Question # 135: I have been having an issue with my lesson jumper horse. He's about 12 years old, been doing this job for a while now. I also ride him for tune up rides and when I need to feel what he does so I can better explain to students what they should be doing. He normally is a great jumper! Very honest and has great scope. (sometimes too much) What the issue is that he tends to switch leads in front of jumps. Not all of them, it's quite random actually. I know switching leads isn't that big of a deal, but what he does is shuffle right where he should be taking off, then taking a short spot and jumping you out of the saddle. I have had good luck pushing for the whole stride, because if he doesn't come at the fence forward, then its more likely he will do this. 8x out of 10, he will find a good spot without shuffling if you can actively drive him forward and take the right spot, but the other 2x he will take the strange step that can end up him jumping from an almost standstill and popping you out of the tack. What exercises would you suggest for me work on to help this? Thanks! (Laura)
Hi Laura!
The first thing that comes to my mind is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Discussion # 67: While I have taken lessons from many different Eventing trainers in my life, there were two that have had the greatest influence on my riding, and my career. And these two have very different philosophies on how to best prepare horses and riders for the stress of competition. One would keep things fairly simple and within the rider's comfort zone in the final jumping schools, to keep horse and rider full of confidence. With this method, both horse and rider feel success with every exercise, which inspires confidence. The other trainer's method was to really push horse and rider in the final jumping lessons, with jumps even larger than those the rider will face in competition. And challenging them by doing difficult exercises that push them slightly out of their comfort zone. With this approach, both horse and rider get to the competiton and feel like the jumps they will have to tackle are almost easycompared to what they have been doing at home. Which approach do you like best and why? - Bonus points if you can guess who these two trainers are :) (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to join in on this discussion)Question # 134: I have several students that are fairly soft and fluid on the flat, but as soon as you put a pole in front of them they tense up and therefore lose their ability to balance. Any specific exercises to help with this problem? (Anonymous) This is quite common, especially with adult beginners who are just learning to ride! Usually the rider whose balance is a bit precarious to begin with, gets jostled around when the horse steps over a pole or a small jump. And they therefore get tense when approaching the next one. Which of course makes it even harder for them to stay with the horse's motion, and so continues the vicious circle... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Guest Blog post # 25: "Adventures with Lucinda Green" by Amy Wright
"Over the barrels, through the two angled jumps, hard right then up the blue skinny, bend right to the skinny in the middle and then quick left to the other skinny then back down over the oxer to the other set of angled jumps...” or it was something like that. Riding in a Lucinda Green clinic is a little bit like playing with one of those wooden labyrinths that tips too and from, but you are on horseback, hoping that neither you nor your horse falls through one of the holes... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
It's great that you recognize that your horse is lengthening his stride a few strides out. That is half the battle! Many riders are unaware of this happening. Most of the time when this happens, it is due to... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Video # 39: This is Kayla and her lovely mare again! This time working on a gymnastic line.(Click on Video Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video)
Whenever a horse gets underneath a fence, and jumps like this - it is almost always a result of the quality of the canter in the approach to the fence. I'm willing to bet that this horse was strung out and heavy on the forehand on the approach to this jump. And it is likely that this horse had momentum in his canter, rather than impulsion. Whenever a horse's shoulders and forelegs are pointing downward over a jump, it means the front end was so heavily loaded at the moment of takeoff, that they were unable to rock back sufficiently on their hind legs to lift the front end properly.This is called jumping over the front end. (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Horses are most likely to jump a fence cleanly when they are accurately focusing on the top rail. This comes quite naturally to some horses, while others need to be taught this skill. Here's how to teach it! (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
You ever do a ten list? Ten things you wish you could do, ten things you wish you had done different, ten things you have done right? How bout ten dumbest things you have ever done, or most embaressing. Ten best friends. Ten best lessons. Ten best books?
Here are ten things I tell all my students, from 40 plus years of riding... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Question # 130: I have a 5 yo OTTB gelding (10 months off the track) that I would really like to hack out more. However, the few times I have tried, he's been a little anxious in the open field. The last time I took him on a hack (only walking always), he bolted and left me eating dirt after running for a good minute going down hill. I was nervous to use a pulley rein since I never have before especially on uneven terrain. He is an exceptional, calm, and non-spooky horse in all other situations, and handles everything in stride. I would love some tips on building my confidence to hack out, and how to best handle this situation. I've tried pairing with a calm trail horse, but he seems the same when with or without company. I would also like to know if I should be riding him on loose reins vs on the aids. Thanks! (Anonymous)
Well that's no fun, is it?? It sounds like the poor guy is just very anxious and uncomfortable out in big open spaces. What is his turnout like? If he is currently in a small paddock, you might want to see if you can find him a large field to go in with a calm buddy. That way he can be working on his anxiety in big open spaces the whole time he is out there. Let him live outside if possible. It is such a shame how many race horses never see anything of the world outside of their stalls and the track.
