Tip/Quote of the Day # 603“Happy horses get high marks. Good basics get high marks. Too many horses do the movements held and forced, and this will get low marks.” ~ Christoph HessTip/Quote of the Day # 602“Event horses need to learn to jump facing into crowds and other spooky things. At home, I have my horses jumping into banners on the fence line and other things to get them used to that idea.” ~ William Fox PittTip/Quote of the Day # 601When running cross country in muddy conditions, always look for a fresh track to run on between fences. Not paying attention to this detail and letting your horse gallop in the tracks made by previous horses will increase your horse's workload... adding to unnecessary fatigue, as well as putting him at increased risk for injury. Tip/Quote of the Day # 600With horses, just like with people, let your actions speak for you. For example, you may think you are rewarding your horse when you say "Good boy" or "Good girl"… but if you don't also release the aid, your horse will not really feel rewarded for their effort.Tip/Quote of the Day # 599The amount of weight involved in your elastic rein connection can be anything from a firm bungee cord type feel to a thin, lightweight rubber band. And the horse's level of balance is what will determine exactly what that weight will be. Tip/Quote of the Day # 598When lunging, pivot with one foot so that you keep yourself still and centered in the middle of your horse's circle. This way, he will learn to make an actual circle shape, rather than an odd shape.Tip/Quote of the Day # 597“Most horses are either slightly lazy or crazy. We hope to find one that is somewhere in the middle.” ~ William Fox PittTip/Quote of the Day # 596
When strength is needed, such as when riding a strong horse, a rider needs to be able to find their strength in the center of their body - their core. Many times they attempt to find their strength in their arms or shoulders instead, and this is counter productive. As instead of being an anchor against the horse's strength, the horse thinks the rider is instigating a pulling match.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 595“Often people think that the easy way of stopping the horse from charging is by putting on the handbreak — and that’s actually the cause in the first place." ~ Harry MeadeTip/Quote of the Day # 594From Facebook fan Elizabeth Owens ~ "I finally realized that my horse's lead issues were due to the fact that I sit crooked. It's rarely the horse's fault... look to the rider's faults first."Tip/Quote of the Day # 593Because one hind foot is always in the air in the trot, it is harder for a horse to refuse a jump from a trot approach vs a canter approach. So it can be a good idea to trot into a spooky fence that you think your horse might want to stop at. Just make sure you keep riding that trot until your horse is safely in the air.Tip/Quote of the Day # 592“Horsemen have opinions, horses have answers." ~ John LyonsTip/Quote of the Day # 591Focusing on carrying your head correctly will correct most posture bad habits.Tip/Quote of the Day # 590If you have jump poles with stripes on them, make sure you take advantage of them, by practicing jumping or stepping accurately over the middle stripe.Tip/Quote of the Day # 589As you are about to come down the center line in your Dressage test, briefly think about something that you know will make you smile. You and your horse will both relax, which will make for a happier performance. The judge will see the difference!Tip/Quote of the Day # 588“Horses can get deep to a single pole [without a groundline] and learn to do a slithery jump, like they need to at a coffin.” ~ Andrew NicholsonTip/Quote of the Day # 587From Facebook fan Jim Collins ~ "Often the simplest exercise is the most profound."Tip/Quote of the Day # 586We incorporate circles into our training to promote suppleness and improved balance in the horse. But if our circles are oddly shaped, they will not improve the horse's suppleness, and will instead unbalance the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 585Your arm position determines your hand position to a large degree. So you must address your arms as well when you want to improve your hands.Tip/Quote of the Day # 584"Don't take the tempo down without revving the engine." ~ Chris BartleTip/Quote of the Day # 583Impulsion is almost more of a mental quality than a physical.Tip/Quote of the Day # 582Open fingers do not equal soft hands. Soft hands come from relaxed following elbows, and a secure balanced seat. Open fingers causes the contact to be inconsistent and uninviting to the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 581"When selecting a French Link snaffle ensure the middle link is not too long, and that the holes are big enough for the bit to move freely – this will ensure your horse is comfortable in the contact." ~ Robert DoverTip/Quote of the Day # 580"Sometimes to foster a horse’s personality also means to accept that we can influence but never dominate him. We have to find subtle ways to control exuberant horses." ~ Ingrid KlimkeTip/Quote of the Day # 579Horses and riders should both be comfortable jumping a single, simple fence that is the size of one level above where they are currently competing. Tip/Quote of the Day # 578"If you want to hear something profound, practice being a profoundly good listener." ~ Suzanne JohnsonTip/Quote of the Day # 577“Each use of the hand has to be preceded by an action of the upper body, otherwise the rider is merely influencing the horse’s head.” