Tip/Quote of the Day # 487The half-pass helps to develop the brilliance of the extended trot, by increasing hip and stifle flexibility, and freeing up the horse's shoulders.Tip/Quote of the Day # 486Nagging isn't giving the horse feedback, it is desensitizing him to the aids.Tip/Quote of the Day # 485Always think of doing individual half halts between fences as necessary, instead of simply holding. Holding will often encourage the horse to lean on your hand. Tip/Quote of the Day # 484Remember that tension inhibits suppleness, so make sure that you are not trying to force your horse to perform.Tip/Quote of the Day # 483 "Every rein aid must be preceded by an action of the torso. Otherwise you only address the horse's head." ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 482If you don't take the time to do things right the first time, you will likely have to take the time to do things over. Always keep that solid foundation in mind. Tip/Quote of the Day # 481From Facebook Fan Casey Webb ~ "Like foundations for a house... If not done properly the higher stuff can never be right."Tip/Quote of the Day # 480When galloping through wooded areas on cross country, you are never going as fast as you feel like you are going. Keeping this in mind will help you to make the time on course.Tip/Quote of the Day # 479"The hind legs are brought far enough underneath the center of gravity by the rider’s legs, where they are gradually burdened with more of the combined weight of horse and rider for brief moments, which flexes their joints more. Like coiled springs, they push off with much greater elasticity afterwards than unflexed hind legs. This energetic, springy forward swinging creates a very characteristic feeling in the seat (you feel the work of the hind legs as well as the swinging of the back that it creates very clearly, yet pleasantly), which is typical for a gait with impulsion, and which signals to the experienced rider: „Now he is moving!“ He despises, on the other hand, a wishy-washy, unclear trot feeling under the saddle which is caused by dragging hind legs that hardly push off and consequently don’t make the back swing – whereas others seem to love it. De gustibus … No, this is not a matter of taste. One is correct, the other one is wrong! Thrust may be there naturally, but impulsion must be worked out - or better: into – the horse by cultivating the thrust." ~ Alfred KnopfhartTip/Quote of the Day # 478"You are going to meet a fence one of three ways - short, right or long. Therefore you want to meet it on a stride that the horse can work from - a bouncy energetic canter - then he can add if he needs to or pat the ground or say thanks for getting me here right." ~ Jimmy Wofford
It really is all about the canter!Tip/Quote of the Day # 477Push yourself away from your hands, instead of bringing your hands back to you. Tip/Quote of the Day # 476From Facebook Fan Gabby Ballin ~ "Some rides are going to be perfect. Some rides are going to have you wondering why you don't quit riding. When that happens, take a deep breath and go back to something you know you and your horse can do easily."Tip/Quote of the Day # 475"In the last few strides there should be a transfer of responsibility for the jump from the rider to the horse." ~ Eric SmileyTip/Quote of the Day # 474Always keep your eyes up when walking a course. See exactly what your horse will be seeing for the first time.Tip/Quote of the Day # 473Good lengthening and extended work requires straightness in the form of even loading of the hind legs.Tip/Quote of the Day # 472Many riders have some of the same habits when sitting behind the wheel of their car as they do on their horse. Check yourself when you are driving to see how straight and even you sit. Tip/Quote of the Day # 471Your horse needs to feel even in your hands while your hands are an identical pair, to prove that he is straight and truly even in your hands. Tip/Quote of the Day # 470Generally, the slower you are approaching a jump, the more leg you may need to apply in the final strides.Tip/Quote of the Day # 469Energy is ultimately created in the horse's mind, not his hindquarters. Make sure you have the horse's mind engaged.Tip/Quote of the Day # 468Both horses and riders ultimately learn from and cement behaviors through repetition. Make sure you are repeating things correctly.Tip/Quote of the Day # 467You have to have your core muscles engaged when riding, so that the horse's movement doesn't displace you.Tip/Quote of the Day # 466When a horse begs to stretch often throughout his work, he is telling you that his topline is not strong enough to support the amount of work in self carriage that you are asking for. His muscles are fatigued at that point, and if you don't let him stretch soon, he will likely become resistant and resentful. Tip/Quote of the Day # 465The balance and shape of your canter stride is what determines the kind of take off spot that develops. A long, strung out stride usually means either a long spot or a "chip". And a shorter, more balanced canter with the hind legs well under the body will generally either place you perfectly, or will allow your horse to safely "pat the ground" in the shorter spot.Tip/Quote of the Day # 464When running cross country in wet, muddy conditions, always look for the best possible footing for your horse in the galloping stretches. Often this means moving slightly off to the side of the track that everyone else has been running in. This little trick will save your horse lots of extra strain, as you keep him on "fresher" ground.Tip/Quote