What's Inside
Search the Site
Tip/Quote of the Day # 3808
Imagine the rider's body as a tree… The rider's seat and core need to be engaged and strong like the tree trunk, their long draped legs are the roots, and their arms are supple movable branches.
Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share with your friends! Look for the share buttons on the far right side of the page. Thank you!
Related Articles:
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 773
- Question # 192: I am stuck in my training right now. I know the concept of all that is being asked of me, but I have the movement of a brick. I am unconciously stiff in my movements...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3181
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2851
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2975
- Help to Ensure That Your Horse LIKES His or Her Job!
- An Exercise to Help You to Find Your Abdominal Muscles When in the Saddle
- Quin's Blog post # 2: The Ultimate Answer to Riding, the Universe, and Everything
- Do You Know What Skills You and Your Horse Need to Have Before Entering a Novice Level Event?
- The “Floor” of Your Dressage Seat
- The Most Productive Way to Begin Each Ride
- The Problems in the Eventing World Today! (written in 2014) (Current freebie!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1826
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1659
- Horses that Tilt Their Head in Dressage
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1095
- Video # 89: This is Eileen!
- Are You Riding With Your Reins at the Right Length?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1797
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1648
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1424
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1286
- Riding From "Front to Back"
- Video # 95: This is Krista and her horse Sparky!
- Adding More *Scope* to Your Lateral Work - For Better Dressage Scores!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4196
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2874
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2831
- Video # 104: This is Kayla riding Novice level test B
- The Function of the Rider’s Elbow Joints
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3771
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3319
- There Are Always Two Sides to Every Story - Even Between You and Your Horse!
- Ruth's Blog post # 5: Connection Issues in Canter Transitions
- Question # 333: Kayla has a question about core/ab exercises for her horse.
- Question # 277: I would like advice on how to get comfortable switching from longer Dressage seat stirrups to Stadium and XC short stirrups as a middle aged working amateur rider?
- Keep Your Aids Dynamic
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4384
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4334
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4263
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4194
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3979
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3840
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3626
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3497
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3486
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3304
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3266
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3017
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2961
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2645
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2590
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2585
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2560
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2545
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2142
- How Your Driving Habits Relate to Your Riding Habits
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1743
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1356
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1267
- The Full Body Relaxation Exercise (For the Rider)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4339
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4114
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3896
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3795
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3611
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3476
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3451
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3049
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2911
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2677
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2130
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1875
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1816
- An Exercise to Teach Your Horse to Be More HOT to Your Inside Leg Aid
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1777
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1776
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1709
- The Crest Release, the Automatic Release, and Everything In Between (With Pictures!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1483
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1309
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1202
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 900
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4331
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3776
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3757
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3531
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3130
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2509
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1784
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1727
- Video # 311 and Question # 329: Kayla is practicing BN test A, and has a few questions.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1609
- Tall and Short Rider Problems!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4502
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4470
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4457
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4245
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4234
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4153
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4143
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4075
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4000
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3967
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3779
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3758
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3745
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3735
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3734
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3699
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3509
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3400
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3337
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3297
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3171
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3159
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3133
- Is Your Free Walk Really FREE? And Do You Make Good Use Of It?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2845
- The 'Half-Go'
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 59: Coping with Stress and Anxiety: Part II - Connection
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 58: Coping with Stress and Anxiety - Part I: The Worry Bucket
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2566
- Rider Leg Aids
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 57: Desperately Dependent or Fiercely Independent: Finding the right balance
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 56: How long will this take??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2448
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 55: Filling Your Treasure Chest
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 54: The Power of a Plan
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 53: Personality Part 2: Internalizer or Externalizer
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 52: Personality Part 1: Past, Present, Future
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 51: Who do you compare yourself to... it really matters!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2311
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 50: Horses as mirrors: Does it work the other way around?
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 49: Respect: Essential for horse and rider
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 48: Working with horses is complicated... that's a good thing
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 47: Courage... Is it as simple as "Cowgirl Up" ?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2199
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2116
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2053
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1894
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1849
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1829
- The Benefits of "Stair Stepping" Your Lateral Exercises
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1753
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1745
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1719
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1678
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1674
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1671
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1649
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1647
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1633
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1619
- The *Volume* of Your Aids
- Does Your Horse Pick Up the Canter With His Haunches In?
- Question # 278: I am a dressage rider who is currently working on 2nd level. I have some days where I am really capable of connecting my seat to sit the trot very fluidly and straight...
- Introducing the Counter Canter
- Keeping the Older Horse Going Strong
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4159
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4085
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3975
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3868
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3814
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3532
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3503
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3457
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2534
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2510
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1960
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1811
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1611
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1336
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 976
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 866
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 596
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 418
- Question # 146: Several of my students are struggling right now with keeping a consistent contact and soft elbows. Do you have any advice and/or exercises to help them (this is definitely something I can improve too!)? Thanks! (Kayla)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4506
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4266
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4210
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4204
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4185
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4171
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4073
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3963
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3838
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3688
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3604
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3542
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3425
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3332
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3231
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3146
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2984
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2928
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2857
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2649
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2648
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2343
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2221
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1785
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1720
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1718
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1705
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1610
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1608
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1529
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1519
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1463
- Signs That Your Performance Horse Might Be Sore
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1295
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1284
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1282
- An Exercise to Help Improve Your Trot to Canter Transitions
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1066
- Dressage Canter Adjustability Exercise # 2
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1006
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 918
- Improving the Trot
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4136
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3235
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2938
- Question # 339: Kayla has another question about how to stay with her horse's motion over jumps.
