Lesley's Corner
Is Your Free Walk Really FREE? And Do You Make Good Use Of It?
Let's talk about WHY we ride our horses in the movement known as the free walk.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Tip/Quote of the Day # 4482
"You can see suppleness by observing how the rider can sit on the horse and not on top of the horse." ~ Susanne Miesner
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Tip/Quote of the Day # 4481
Horses love a routine… it gives them confidence. With the nervous or green horse, develop a warm up routine that you will use every day. And make sure it stays the same at shows.
Lesley's Corner
A TEST of Your Horse's Rideability & Adjustability
Generally a good, smooth, clean show jumping round happens when you have the right quality of canter, and your horse is rideable and adjustable between fences. Here is an exercise that will show you exactly how much adjustability your horse has!
Videos
Video # 106 and Question # 320: Kayla asks if her horse looks to be accepting the bit as she lunges him in side reins.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Tip/Quote of the Day # 4480
"Once you are in the working phase, stay sitting in the saddle as the seat is a very important aid for influence; especially for long backed horses. If you sit in the saddle you can better feel and influence the horse. If the horse is weak, perhaps sit for
Videos
Video # 75: This is Jen again, schooling at home!
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Tip/Quote of the Day # 4479
"Suppleness means that the muscles contract and de-contract, and this has to go through the entire horse, it cannot be blocked in the middle of the back, and it also has to go through the rider." ~ Susanne Miesner
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Tip/Quote of the Day # 4478
"The hind legs are brought far enough underneath the center of gravity by the rider’s legs, where they are gradually burdened with more of the combined weight of horse and rider for brief moments, which flexes their joints more. Like coiled springs, they push off with much greater
Videos
Video # 105: This is Kayla training her horse to jump!
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Tip/Quote of the Day # 4477
You have to be able to ride in "neutral", with no aids whatsoever, for your horse to be able to feel, recognize, and respond to the lightest of your aids.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Tip/Quote of the Day # 4476
The less you see a rider do, the better. That means they are communicating with the horse quietly, and the horse is attentive.