Recent Articles in Tip/Quote of the Day!

Groundwork can help build a better relationship between horse and rider. The trust and respect built during work in hand will carry over to your under saddle work IF you approach it the same way.

The extra thrust created by lengthenings will solidify your connection if it was correct to begin with. The extra impulsion created can then be turned into real collection.

From Facebook fan Jodie Stowell Potts ~ "Every horse must be treated as an individual, and what was fine a couple of weeks ago may not work today."

Just putting in the time does not guarantee success. You have to be practicing correctly to improve.

We all know it is a bad thing for the horse to carry its poll too low. But too high can be a problem as well. If the height of the poll does not match the amount of true collection behind, the horse will be moving with a hollow back, and the gaits will become flat... losing their supple, elastic swinging nature. 

Never forget that our goal as riders should be to do as little as possible. Allow the horse to perform.

You can't balance or collect energy that you don't have. Forward first!

"I like to think of the tension in a Thoroughbred’s body as it seeks to learn the meaning of our aids as an intense desire to please us." ~ Steuart Pittman

Throwing the reins away to the point that they are so loose that there are loops in them is not the answer to solving your problem of being too strong/tense/rigid in the hands and arms. You must keep a connection, and learn to be elastic within that connection. That is the only way to advance.

In no way does holding a horses neck in a position build up correct muscle. The horse has to actually be using those muscles correctly to improve musculature in the topline. 

"Allow your horse the opportunity to use his neck more." ~ Reiner Klimke

If becoming a great rider wasn't hard, everyone would be able to do it. It's the hard that makes it great.

The horse should be in front of the leg and carrying itself without support from the rider - every stride.

Bounces teach horses to be quick thinking - an essential quality in an Event horse.

A good halt is square because it was a good halt. Not because the rider has taught the horse the "trick" of squaring up after an unbalanced halt.

Keep your hands forward thinking at all times - don't be "stealing" from the hind legs.

"Create a work station on your yard, where everything to do with work happens – for example, tacking up and washing off – and keep his stable for relaxation only. Then your horse knows he can totally relax when he’s in his stable and won’t be expected to work." ~ Carl Hester

"A major consideration concerning the horse’s posture in all lateral movements is the bend in the rib cage behind the withers. For achieving this bend is the foundation for the suppleness of the entire horse. One will never achieve this bend if one rides the lateral movements on four tracks too early, or if one tries to force these movements with crude aids, and if one forgets to reposition one’s legs in the transitions from one lateral movement to another." ~ Borries von Oeynhausen

From Facebook fan Elise Vandover ~ "I often tell my students that the outside rein is like the vinyl wall of an above-ground pool; elastic, stretchy and flexible, but enough of a boundary to keep the 'water in the pool'."

Remember that to balance your horse in front of a fence you do not necessarily have to slow down. Many times you simply need to change the shape of the canter stride - i.e. bring the horse into a more uphill frame.

Always finish an exercise with a proper transition to walk, don't just fall into a heap.

From Facebook fan Kristin Powers ~ "It takes WAY MORE outside rein than you ever think it does!"

Stop looking for that "perfect" take off spot, and focus on the quality of your canter. A horse that is well balanced, with the right amount of impulsion for the jump at hand, can comfortably leave the ground from just about any reasonable takeoff spot.

"In practice, do things as perfectly as you can: in competition, do what you have to do." ~ William Steinkraus

"When the horse jumps, you go with it, not the other way around." ~ William Steinkraus

A running martingale that fits correctly does not come into play unless the horse tosses its head, or tries to stick it straight up in the air. It should not be used to keep the horse's head down.

"NEVER fight the oats.” ~ William Steinkraus 

Who can tell us what this means? 

"It's amazing what the horse can do, when you teach the rider to ride." ~ Hans Biss

We first have to teach the horse to enjoy learning.

From Facebook fan Marilyn Kostuch ~ "Becoming very aware of the rhythm helps a horse's mind become calmer."

The horse's favorite reward is the release of the aid.

"The seat must be able to absorb the energy from the horse like a sponge, and then redirect it forward" ~ Bill Woods

"Don't let over-jumping or a dull routine erode the horse's desire to jump cleanly. It's hard to jump clear rounds if the horse isn't trying." ~ William Steinkraus