you smile. You and your horse will both relax, which will make for a happier performance. The judge will see the difference!Tip/Quote of the Day # 588“Horses can get deep to a single pole [without a groundline] and learn to do a slithery jump, like they need to at a coffin.” ~ Andrew NicholsonTip/Quote of the Day # 587From Facebook fan Jim Collins ~ "Often the simplest exercise is the most profound."Firn's Blog Post # 10Two Levels of Trust
What defines the relationship between horse and rider if not trust? What else is more striven for and more desired in horsemanship than the trust of our equine partners? What is the key to success, if not trust? (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 586We incorporate circles into our training to promote suppleness and improved balance in the horse. But if our circles are oddly shaped, they will not improve the horse's suppleness, and will instead unbalance the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 585Your arm position determines your hand position to a large degree. So you must address your arms as well when you want to improve your hands.Discussion # 111: "Symmetrical" is a good word to think about when riding...Symmetrical is a good word to think about when riding... Are you sitting on the horse in a symmetrical way? Are your hands and legs symmetrical when in their "home" positions? Do you ride your figures in a symmetrical way? Do you do plan your exercises in such a way to help your horse to become more symmetrical? What other examples can you think of, that we should be thinking about in terms of symmetry when riding? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
I purchased my first saddle completely unsupervised. That is to say, I picked out a saddle from a sales catalog that I could afford and in a shade of brown that I was partial to. I was utterly clueless, and this became the first in a long line of saddles that I would own, and the rocky start of my saddle education. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Having just moved to CA from the east coast, I was quite excited to learn that Mark Todd was coming to do a clinic here! Along with many others, I presume, Mark has always been one of my riding idols. He is no doubt one of the best and most classic Event riders of all time, and is definitely a master of cross country riding! So I was up before dawn to make the 4 hour drive to Fresno, to make sure I didn't miss any of it! Here's the recap: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 582Open fingers do not equal soft hands. Soft hands come from relaxed following elbows, and a secure balanced seat. Open fingers causes the contact to be inconsistent and uninviting to the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 581"When selecting a French Link snaffle ensure the middle link is not too long, and that the holes are big enough for the bit to move freely – this will ensure your horse is comfortable in the contact." ~ Robert DoverTip/Quote of the Day # 580"Sometimes to foster a horse’s personality also means to accept that we can influence but never dominate him. We have to find subtle ways to control exuberant horses." ~ Ingrid KlimkeFirn's Blog post # 9Horses Just Wanna Have Fun
The horses and I have at last escaped the purgatory of forced rest and we have fervently gone back to work, especially Arwen. If we're going to survive our first graded event this year, we've got some work to do... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 579Horses and riders should both be comfortable jumping a single, simple fence that is the size of one level above where they are currently competing. Tip/Quote of the Day # 578"If you want to hear something profound, practice being a profoundly good listener." ~ Suzanne JohnsonTip/Quote of the Day # 577“Each use of the hand has to be preceded by an action of the upper body, otherwise the rider is merely influencing the horse’s head.” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 576Don't forget your outside leg in the circle of bending aids.Tip/Quote of the Day # 575Shoulder 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 # 574"Only the rider who is free from any contraction will have a horse equally free from contraction. A team such as this is the ideal” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 573The horse should be just as much "on the aids" in the stretching frame as he is in a working frame. Firn's Blog Post # 8The Dangers of Overfeeding
As an apprentice horse trainer, I've come to the conclusion that one of the most overlooked but also extremely dangerous things we can ever do is overfeed and underwork our horses... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 572Remember that you don't "push" your horse anywhere… you give him signals.Stop Your Habit of Pulling the Inside Rein!
Everyone knows that pulling or hanging on the inside rein is bad. It causes all sorts of problems! In addition to blocking the inside hind leg from stepping properly underneath the horse's body, pulling on the inside rein will cause horses to brace against the rider's hand, tilt their heads, pop their outside shoulder, and become crooked and heavy on the forehand. But is telling you why you shouldn't pull the inside rein really enough? No, it isn't!
Remember that the way the human brain works, (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 571"Good riders forget about the bad things. Inexperienced riders think mostly about the bad things. There are many roads to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same from the top." ~ Kyra KyrklundTip/Quote of the Day # 570From Facebook fan Jennifer McGinley ~ "I'm realizing this concept more and more recently. If you establish the canter you need (balanced, adjustable) and keep the horse on his feet. Your horse can jump from anywhere. We are learning that you can actually ride forward and powerful to the base. If the set up is right, they can jump from anywhere, safely, with balance and still remain adjustable on landing to set up for B & C elements!"Video Discussion # 80: This video shows a good exercise to work on to improve the quality of your canter when jumping!This video shows a good exercise to work on to improve the quality of your canter when jumping! What do you think about this exercise? How do you think working on this might help you improve your show jumping rounds?
Much like the way the horse is "in front of your leg" when he is responsive and thinking forward, he also needs to be "in front of" your inside leg to be responsive and bending properly.
Let's have a discussion about this quote: "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
It seems that the US is a country (and really the only country) divided between the two mindsets - on whether the rider needs to pick the jumping takeoff spots for the horse... or if the rider should set the horse up properly, and then let them do their job. So many of the most successful trainers outside of the US have spoken up boldly about this concept, yet it seems many do seem to not listen to it, or believe in it.
Think about it.. If we squelch our horses' very natural instincts to look after themselves when we are training, what is going to happen to us when we are out on cross country, and we eventually make a mistake (which is inevitable)? That horse, having had the initiative trained right out of him, has a much greater risk of hitting a jump or even having a rotational fall.
Putting it another way… if YOU were about to go running and jumping over hurdles, would you want someone else having control of your striding and footwork? Or would you be safer if you watched the jumps yourself and took care of your own feet? Your thoughts?? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Unless you answer to "Nuno" or "Willi" (where the W is pronounced like a V) when you train, you really need reference points. If your internal gyroscope is so finely tuned that any deviation from perfect balance is immediately detected, disregard everything which follows.... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 565The intensity of your half halt is about the strength of your seat and core, and the push into the connection... not the amount of pull on the reins.
