What effect is this rider's exaggerated release having on her balance and position? And how might it effect her horse? How could her release be more effective? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 33: Let's watch this rider doing a gymnastic line with canter poles.Let's watch this rider taking a jumping lesson. As she negotiates the initial lines of canter poles, this horse often switches leads from left to right when coming off of a left turn. Why is that significant? What do you think causes a horse to do that? How will this effect this horse and rider when they are jumping courses? What was happening on her approach to the single jump around 6:00 that is a related problem? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
How should you ride this Prelim water complex? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 32: Let's watch this rider use an exercise that can help with horses that rush jumps.This can be a good exercise for horses that tend to rush and get strong in front of their jumps. Notice how the rider quietly repeats a transition to walk right in front of the placing pole, then softens and allows the horse to jump without fighting with him to slow down - allowing the placing poles to do the work of regulating the horse. Quiet and patient repetition of this exercise (with lots of praise!) can really encourage a horse to begin to relax and wait. It helps to instill calmness and obedience, and the horse learns to trust that the rider is not going to fight with them right in front of the jumps. (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 31: Let's watch this rider's dressage lesson. Let's watch this rider's dressage lesson. They have some moments with a nice connection and balance, and others where it is not as good. What do you think this rider needs to work on? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)Quiz # 9: Rule Quiz!Say you are doing your dressage test on a really windy day. And in the middle of your test, the wind blows the boards of the dressage ring down -right into the ring, and right in your way! (This actually happened at ROLEX one year!)What do you do?? (Click on Quiz Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)Discussion # 23: Which picture shows a better trot stretch?Which picture shows a better stretch at the trot? How can you tell? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 29: Fun exercise with a line of cavaletti!Cavaletti are a fun and useful training tool! How do you think your horse would benefit from this exercise? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to watch video and read this educational discussion) Video Discussion # 28: Let's watch this novice rider taking various jumping lessons. Let's watch this novice rider taking various jumping lessons. Can you see what caused the loss of balance at the jump at :40? What do you think caused the fall at 2:10? What do you think this horse and rider need to work on? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 27: This is a good lesson to watch!I love how this trainer talks about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. If you are going to improve, this is something that you must do! I also love that he emphasizes encouraging the horse to bring his back up in the downward transitions by closing your legs to send the horse into the connection while lightening your seat. This can work very well for some types of horses! What do you think he means by "lighten the seat"? And what type of horse do you think this would be especially useful for? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
This combination caused a significant amount of trouble this weekend! 9A is the vertical fence in the front of the picture. The ground slopes down considerably on landing, and 9B is a ditch one stride away. The ditch is really down low in the hollow.....more so than the average Coffin jump - even for this level. It is, however, not a big or deep ditch. There is then a slight turn with approximately three strides to 9C, which is the brush arrowhead jump in the back of the picture. All three elements caused their fair share of problems, but 9C was probably the most problematic, with numerous runouts. Why do you think this jump caused so much trouble? What was causing the horses to run out at the C element? What do you think was the most important factor in determining whether 9C jumped well or resulted in a runout? In other words, what is the number one priority when you are trying to get your horse to jump a skinny jump like an arrowhead? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Which of these horses is jumping from a long spot, and which is "chipping in"? Which horse is jumping in better balance? How can you tell? How about rider position - which rider do you think is better balanced? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion) Video Discussion # 25: Training level test 3 Dressage test with scores and commentary from the great Bill Woods!It is always a great learning opportunity to be able to watch a Dressage test being ridden while getting instant feedback with scores and commentary. What are your thoughts on watching this video? (Video with kind permission of www.WoodsDressage.com) (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Quiz # 6: Rule quiz!
Who can tell us in which circumstances it would be OK to "cross your path" between jumps on cross country, and when it would be 20 penalties to do so? (Click on Quiz Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Discussion # 18: What does this rider need to work on?
Who can tell us what this rider needs to work on? What specific exercises should she do to improve? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 24: Fun video to watch with great horses and riders doing extensive gridwork with some big jumps!You can see how the progressive gridwork teaches the horses how to focus on the top rail that is immediately in front of them, and to accurately measure their strides between jumps. Long grids are also great for conditioning! Compare the horses jumping form as they go through this grid. Which uses its body better? What do you think caused the slightly unbalanced jump at 1:44? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Which of these working trots is better than the other and why? Which rider has a better position? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 22: Jumper round with rail down. Some of this is pretty far away, but the mistake at the end is close enough to see what went wrong. Who can tell us what caused the rail down at 1:13? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 21: Jumping with placing polesThis video shows a good example of the use of placing poles for jumping. Who can tell us what are some of the many benefits of using placing poles in jumping training? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Quiz # 5: Rule quiz!You are in the middle of your show jumping round, and you briefly forget where the next jump is! Ack!! And before you realize where the next jump is, you have passed the line that you needed to take to approach it. So you will now need to make a circle to get there. How will this effect your score? And is there anything you can do to prevent penalties should this situation happen in the future? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)Quiz # 4: Rule quiz!You are about to start cross country, and the starter is counting you down from 10. Your very excited horse blasts out of the start box just before the starter can actually say "GO", so you think you may have a false start. What do you do? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)Video Discussion # 20: Let's discuss this jumper round!This horse and rider make a very nice team as they do their 1st round and jump off. There are, however, 2 jumps on their first round that could have had a better approach. Who can tell us which ones they are? And what she could have done differently to make those jumps better? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video discussion # 19: Another dressage test with scores and comments!It's always educational to watch Dressage tests while being able to see the Judge's scores and comments. What are your thoughts on this video?(Video with kind permission of www.crawforddressage.com) (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Quiz # 3: Rule quiz!
