Tip/Quote of the Day!
I find that many riders are using bits that are too big for their horse’s mouths. While certainly better than a bit that is too small, when a bit is too big there is too much movement of the bit sliding back and forth in the horse’s mouth.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
"Limited understanding induces many novice riders to commit the worst possible fault, which is to interfere with the hands to produce a set head position. They manage to get the horse to flex at the poll, either by sliding the bit to and fro in the mouth (sawing), or
Tip/Quote of the Day!
"Dressage is controlled excitement." ~ Erin Sweeney
Tip/Quote of the Day!
"I want to make the horse shorter because he is rounder, not because he is shorter, squeezed, jammed." ~ Miguel Tavora
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Both horse and rider should learn to love that deep takeoff spot. Otherwise they are an accident waiting to happen.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
"We work a lot on the canter transition: canter walk canter because it is very good exercise to collect and to improve the canter." ~ Miguel Tavora
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Some horses like a contact with the reins all the way up until the point of takeoff at a jump, while others prefer to have soft or even loose reins in the last stride or so. Make sure you know which type of horse you have.
~Ruth's Corner~
Does your horse come above the bit, toss his head or climb with his head and neck into every canter transition? If your answer is yes, you should ask yourself the following questions. There is a reason that your horse displays this behavior. Don't look at the symptom.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Any issues you have at the canter are usually there at the walk too, but just don't bother you as much because you're not going very fast. But it is easier to fix things at the walk! So don’t miss that opportunity.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
"The outside rein is like any relationship....if you aren't 'there' when you're supposed to be, you allow people who counted on you to fall.” ~ Becky Rickly
Tip/Quote of the Day!
You don't really do yourself any favors when you cater to your weaknesses. For example, if you only like to ride with your whip in your right hand, and it feels odd and uncomfortable in your left - you need to make yourself ride with it in your
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Problems can only truly be fixed by finding their root cause, and addressing that rather than merely addressing the symptoms. Address the symptoms alone, and they will keep coming back. Or new symptoms will develop.
