"Think of using your skeleton to turn your horse, not your muscles." ~ Catherine Haddad
This idea may not "click" with everyone, but I think it will help many to better use their body without negative tension in the muscle, which only causes resistance in the horse.
Don't confuse being left behind over a jump with a defensive seat on cross country. They are very different. The rider who is in a defensive position on cross country is a nickel behind the motion, while still not interfering with the horse in any way. The rider who is left behind is catching the horse in the mouth and slamming their backs on landing, both the ultimate punishment for the horse jumping the fence. If you are getting left behind often, it may be time to move down a level and work on your basics.
Interval training is one of the safest ways to develop the horse's ability to do more work over longer periods of time, as it helps to prevent fatigue and a build up of lactic acid in the muscles.
Imagine you are galloping along through a field, and a jump magically appears just a few strides in front of you. Would you be able to jump it? And more importantly, would you be able to jump it well?? Why in the world would I ask such a question, you might ask, since fences do not usually just fall out of the sky! Well, I ask for a very important reason! If you are... (Click on Article Title above to read full article)
This is a GREAT question! When you test your horse's self carriage as outlined in this article, and you feel that he passes the test by maintaining all of the qualities listed there, how do you know for sure whether your horse is really correct, or if he is just posing in a false frame?? The answer is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)Tip/Quote of the Day # 1053The inside rein can easily become a crutch. Try to use it as little as possible. Tip/Quote of the Day # 1052
Horses are often so quick to bend their necks (which is one of the most flexible areas in the horse's body) in response to the rider's request to either flex laterally at the poll, or to bend in the body. Make sure you have sufficient connection on the outside rein with either request to keep your horse's neck straight.
If you don't have forward, you won't be able to achieve a true half halt. And without an effective half halt, it will be hard to improve the horse's balance.
"In flying change training, the horse is ready when counter canter is firmly established and horse can easily perform correct simple changes. If the horse offers a flying change early don't punish him. 'What a child knows, it knows'" ~ Reiner Klimke
"When should I make a half halt?" she asked me. The obvious answer is when you need one, but if she's asking that question, maybe the answer isn't so obvious after all! (Click on Blog Title above to read full entry)
Transitions make up much of your Dressage Test. This is true at all levels, but is especially so as you move up the levels... where you now have transitions within the gait as well as between gaits. And if you want good scores, you must be able to make smooth, balanced transitions! Here is an exercise which will help to improve the adjustability and rideability of your horse's canter in the Dressage ring. And it has the added benefits of activating the hind quarters, increasing throughness, and developing and improving the canter. (Click on Article Title above (in blue) to read full article)
Using a volte (a 6, 8, or 10 meter circle) before a lateral exercise like a shoulder in, haunches in, or half pass allows you to establish the bend for those movements even before you begin them.
Varying the degree of your half pass can improve your horse’s suppleness from all angles, as well as increasing his responsiveness to your aids within the movement. In other words, while going in half pass across the diagonal, half halt, and do a few strides with a steeper angle (more sideways than forward), then go forward again.
Video Discussion # 93: More than a "missed distance"!Many people will see this near mishap as a simple "bad distance," but it is important to see and realize that the actual cause was the quality of the canter in the final strides.
Because this horse was in a canter that was on the extreme open end of the scale of compression (read all about that here), with a nearly completely uncoiled spring in the last strides, that desperate long spot was this horse's only option. And this is an easy thing to have happen when the rider is riding desperately forward to a very big jump!
Since the type of canter stride on the approach dictates the takeoff spot that will develop, a more packaged gallop stride would have changed this outcome, and given the horse the opportunity to smoothly and easily add one more stride in this situation.
So, question: How can you tell if the "spring" of your horse's hind legs is becoming uncoiled on the approach? In other words, when he is getting too long and flat in his gallop to be able to be nimble and add a stride when necessary? And when you do feel this is happening to you on the approach, what can you do about it? (Click on Discussion Title above (in blue) to read this educational discussion)
Both horse and rider should learn to love that deep takeoff spot. If either one is not truly comfortable there, the pair will be at increased risk of falls or refusals.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 1043Smooth seas do not make for skillful sailors. And easy horses don't often produce good riders. Tip/Quote of the Day # 1042Always have more time than your horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 1041A tip for instructors - Turn on the forehand can be a great way to teach your students about the importance of the outside rein.Tip/Quote of the Day # 1040Always use both reins together to steer, especially when jumping. Using one rein only turns the horse's nose - but using both reins turn the horse at the shoulders, which means his body will more accurately follow your chosen line.Tip/Quote of the Day # 1039It is common for riders to accidentally teach their horses undesirable behavior by releasing the pressure of an aid at the wrong time. Be mindful of only rewarding behavior that you actually want. Tip/Quote of the Day # 1038"Make the front of your body longer in order to obtain a more effective back and seat." ~ Mary KingTip/Quote of the Day # 1037
Practice your two point position.
If you want to have a really solid position over jumps, practice it a lot.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 1036"When cross country is ridden properly it doesn't look like show jumping." ~ Jules StillerTip/Quote of the Day # 1035When tacking up, always take the time to pull your saddle pads well up into the pommel of the saddle. The pressure of a tight saddle pad across the withers area can make a horse sore.Brianna's Blog Post # 14
Discipline
(The mare who has inspired a great deal of my discipline!)
I have been reading another book, this time of my own accord which means no date to procrastinate to. It is The Road Less Traveled written by M Scott Peck. The Road Less Traveled is an analysis of human behaviors, tendencies, and misconceptions. It reveals many ugly truths to the way we perceive our world via the educated eyes of a psychiatrist. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)
Always keep your spine stretched upward when riding. When you slump, your head and shoulders will become "heavy", and your horse will likely become heavy in your hands.
If you do all of your training on the exact same kind of footing, i.e. either all firm ground, or all sand - you might be putting your horse at an increased risk of possible injury. Training on a variety of different surfaces will develop both the strength and the elasticity of tendons and ligaments, which will help to prevent injury.
You must train your horse to understand that he should stay at whatever speed you put him in until told otherwise. Remember that every time you allow your horse to make a decision about his speed or energy level (or you don't realize that he has done so), you are training him to make these decisions on his own.
Nearly every rider will experience plateaus in their training. Only those that have the patience to keep a good attitude while pushing through them will ever get there.
