A tip for all of the instructors out there... When a student has a lightbulb moment during a riding lesson, ask them to explain it you in their own words. This way it becomes even more cemented in their own mind, and you can more easily help them find it again if they lose it.
The rein back is an underutilized and very often incorrectly performed exercise. To be truly beneficial to the horse, it has to be performed steadily and in a relaxed way. And most importantly straight, while on a soft rein, so that the horse is not jammed together from front to back while stepping backwards. Otherwise he will not be able to use his body correctly.
If you are able to follow your horse's mouth with a consistently elastic feel, he will learn to trust your hand so fully, that he will lose the desire to escape it.
Your rein connection should have suppleness in it, allowing it to breathe along with the horse's movement. It must remain a living, breathing thing - never rigid.
"From half-halt to half-halt, you have to own the rhythm of their footfalls in each of the three gaits and the tempo or how fast they are going over every meter of ground in that gait." ~ Robert Dover
On wrestling with the strong horse in front of a cross country fence: "If you can’t get them back, at least drop the reins and let them see the fence." ~ Clayton Fredricks
Strive to always keep your spine fully stretched upward when riding. When you slump, your head and shoulders will become heavy, and your horse will be more likely to become heavy in your hands.
"I teach riders to adjust their reins within three strides on level ground [after a drop fence], and I want them seated between elements of a combination. This will give the rider more stability plus a wider and more sophisticated range of aids." ~ Jimmy Wofford
The shape of your canter stride on the approach to a fence (which is an indicator of your horse's balance in the canter) is what determines the shape that your horse makes over the jump. A round, bouncy canter produces a round, lofty jump. A flat, strung out canter produces a low, flat jump with the horse heavy on the forehand.
We all know that as riders we want to aim to keep a straight line from our elbow to the horse's mouth. But did you know that it means when viewed from above as well as from the side? And that it also includes your wrists and fingers??
Whenever you are facing any type of cross country fence with a ditch in front of it, think of it as a "free" front rail. Just ride forward with your eye on the top of the back rail.
"Infinite repetitions of one and the same problematic movement are usually a sign of insecurity in the rider and serve no purpose other than self-satisfaction. The horse doesn't gain anything from it. It leads to an overwrought horse and causes muscle fatigue and nervousness. Here, a trainer must intervene and go back to easier exercises rider and horse have already mastered." ~ Klaus Balkenhol
It is important to treat each horse, and each situation, individually. When problems arise, sometimes what is needed is time, patience, and encouragement. And other times strong corrections might be in order. This is why it is so important to be working with an instructor who has sufficient experience with a wide variety of types of horses - so they can help you make the best choices with your horse.
"Self carriage is really easy to see. The best thing you can do for self-carriage is the give and re-take of the reins. It is amazing how you forget to do that when you ride on your own." ~ Carl Hester
The purpose of riding a transition is not just to get from one gait to the next. But to do so in a way that further gymnasticizes the horse, and improves his carriage.
"Why not ride your dressage movements out in the open, in the field or the back paddock? Chances are your horse will be brighter, more forward and focused." ~ Michael Jung
Deepen your seat to begin a downward transition. But as you feel your horse beginning to change gears to make the transition, if you can slightly lighten your seat and soften your reins, your horse will be able to come more "through" his topline.
"Having a horse with crazy gaits and an eagerness to please at 5 years old is freaking me out because I’m really feeling the weight of the responsibility to not push too hard, too fast." ~ Lauren Sprieser Something every rider should be thinking about!
"The motto of any instructor or rider must always be forward. Forward in the movement of the horse instructed to his care. Forward in order to achieve his aim in the art of training. Forward whenever difficulties appear." ~ Alois Podhajsky
You have to have the ability to ride in "neutral", with no aids whatsoever, for your horse to be able to feel, recognize, and respond to your lightest of aids.
Nearly every rider will experience a plateau at some point in their training. Only those that have the patience to keep a good attitude while pushing through them will ever get where they want to go.
Did you know that your spine doesn't end at your neck?? It goes up into your head! So when a rider looks down, or juts their head and chin forward, they are compromising that stretched up, vertical spine. And your horse will always go better when you ride with good posture!
A good rein connection is a direct line of communication that connects your brain to your horse's brain. When done correctly, he should also feel every nuance of your seat through the reins.
Excessive bend in the horse's neck, whether lateral (usually over bent to the inside) or longitudinal (behind the vertical), disconnects the haunches from the rein aids and allows the horse to remain blocked or locked up in other parts of the body, such as the poll or pelvis.
"The outside rein is like the steering wheel because it executes direction. The rein rests against the neck as the hand is positioned next to the wither." ~ Christine Traurig
Counting each stride out loud or in your head between fences can help you to maintain a rhythm and an even stride when jumping. It can also be a great trick to keep the troublesome part of your brain quiet as you negotiate fences.
