We all know that our horses need to be relaxed to perform well. When they are tense in mind, body, or both - they will tend to be stiff, resistant, distracted, and even disobedient. Tension in the horse will inhibit his ability to learn, and can bring you to an impasse in your training. So if you have tension, you need to have a concrete plan to address the problem, if you are going to move forward in your training.
So how do you get your horse to relax? First examine what makes your horse tense: Is he the type that is so high strung that he is tense all the time? Worried in the barn and in the field, as well as under saddle? Or is he like most horses... in that he has no problems relaxing in general (and may even be quite laid back by nature), but he gets tense under saddle with increased demands?
In other words, if you just stand around on loose reins talking to your friends... does your horse stand quietly, or even go to sleep? Or does he paw and dance around and nervously want to keep moving? Let's call the type of horse that nervously wants to keep moving a Type A horse, and the horse that relaxes when the pressure is off a Type B horse. Read on to find out how to master the paradox of energy vs relaxation for each of those two types of horses... (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 458"The relaxing of the legs and the hands of the rider is the proof of the real collection, and the collection is the poetry of the impulsion." ~ Nuno OliveiraQuestion # 236: I have 2 horses I just signed up to be exercising, both with an issue all of their own. Both I do believe are ottb rescues as well. The first one likes to hop into a canter when we are quietly trotting along, he does this often.....My instinct is to stop them and back a few steps, but don't know if that is the right way to correct this. The other at the canter not only over bends at the poll but wants me to hold him up it seems and twists his head sideways to the same side both directions; if you looked at him from the front it's not vertical but diagonal. So, when I'm on him his ears are to the left and nose to the right with a twisted neck. Loose rein or short, I can only straighten it out by holding left rein up and out and right rein tight and to the neck, but I know this can't be the answer. I was told he's done this since before they had him and was hoping I had a fix with this, too. I figure now at this point to hold his head any other way is probably tiring and soar due to uneven muscle build. Also, informed that he doesn't to this out in the field riderless with the other horses all the time, more like 30% doing and 70% of the time not. Hope you guys have an idea as to how to fix this, or point me to where you've answered it before. Thanks in advance! (Anna)
Hi Anna!
It sounds like both of your horses have a problem with tension! This tension is causing your first horse to be "on the muscle", making him want to run through your hands. And it sounds like the second horse is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Tip/Quote of the Day # 457Always remember that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. And that the distance you will travel between elements in any combination or related distance will change if you are not straight.Tip/Quote of the Day # 456To help your horse move fully through his body, as well as giving him the confidence to truly think forward, you must make sure your hips and lower back are 100% moving with his motion. The bigger your horse moves, the more you must move your hips.Tip/Quote of the Day # 455Many riders have a tendency to "make themselves small" by rounding and somewhat compressing their spine when sitting on a horse. Instead, imagine that you have a hook on the top of your head, lifting you towards the sky… and picture your spine elongating as you stretch up as tall as you are capable of. Tip/Quote of the Day # 454Lots of little changes of frame in your warmup… a little stretching, a little up, and repeat… can help your horse to come more through his body.Question # 235: I'm always raising my outside hand (especially while cantering and on 20m circles) and I have no idea why. I also struggle to find my seat bones and to feel totally connected to the saddle......When I attempt to engage my core I find that I stiffen my whole body and then start to bounce or grip with my knees/thighs to stop from bouncing. Any suggestions how I can find my seat bones more? Lunge work with out sturrips? (Rechele)
Hi Rechele!
Your first question or problem is extremely common! SO many riders go around circles and turns like they are riding a motorcycle instead of a horse! And this causes a collapsed inside hip, a low inside hand, and an outside hand that tends to creep up in the air. Read this article for a full explanation on that subject.
To help you find your seat bones... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Kirsten's Blog Post # 7How Much is Too Much?
So this topic has been on my mind for the past 9 months or so.... Really since I started training both myself and my horse for the classic 3-day: How much is too much? How hard can I push this horse? How high can we jump? How fast can we run? How much distance can we cover? What is "fair"? Just about anyone who knows me and knows how careful I am with this animal can tell you how seriously I took training for this 3-day. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 453
Many horses think walk time is "break" time. If you want to ensure that you get good scores on your walk work, you have to convince your horse otherwise in your daily work.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 452To develop cadence, you must get to the point where your horse is in true self carriage. Tip/Quote of the Day # 451"I often wonder why people think they have to kick and pull a horse who can feel a fly land on his neck." ~ Jimmy WoffordTip/Quote of the Day # 450When we get the feeling that our horse is improving, the color of the ribbon pales in significance.Tip/Quote of the Day # 449Competitions are a test of our progress as horsemen, they are not an end in themselves.Tip/Quote of the Day # 448If your horse is tense in his topline while jumping, he wil likely be slow with his knees and hang his legs. Use judicious flatwork between jumps to encourage him to relax and let go.Tip/Quote of the Day # 447Be careful with jaw flexions. If not ridden forward over the back into the flexion, they create a false frame with no real connection. You might think he is correctly connected because he feels soft in your hand when his jaw is flexed. But true lightness is not in the looseness of the contact, it is in the way the horse moves over the ground.Kirsten's Blog Post # 6
How to Condition a Beast Eventer
Conditioning you say?
