Recent Articles in Tip/Quote of the Day!

"The important thing in the canter is to try to keep that jump, because a lot of riders, in trying to collect the canter, make the canter flat or, in trying to build power, will often rush the tempo. The most important thing is to hear the rhythm of the canter." ~ Hilda Gurney

Remember that tension inhibits suppleness - so make sure that you are not trying to force your horse to perform.

It can be a good exercise in awareness to exaggerate both extremes of an aspect of your position, such as leaning all the way to the left and then all the way to the right. Whichever way feels easier or less awkward for you might indicate that you tend to regularly sit to that side. Experiment with that and try to find the middle.

You don't really improve your trot lengthenings by working directly on them, per se. You improve them by doing exercises which increase the engagement in your horse's hind legs - half halts, the almost walk exercise, etc. When you have more engagement in your horse's trot, try your lengthening again, and it is likely that it will be improved. 

"It is good to ride with closed eyes once in a while." ~ Nuno Oliveira

On the basics of training - "You think it’s quite boring, but this is the foundation. It’s like building a house. If you have a bad foundation, you’re going to have a bad house." ~ Charlotte Dujardin

You need a short bouncy energetic canter in water. Not just to the jump in, but to any jump out or otherwise related to the water. Getting long and flat can be especially disastrous at a water jump.

Since most horses are more narrow in their shoulders than in their hips, you need to be thinking about a slight shoulder fore positioning whenever along the rail or wall. If you allow their left shoulder and their left hip to be the same distance away from the wall on your left, for example, the horse would be traveling with his right hind leg further towards the center of the ring than his right front.

From Facebook fan Annette Gaynes ~ "Believe in classical dressage, particularly if you have a horse who is a tough subject. Eventually, it will pay off and you will have a happy, healthy, sound horse who wants to do the work."

No moment of riding without stirrups is ever wasted.

In order to do successful lateral work, a rider must have an independent seat, so their aids can work precisely and independently.

Turn your horse from the middle of his body by using your seat. And use both reins together to turn him from his shoulders. Turning with the inside rein only turns his nose, leaving the rest of his body to derail.

"Under no circumstances (except to save your life) is see-sawing on the bit ever allowed. Nor is sneaky jiggling. The bit should only be moved by the chewing action of the horse." ~ Catherine Haddad Staller

The elasticity in your connection should come from your elbows, not from the rider having open or active fingers.

"Don’t set the horse up when cantering over a pole — allow the horse to make mistakes and learn to adjust its own stride to negotiate the pole." ~ Eric Smiley

"Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect." ~ Jimmy Wofford

Training horses is sometimes like peeling an onion - make some progress in one area, and your next project makes itself obvious...

"A tense horse's lateral suppleness can be improved by very forward canter leg yields." ~ Carl Hester

From member Catherine Norman ~ "One element of a combination at a time with a greenie, even one that is very experienced with stadium fences if they are new to XC. And if you aren't sure, ride forward, because underpace is not only harder for the horse it makes fences dangerous at the higher levels... Fences are made to be taken at a certain speed, not much more and certainly no less."

With many horses, it can be helpful to take a deep breath and exhale in a sigh as you begin the walk portion of your Dressage test. This can help to dissolve any tension that the horse may be holding, that might otherwise make for a “jig” step, or an accidental transition into trot.

"The distance between your ears and shoulders needs to be as big as possible." ~ Bettina Hoy  

So keep your head tall and your shoulders down and relaxed.  :)

The quieter you become with your aids, the more detail you can hear and feel.

"Riding correct lines is half the marks you get in the dressage test. So, getting into the corner and getting onto a really good centerline is very important. Use the space you’ve got." ~ Bettina Hoy

"In the half pass you should feel that the outside hind leg is carrying the load forward." ~ Nuno Oliveira

"Sit on your bum. If you do that you’re part of the movement. If you squeeze with your thighs you can’t sit. Stay soft in your hips, draw yourself into the saddle and keep the calf just against his rib cage." ~ Bettina Hoy

A great instructor is always thinking and learning about new ideas and concepts, and is always looking for new ways to impart those ideas to their students. The minute one stops learning, one stops growing - and can become stagnant. 

Your seat shouldn't stop the horse's hind legs, it should send them actively up into your hand to stop the horse on its hindquarters.

Think about keeping your head up and still throughout the jumping motion to help keep your upper body more quietly poised.

Always be aware of the amount of tension you carry when riding, and whether you are breathing softly and evenly or holding your breath. Talking or humming quietly is a good way to ensure you keep breathing.

The more thoroughly you have prepared for a movement or transition, the more you can just allow it to happen, rather than making it happen.

A rider's rigid elbows will cause the horse's back to become correspondingly rigid.

Give your brain something positive to think about when you are worried.

"Milder bits make many horses happier." ~ Jackie Smith

From Facebook fan Dana Ferguson ~ "I was lucky enough to get to attend a clinic with Reiner Klimke and he loved to use the halt as a test. I loved it because I ride a lot on my own with no mirrors. So if the halt is square, closed and at the letter, your horse has to be balanced and on your aids. It was surprising how many upper level riders were having a problem with this and it showed simply what basics were being over looked."

When jumping, let the turn into the fence be a part of your half halt.

"We get the horses as loose as possible before we ask them to do more work in their bodies. if they’re not loose in the beginning, they’re not going to be loose and supple in their proper work." ~ Charlotte Dujardin

Many riders place their saddles too far forward! Make sure that the solid parts of the saddle are behind the horse's shoulder to allow for freedom of the shoulder.

From Facebook fan Jessica Fuller Stewart ~ "When my horse is truly forward he can not bulge his shoulder in the corners as easily. If I let him back off just a little in the corner he can then bulge very easy. Forward is everything!"

From Facebook fan Joan Childs ~ "Your hands must be free in order to use them effectively. You can not pull, push, follow, open or close your reins if they are busy being a source of your balance."

From Facebook fan Lynn Sullivan ~ "It's easier to stay fit then to get fit.....An old saying but applies to horses as well as riders."

"Acceptance of the bit happens in the haunches, not in the mouth." ~ Thomas Ritter

Practicing movements incorrectly will create an ingrained habit in both horse and rider that can be hard to break at a later date. Make sure you have eyes on the ground (whether that is in person, or virtually through online coaching) to make sure you are on the right track.

Never “go for the long one” at any jump into water that involves height. If you do, one of 2 things are likely to happen: 1. The horse will (quite rightly) ignore you and add a stride. 2. The horse will listen to you and take off early, but will probably hit his stifles hard on the fence on the way down.