- HOW to Use the Turn Into Each Jump to Balance Your Horse
- Question # 294 and Video # 92: My question is about banks, specifically jumping down....
- Horses That Wag Their Head From Side to Side
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 838
- Does Your Horse Try to Pull You Out of the Saddle?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 325
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4482
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4479
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4468
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4441
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4411
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4394
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4353
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4343
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4330
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4308
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4304
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4294
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4284
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4275
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4272
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4254
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4237
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4230
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4208
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4191
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4180
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4170
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4165
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4164
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4121
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4118
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4110
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4107
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4083
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4057
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4024
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4020
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4001
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3962
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3957
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3949
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3933
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3919
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3878
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3860
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3850
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3837
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3827
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3810
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3799
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3783
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3752
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3712
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3693
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3649
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3627
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3592
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3539
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3519
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3506
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3477
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3472
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3463
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3414
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3411
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3395
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3385
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3380
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3379
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3357
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3325
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3318
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3280
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3268
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3265
- Tip/Quote of the day # 3259
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3245
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3236
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3223
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3217
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3209
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3195
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3185
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3164
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3162
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3111
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3104
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3071
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3040
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3018
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3014
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2968
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2940
- The Order of Aids For Changing Your Horse's Bend From One Side to the Other
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2936
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2898
- Guest Blog # 111: "Weighty Matters" by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2881
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2876
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2859
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2846
- Video # 325: This is Bridget doing a Dressage test!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2749
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2734
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2710
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2707
- Video # 323, and Question # 355: Rose would like some help with her 6 yo Connemara mare, who tends to be tense and rushy.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2668
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2650
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2647
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2633
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2608
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2604
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2599
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2551
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2543
- An Exercise to Help You Improve ALL of Your Downward Transitions
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2517
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2491
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2470
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2451
- An Exercise to Help Teach Your Horse to Seek the Connection
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2430
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2359
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2314
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2294
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2284
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 46: Safety and Security - Essential tools for learning.
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 45: Confidence: State or Trait...it matters
- Is Your Horse Sore in These Very Common Areas??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2179
- A Simple Exercise to Help You to Relax and Reset the Position of Your Shoulders When Riding
- All About the Volte!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2077
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2076
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1987
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1904
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1902
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1899
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1897
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1891
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1878
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1865
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1844
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1834
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1827
- Dr. Haefner's Blog post # 9: A Different Take on a Performance “State of Mind”
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1815
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1808
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1789
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1788
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1787
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1775
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1773
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1757
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1751
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1746
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1712
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1707
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1676
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1657
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1642
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1641
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1640
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1626
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1604
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1603
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1600
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1587
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1574
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1565
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1547
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1537
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1534
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1533
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1527
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1525
- Lateral Work as "Medicine" For the Dressage Horse
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1470
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1449
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1447
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1433
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1383
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1346
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1185
- The BEST Exercise to Loosen Up Your Horse's Tight Lower Back Area
- The Corridor of Aids
- Guest Blog post # 74: "Imagine (there's no pulling)" by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1038
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 951
- Develop an Independent *Hand* - an Essential Skill That is Key to a Good Rein Connection!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 895
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 894
- Brianna's Blog Post # 11
- A Trainer's Responsibility! (That's YOU!) (Current Freebie!)
- The Mysterious Half Halt (Current freebie!)
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2434
- Training and Conditioning the Young Event Horse
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1132
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3888
- Try This Mental Trick, to Quickly Bring Your Riding to a New Level!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2176
- Quin's Blog post # 3: How are you and your horse communicating?
- Video # 309 and Question # 325: Kayla is finding it difficult to keep her horse on the aids in walk to halt transitions.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1215
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 545
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 511
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 422
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 65
- Video # 44: This is Jen!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4494
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4309
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4274
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4242
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4235
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4222
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4211
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4067
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4066
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4060
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4034
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3936
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3855
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3792
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3763
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3751
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3694
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3614
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3536
- Monitor Your Horse's Stress Levels, For Best Results in Training
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3352
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3109
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3100
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2994
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2932
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2924
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2850
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2571
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2441
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2270
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2232
- The Counted Walk - a Tool to Improve Your Horse's Carriage in Dressage
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1910
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1802
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1799
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1465
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1425
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1405
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1386
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1314
- Where a Rider Should Look When Riding the Various Lateral Movements
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1052
- Discussion # 145: Stiff vs athletic movement
- Question # 273: I'm wondering if you have any favorite exercises for strengthening a horse's back and building topline?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 883
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 808
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 683
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 567
- Question # 229, and Video # 70: Problems with halting!
- Use the "As If" Principle to Improve Your Riding (Current Freebie!)
- Video # 320: This is Bridget, and her 20 year old horse who hasn't done this in quite a while!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1877
- Teach Your Horse to Better Follow Your Eye When Jumping
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 565
- Photo # 54: This is Kayla schooling a drop fence!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4511
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4508
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4505
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4504
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4493
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4487
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4485
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4483
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4480






