"When you look at two horses in an arena, on one side the big Warmblood that finds it hard to be short and quick, but has a power jump, or you have the beautiful Thoroughbred that finds it easy to be short and quick, and if you can just get that Thoroughbred to use its body more – get over its past – one is definitely the easiest to ride, one is definitely the more athletic, and that’s the good Thoroughbred. The good ones have that extra leg under them, they are very quick to be able to take that extra distance, they can use the back." ~ Michelle Strapp
Most riders know that they should be focusing more on the horse's hind legs when riding and jumping. But with the temptation of the horse's head and neck visibly in front of us, this can be quite difficult! Here is a little mental trick that will help! (Click on Article Title above to read full article)
"I want to re-emphasize my point that the x-c galloping position I teach is based on scientific research, not on opinion or intuition. Although we are suspended above the ground by the strength and power of our horses, we do not suspend the Laws of Physics when we step into the stirrups. Secondly, one reason given for galloping with a straight leg was that it was "easier for the rider." I find that statement hard to accept. The legendary horsemen that I still strive to copy were dedicated to the well-being and comfort of the horse, not the rider. Finally, there was some mention in the article of finding a visual role model who has the same physiotype that you have. While this is excellent advice, I urge you to choose someone to emulate that rides correctly as well as being of a similar size and shape. Copying incorrect mechanics will lead to mistakes in your technique...and mistakes in our sport can be fatal." ~ Jimmy Wofford
"Correct dressage training, is, therefore, a natural gymnastic exercise for the horse, which hardens its strength and supples its limbs. Such exercise causes the strong parts of its body to work harder in favour of the weaker ones. The latter are strengthened by gradual exercise, and hidden forces, held back because of the horse’s natural tendency towards laziness, are thus awakened. The end result is complete harmony in cooperation of the individual limbs with these forces, enabling the horse to continuously and effortlessly perform, with only the slightest aids from the rider, such regular and beautiful movements as it would demonstrate on its own only fleetingly in moments of excitement." ~ Gustav Steinbrecht
For example, he'll take a few strides of canter, and then start trotting again, and it's hard to get him back into it. Sometimes, too, we'll be trotting and he'll just stop. How can i fix this? (Josie)
Hi Josie!
It sounds like you have 2 problems here. One is that your horse may not always respect your leg aids, which means that it is easy for him to stay behind your leg. And the other is that he may have balance issues in the canter. That is actually quite a common problem... when the horse gets strung out in the canter (very often from a poor quality, running upward transition into the canter), and falls back into the trot as the hind legs trail behind and the impulsion is lost. (Click on Question Title above to read full answer)
"Suppleness means that the muscles contract and de-contract, and this has to go through the entire horse, it cannot be blocked in the middle of the back, and it also has to go through the rider." ~ Susanne Miesner
"'Losgelassenheit' means suppleness combined with looseness and the complete absence of any tension. It is the prerequisite for any advancement in training. Together with regularity, it is the primary goal of the initial, familiarising, phase." ~ Christoph Hess
The bigger the jump, the more the horse must rock back and lift upwards on the takeoff. Therefore as the jumps get bigger, it becomes even more important that you are poised and patient with your upper body off the ground.
"The legs bring the horse to the seat, and the seat brings the horse to the hands. When the teacher says 'shorten the reins' it needs to be translated into: 'engage the hind legs, sit on them, and then take the slack out of the reins', because if you shorten the reins from front to back, the horse will only resist." ~ Thomas Ritter
Welcome to the wonderful world of Eventing! There is nothing like it, you will be totally addicted! First of all, check out this entry on how to get started in Eventing. The single most important thing for you to work on as you delve into the world of Eventing is to... (Click on Question Title above to read full answer)
Most horses jump their best when riders set them up before hand with a balanced canter at the speed appropriate for the exercise, and then leave them alone to let them do their jobs. No micromanaging!
When it comes to equestrian training, it is almost always faster in the long run to take the time to do it right the first time, instead of having to go back and fill in the holes you missed in your basics. This is true for both horse and rider.
The balance and design of the saddle that you are using will make or break you as a rider that is striving to improve! Once you have become very confident and quite solid in all your skills, you can probably ride well in just about any saddle. But when you are trying to find your balance, trying to learn new skills, and trying to grow into a really solid rider you NEED the saddle that is exactly right for your conformation and what are trying to achieve.
Here is a great exercise (suitable for all levels!) for you to practice, the next time that you have the opportunity to go cross country schooling! (Click on Article Title above to read full article)
Big horses very often need to learn how to do a shorter, more active canter for the show jumping ring. Make sure you have achieved this before you start cantering courses!
"A significant portion of the art of dressage lies in your ability to differentiate between the positive tension of focused athletic effort, and the negative tension of resistance, fear, and anxiety." ~ Katherine Bateson Chandler
"Riding cross country is against the clock, but this doesn’t mean that you have to go fast. It means that you have to take good lines. Every extra ten feet, or three and a half metres that you travel, costs you one second. So if you can save half a metre on the approach and half a metre on the landing, and there are thirty jumps on the course, you come in half a minute quicker than someone else." ~ Andrew Hoy
"Re-schooling a horse with vices and sending it back to its owner is not enough. The vices will return with unguided riding. Only by retraining both horse and rider can the problem be solved." ~ Firn Hyde
"Is the rider able to ride all the movements with a long rein, long with contact, then as long as possible? It is possible to ride piaffe on a long rein when the rider rides 100% with a balanced body, and the horse is on his aids." ~ Christoph Hess
Let's talk about the similarities of ballroom dancing and riding horses!
