What's Inside

Here we are doing a dressage test from an event on the weekend. I thought the test went well but the scores were quite disheartening Due to Covid we aren't getting comments on our sheets so have no idea where I'm going wrong. (Bridgit)

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Video # 324: This is Bridget and her 5 year old horse's first course at 75cm!

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Video # 323, and Question # 355: Rose would like some help with her 6 yo Connemara mare, who tends to be tense and rushy.

This is me and Willow - my 6 year old Connemara mare. She is an incredible horse and starting out on our eventing career she has completed three events (up to BN) on her dressage score. Unfortunately our dressage scores are poor (high 30s low 40s) due to the tension you see in this warm-up video. While this is at a show grounds she is like this anywhere, including at home. She has her teeth done regularly, gets PEMF and massages, has had several lameness exams (including a 5-stage PPE with radiographs) and has properly fitting saddles. She rides in a soft rubber mullen.

I have worked with many in-person trainers and not much has been accomplished. I'd say that her main problem is that there is no stop in her. She is extremely hot and sensitive and hates to be pulled on but pretty much the only way to stop/slow her is to pull and that bracing seems to cause the tension. I've tried the "turn to a stop" and that has really helped her relaxation but she is happy to keep turning all day. We've seem to hit a wall in our progression and am really hoping for some guidance. (Rose)

Hi Rose!

Willow is so cute! When she relaxes and slows down, I bet your scores will go up dramatically. I have LOTS of ideas for you! (Click on Video or Question title above to read full answer)

Video # 322: Here is Bridget, trying the exercise from the article: An Exercise to Help Teach Your Horse to Seek the Connection

This is Bridget, trying the exercise from the article: An Exercise to Help Teach Your Horse to Seek the Connection

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Video # 321: This is Bridget again, this time with her young 4 year old horse doing grid work for the very first time.

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Video # 320: This is Bridget, and her 20 year old horse who hasn't done this in quite a while!

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Video # 319: This is Kayla, working on her flatwork!

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Video # 318: This is Kayla, trying out a fun jumping exercise!

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Video # 317: This is Jessica and her horse, Dancer, having a jumping lesson!

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Video # 316: This is Kayla having a jump school!

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Video # 315 and Question # 340: Kaley has a question (with video), about his horse's jumping form, and whether or not his horse might still have upper level potential, despite the form he shows now as a green horse.

I would like to ask your opinion regarding a horses natural jumping technique and how much it can be improved. I can set fences at home to get him jumping with better technique but then we go to a show and he reverts to jumping like this. He had been having 4 to 5 rails every round. How much can a horses jumping technique be improved? My feeling has always been that you can improve what they naturally have to an extent but you're not going to turn a "3" into a "10". And right now I think he's a 3 or 4. (Kaley) (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read the answer and the critique of this video)

Video # 314, and Question # 337: Lauren has a question (with video) about her new OTTB mare.

I just got this ottb mare, who came off the track last year. She's hot but not out of control. But if I relax my seat and loosen my reins she is wanting to go into the next gait. She won't relax. She's very tense, but not in a scared way. No transitions or anything. Almost like she is still on the track. I did alot of circles, big and little. When she begins the circle she quiets down and gives her head but coming out of the circle (Or the other side of the circle) she speeds right back up. Do you have any advice on getting her to relax, and quiet down? I feel like our whole ride was half halts. Also during our circle she will fall to the outside, so i close my outside leg a little more and then she falls inside. Maybe im asking for the bend/turn the wrong way? (Lauren) (Click on Video or Question title above (in blue) to read the answer and the critique of this video)

Video # 313, and Question # 335: Kayla is riding in a jumping lesson, and wants to know why she got jumped out of the tack on the first jump!

I was wondering why I got caught in the rear on the backside of the first jump? (Kayla) (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video, and the answer to the question)

Video # 312 and Question # 331: This is Rachael!

This is my just-turned-four year old OTTB who is just starting into work after having a 6 month letdown post racing. The last 2 times I rode him, he was thinking about rounding and holding a steady contact to my hands. I was wondering if there are any tips/exercises I should be doing to help him learn to keep it more consistent? I know a lot of it is muscling, so I haven't been pushing very hard. I just don't want the head bobbing to become a habit. I am thinking of taking him to a schooling dressage show for Intro level just to get some experience in a few weeks. Any help would be appreciated :) Thanks! (Rachael) (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read the answer)

Video # 311 and Question # 329: Kayla is practicing BN test A, and has a few questions.

