Recent Articles

(Photo credit to Becca Brown Macanas)


Leg yielding is an exercise that I almost always incorporate into the horse's warm up. It is a very useful (and somewhat underrated) movement. Here are the many benefits of leg yielding: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

The most important thing you can say to yourself right before you start a cross country course is, "ride EVERY fence!" Why? Because very often it is the jump on course that you least expect to cause you trouble, that you will have a stupid stop or run out at! I unfortunately learned this lesson the hard way early on in my career. Here is my story! (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

Your seat is the most important aid that you have when riding. When you are able to use your seat effectively, you will find that all of your other aids can be very subtle and refined. But your horse will only hear the aids of your seat if you are correctly sitting on your seat bones, with your upper body aligned directly above them. The exercise pictured below is a great way for you to find your seat bones, and help you learn what it feels like to have your seat bones pointing correctly downward: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

Horses tend to mirror their rider's body language. If riders carry themselves correctly, their horses will have a much greater tendency to carry themselves correctly. If the rider is slouched and sloppy, the horse will likely be sloppy in its posture as well. And when the horse is not carrying itself correctly, it will not be able to easily carry a rider in balance. When an unbalanced horse is carrying a rider on its back, it will tend to resist the rider's aids, and may even look to lean on the rider for support.

Whether we are talking about dressage or jumping, a rider needs to have engaged core muscles to carry themselves correctly, and to have a solid, secure position while following their horse's movements. An engaged core is necessary to do a good sitting trot, to have a nice collected canter, and even to stay with a horse over a big oxer. It is simply the secret to being an effective and stable rider.

Most people are already aware of their core muscles, but it can sometimes be hard to figure out how to actually engage them when riding, since you have so many other things to think about! So here are some tips: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

You have probably seen a horse that seems to give a little "hop" when making the transition from walk to trot. You may even own one that does it! It's a fairly common fault in lower level horses. The reason a horse does that is because......(Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

When jumping combinations and related distances, it is very important for a rider to be able to create the exact length of stride necessary on the approach to make the distance work. So it is therefore important for the rider to be able to accurately judge the length of their horse's canter stride. Here is an exercise that will show you how to feel what the various lengths of stride feel like for your horse. (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

While it can be useful in some situations to ride along the rail, fence, or wall - spending lots of time on the rail can actually be a detriment to your training. Why? Because the rail can.....(Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

I will never forget the first time that I attended the USET training sessions down in Ocala, Florida many years ago...... I was so excited to watch all of the top Event riders receive dressage instruction from Grand Prix dressage trainer Sandy Pflueger Phillips, who was the dressage coach for the Eventing Team at the time.

I was fully expecting to be wowed by watching hours of top horses and riders schooling upper level movements. But that was not the case! Instead, Sandy had every rider work on just one basic thing for their entire lesson....and it proved to be very difficult indeed!...(Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

Respect and trust are the basis for all relationships within the horse's world. In the herd, a "pecking order" or hierarchy is established pretty quickly. Every new horse to enter the herd learns who is the leader of the group, as well as which of the other horses are "above" them in the order.

It's obvious that horses respect their herd leaders.....they are always aware of where they are, and are quick to move out of their way - sometimes they are already moving when their leader is still 50 feet away but heading in their direction. But what may not be as easily apparent is how much they actually trust and look to their leaders when they need guidance or protection. Having a herd leader takes the pressure off - they will usually put the leader between themselves and any perceived threat, and will let the leader decide how dangerous it really is. 

Horses relate to their humans...(Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

Watch this lovely rider as she schools her equally lovely horse in dressage. She shows a great example of suppling work, both lateral and longitudinal. Notice how she frequently utilizes the rubber band exercise, sending the horse forward and bringing him back. And she also shows how to correctly use stretching in the walk, trot, and canter to test that her horse is seeking the connection, as well as to reward. Enjoy! And please share your thoughts! (Click on Discussion Title above to read or join in on this educational discussion)

The next step up from the speed play exercise, where you ask the horse to show different speeds at each gait, is the rubber band exercise.  The rubber band exercise is great for increasing throughness in the horse and developing the gaits. It helps to increase the level of impulsion in the horse, and increases the engagement of the hind legs. All of which make it possible for the horse to perform collected and extended gaits. Here's how to do it: (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)

The riders that will be the most successful this coming show season will likely be the ones that have spent the "off season" preparing for it. Those that spend the winter months really going back to basics and solidifying their foundation will be really planting the seeds for a successful year to come. What can you do to best prepare for the next show season? (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)