Don't worry! This is a perfectly normal reaction for many people after having been away from the sport for a while! All you need to do is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Make Your Horse's Hind Legs More Active
Do you regularly get comments on your Dressage Tests such as "needs more energy" or "needs more activity"? Yet you know that if you simply push your horse more forward, you may have to deal with a loss of balance or rhythm? And possibly even heaviness or resistance in your hand? If this is the case, then you need to learn how to truly increasethe activity of your horse's hind legs, rather than just cause him to push harder off the ground and merely go faster. Here's how to do it: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
What a great opportunity for you! It can be so helpful to learn to do movements on a horse that is well schooled! If you find and push the right "buttons", they will let you know by performing the movement correctly. There is almost no better way to learn! I am excited for you! As for asking for a trot lengthening... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Discussion # 66: Who can tell us how counter bend improves the horse's ability to bend properly to the inside?Who can tell us how counter bend improves the horse's ability to properly bend to the inside? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)Video Discussion # 70: This is a great video!Lots of great points made in this Dressage video (and some lovely riding)! What thoughts do you have after watching this? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to make comments and read this educational discussion)
Video # 36: Kayla has a question about how to help her horse get back to the same form she had pre injury.Here is a video starting at where my horse was last year, and what she is like now, about a month after recovering from her injury. We've jumped some over the last few weeks, but I don't have the same horse I had pre-injury. As you can see in the video, last season my horse was doing pretty well. She was waiting at fences and we were pretty good at keeping a consistent rhythm. After her injury, we are both pretty rusty. And since we have started jumping, she has been really bad about rushing fences. I feel like I have to hang on her mouth to keep her from running at the fences. That is why we're going back to the cross rail in the schooling at a slow trot. And why I bring her back to the trot before every fence. At the end of the schooling video (the part from this year), you can see her getting upset at the fact that I am holding her back. The majority of the video is a lesson I took on 5/28 working on her rushing. The instructor told me I need to work more to hold her with my body. Anyway, I am wondering what your thoughts are and what exercises we should do to get her back to the horse she was at the beginning of the video. (Kayla) (Click on Video Title above to watch the video and read the answer)Question # 127: When teaching, and you are working with a student who has been taught theories that are different from what you teach, how do you handle that? How do you get them to at least try it your way without denigrating the way the other instructor teaches? I want my students to always go home feeling like they got a lot out of it instead of thinking that I don't have a clue what I am talking about! (Kelly)
Hi Kelly!
This is always a challenge for us instructors, isn't it?? There are SO many differenty theories and systems being taught out there that this is bound to happen regularly! I think the key to handling this situation is to... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Question # 126: How much leg is too much leg? I have been riding for about 5 years and I have always ridden with almost no leg on our QHs/Appys unless I'm doing something laterally. In other words, I just pretty much let it lay there. Recently, I have been riding very large moving horses, and my lower leg is all OVER the place! At the canter, my lower leg swings forward and backward with the horse's motion. I find I have to really put leg on and sink deep into my heels to keep my lower leg half way quiet. Is that reasonable, or am I doing something else incorrectly that is screwing my lower leg up? Exercises for strengthening the lower leg would also be appreciated! (Karen)
Hi Karen!