We practiced the BN test A twice today, and most of what needed work was actually our trot transitions (excluding the horrible miss of our left lead departure... oops). Is making those better just a matter of my position through them being better? Also, his hip has a tendency to fall out to the left in our halts. Is that because he's crooked going into them? (Kayla) (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read the answer and the critique of this video)

Video # 310: This is Susanne and her lovely horse Corelli, schooling cross country!

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Video # 309 and Question # 325: Kayla is finding it difficult to keep her horse on the aids in walk to halt transitions.

We just cannot finish our halts connected. Even if I ease him into them (so I don't get hung up on "right now" and pull), or even leave the reins with big loops in them, he always hollows/comes above the bit in that last stride. I feel like it's primarily because I've just always let him get away with halting terribly, but now that it's so ingrained, I'm having a terrible time undoing it. We spent 45 minutes working on that on Friday, and we only got one decent halt. I'm at a loss. Is it something I'm doing wrong? Or just a matter of working on it for a while and insisting that he maintains the connection, and making a big deal of him when he does? (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

This is actually a fairly common problem! At least to some degree. Walk to halt transitions tend to really point out any issues or weaknesses that horse and rider may have with downward transitions. What I would suggest to you is to... (Click on Question or Video Title above (in blue) to read the answer to this question)

Video # 108 and Question # 323: Kayla has a question (with video) about her horses tendency to fall out through his right shoulder when going to the left.

My horse is super bendy going to the left, but he runs right through the outside rein. In our flatwork today, I was trying to get him to step into it before we made our downward transitions from canter to trot, and he would immediately hollow (both vertically and horizontally) and just run sideways, no matter how much I tried to bring his shoulders back. I used the lightest leg aid I could, but it didn't seem to matter. To the right, he doesn't bend as well, but that outside rein actually means something, and he seems to be comfortable stepping up into that one, just not going left.

I added links to all of our videos from today, but our big fiasco was on our attempts at left lead transitions, however, I'm sure you can probably see where I'm wrong in any of them. I'm sure it's something I'm doing wrong, whether with my body position (I caught myself leaning left HARD in the lead departures), or with my hands, but I don't have any idea what, or how to fix it. He also seems to be twisting his head to the outside when we go left, but I'm not sure if he actually is or if it's an illusion because of the way his mane lies (and I can't see the muscle bulge if he's doing it both ways). (Kayla)

Hi Kayla!

What you are describing is actually very common! Most horses have a natural tendency to over bend their necks to the left. This causes them to lean on their right shoulder. And once a horse is heavy on their outside shoulder, they cannot respond properly to your turning aids, no matter how much they want to! (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer and the critique of this video)

Video # 107 and Question # 321: Kellyn has a question about her lovely OTTB, along with a video

This is Maverick, a 9 year old TB I took off the track last year, and the half brother to my 2016 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover horse, Bauer. Maverick was supposed to be my 2017 RRP project but he's a bit delicate minded and we weren't ready to go.

So we're plugging along at home, taking our time and working on basics. Very very slowly. He has (I think) some balance issues and there are moments when he sort of loses his back end on turns (see video). When this happens he panics and gets a bit wild. We've been working on large circles and big figure 8's at home for months and have made a very small amount of progress. He can't handle serpentines or lateral work right now without losing his mind (he's rather dramatic and prone to going airborne). What other exercises can we do that would help this issue without getting him frustrated?

I've ruled out physical issues - he has no previous injuries, clean x-rays, good teeth, and no chiropractic issues. He is prone to ulcers and has been on ulcer treatment for a year now. (Kellyn)

Hi Kellyn!

The first thing I have to say is... (Click on Video or Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer and the critique of this video)

Video # 106 and Question # 320: Kayla asks if her horse looks to be accepting the bit as she lunges him in side reins.

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Video # 105: This is Kayla training her horse to jump!

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Video # 104: This is Kayla riding Novice level test B

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Video # 103: This is Kayla doing Novice level Show Jumping!

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Video # 102: This is Kellyn, riding Novice level test B

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Video # 101: This is Kellyn and her horse, Bauer, doing their Novice level show jumping round!

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Video # 100: This is Susanne and her lovely horse enjoying some cross country schooling!

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Question # 314 and Video # 99: This is Susanne!