You are competing at a recognized horse trial, and are in the middle of your show jumping round. In the middle of the course, you and your horse don't see eye to eye on when to take off for a big square oxer. Your horse chips in a little extra stride, and lands in the middle of the oxer at a standstill - knocking the whole jump down. In the heat of the moment, you don't know whether this is actually considered a refusal.....or just penalties for the rail down. So you don't know whether you will need to jump that jump again, or if you should just keep going. What should you do? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 18: Let's watch this video of Steffen Peters warming up at the World Dressage Masters!Note the progression from long and low work to high collection. I love the school canter at 8:20, where he is softly cantering almost on the spot. And his left canter pirouette at 10:05 shows great collection. This horse was so much on his hind legs in this movement that you almost get the feeling that his front feet are barely touching the ground - yet he is soft and relaxed. What are your favorite parts of this video? (Video with kind permission of www.woodsdressage.com) (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 17: Here is another video of the great Andrew Hoy!Andrew is one of the smoothest and classiest cross country riders out there! You can learn a great deal just from watching the best do their thing! But if you watch carefully, you will see that even the very best usually have one or two fences on course that are not perfect. On this video there are a few clear examples of slightly unbalanced jumping efforts on the horse's part. One where he is long and a bit weak, and so makes a slightly unorganized lunge at the jump. And one where he is heavy on his forehand, and jumps over his front end. Who can spot them?? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Quiz # 2: Here is a quick and simple quiz for you!
If you bend your horse to the right, in which direction does his weight shift? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 16: Let's watch the great Nick Skelton jump 7 feet 7.3 inches!Wow, what a feat! Note the counter bend through the turn to keep that outside hind leg well engaged (Although less bend in the neck is ideal). And this video shows a great example of riding forward to the base with a powerful canter/gallop. Watch the slow motion after the initial jump to see how much he rides forward in the last stride in the deep spot. Enjoy! (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Discussion # 14: Rule quiz!
You are on cross country, having a great run, and are gaining fast on the competitior in front of you, who is going very slowly. What do you do? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Conformation Discussion # 4
Lets compare these two grey horses. Based on their conformation, which would you pick to be your next event horse and why? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
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)
Interesting exercise at 2:05. What do you think was the point of having the horse go from turn on the forehand, to turn on the haunches, to rein back, and back to turn on the haunches? (Video with kind permission of www.woodsdressage.com) (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Lets discuss the good and bad points of this horse's conformation. What do you think are his best features? What are his worst? Based on his conformation, do you think he would be a balanced athlete? And would he likely stay sound? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Video Discussion # 10: Lets watch this video of a rider doing a Prix St. George dressage test, with commentary from the great Bill Woods!Lets watch this video of a rider doing a Prix St. George dressage test, with commentary from the great Bill Woods! This is a great way to learn and educate your eye on the finer details of dressage! What are your thoughts on this video? (Video with kind permission of http://www.woodsdressage.com) (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Discussion # 13: Here is another quote from Jimmy Wofford on improving your riding:
"While deliberate practice can and should be repeated, it will not be beneficial unless it falls between the comfort zone and the panic zone. If you merely practice your bad habits, you will wind up making the same mistakes perfectly. You need to be able to see bad habits to correct them - fortunately feedback on results is continuously available." (Meaning lessons, watching videos or looking at photos of yourself riding, using My Virtual Eventing Coach, ect)
What are some things that you know you need to work on, but are maybe not comfortable pushing yourself out of your comfort zone enough to really work on? What things do you dislike working on?
And how often do you get feedback on your riding, in any of the forms listed above? If you could get feedback more often, how much do you think that would help you? Is it worth trying to make that happen? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Discussion # 12: Lets further discuss the difference between speed and impulsion:
It's often been said that "speed is the enemy of impulsion." What do you think that statement means? What is the difference between speed and impulsion? And how could an increase in speed negatively affect the impulsion level in the horse? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Discussion # 11: Lets talk about how to evaluate a horse's balance from looking at jumping photos.
(Photo credit to www.HoofClix.com)
While these photos are obviously the same horse, one shows a balanced jump that was obviously a result of a properly balanced canter on the approach. And the other shows an unbalanced jump which resulted from a canter that was obviously less than ideal. What details do you notice in each picture that show that the horse is balanced or unbalanced? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
