Excessive bend in the neck, whether lateral (most often to the inside), or longitudinal (behind the vertical) disconnects the haunches from the rein aids and allows the horse to remain locked up in other parts of the body, such as the poll and hips.
"I do a lot of cavaletti work also with my dressage horses because then I can really make them active behind, over the back, stretching into your hand, and really supple in the back." ~ Ingrid Klimke
This cross country complex asks a question that riders will commonly see in some form on course from Training to Advanced levels. The question is, can you jump this big wide spread fence, and still have enough control to jump the accuracy question that makes the next element?
In this case, the next element is a nice, inviting, and only somewhat skinny log. Sometimes that B element is a corner jump, an angled line, or a super skinny chevron. Course designers like to ask this question quite often at the upper levels. So if you are moving up the levels, this is something that you want to be good at!
Who can tell us how we can train at home for complexes like this?
What speed would you use to approach this particular complex? What part of the A element would you jump? At what point should you be looking at the B element?
There is a very common pitfall that many riders fall into when being asked the question of jumping a big, wide fence followed by a turn to an accuracy question. One that can easily cause a refusal or a weak jump at the A element. Can anyone tell us what it is?? (Click on Discussion Title above to read or join in on this educational discussion)
Working on shoulder fore or shoulder in on a large circle is a great exercise to teach your horse to pay more attention to your inside seat bone aid, as well as to improve the outside rein connection.
Always think about the depth of the water when deciding how fast to approach and negotiate a water obstacle. Riding too fast in deep water can easily cause the horse to lose his balance or even fall.
Soften the reins too much at the beginning of a lengthening, and you may find that you lose your stored energy. Which will likely cause your horse to quicken his stride rather than giving you a true lengthening.
From Facebook fan Suzan Mchugh ~ "I used to put a tiny smiley face sticker on the crown piece of the bridle. When I saw it I took a breath! It worked and relaxed me. If you breath your hips relax!!"
Dressage is natural for horses, but that does not mean it is always easy for them. Since we cannot explain to them why we are asking them to do things that require increased effort, and go against their natural instincts to try to do things in the easiest way possible - we must handle any inevitable resistances that might show up with patience in a quietly persistent manner.
This simple exercise is suitable for all levels of horse and rider. It is particularly useful for young or green horses that need to be more educated about the rider's outside turning aids. But it is also a great reminder for horses at any level who do not respond to the outside aids as well as their rider would like them to! Read on to learn all about it! (Click on Article Title above to read full article)
Gustav Steinbrecht on the French school of Baucher ~ "The greatest example of such quackery is Mr Baucher, who with the audacity of his claims and the enormity of his promises, has brought the entire equestrian world into uproar and confusion. His method consists in gradually and cunningly robbing the horse of its natural power, which Mr Baucher considers to be the enemy, and to thus make it subservient. He renders his horses so wilted and limp by unnatural bending and twisting in place and so thoroughly robs their natural forward action, that the poor creatures lose all support and are no longer good for any practical purpose."
The more spirit a horse has, the more difficult he may be to train. But once you have developed a good partnership with the horse, this same spirit will make him a tremendous competitor who will fight for you when things get difficult.
The more you can find a deep, plugged in seat in the down phase of the rising trot, the more you can sort of "suck" the horse's back up into your seat in the rising phase.
It is wise to remain at least slightly seated on the takeoff of an open ditch jump, and to look for the feeling that your horse jumps out in front of you. If you are too far forward, and/or are ahead of your horse's motion as he begins to take off, he can easily lose heart and jump weakly (and therefore losing confidence). Or he can even change his mind completely and stop, in which case you would then likely become a victim of the laws of physics. ;)
"There are only few mouths that cannot be taught a good rein contact by giving the horse the appropriate degree of balance, provided it is otherwise well conformed." ~ Borries v.Oeynhausen
Try to always be aware of the amount of tension that you may be carrying when riding, and whether you are breathing softly and evenly, or holding your breath. Talking or humming quietly is a good way to ensure that you keep breathing throughout your ride.
Horses have to learn that the free walk is a purposeful movement, not break time. Make sure you are conscious about teaching your horse this concept by training them to stay attentive, straight, in front of the leg, and reaching towards the connection in your free walk work.
"The outside rein is for me like the wall on the track, or the edge of the autobahn. The outside rein is the border and it maintains the horse." ~ Ernst Hoyos
"The four commandments of dressage are: 1) rhythm 2) tempo 3) frame 4) length of the stride. Sounds simple, right? You must own and embody every commandment." ~ Robert Dover
It is important for a rider to know why we do each of the various movements and exercises, not just how to do them. Otherwise they won't actually know exactly how and when to use them to improve the horse.
Long slow distance work is an important part of the conditioning program for every horse. But it is especially important for older and young horses. Older horses need to keep limber, and young horses need to build a base level of tendon, ligament, and bone strength.
Each time your seat touches down in the saddle in the rising trot, think of dropping your shoulders into your elbows, while keeping your chest wide open and your spine stretched tall.
A tense, tight back is a blocked "bridge" for the energy that should be moving from the horse's hindquarters to the rider's hands. You must address the tension in the back before you will be able to achieve a good connection.
Changing directions frequently can help to keep your horse more straight, as each time you change direction you momentarily break the pattern of leaning one way that your horse might have been falling into. And it can help to improve rider symmetry as well!
"Be as elegant as royalty. Embracing your inner princess (or prince) is vital in becoming a dressage superstar. And that means no brash or aggressive movements when your horse isn’t listening." ~ Robert Dover
Being a good rider, and being someone who understands the details of the concepts that make a good rider are two very different things. One can be both... but one does not guarantee the other. This is why it is not really a good idea to pick a riding instructor based on their ability to ride.
Everyone knows that we need our horses to be relaxed to perform well. But that starts with our own relaxation! A rider must be relaxed to give clear and precise aids to their horse, and to set the tone for the horse to be able to relax.
"Horses are interesting creatures. They are extremely obedient (most of the time) and will jump out of their skin if we asked them to. But appreciation is key when it comes to learning a new movement or doing a good job." ~ Robert Dover
If your horse is the type to sometimes get behind your leg when jumping, you must start your courses with more energy in your canter than you think you need. I see so many riders starting off with a nice quiet canter, and then run into trouble because their horse doesn't respond instantly to their leg when they need them to.
If your horse is heavy on one rein, and even somewhat empty in the other - fight your instincts to take back on the heavier rein. It won't help. Instead focus on engaging the hind leg on the heavier side to put the horse more up into the opposite rein.
"You can do this. I promise you, it’s not the end of the world. We’re not curing cancer, or ending world hunger. We’re just riding around on horses here." ~ Robert Dover
The concept of collection is often best introduced to the horse in the canter, as that is very often the gait that the horse finds it easiest to learn how to "sit" more behind.
Quality feedback needs to be very specific. It is not that helpful for an instructor to tell you that something was "good." They should be able to tell you what exactly was good about it, and why that quality is so important. This is the difference between merely stroking someone's ego vs turning them into a truly great and well educated rider.
Show us a turn down the center line with a halt at X in your Dressage ring! (Members send your video links to admin@MyVirtualEventingCoach.com. Click on Video Assignment title above to see videos, comments, and scores)
"The basic techniques, or what they call basics, are more difficult than what comes later, this is the 'Trap of Dressage.' Correct basics are more difficult than the piaffe and passage." ~ Conrad Schumacher
"When you don't have a confident position, it’s saying to people you don’t believe in yourself. So sit up, shoulders back, chin high, and ride your best test." ~ Robert Dover