This is a great question! As I think many riders struggle with a lower leg that swings back and forth some at the canter. Yet to keep that leg quiet by clamping it tightly to the horse's side will cause the horse to become dull to the leg aids. And we certainly can't have that! When a rider's lower leg swings back and forth, it is usually because either they have... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Guest Blog post # 23: "Setting Goals - a Real Life Example" by Lauren GretgrixSetting Goals - a Real Life Example
I will preface this little article by humbly acknowledging I am not a top level rider (nor likely to become one any time soon! That's not a self-limiting belief, it is a realistic observation). Nevertheless,the story I am about to tell you will demonstrate how important goal setting is, no matter what level you ride at or what it is you aspire to achieve. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)Leg Protection For the Event Horse
I often get asked what my opinion is on boots for the Event horse. Do I use them every ride? What kind do I prefer? Well, here's the scoop: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Video Discussion # 69: Watch and compare these two CCI 2 star riders performing their Dressage Tests, and see their scores for each movement!What a great opportunity to improve your "eye" for the quality of Dressage movements! You have to know what you are looking for before you will have a chance to correctly perform these movements yourself! Watch the video first, and guess for yourself who wins! Then enter the discussion to find out both riders' scores for each movement and to make comments. (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to see scores and enter this educational discussion)
Clinics are meant to be a fun, relaxed, and interactive group environment, where riders can learn new theories, techniques, and exercises to take home and add to their training programs. They are also a great opportunity to give your horse more experience and exposure out and about. And as they often require a good sized commitment of both time and money, you will want to make the most of every minute! Here are 10 things to think about to make sure your next clinic is as worthwhile as possible: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article) Video Discussion # 68: Interesting complex on this year's Rolex course!This was a very interesting complex on this year's Rolex cross country course! Along with the challenging terrain that was involved, the distance in between the two narrow brush jumps was exactly between two and three strides. As Jimmy Wofford said in his course walk, "When presented with a boldness question with optional striding, always take the braver option. Otherwise you will tend to come in picking and whining, and your horse may stop."
I think that in this video, Andrew shows us the best way to handle this type of situation, ride boldly, and let the horse decide if he is going to do two or three strides. Because this horse's ability to think for himself has been nurtured in training, he took care of himself, and did two and a half strides very neatly. If Andrew had tried to force the two he may not have made it. And if he picked for the three it could have caused trouble. There is a very important lesson to be learned here! (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Question # 125: I have a question about bravery in the field and jumping without schooling first.My big horse is also a big chicken - when he's alone. If other horses are around he's quite brave and very tactile. If you can get him to touch it - he'll jump it. He enjoys jumping. His ears prick up and you can fel him really pulling you to the fence. But he is so spooky if there are no other horses with us. If no one else is working in the ring, I have to have a babysitter horse in there with us when I jump. This fear of him being so spooky alone has been one of the major obstacles keeping me from competing. We have lots of fun schooling cross country because I can walk him up to it, let him touch it, jump it and move on. Once he's jumped it I can put him together and have multiple fences in a row. I don't know that I could get him to a new place and have him jump BN fences without schooling... and there won't be any buddies out there either. Do you have any suggestions on how I can help build his confidence when along and how to get him to jump without schooling first? (Carolyn)
Hi Carolyn!
This can be a tough problem unfortunately, and is a reason some horses just will not make Event horses. But I have some ideas of things for you to try! First of all, I would... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)
Most horses perform flying changes easily on their own in the field, but to do them upon request with a rider on their backs can be a very different story! Especially when we are looking for a change that is "correct" in Dressage terms, meaning both the front and the hind legs make the change simultaneously, and the horse stays straight in a balanced and rhythmic canter. First you need to make sure your horse is ready to do the flying change. Otherwise you are just setting yourself up for frustration and possible failure.
A horse is ready to begin training for Dressage quality flying changes when he... (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)Question # 124: I had hip surgery about 5 weeks ago, and it will be another 2 months before I'm back in the saddle. In the meantime, Johnny is spending lots of time on the lunge to build topline muscles without rider interference and work on that weak......right side. In the saddle I can flex and counter flex, leg yield, etc to help him loosen up his left side so that he can bend to the right. But when lunging, I need some suggestions to help him better use his right side. I know we can spiral in and out, use cavalletti, and transitions. He wants to remain bent to the left when he's traveling right - he then ends up getting off balance and falling in - you get the picture. He's great to the left. Would you start out to the left or start out with his bad side? Will he eventually build his right side this way, or are there things I should be doing to help him? (Courtney)
Hi Courntey!
First of all, I'm sorry to hear about your hip surgery! I hope that you will have a smooth and full recovery! And second - good for you for being productive in your downtime! Going back to the basics to try to help your horse to become more even and supple will definitely pay off in the long run. I am sure you will feel the difference once you are ready to get back in the saddle.
You are on the right track with the things you have mentioned on the lunge, but to really get him to stretch that tight left side, you will probably need to... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Guest Blog post # 22: "Streeeeeetch" by Amanda TammingaStreeeeeeetch
In my travels through the horse world, I often encounter people who whine about one of two things in regards their horse or horses. Or occasionally they whine about both things at the same time.
Whine #1: "My horse has no topline. What can I feed him to help his topline develop? I've done EVERYTHING."