So you want to get your beast eventer as fit as possible! You want your draft cross (or other non tb horse) to be fighting fit out there on xc galloping right along with those nimble thoroughbreds! Said thoroughbreds get fit walking to turnout everyday where as you have been consistently riding your beast for MONTHS and find you are still running out of steam on xc... What are you to do?! How do you condition a draft horse? (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 446Turn your horse from the middle of his body by using your seat. And use both reins together to turn him from his shoulders. Turning with the inside rein only turns his nose, leaving the rest of his body to derail.Question # 234: I recently acquired a 6 year old OTTB that was severely neglected and abused. :( Although he is remarkably improved both physically and mentally, he still has aggressive tendencies towards me......When I first got him, you could not touch him past his wither without him pinning his ears and swinging his haunches over to try and kick me. I've done a lot of exercises with him with a halter and lead to get him to respect my space. Some days are better than others at this point, but we still have trouble when currying. I use very soft brushes now and a soft rubber curry comb as well and he definitely likes it better, but when asked to move over or when I brush/curry his haunches, he sometimes pins his ears and tries to kick. This is all done while in cross ties... He is also aggressive during feeding time with me when I go into his pen to give him his supplements. He pins his ears and tries to charge at me. I don't want him to disrespect me and I don't want him to fear me either. Have you ever had any experience with this type of behavior before? I would love any and all advice you have? (Kealy)
Hi Kealy!
First off, good for you for taking on a rescue horse! Unfortunately, horses that haven't been treated well at some point in their life tend to carry those scars with them for a very long time. And while he will likely get better and better as you develop your relationship with him, you will probably always see signs of his past in his behavior. I would recommend that you read this article on the horse/rider relationship, and apply everything you read there to... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)An Exercise to Test the Foundation of Your Jumping (Current Freebie!)
Have you ever noticed how some horse and rider combinations are just so smooth that almost every jump looks the same? They seem to take every jump right in their stride, and appear to be in perfect harmony. The reason these riders are capable of performing so fluidly is because they have a solid base or foundation of jumping skills. How solid is your jumping foundation? Here is a simple test to find out... (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
I actually see this happen a lot to some degree. Either the horse is afraid of the whip, or the horse is annoyed by the whip, and acts out or threatens the rider when they think about using it. In both cases, (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Tip/Quote of the Day # 444The stirrup bar placement on your saddle can make or break your position. Make sure you choose a saddle that will allow you to be in balance. Discussion # 99: Balance or grip over fences, which works better and why??It is very educational to be able to compare the specific details of different horses and riders who are at exactly the same point over a jump. Both are obviously great riders, but these two riders have very different styles and positions. Because the first rider's center of gravity is so far ahead of his feet, that iron strong knee grip is necessary to keep him secure. And the second rider is in such a good balance that they could completely relax their leg and be just fine. Balance vs grip, as a means to staying on a horse, are the two options we have. Which one is better or more reliable in each of the three phases of Eventing? And why? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 443Remember that whatever you are used to usually feels right to you. You will often have to step out of your comfort zone if you wish to improve.Tip/Quote of the Day # 442Self carriage is not just for Dressage! Your horse should carry himself as much as possible in all three phases! Never attempt to hold your horse up!Tip/Quote of the Day # 441"The rider has to do something. The horse must not only understand what you want. He has to feel motivated to take you up on your offer. You can sit there all day and dangle your hook in the water, but if your horse isn’t interested, you’re going to come up empty, fish-wise." ~ Bill WoodsTip/Quote of the Day # 440Lateral work is most beneficial when the horse stays relaxed in its body. It is not generally a good idea to "push through" a movement with tension present. It's a much better idea to come out of it, circle, improve your connection, and start again.Guest Blog Post # 42: "I'm Melting!" by the great Bill Woods!
It's 20 years ago. I "sort of " know how to ride. (At that point I'd already been doing it for almost 30 years and ridden I-1.) I'm having a lesson with Maj. Lindgren. The horse—a lower level one—is on a 20 meter circle. The horse is going forward. His outline is round. The circle is accurate. But Lindgren keeps shouting, "He is not through. Push him through!" Not much changes because, honestly, I don't really understand what he means.
