Tip/Quote of the Day # 2486
Relax your aids as you ride by that scary spot. Many riders unconsciously hold or even clench instead. And this sends the horse the message that the scary spot really must be dangerous!
Relax your aids as you ride by that scary spot. Many riders unconsciously hold or even clench instead. And this sends the horse the message that the scary spot really must be dangerous!
In the sport of Eventing, ensuring that our horses are truly fit for our level of competition is one of the best ways to prevent unnecessary injuries.
Horses become incapable of learning when they go past a certain level of fear, anxiety, or stress. This means that if you keep hammering away at the horse, trying to teach them something when they are currently overwhelmed with stress, it will not work.
For the horse, the learning happens on the release of the aid. That means if you don't release the aid, the horse will not learn.
"Don't take the tempo down without revving the engine." ~ Chris Bartle