Whine #2: "My horse's back is sore! So I am going to spend GOBS of money on new, custom fit saddles, fancy pads, chiropractors, etc. But his back is STILL sore!!! Why?" (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Well Henry is no dummy, and you have done steeplechase at that facility several times! So I'm not that surprised to hear that he is quite "up". The extra fitness required for a 3 day at any level can be enough to light many a horses' fire as well! What I would do is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Question # 122: My horse is taking off with me in the canter! When I ride out with other horses, my horse is starting to get very strong. If we are in front, I can handle her.If we are not in front, she wants to take off. If is sit and hold her really tightly she gets angry with me (head shaking, bucking), which would be fine except it slows us down, which in turn escalades the problem, since we are then left behind! I like to ride on loose reins when I am hacking because we just want to relax and have fun with our friends, but lately she has been literally taking off with me when I do! Any suggestions? Should I try a stronger bit? (Anonymous)
Well that competitive nature can be both a blessing and a curse! Most of the best cross country horses are like that! I would say that you... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) What to Do After a Refusal on CourseWhat to Do After a Refusal on Course
No one plans to have a refusal on course. So when they do unfortunately happen, riders are often surprised - and many times become flustered. I often see riders who are so rattled after an unexpected stop or runout, that they don't think clearly about what they should do next! Their competitve nature may cause them to... (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article) Video Discussion # 67: It is always so educational to watch Dressage tests, and to be able to hear the comments and scores from the judge!It is always so educational to watch Dressage tests, and to be able to hear the comments and scores from the judge! Let's watch this video of a Dressage rider performing Training Level Test 1, and hear the comments and scores from the judge! Do you ever get comments similar to those that this rider received? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to watch video, and to read this educational discussion)How to Ride a Galloping Jump (Current Freebie!)
By definition, a galloping jump is one that can be jumped out of a flowing, forward gallop. What constitutes a galloping jump? Any obstacle that is... (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Sometimes something as simple as asking for lateral flexion at the poll to the inside can completely fix this problem. And other times, usually when the horse is quite crooked in its body, you will need to do something more dramatic than that.
This problem can be very tricky to solve, as when you try to take more feel of the rein, the horse is likely to curl her neck even further to keep the reins loose. But it is very important to not let the horse feelrewarded for attempting to evade the bit. When I have that curls to evade the bit, I... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Guest Blog post # 21: "How Did I Know I'd Find You in Self Help??!!" by the famous Bad Eventer!
She is a very naturally fit horse, so I have a hard time identifying if she is fatigued or if I am pushing her too hard. What exercises would you suggest to slowly bring her back into jumping? (Kayla)
Hi Kayla!
It can definitely be hard to judge the true fitness level of a horse when you are dealing with the lively, naturally active type! They never act tired, so how do you know how fast to bring them along? And sometimes when you are trying to bring them back slowly by following a progressive program, they seem to be begging you to do more! For their sake, you need to make sure that you do not let them talk you into doing too much too soon! The general rule of thumb is to... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)
Rhythm and tempo are SO important in dressage (and jumping), as rhythm and balance go hand in hand. When the horse is maintaining a good rhythm and an even tempo as he performs movements, you likely have both relaxation and a consistent level of balance.
Let's start by defining both rhythm and tempo as they pertain to riding: (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer) Rider Position When Jumping a Drop Into Water
Nothing quite tests the strength of a rider's position like a drop into water. There is a reason the crowd usually gathers near the water jump on cross country day... they know there is a good chance that some riders are going to fall off and get very wet! Read on to find out how to make sure that doesn't happen to you! (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
The word impulsion is a very common term used in the worlds of Dressage and Eventing. But if you don't know what it means, it might be hard to attain - as you won't know what you are striving for. In a way, impulsion is both a mental and physical state. The horse must be truly thinking forward to have impulsion. And he must have stored energy in his body, that is just waiting to be released in a forward (or upward) direction. He also must be relaxed to allow that energy to come fully through his body.
Read on to learn all about impulsion - understand what it really means, and learn how to achieve it with YOUR horse. (Click on Article Title above to read full article)
Discussion # 65: How do you ride an uphill triple bar?How should you approach a triple bar that is on an uphill slope? What do you need to focus on to ensure a smooth effort at this type of jump? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Galloping between fences we want to leave our horses alone as much as possible, so that they can be relaxed in their bodies and move freely. Yet if we can teach them to gallop in good balance, it makes it much easier to prepare for each jump. And it can also keep them sounder! Whether or not you should let your horse stay low in front at the gallop depends on... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Discussion # 64: Which picture shows a better piaffe?Although in Eventing we don't have to perform a piaffe in competition, it is important to understand the principles involved in training for collection. So, let's compare these two Baroque type horses in the piaffe. Which horse shows more engagement and lowering of the quarters? How can you tell? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
