This very basic exercise will help to show you if you are in an independently balanced and secure position as a rider, as well as whether or not your horse is balanced and in self carriage at the canter. It also has the added benefit of encouraging the horse to let go of any tension that he might be carrying in his back. Here's how to do it: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
This is a very common problem for riders to have in varying degrees. Some horses (such as yours) always seem to be looking for that fifth leg (your hands) to lean on for balance and support... and others just have minor instances of this problem during difficult movements and temporary moments of loss of balance. Your horse needs to learn to respond to half halts correctly, so that he can carry himself, instead of trying to use you for support. (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Tip/Quote of the Day # 169"Impulsion has nothing to do with speed. Impulsion begins by the mind of the horse, not by his legs," ~ OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 168"When I do a half-halt, I try to bring the weight of my horse on his behind (his back), in this way I can set free the front of the horse and so I can feel him more soft in my hands, while he is staying in the contact. After the half-halt, he should be able to carry himself more easily. He may have more self carriage and be more uphill.” ~ Arianna PetronciniGuest Blog Post # 31: "If I Tell You, I'll Have to Kill You!" by the great Bill Woods!If I Tell You, I'll Have to Kill You!
We tread a fine line as instructors. Not unlike how husbands learn to answer the "Does this dress make me look fat?" question, we must learn to speak the truth to our students but not so much truth that they slit their throats or vow never to ride again. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Tip/Quote of the Day # 167Ride the horse you are on at the moment. Don't be suckered into bringing along yesterday's baggage on today's ride. Shannon's Blog Post # 8
Learning To Sit (the trot, on the couch, or the beach or wherever else you might be)
I've been a big follower of Denny Emerson's page on Facebook for the last year, and one post really hit home for me a few months ago, about learning to sit the trot. You know what his advice was? (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Riders instinctively pull back on the reins when they feel their horse becoming strong or heavy. And instead of fixing the problem, pulling back actually invites the horse into a game of tug of war. Riders need to learn to resist against their horse in this situation, instead of pulling. But the problem is, many riders think they are resisting rather than pulling, when in fact they are pulling on their horse's mouth. Here is a quick little exercise that will show you whether or not you are pulling against your horse - and it will show you the difference in what it feels like to resist vs pulling: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
At all levels I think the top priorities for boots are that they fit well, stay firmly in place no matter what, and do not cause rub marks on the horse's legs. The one feature that becomes more important as you move up the levels with the increased level of speed is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Tip/Quote of the Day # 164"A little practical hint for the aids in lateral movements and turns: If you want to move the horse’s shoulders sideways, you can picture the face of a clock, and move your belly button like the hand of a clock in the direction in which you want to turn the shoulder. For instance, in the shoulder-in right, your belly button points towards 1 o’clock, or 2 o’clock, if you want to ride with a steeper angle. In the shoulder-in left, your belly button points towards 11 o’clock, or 10 o’clock, if you want to achieve a steeper angle. If you point your belly button back towards 12, you end the lateral movement and ride straight ahead. If you want to move the haunches laterally, you move your tailbone in the direction in which you want the horse’s tail to point. In the haunches-in right, you turn your tailbone towards 5 o’clock or 4 o’clock. In the haunches-in left, you point your tailbone towards 7 or 8 o’clock. To end the lateral movement, the tailbone moves back towards 6 o’clock. You can find more on this in my arena gps smartphone app, which is due out very soon." ~ Thomas RitterVideo # 59: This is Rachel doing her Beginner Novice Dressage test!I have never had a regular, good dressage instructor, so I know my flat work leaves a lot of room for improvement. I HAVE had dressage lessons before, but it seems to me a lot of dressage instructors sort of "speak the vernacular" instead of actually coaching. For example, they will say "Your horse is bracing against your reins and breaking at the poll incorrectly", which is something I can FEEL, but I don't get any explanation on how to fix that. I can also feel that my horse tends to bend his neck, but not really through his rib cage and around his body. I try to use lots of inside leg to get him to bend, but it doesn't always work. Do you have any suggestions on how to fix that? I have ridden in spurs before, but I feel like riding in spurs is a "band aid" to that sort of problem and not a permanent fix. (Rachel)
