Tip/Quote of the Day # 403The more leg you regularly keep on your horse, the less they will feel your aid when you try to apply it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 402Walk is the "explaining" pace, so whenever possible ride every exercise in the walk first.Tip/Quote of the Day # 401To lengthen your horse's frame, imagine that you are pushing the horse's head and neck away from you with your hands, while riding forward into that connection.Tip/Quote of the Day # 400If you start to lose any quality in a lateral movement while schooling, it is often best to come out of it. Don't practice doing it wrong! Make a small circle to re-establish bend and a good connection on the outside rein, and begin the movement again. The first few steps of any lateral exercise are usually the most gymnastically beneficial anyways.Tip/Quote of the Day # 399After each use of your legs, you need to think about opening them up a bit and letting them drop down. This will keep you on your seat bones correctly.Tip/Quote of the Day # 398The rider that helps the horse to carry himself in the best balance in the canter is poised and still in the upper body, while remaining supple and following in their hips and elbows.Tip/Quote of the Day # 397From member Pamela Robins ~ "As my horse's leader, it is my job to always try to be aware that I am the leader."Tip/Quote of the Day # 396Remember to ask questions when you don't fully understand something - both in lessons, and on this site.... You will get much more out of the time/money spent in lessons, and in utilizing this site! Tip/Quote of the Day # 395If you struggle with good half halts and downward transitions, try using your breathing to help you. Take a deep breath in, and exhale as you stretch up your spine for the downward transition. This will show you how to be more effective with your seat aid, and will help you to learn how to ride forward into your downward transitions. Tip/Quote of the Day # 394A sign of a good, balanced jumping effort is that your horse lands at the same speed that he was at on the approach. Tip/Quote of the Day # 393True bending from nose to tail requires that the horse understands how to move away from lateral leg pressure, understands the connecting outside rein, and understands the aids to inside flexion. Tip/Quote of the Day # 392"Fear allows you to be brave." ~ Shanyn Fiske Tip/Quote of the Day # 391Make every transition count. With every poor transition that you let "slip by", you will be training your horse to do them poorly.Tip/Quote of the Day # 390Long slow distance work is an important part of every horse's conditioning program, 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.Tip/Quote of the Day # 389Make sure you don't fall into the trap of treating your horse like he is a baby, long after he is a no longer baby. This is a common problem when a rider has brought along a young horse from scratch.Tip/Quote of the Day # 388Impress the Dressage judges by showing a clear difference between riding a corner and part of a circle.Tip/Quote of the Day # 387For shows it can be helpful to write up a time schedule for the day, working backward from your ride times. For example, if your dressage ride is at 11am, you might plan to be on and warming up at 10:15, tacking up at 10am, grooming at 9:30, braiding at 8:30, etc. Having a schedule completely thought out and written down can help ease any anxieties that you may have about what to do when.Tip/Quote of the Day # 386The last couple of strides before a jump belong to the horse. Don't interrupt him.Tip/Quote of the Day # 385One of the most important things to remember in this sport is that we do this for FUN! Make sure that you remind yourself of this often. If you access more of the fun in your riding, your horse will usually go better.Tip/Quote of the Day # 384"Dressage is not just for competition. It is gymnastics for horses, and all horses can benefit from it, as they are more likely to stay sound with a long, stretchy neck, soft body and easy movement." ~ Carl Hester Tip/Quote of the Day # 383Positive reinforcement is a very powerful way to train horses. And because of this, you must be very careful that you are actually reinforcing the right things.Tip/Quote of the Day # 382Your training goal for the "hot" or high strung horse should be to get him to learn how to control his energy. Don't try to wear him out. That will never work with the truly hot horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 381"If you control the hind legs, you control the horse."Tip/Quote of the Day # 380From Facebook fan Anne Rawle ~ "Never teach a horse something you want him to forget."Tip/Quote of the Day # 379Dressage is the passionate pursuit of perfection by the obsessively imperfect. ;)Tip/Quote of the Day # 378"Breathe deeply and calmly in the canter. Expand your rib cage" ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 377Always keep your eyes up when walking a course. See exactly what your horse will be seeing for the first time.Tip/Quote of the Day # 376"Through gaining competence, we gain confidence” ~ Erik HerbermannTip/Quote of the Day # 375“When the horse is resisting the left rein, try to substitute the left rein aid with the left leg.” ~ Nuno OliveriaTip/Quote of the Day # 374Get out of the arena as much as possible. It will do your horse good both mentally and physically.Tip/Quote of the Day # 373Give your horse direction by telling and showing him what TO do, rather than what not to do.Tip/Quote of the Day # 372Keeping your thumbs on top and your palms facing each other stabilizes your upper body.Tip/Quote of the Day # 371 Smooth, flowing transitions only happen when the horse is balanced and engaged behind.Tip/Quote of the Day # 370 A still tail carried close to the horse shows the inactivity of the back muscles in the loin area. Tip/Quote of the Day # 369Let the turn into the jump assist with your half halt.Tip/Quote of the Day # 368Too much use of the inside rein will almost always make a horse fight. If your horse is fighting with you in any situation, check that you are not hanging on it unconsciously. Tip/Quote of the Day # 367Talking to your horse when on course keeps you breathing!Tip/Quote of the Day # 366From Facebook fan Erin Kavanaugh Kirkley ~ "If you don't know how to use your core, look up some core strengthening Pilates moves. You will discover the transversus abdominis and your riding will improve in many ways."Tip/Quote of the Day # 365When you need to perform a shoulder in down the long side of the arena in a Dressage test, make a point to ride extra deep into the previous corner to help set up for the movement.Tip/Quote of the Day # 364Always remember that the release of the aid is what teaches the horse that he did the right thing.Tip/Quote of the Day # 363A half halt should not kill any of the energy in the horse's stride, but rather rebalance it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 362Remember that change is a process, so go easy on yourself and your horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 361A horse's energy flowing through a turn is similar to water flowing through a tunnel. Just as the outside wall of the tunnel is paramount, a good connection on the outside rein is crucial to a successful turn. Tip/Quote of the Day # 360Horses generally mirror their riders. If your horse is tense, check yourself. If your horse is crooked, check yourself. If your horse is distracted, check yourself. If you want your horse to carry himself properly, make sure you are carrying yourself properly on his back.Tip/Quote of the Day # 359Many riders place their saddles too far forward! Make sure that the solid parts of the saddle are behind the horse's shoulder to allow for freedom of the shoulder.Tip/Quote of the Day # 358From Facebook fan Lauren Slattery ~ "Pulling will teach the horse to lean and support itself on you without working properly as well as make the horse dead to your rein aids."Tip/Quote of the Day # 357Always keep in mind that the Dressage horse is supposed to be (and look like) a "happy athlete". If the horse does not look happy in his work, that work is probably not correct.Tip/Quote of the Day # 356Don't wait until things are perfect to reward your horse. You must praise the horse when he makes even the slightest step in the right direction. Training this way will encourage your horse to love learning. Tip/Quote of the Day # 355When you need to change your stride length in any related distance, aim to do it early on in the line, so you can just maintain the rest of the line. This will give you the best chance to have a smooth jump out.Tip/Quote of the Day # 354From Facebook Fan Brenda Herzog ~ "When trying to sit the canter or trot, relax the legs down and around with each stride and to pick the horse "up" with you. This eliminates the bounce in your seat and helps to elevate the horse."