So now, years later, the worm has turned. It's my time to explain the inexplicable—to put physical sensation and mental connections into terms not so generic or esoteric that I'm doing nothing more than talking to myself. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 439“A good hand is the one that can resist and yield when necessary and receive with precision the action created by the legs.” ~ Salomon de la BroueDiscussion # 98: Let's talk about the "electric butt" syndrome!Let's talk about the "electric butt" syndrome! You've probably seen some riders (or maybe it's you!) who always seem to make their horses hot or strong. This type of rider can usually produce great results when riding the lazy type, but is often not a good match for the horse that already wants to be hot. What do you think it is exactly that this type of rider is doing to cause the horse to feel like they are being constantly driven forward? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)Tip/Quote of the Day # 438Always sit the trot for a least a few strides before asking for a transition to canter or walk.An Exercise to Increase Pushing Power Behind, and Improve the Quality of Your Lengthened, Medium, and Extended Gaits
A variation or extension of the "walk two steps and trot again exercise", this exercise is a great way to improve pushing power behind - and will therefore improve the quality of your lengthened, medium, and extended gaits. And since it teaches the horse to stay "sitting" on his hocks as he increases his push, he learns how to keep a more uphill balance when he moves more powerfully. Which will lead to more quality collection afterwards. Read on to find out how to do it! (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 437Work on a horse and that horse gets better. Work on yourself and all your horses get better.Question # 232: My OTTB has trouble with anxiety, grabs the bit and makes upward transitions on his own. When is it appropriate to change bits? (Anonymous) It can be so hard to know when it is appropriate to move to a different bit, or when the problem is more of a training issue! Read this article for a full description of which horses tend to do better with more bit, and which type of horse can become even more anxious and difficult to ride with more bit. Since you say your horse is the anxious type, I would say that it sounds like he is likely the second type mentioned in that article: (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Tip/Quote of the Day # 436"His mouth foams, plays with the bit, and the beauty of his position shows that he is proud of himself under his rider. And this is the concept of the true rein contact; it is based on the previously achieved balance which relieves the forehand so much that the hand feels merely a steady, regular and light contact with the mouth." ~ Borries v.OeynhausenTip/Quote of the Day # 435"School figures should not be regarded as an end in themselves but rather as a stage in a particular aim, that of control of the horse. Initially, they will be practiced in the school but an early opportunity should be taken to perform them outside so that the rider may learn to cope with extraneous influences which can distract his horse and prevent it concentrating (for example, his horse not wanting to leave its stable or move away from other horses." ~ W. MuesslerPhoto # 62: This is Rachel!(Click on Photo Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this photo)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 434"If a horse becomes more beautiful in the course of his work, it is a sign that the training principles are correct." ~ Colonel PodhajskyTip/Quote of the Day # 433If you are riding with short stirrups in a saddle that was not really designed for shorter stirrups (i.e. an all purpose saddle), you will usually find that your leg gets pushed backwards when landing over fences.Photo # 61: Melanie would like a conformation critique for her horse!(Click on Photo Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this photo)
It is hard for me to say for sure about whether your speed is too fast without seeing you go... is there any chance you can send a short video? I will say that every horse has a certain "lick" that they jump the best out of, and if your horse is on the small side, or has a fairly short stride, he may need that little extra speed to be at his most comfortable jumping courses. With each individual horse, you want to find the pace where you feel like your courses just flow nicely, and where you meet more jumps than not right out of your stride. Even if it looks a bit different from some of the other horses. Read this article on that subject.
If we are just talking about confidence, with your horse having more of a tendency to refuse when you approach the jumps more slowly, then you need to... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)
This is a really common problem! A defensive rider carries around the mental baggage of bad things that have happened in the past, and has a hard time letting go of it - and just riding the horse they are on at the moment. It is perfectly natural for a rider to remember a bad experience, and to have it affect their riding to some degree. But it can paralyze your capacity to ride to the best of your ability. And there are some things you can do to help overcome this problem! (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Tip/Quote of the Day # 430"The relaxing of the legs and the hands of the rider is the proof of the real collection, and the collection is the poetry of the impulsion." ~ Nuno OliveiraPhoto # 60: This is Suzanne on her trainer's Dutch Warmblood Quarter Pony cross!(Click on Photo Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this photo)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 429When the rider leans back and pulls on the reins like a waterskier, the horse usually obliges and becomes the motorboat... dragging the rider around by the reins.Jocelyn's Blog Post # 4
You Know How to Trot, Don't you?
Recently, I found myself cantering sideways, downhill, looking into a gnarled patch of brush creeping closer by the moment. In the background, I could hear Denny yelling at me, in that thought piercing, instant tone that anyone who has ridden with him knows. Good thing, too, because he was getting further and further away. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 428Check for self carriage often throughout your work. Each time you do, you will get clear and accurate feedback as to whether or not your horse is carrying himself properly.