(Click on Video Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 163"To ride a good corner in a test one must sit in balance and make sure that the diagonal aids (outside hand and inside leg) are working effectively together." ~ Ingrid KlimkeDiscussion # 80: Who can tell us why it is so important to ride with our thumbs on top?Who can tell us why it is so important to ride with our hands in the position with our thumbs on top? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)Tip/Quote of the Day # 162Core strength is a key factor in good riding, as it is with most athletic endeavors. Tip/Quote of the Day # 161When training a spooky or green horse over fences, keep all new or odd looking fences quite small at first. This way you can make sure that there will be no refusals. If he spooks at it, you can just walk over it. When you train a young horse with the mentality that he is going to go over a strange fence the first time he sees it, even if he has to crawl over it - he will come into each fence knowing that he must figure out how to get to the other side, and that there is no other option.Tip/Quote of the Day # 160Create good habits right off the bat with the young horse that is just learning how to jump, by using rails on the ground on both sides to form a visual chute for any gymnastic line or gridwork. With less steering needed from his rider, he will be more free to focus on his footwork, and learning how to use his body over the jumps.Tip/Quote of the Day # 159Many horses attempt to avoid bending in their bodies by stepping to the outside with their outside hind leg. Be on the lookout for this, and keep that outside hind leg under control to make sure the horse truly bends in the ribcage. Tip/Quote of the Day # 158Control the tone of the voice in your head when you are riding, as if it becomes irritated or harsh, your horse will feel it and become tense. If it becomes timid or uncertain, your horse will feel that and may either become timid and uncertain himself, or he may take advantage of you and take over. No voice in your head at all? That's a problem too! Be a thinking rider!Question # 160: In the last week my horse has started to 'lean' on the left rein going both directions, it feels like he is fighting me. He will bend both ways and I still feel the weight he puts on the rein. What can I do to fix this problem? (Beca) Hi Beca!
When you say this just started in the last week, my first thought is that your horse is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)The Responsibility Exercise
Your horse will never truly be in self carriage if you are giving constant aids. You must train him to take the responsibility to maintain the gait or movement that you put him in with minimal input from you. It must become a state of mind for your horse - that he truly understands that he has this responsibility... or it is not likely to happen. Here's how to teach him: (Click on Article Title above to read full article)
I am concerned about my position going over solid xc fences. In the first picture, I feel like I am too far forward - my shoulders are further forward than my knees and it kind of looks like I am laying on his neck. But then in the second picture, it looks as if I am already lightly sitting in the saddle mid jump. So then that leads me to think that if my shoulders were farther back during the take off, I would have ended up getting left way behind and pulling on his face mid jump? (Rachel)
(Click on Photo Title above (in blue) to read the critique of these photos)
Saddles are such a personal thing! And I am a big believer in quality, and that you get what you pay for. So, with that in mind I would recommend that you... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Video # 58: This is Catherine again!This is a stadium and cross country. You have already given me good feedback on my stadium jumping so you can skip that part. Except I have a question about the second fence: As you’ll see, I missed the lead change after the first jump and headed Cisco for the wrong jump (thank God they number them). If I had been in a recognized show, would we have been eliminated for crossing our track? What is the rule about that? (Catherine)
(Click on Video Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 155"Major improvements take time. They don’t happen overnight. If you make a commitment to learning something new every day, getting just a little bit better every day, then eventually – over time – you will reach your goals." ~ Jack CanfieldTip/Quote of the Day # 154The more freedom you can give your horse when performing, the more brilliance he will be able to show.Tip/Quote of the Day # 153"If you’re a typical goal-directed, Type A personality kind of rider, it’s easy to over- focus on short-term goals and over-school the movements your next test calls for. Yes, it is OK for your main concern to be where your horse is in the moment, but you can get so wound up in the “now” that you neglect the bigger picture of your horse’s overall physical and mental well-being." ~ Bill WoodsGuest Blog post # 30: "Pro and Con Tact" from the great Bill Woods!
Pro and Con Tact
Picture the friendly cop on the beat strolling along the sidewalk, nodding to shopkeepers, and twirling his night stick as he oversees his neighborhood.
Alternatively, imagine a not so friendly policeman slapping his nightstick into the palm of his hand and rousting out vagrants loitering in doorways or trying to catch a nap on a park bench. Two very different relationships—each representing the way your horse can interpret the concept of contact. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 152An oldie, but a goodie ~ "If you always do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten."