of the Day # 463"Make him a short horse with bigger paces rather than a long horse with shorter paces." ~ Stephen ClarkeTip/Quote of the Day # 462It is so common to see riders "doing too much" with their bodies over a fence (i.e. jumping a 2'6" vertical like it is a 5 foot oxer). Ironically, riders often do this to try to "help" the horse over the jump. But it can actually hinder them instead, as it makes it harder for them to balance themselves. Imagine you are running and jumping with a backpack on your back, and how much easier it would be to do so if that backpack would just stay in one place!Tip/Quote of the Day # 461Jumping is so easy for the horse if you have the right canter. Repeat this mantra regularly: It's all about the canter. It's all about the canter…Tip/Quote of the Day # 460“It is a lot better to risk losing a bit of contact than not to yield.” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 459
When negotiating rolling terrain, you must make the balance change in your position just before your horse has begun the downhill slope. If you wait until the first stride of the downhill slope to make your position change (hips back, stretch up a bit), you could be caught out of balance, which can be hard to recover from. And can negatively effect the horse's balance as well.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 458"The relaxing of the legs and the hands of the rider is the proof of the real collection, and the collection is the poetry of the impulsion." ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 457Always remember that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. And that the distance you will travel between elements in any combination or related distance will change if you are not straight.Tip/Quote of the Day # 456To help your horse move fully through his body, as well as giving him the confidence to truly think forward, you must make sure your hips and lower back are 100% moving with his motion. The bigger your horse moves, the more you must move your hips.Tip/Quote of the Day # 455Many riders have a tendency to "make themselves small" by rounding and somewhat compressing their spine when sitting on a horse. Instead, imagine that you have a hook on the top of your head, lifting you towards the sky… and picture your spine elongating as you stretch up as tall as you are capable of. Tip/Quote of the Day # 454Lots of little changes of frame in your warmup… a little stretching, a little up, and repeat… can help your horse to come more through his body.Tip/Quote of the Day # 453
Many horses think walk time is "break" time. If you want to ensure that you get good scores on your walk work, you have to convince your horse otherwise in your daily work.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 452To develop cadence, you must get to the point where your horse is in true self carriage. Tip/Quote of the Day # 451"I often wonder why people think they have to kick and pull a horse who can feel a fly land on his neck." ~ Jimmy WoffordTip/Quote of the Day # 450When we get the feeling that our horse is improving, the color of the ribbon pales in significance.Tip/Quote of the Day # 449Competitions are a test of our progress as horsemen, they are not an end in themselves.Tip/Quote of the Day # 448If your horse is tense in his topline while jumping, he wil likely be slow with his knees and hang his legs. Use judicious flatwork between jumps to encourage him to relax and let go.Tip/Quote of the Day # 447Be careful with jaw flexions. If not ridden forward over the back into the flexion, they create a false frame with no real connection. You might think he is correctly connected because he feels soft in your hand when his jaw is flexed. But true lightness is not in the looseness of the contact, it is in the way the horse moves over the ground.Tip/Quote of the Day # 446Turn 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.Tip/Quote of the Day # 445There is no substitute for eyes on the ground when you are trying to improve your riding - whether that is in the form of an instructor on the ground, videos, or virtual coaching. Things often look very different than they feel.Tip/Quote of the Day # 444The stirrup bar placement on your saddle can make or break your position. Make sure you choose a saddle that will allow you to be in balance. Tip/Quote of the Day # 443Remember that whatever you are used to usually feels right to you. You will often have to step out of your comfort zone if you wish to improve.Tip/Quote of the Day # 442Self carriage is not just for Dressage! Your horse should carry himself as much as possible in all three phases! Never attempt to hold your horse up!Tip/Quote of the Day # 441"The rider has to do something. The horse must not only understand what you want. He has to feel motivated to take you up on your offer. You can sit there all day and dangle your hook in the water, but if your horse isn’t interested, you’re going to come up empty, fish-wise." ~ Bill WoodsTip/Quote of the Day # 440Lateral work is most beneficial when the horse stays relaxed in its body. It is not generally a good idea to "push through" a movement with tension present. It's a much better idea to come out of it, circle, improve your connection, and start again.Tip/Quote of the Day # 439“A good hand is the one that can resist and yield when necessary and receive with precision the action created by the legs.” ~ Salomon de la BroueTip/Quote of the Day # 438Always sit the trot for a least a few strides before asking for a transition to canter or walk.
