Tip/Quote of the Day # 496A tip for instructors - Make it a habit to ask your students questions during their lessons. This will help to keep them thinking, improve the accuracy of their feel, and keep them breathing (when they answer you.) It also allows you to more accurately judge where they are at mentally, in terms of their level of feel and understanding.Tip/Quote of the Day # 495“A spur that is constantly touching the horse’s sides does not drive the horse forward but on the contrary, it will make the horse sluggish.” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 494“For every effect there is a root cause. Find and address the root cause rather than try to fix the effect, as there is no end to the latter.” ~ Celestine Chua Tip/Quote of the Day # 493From Facebook fan Mikki Schattilly ~ "Take a step back and you will often leap forward."Tip/Quote of the Day # 492When jumping, don't package the canter into a shorter stride than you need for each circumstance.Tip/Quote of the Day # 491When a horse is equally laterally supple in both directions, it will be evident in the ease of which one is able to perform changes of bend and direction. Tip/Quote of the Day # 490You need to pay extra attention to the balance of your horse's canter/gallop on the approach when jumping cross country jumps at an angle (even a slight angle.) As if the horse's balance is not good, they are more likely to be slow with their front end on takeoff - which means an increased risk of a fall, since horses need to be extra quick with the front leg that is nearest the jump when jumping at an angle.Tip/Quote of the Day # 489If you are going to make a mistake when jumping, make it coming forward, not pulling back.Tip/Quote of the Day # 488From Facebook fan Kathy Wilson Rowe ~ "When you ask your horse to do something, MEAN it!!! Your horse needs to listen the first time!!"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.Tip/Quote of the Day # 437Work on a horse and that horse gets better. Work on yourself and all your horses get better.Tip/Quote of the Day # 436"His mouth foams, plays with the bit, and the beauty of his position shows that he is proud of himself under his rider. And this is the concept of the true rein contact; it is based on the previously achieved balance which relieves the forehand so much that the hand feels merely a steady, regular and light contact with the mouth." ~ Borries v.OeynhausenTip/Quote of the Day # 435"School figures should not be regarded as an end in themselves but rather as a stage in a particular aim, that of control of the horse. Initially, they will be practiced in the school but an early opportunity should be taken to perform them outside so that the rider may learn to cope with extraneous influences which can distract his horse and prevent it concentrating (for example, his horse not wanting to leave its stable or move away from other horses." ~ W. MuesslerTip/Quote of the Day # 434"If a horse becomes more beautiful in the course of his work, it is a sign that the training principles are correct." ~ Colonel PodhajskyTip/Quote of the Day # 433If you are riding with short stirrups in a saddle that was not really designed for shorter stirrups (i.e. an all purpose saddle), you will usually find that your leg gets pushed backwards when landing over fences.Tip/Quote of the Day # 432A rider needs to have loose, supple hips in order to have that coveted deep seat and long draped leg.Tip/Quote of the Day # 431From Facebook fan Suzan Mchugh ~ "I used to put a tiny smiley face sticker on the crown piece of the bridle. When I saw it I took a breath! It worked and relaxed me. If you breath your hips relax!"Tip/Quote of the Day # 430"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 # 429When the rider leans back and pulls on the reins like a waterskier, the horse usually obliges and becomes the motorboat... dragging the rider around by the reins.Tip/Quote of the Day # 428Check for self carriage often throughout your work. Each time you do, you will get clear and accurate feedback as to whether or not your horse is carrying himself properly.Tip/Quote of the Day # 427Everyone knows that we want 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?Tip/Quote of the Day # 426Keep your leg aids light. Too much leg becomes something similar to white noise. It is unfair to expect your horse to hear your aid above the noise.Tip/Quote of the Day # 425The free walk is a test of your connection in the walk. If it is true, the horse will take the bit down and forward in a relaxed way when offered. So you don't fix the free walk by working on the free walk... you fix it by working on your connection in the preceding medium walk.Tip/Quote of the Day # 424When working on flying changes, don't be tempted to ask for the change on the diagonal just because you are coming to the end of it and therefore running out of room. Always try to wait until you feel that your horse is balanced, straight, and *ready* to change. It is better to stay in counter canter than to ask for a change when you know your horse is not properly set up for it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 423When your horse challenges you, try to not engage in a fight, so that he has a reason to fight back. Instead, ignore the bad behavior, and ask him to do something easy, that you know he can and will do. This way you can reward him, which will help to re-establish peace in your relationship. Tip/Quote of the Day # 422Any rounding of the shoulders is a weakness that immediately disconnects the rider's arms from the back and seat.Tip/Quote of the Day # 421Your legs should lie softly on your horse's sides like "al dente" noodles - draped around your horse with soft, supple precision.Tip/Quote of the Day # 420"A rider must never put his own ambitions above the horse's needs." ~ Klaus BalkenholTip/Quote of the Day # 419You must be able to interpret the feedback/information your horse is sending you during your rides, without reacting emotionally.Tip/Quote of the Day # 418The horse should feel like the reins are connected to the rider's