Don't keep doing the same thing over and over. If something is not working, try something else.Tip/Quote of the Day # 151When softening the reins, it is common to mistakenly and unconsciously lean forward at the same time. Avoid this problem by thinking about pushing yourself away from your hands as you give the reins.An Exercise to Teach Your Horse Not to Anticipate When Jumping
Does your horse think he knows it all when you are jumping? Does he have strong ideas about where he will go on the landing, and how fast? Teach him that he really doesn't know what he is going to be doing on the landing side of the fence, with this very simple exercise, and he will pay more attention to you on both sides of the fence. (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Horses are amazingly adaptive! It is definitely not "absolutely necesary" to blanket horses in cold weather. As long as they are healthy and well fed, horses will adapt and grow a nice thick winter coat. Which will give them the ability to thermoregulate and adapt to constantly changing temperatures. Blanketing and clipping completely prevent the horse from being able to use their coats for that purpose. Once you do either, you must be diligent about changing blankets as the temperature changes, to make sure the horse is comfortable.
The question of whether or not to blanket will usually depend on... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Tip/Quote of the Day # 150Always be ready to stop jumping and do a few minutes of flatwork when you run into a problem. Good flatwork will fix most jumping problems. Video # 57: This is Kate schooling cross country!(Click on Video Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video)
Tip/Quote of the Day # 149"When you are galloping cross country, there has got to be a give in your position." ~ William Fox Pitt
So make sure you always have some bend in your hips, knees, and ankles - these are your shock absorbers.Question # 157: What do you think about flocking a saddle to account for rider or horse "unevenness"? (Current freebie!)After a lesson or riding session, my saddle always slips right and my right leg hangs longer than the left. Not sure if it is due from my physical left side weakness or if it is from the way my horse goes. My saddle fitter flocked both my jump and dressage saddles higher / firmer on the right to help keep me level. It does seem to help, but I am concerned whether this will be harmful to my horse. Slipping right can't be good for my horse but what about building up the saddle like this? Any suggestions? (Julie)
Hi Julie!
This is a great question! And one that I have often wondered about myself! Since this is not really my area of expertise, I have asked my friends and Master craftsmen David Stackhouse and Lesley Ellis of the esteemed Stackhouse Saddlery (http://stackhousesaddles.com) for their professional opinion on this subject. Here is their response: (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Tip/Quote of the Day # 148It can be very helpful to keep a journal of your daily rides, and especially lessons. As soon as you get done riding, write down a few notes of things you learned that day, while it is still fresh in your mind. You will then be able to look back on it, and make better use of everything you have learned. Tip/Quote of the Day # 147A running martingale that fits correctly does not come into play unless the horse tosses its head. It should not be used to keep the horse's head down.Tip/Quote of the Day # 146If you are going to make a mistake when jumping, make it coming forward, not pulling back.Tip/Quote of the Day # 145An automatic release over jumps ensures precise yet subtle communication between horse and rider even in the air over the jump - but is especially benefical upon landing. Question # 156: Can you tell us the difference between free walk and extended walk? And the difference between medium trot and extended trot? Thanks (Kelly) Hi Kelly!
Well as you know, the free walk involves the horse stretching down and forward with his head and neck, marching with a longer stride and a clear overstep, but in a clear and even rhythm. The extended walk... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Question # 155: My daughter has just moved up to Novice, and I realize that crisp halts are now important. Her horse had a injury to a back foot several years ago. Now when she halts at the end of her test, the horse tries to cock his foot up leaving a sloppy halt. When you start to halt, should you be "feeling" for which leg is stepping under neath to give the cue for a halt? (Lynette)
Hi Lynette!
If the horse is sound, I doubt that his previous injury has anything to do with this tendency. Most horses have a lazier or weaker hind leg, and the halt is often a consistent place for this to show up. It is common for the horse to halt with the lazier hind leg "out behind" him... and that may or may not involve resting or cocking that foot up as well. To correct this tendency, you need to focus on activating that lazy hind leg! Here's how: (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Tip/Quote of the Day # 144Horses that carry tension in their bodies are much more likely to be spooky, resistant, and disobedient. Use suppling exercises to help dissolve that tension.Video # 56: This is Taren schooling cross country!(Click on Video Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video)
