It was sheer luck (or providence) that landed me right in the perfect location for horses. Our little farm is not quite at the heart of true South African horse country, which would be the groomed arenas and small paddocks of Kyalami; but with less than an hour's drive to most of the country's major show venues, we're just far enough to have lots of open space, and just near enough to be able to attend shows quite easily. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 521"A horse seeks where it's most comfortable." ~ Ralph HillTip/Quote of the Day # 520Always begin each ride with specific goals for that day. Yet be be flexible, and ready to adapt the plan as necessary - based on what you feel at the moment, and how your horse is performing that day.Tip/Quote of the Day # 519Keep the horse's back up into the halt by riding each step from behind into your hand. Tip/Quote of the Day # 518You have to have an organized plan before you can execute one.Tip/Quote of the Day # 517If you and your horse have been having the same problem for a while, chances are the two of you have developed a set of reactions that serve to trigger each others behavior. You will need to figure out what those are to get past it. Tip/Quote of the Day # 516"If the rider can halt his horse in any lateral movement, so that it stands quietly in the same position, or ride straight forward without hesitation, it is proof that the horse was going well between hands and legs." ~ Borries von OeynhausenTip/Quote of the Day # 515Let the turn into the fence be your half halt.Tip/Quote of the Day # 514From Facebook Fan Clarissa Groesbeek ~ "Your job is to ride to the base of the fence, your horse's job is to jump it."Tip/Quote of the Day # 513Too much repetitive motion has a tendency to inhibit muscle symmetry. Always aim to mix things up in your training (whether horse or human), so that you can develop balanced musculature. Video # 73: This is Jen doing a hunter round!(Click on Video Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video)
If you want your horse to look after himself when jumping, you must allow him to do so in training.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 511Throwing 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 # 510On the turn to each jump, think about riding forward through the turn with your outside aids, to engage your horse outside hind leg, and help him come into a more uphill balance.Guest Blog Post # 45: "The Dark Side visited…and loved" by Jody Jaffe
I knew TBs are smart, but how did my mare find an internet connection in her new run-in shed? We didn’t wire it for that, but she clearly read my blog and decided she wanted to stay a hunter princess wannabe. That is, until her stomach over-ruled her heart and she let me catch her with some grain. But it had been a solid 10 minutes of racing around the pasture, bucking and squealing. Or maybe she was just excited about her trip to a foreign country: Eventingland. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 509Horses that don't find trot lengthenings easy often figure out how to lengthen rather than quicken when asked on an uphill gradient. So if you have a hill that you can work on, do a large figure eight on the side of the hill. Work on half halts and downward transitions down the hill, and lengthenings up the hill.Tip/Quote of the Day # 508The horse shouldn't feel punished for trying to escape the connection, they should just feel unsuccessful.Tip/Quote of the Day # 507Test the horse's balance with a half halt and a test for self carriage before asking for any transition.The Three Point Position
Somewhere in between the two point position and the full Dressage type seat, there is a very useful place to be for riding over jumps. It is known to many as the modified three point position, or the light three point position. The benefits of this position over the two point or the full seated position in certain situations are clear, and will be discussed further in this article. First, let's define the term "Three Point Position." (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 506A tip from Facebook fan Kathi Knox Hammond on the half pass - "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."Discussion # 105: The horse's neck muscles tell the story!You can tell a lot about how correct a horse's frame is by evaluating the way he is using his topline muscles. The muscles in the horse's neck really tell the story, with an area of bulging muscle at the top of the neck behind the poll proving the horse is in a false frame, from being pulled together from front to back. The first picture shows the signs of an incorrect frame, while the one below it shows a horse that is using his neck muscles properly. What else do you notice about the difference between these two pictures? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Unless you're incredibly pigheaded, you don't have to live with your decisions.
That's because you can change them! I have said time and again that a rider's most important character trait is self awareness. Question yourself constantly. When you do something, do it with conviction...then afterwards question yourself some more. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Riders who ride over fences 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!
Good for you for realizing that you are letting this happen! That is more than half the problem! Most of the time riders are not aware of the horse quietly sneaking behind their leg, until they ask for more energy, or a movement like a lengthening, and find... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Tip/Quote of the Day # 501Pay attention to where your whip is pointing when you ride, as that is a good indicator of your hand position.Tip/Quote of the Day # 500The three most important things you should think about to keep your horses sound are: shoeing, footing, and conditioning.Discussion # 104: What is wrong with this rider's lower leg position?Who can tell us what is wrong with this rider's lower leg position? Why is this position a problem? And how can this rider correct this problem? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 499Rather than simply holding in a combination or when riding down a line of jumps, individual half halts performed in time with the horse's stride will be more effective.Jocelyn's Blog Post # 6
What IS Fit?
Right now, I am sitting in a forced time out from riding. The tendons involved in the broken finger I had screwed together last year adhered to the scar tissue and it required surgery to release so I could function normally (I was struggling to hold reins for a sustained period of time without straining muscles in my forearm). Suki, in turn, is also going through a bit of a let down period. In some ways, it's for the better, she did work hard this summer and needs a chance to grow out her hooves. Long story short, her hoof wall got a bit brittle in August and she just would not keep on shoes. We'll hit it hard when I'm cleared to ride again.
The Flying Sausage Returns
(Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 498When you turn your toes out while in a seated position, you tighten the muscles of your seat. Which will inhibit your ability to stay "plugged in" to your horse's back, as it will tend to push you out of the saddle. Tight thighs can have the same effect. Both will also tend to make the horse tighten their back muscles as well.Tip/Quote of the Day # 497The best way to build self confidence is to do what you are afraid to do... one baby step at a time.Tip/Quote of the Day # 496A tip for instructors - Make it a habit to ask your students questions during their lessons. This will help to keep them thinking, improve the accuracy of their feel, and keep them breathing (when they answer you.) It also allows you to more accurately judge where they are at mentally, in terms of their level of feel and understanding.Firn's Blog Post # 3Talent, Trust and Technique
I know exactly what you are talking about... I see this all the time. And this problem has a variety of causes. Usually when horses slip out or take missteps often behind, it is because... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Tip/Quote of the Day # 494“For every effect there is a root cause. Find and address the root cause rather than try to fix the effect, as there is no end to the latter.” ~ Celestine Chua Guest Blog Post # 43: "Coming Out of the Closet - The Plan - Part 3" from the famous Bad Eventer!
Coming Out of the Closet - The Plan - Part 3
When I realized my little knucklehead was terrified of everything, I had to come up with a new plan...
(Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
So many riders struggle with tension in their bodies. Some are quite aware of their tension, and some are not. But it will ALWAYS effect the rider's ability to move with their horse's body in harmony. And it will usually also translate into tension in the horse... which can then easily become an ugly perpetuating circle of tension! So here is an exercise designed to help you become more aware of areas of your body that you may be holding tense or rigid, and will help you to let go of that tension. (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 492When jumping, don't package the canter into a shorter stride than you need for each circumstance.Discussion # 103: Lets talk about the "Dangerous Riding" rule! Lets talk about the "Dangerous Riding" rule! Have you had any personal experience with this issue, or know others who have? What do you think might qualify as Dangerous Riding for some of the different levels of competition? I think this can be kind of a tricky situation, as we are relying on different peoples' opinions to make the decision of what constitutes Dangerous Riding in each individual set of circumstances. What do you think?? Is this rule too subjective to be fair?Tip/Quote of the Day # 491When a horse is equally laterally supple in both directions, it will be evident in the ease of which one is able to perform changes of bend and direction.