I really feel like my horse has continued to improve as far as his ability to sit and compact his canter step, his lead changes have also gotten smother with less extravagance and better balance. I am trying to sit in the saddle and keep my shoulders back before the jumps like you suggested and I do feel like that is helping him hold himself together better and also trying to be less rigid with my arms which is hard!! I wanted you to take a look at this video because I have a really hard time feeling like I am staying with him through the gymnastics, he has so much power and thrust and he is rushing a bit and I want to be with him, not against him so any tips you might have on what I need to do with my body to be in better balance with him would be great! (Susanne) (Click on Question or Video Title above (in blue) to read the answer and critique of this video)

Video # 98: This is Kayla and her coming 6 year old TB mare riding Training level test 2

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Question # 309, and Video # 97: This is Susanne!

We have been working on our canter all winter and I do feel like my ability to compress his stride is improving. I wanted to send you a recent video of us jumping, I can get him back and balanced after the fences but it takes me several strides and as he gets more excited about jumping I noticed that he likes to lunge forward in the last stride to the jump jumping at vs. up and over. I have read your article about how to get your horse to spend more time in the air and I will use all of those suggestions at home. Just wanted to see if you have any other tips or things that we need to address. (Susanne)
(Click on Question or Video Title above (in blue) to read the answer and critique of this video)

Question # 302, and Video # 96: I have a question about confidence. My horse is 8 but had about 6 months off when I was pregnant in 2015. Since coming back I feel like he has been spookier then he used to be. Before I could trust him to jump anything...

... Now he will sometimes have a look at the first three fences even if they are nothing out of the normal and I feel like I really have to ride him forward to get that adrenaline going to help out his confidence. I don't think this problem is physical, as he feels great, and my vet has checked him out thoroughly. What do you suggest? (Susanne)

Hi Susanne!

I'm glad you sent some videos along with this question, as even though he doesn't look particularly spooky or backed off in these videos, I can get a much more clear picture of what is going on... (Click on Question or Video Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Video # 95: This is Krista and her horse Sparky!

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Video # 94: This is Jen again!

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Video # 93: This is Jen!

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Question # 294 and Video # 92: My question is about banks, specifically jumping down....

...I don't know exactly what my body should be doing and I know that I don't release the reins enough as I jump down. Often in courses the down bank is followed by a jump to test your accuracy and control which makes me hold onto the reins even more as my horse has a big jump and a big stride and I am always afraid that I won't be able to get back in touch with him if I let the reins go. This video clip is of us schooling this weekend, the bank is at about the 56 second mark. My horse is a lovely, honest, athletic type and I want to be able to do him justice, he is very forgiving but I know if I keep hitting him in the mouth at every bank he is going to start thinking about whether or not it is worth jumping! (Susanne)

Hi Susanne!

First of all, I have to say how much I love your horse! He looks like a game athlete, and I love his natural balance at the gallop. And you two look to be a very well matched team. I see a lot of trust and understanding betweeen the two of you. On to your question about jumping down banks... (Click on Question or Video Title above (in blue) to read full answer)

Video # 91: This is Vita!

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Video # 90: This is Vita and her newly off the track TB!

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Video # 89: This is Eileen!

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Video # 88: This is Kayla schooling cross country!

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Video # 87: This is my lesson from today. This is my new 4 year old OTTB (never raced, just race trained).

...As you can tell in the beginning the construction going on had her a bit nervous. We also jump fairly well off the right lead, but really struggle going to the left. I'm starting to feel a bit better about staying with her over the jumps, as long as we are cantering. Wondering if you have any exercises for myself to help me stay with her better and learn her jumping style as well as anything you see she needs improvement on in her jumping/flatwork. Thanks! (Kayla) (Click on Video Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video)

Video # 86: This is Holly, doing a row of bounces in her small indoor arena!

So I've been taking it slow with my boy, we've started doing 2'6 courses! But, now it's winter and we have a ridiculously small indoor. I set up some trot-in bounce crossrails today (low because it was his first time doing bounces), mostly to work on my leg, but looking at the video, it almost looks like the distance between the jumps is too short. I'll send the video. They're 9 feet apart, and it feels like he went through them pretty flat as well. What's your opinion, and what do you think we need to work on? You can kind of see how small a space I have to work in, and until the massive flooding in the southeast eases up we're stuck indoors so I'm trying to find things we can do. Also, I had dropped the reins but hadn't quite figured out what to do with my arms so they're just kind of awkwardly there in this video. (Holly) (Click on Video Title above (in blue) to read the critique of this video)

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