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.
We have sadly arrived at a point in time where many of us read the latest Event recap with as much trepidation as curiosity. With so many horse and rider deaths happening in the sport, many are naturally calling for changes... But changes will only be effectual if we can identify the true cause of the problems! (Click on Article Title above to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 631Rigidity in the rein connection, caused by the horse or rider bracing against the contact, will always result in tension in the horse's body. And the reverse is very true as well. If the horse is tight in the body, he will tend to brace against your hand. Tip/Quote of the Day # 630"Our job is to prepare the line and canter, then ride forward to the jump. Riding forward to the jump is NOT accelerating to the jump. There is a difference. When riders got to a longer or shorter distance than ideal, the emphasis is on the rider staying in the moment and conveying confidence to the horse." ~ William Fox PittTip/Quote of the Day # 629Make sure that your flash or figure eight noseband is not restricting your horse's breathing! There should be at least four fingers of room between the bottom strap and your horses nostril, otherwise you ARE at risk for restricting your horse's breathing! This photo shows a flash that is way too low. To fix this situation, the noseband itself needs to be higher and possibly a bit tighter. Then the flash attachment will sit correctly.
Horses as a species tend to be afraid... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 628A correct connection involves the horse's entire spinal column, including the neck vertebrae stretching forward into that connection. Discussion # 116: How would you ride this type of cross country jump?This is an old fashioned "elephant trap" fence. Who can tell us how to ride to this type of jump? What kind of canter do you want here? And at what speed should your approach be? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
There are two schools of thought on this subject… what do you think? Does a horse need to be fully on the aids before there is a benefit to performing lateral work? Or can lateral work help to put the horse on the aids? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
It can sure be a challenge with some horses, to keep them as careful at the plain looking jumps! Here are a few tips: (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Tip/Quote of the Day # 625“You need to produce a walk. So work at the walk as well as the trot and canter. Get a good feeling of the body working in the walk. The walk is a mirror of the training of the horse.” ~ Christoph HessDiscussion # 112: Look at the visual challenge presented by this green show jumping fence which aims the horse directly into the green seats of the grandstand. Look at the visual challenge presented by this green show jumping fence which aims horse and rider directly into the green seats of the grandstand. This can easily make it hard for the horse to judge the fence in front of him. What could you do to best help your horse see and focus on this fence on the approach? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 624The more complex the movements, the more the basic foundation is tested.Tip/Quote of the Day # 623“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 # 622“The distance does not matter. What matters is that you don’t fall forward over their necks or backwards off their a#$@# when you get there.” ~ William Fox PittFirn's Blog post # 12: On Independent Jumping
I can always tell how well a lesson is going by the mobility of the Horse Mutterer while he's teaching. Not being one of those instructors that run after you yelling (I'm guilty), he prefers to find himself a comfy spot next to the arena and give you instructions as you come by. And if he trusts whoever he's teaching that's how he'll conduct the lesson. It's not to everyone's taste, but it does make for a much lower-adrenaline environment when you don't have someone screaming from the centreline every thirty seconds. Just a quiet, "At the next corner, canter, and be careful to keep your wrists straight". (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
"Regularly practice jumping gymnastics on a long or loose rein and remind your horse that he needs to, in Eric Smiley's lovely phrase, 'take ownership of the fence.'" ~ Jimmy Wofford
Tip/Quote of the Day # 619“Riders use the spur instead of the calf of the leg. This is wrong. As trainers and judges, we need to encourage putting the rider in front of the leg, NOT the spur.” ~ Christoph HessTip/Quote of the Day # 620
“The less you do, the more will go right.” ~ Nuno Oliveira
Tip/Quote of the Day # 618"Only allow horse to stretch after the horse is off forehand" ~ KlimkeTip/Quote of the Day # 617"The less we do on cross country- the easier we are on our horses, learn how to be more still, touch their mouth only when you need too, plan your turns. The lighter we are with them galloping over few fences we save their bodies and legs." ~ William Fox PittTip/Quote of the Day # 616Overbending the neck is especially problematic in lateral work, as it causes the horse to displace their weight to the outside. Tip/Quote of the Day # 615Always be aware of the fact that any movement of your hands is more apparent to the judges if you wear white gloves.Guest Blog post # 49: "More Classical Baggage" by Bill Woods
Here’s a post I stole off one of the ubiquitous Classical Dressage message board on Facebook: My young horse was trotting nicely, enthusiastically on a chilly winter day. Suddenly he dropped a shoulder and started bucking. What should I have done?
Well, given where the question was displayed, can you guess what readers offered as answers? (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 614“Banging the horse’s sides with the ankles, especially in the sitting trot will certainly disturb the horse’s gait.” ~ Nuno Oliveira