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 576Don't forget your outside leg in the circle of bending aids.Tip/Quote of the Day # 575Shoulder in to the right really strengthens the right hind leg, which will help to improve the horse's ability to do haunches in and half pass to the left. And vice versa. Tip/Quote of the Day # 574"Only the rider who is free from any contraction will have a horse equally free from contraction. A team such as this is the ideal” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 573The horse should be just as much "on the aids" in the stretching frame as he is in a working frame. Tip/Quote of the Day # 572Remember that you don't "push" your horse anywhere… you give him signals.Tip/Quote of the Day # 571"Good riders forget about the bad things. Inexperienced riders think mostly about the bad things. There are many roads to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same from the top." ~ Kyra KyrklundTip/Quote of the Day # 570From Facebook fan Jennifer McGinley ~ "I'm realizing this concept more and more recently. If you establish the canter you need (balanced, adjustable) and keep the horse on his feet. Your horse can jump from anywhere. We are learning that you can actually ride forward and powerful to the base. If the set up is right, they can jump from anywhere, safely, with balance and still remain adjustable on landing to set up for B & C elements!"Tip/Quote of the Day # 569
Much like the way the horse is "in front of your leg" when he is responsive and thinking forward, he also needs to be "in front of" your inside leg to be responsive and bending properly.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 568Every time you pull back on the inside rein, you block the horse's inside hind leg from stepping fully underneath his body. Tip/Quote of the Day # 567"Every rein aid must be preceded by an action of the torso. Otherwise you only address the horse's head." ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 566Horse and rider are not truly safe on cross country until they are both comfortable getting right to the base of the jumps.Tip/Quote of the Day # 565The intensity of your half halt is about the strength of your seat and core, and the push into the connection... not the amount of pull on the reins. Tip/Quote of the Day # 564"Suppleness in the back is the most important basic you can give your horse. When a horse is not supple in his back, it’s a big deal for him. Horses store a lot of emotion in their backs. If you have ever hurt your back, you know how painful it can be. It occupies your every thought." ~ Scott HasslerTip/Quote of the Day # 563The more balanced and collected the horse is, the more narrow the track he can travel on. The highly trained horse would be able to canter on a balance beam. Tip/Quote of the Day # 562A successful jump is more about the approach than the jumping effort itself.Tip/Quote of the Day # 561To help your horse perform a true medium or extended trot, think about maintaining some of the elevation that you have in your collected trot as you move into it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 560"The sequence of an aid is not complete until you soften it." ~ George WilliamsTip/Quote of the Day # 559
"It can be difficult to analyze your horse's performance whilst you are also concentrating on not falling off." ~ Jimmy Wofford
Tip/Quote of the Day # 558Your comfort zone will keep expanding, every time you venture just outside of it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 557The opening inside rein gives the horse the indication that the turn is about to happen. The outside aids actually make the turn happen.Tip/Quote of the Day # 556The more independent and effective the rider's seat is, the less hand or leg aids they will need to control the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 555“The collected trot is that which desires to be in the extended trot. Do you feel the extended trot alive in it?” ~ Robert DoverTip/Quote of the Day # 554To check that you are maintaining enough forward energy when you collect your horse, ask yourself if you could easily jump a big fence with the walk, trot, or canter that you have.