When we watch a really harmonious horse and rider performing, it often looks as elegant as the very best ballroom dancing - with the 2 partners appearing to read each others' minds, or even become fully melded as one.
In ballroom dancing... as melded as they may seem... one person is the leader, and the other is the follower. In the horse and rider team, who do you think the leader is?
When I first thought about this, I thought the answer seemed pretty obvious. That by definition, we as riders are clearly the leaders, as we direct and control our partner's movement.
Then I thought about it some more... And I think that in some ways or under certain circumstances, an argument could be made that the horse is the leader. Can anyone come up with an example of how the horse could be perceived as the leader?? (Click on Discussion Title above to read or join in on this educational discussion)
"Jumpers in Europe use a lot of dressage these days in order to maintain balance and rhythm around technical courses. They need instant reaction to have a hope of doing well." ~ Stephen Clarke
"When the horse is straight, he is in the position of shoulder-fore. Shoulder-fore position is when the horse’s outside hind leg tracks directly behind the outside front leg and the inside hind leg tracks between the two front legs. The horse’s inside hind leg is narrowed stepping toward his center of gravity and can then be in a position to carry the horse’s and rider’s weight." ~ Kathy Connelly
"The inside leg to the outside rein is ancient history. One of my friends is very interested in ballet, and he said to me last year, George, it is opposition in the dance that creates balance." ~ George Morris
Just because you can't see your grass growing doesn't mean it's not, and the same can be said of your progress as a rider. Much of the time it is not noticeable until you stop and look back at where you came from.
"Keep your thumbs together so you know where your hands are. Your elbows loose and more elastic by your side. Stand in your stirrups, stretch down and think about your lower leg being there all the time. Toes out a little, stretch your heel down." ~ Chris Burton
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" If you have not been asked this question at least once in your life, surely you have not lived. I think I was first asked this question around eight or nine and I shrugged my shoulders and mumbled "I don't know." I am not one to commit to a definite answer unless I have thought it through to an infuriating extent. The ability to make quick decisions or commit to anything has been a slow and painful learning process. Mostly painful for the people around me who just want me to decide on a place to eat. (Click on Blog Title above to read full entry)
It is possible to have contact without a real connection (in fact, it is quite common unfortunately), but a true connection always involves good contact. The connection involves the horse's entire body… with energy created in the horse's hind legs traveling through the horse's supple body, and into the rider's softly receiving hands.
"I teach riders to adjust their reins within three strides on level ground (after a drop), and I want them seated between elements of a combination. This will give the rider more stability plus a wider and more sophisticated range of aids." ~ Jimmy Wofford
With many horses, it can be helpful to take a deep breath and exhale in a sigh as you begin the walk portion of your Dressage test. This can help to dissolve any tension that the horse may be holding, that might otherwise make for a "jig" step, or an accidental transition into trot.
The outside rein is the key rein in downward transitions and half halts that are used to rebalance the horse. Many riders are well aware of this for Dressage and Jumping. But not everyone realizes that this is even true when you are galloping in a straight line!
Which rein is the outside rein when you are galloping in a straight line? It is relative to the canter lead. If you are on the right lead, the left rein is your outside rein. And if you are on the left lead, it is your right rein.
I hate to hear instructors who just yell, "Push, push, push!" to the riders on lazy horses who need more energy in their gait. To me, this shows a huge lack of experience on the trainer’s part - as this is NOT a productive way to produce forward in a horse, and only makes them more and more dead to the rider’s aids.
"There is one test that has the advantage over all the others, in that it can accompany the horse throughout his entire development… Showing the horse the way towards the ground. It is important that before the rider makes any attempt to perform the exercise, he makes sure that the horse is moving forward with impulsion at the selected pace, in good rhythm and contact with the bit. Then, while maintaining the forward driving aids, the rider should begin by giving slightly with the outside rein by moving the hand forward. As the horse responds by stretching his neck downwards and seeking the bit, the rider should offer the inside rein and again the horse should search to maintain the contact. The rider can then begin to lengthen the reins slightly by allowing them to slip through the fingers. Providing the horse is still being driven correctly from behind he will maintain the contact as he chews the bit towards the ground." ~ Christian Thiess
If you don’t ride and train in such a way that your horse learns to listen to your seat, you will usually find that you have to use a lot more hand to get things done.
"I cannot over emphasize that the rider must keep a soft contact with the horse’s mouth throughout the exercise [stretching down] and never just throw the reins away!" ~ Christian Thiess
"Essential to collection as well is the complete lack of resistances, as well as the maintenance of superior impulsion, and absolute submission." ~ Nuno Olivera
This exercise is a great way to test and confirm your horse's rideability when jumping, as well as check on the balance and overall quality of your jumping canter. Read on to learn all about it! (Click on Article Title above to read full article)
The purpose of transitions is not just to get from one gait to the next. But to do so in a way that further gymnasticizes the horse, and improves his carriage.
"We get the horses as loose as possible before we ask them to do more work in their bodies. if they're not loose in the beginning, they’re not going to be loose and supple in their proper work." ~ Charlotte Dujardin