back/core/seat, not their arms/hands.Tip/Quote of the Day # 417"The goal is not to raise the neck, it is to lower the hips .” ~ DecarpentryTip/Quote of the Day # 416"If a horse won't stretch at the beginning of session, work on a contact sooner then stretch when he is ready" ~ Carl HesterTip/Quote of the Day # 415Lunge lessons allow you to focus more on learning to feel what your body is doing, as you don't have to worry about controlling the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 414Too much inside rein is a common cause of horses missing their lead changes behind.Tip/Quote of the Day # 413"To understand the extent of damage caused by overbending, think of a horse’s “broken” neck as of a garden hose slashed between faucet and nozzle. Like the stream of water, the impulsion can no longer reach your hand in full." ~ Jean FroissartTip/Quote of the Day # 412"As a result of the appropriate gymnastics and training of the horse, the appearance and the movements of the horse will be more beautiful." ~ Colonel Alois Podhajsky
And if it's not, there is probably something wrong with the training methods!Tip/Quote of the Day # 411When jumping in muddy or deep conditions, you need extra impulsion. Make sure you have it before you need it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 410The rider's inside leg is just as important as their outside leg in the aids for half pass or travers (haunches in.)Tip/Quote of the Day # 409
"It must not be forgotten that, in order to maintain precisely the same tempo and the momentary balance, the hind legs must step more under to the extent that the center of gravity is located more forward and the head and neck are positioned lower. The more the horse is elevated, on the other hand, the less he needs, nay, the less he is able to step under with his hind legs.
It is especially this work with a low neck carriage without reducing the collection that forces the horse to step under as much as possible. It flexes, strengthens, and hardens the hind legs the most by increasing the load they have to lift." ~ Otto De La Croix
The important thing to take from this, in my opinion, is that it benefits the horse to work in different frames throughout your work. Good long and low work with active hind legs and a real connection over the back will help to increase the range of motion of the joints, and build strength for the more collected work.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 408Use lots of forward and back transitions within the gaits to activate the horse's hind legs.Tip/Quote of the Day # 407Since the buckle is the weakest part of your reins, it is a good idea to tie a knot in the very end of your reins for cross country. This way, if your hands ever slide the reins all the way to the buckle quickly, you don't have to worry about your reins coming apart.Tip/Quote of the Day # 406Riding is so much more than getting on and doing… you have to do a lot of thinking and planning to actually get somewhere!Tip/Quote of the Day # 405
The sign of a good rider is that their aids are so light and invisible that you can barely notice them.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 404 Thinking "little toes up" can help you to sink more naturally down into your heels. Tip/Quote of the Day # 403The more leg you regularly keep on your horse, the less they will feel your aid when you try to apply it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 402Walk is the "explaining" pace, so whenever possible ride every exercise in the walk first.Tip/Quote of the Day # 401To lengthen your horse's frame, imagine that you are pushing the horse's head and neck away from you with your hands, while riding forward into that connection.Tip/Quote of the Day # 400If you start to lose any quality in a lateral movement while schooling, it is often best to come out of it. Don't practice doing it wrong! Make a small circle to re-establish bend and a good connection on the outside rein, and begin the movement again. The first few steps of any lateral exercise are usually the most gymnastically beneficial anyways.Tip/Quote of the Day # 399After each use of your legs, you need to think about opening them up a bit and letting them drop down. This will keep you on your seat bones correctly.Tip/Quote of the Day # 398The rider that helps the horse to carry himself in the best balance in the canter is poised and still in the upper body, while remaining supple and following in their hips and elbows.Tip/Quote of the Day # 397From member Pamela Robins ~ "As my horse's leader, it is my job to always try to be aware that I am the leader."Tip/Quote of the Day # 396Remember to ask questions when you don't fully understand something - both in lessons, and on this site.... You will get much more out of the time/money spent in lessons, and in utilizing this site! Tip/Quote of the Day # 395If you struggle with good half halts and downward transitions, try using your breathing to help you. Take a deep breath in, and exhale as you stretch up your spine for the downward transition. This will show you how to be more effective with your seat aid, and will help you to learn how to ride forward into your downward transitions. Tip/Quote of the Day # 394A sign of a good, balanced jumping effort is that your horse lands at the same speed that he was at on the approach. Tip/Quote of the Day # 393True bending from nose to tail requires that the horse understands how to move away from lateral leg pressure, understands the connecting outside rein, and understands the aids to inside flexion. Tip/Quote of the Day # 392"Fear allows you to be brave." ~ Shanyn Fiske Tip/Quote of the Day # 391Make every transition count. With every poor transition that you let "slip by", you will be training your horse to do them poorly.Tip/Quote of the Day # 390Long slow distance work is an important part of every horse's conditioning program, but it is especially important for older and young horses. Older horses need to keep limber, and young horses need to build a base level of tendon, ligament, and bone strength.Tip/Quote of the Day # 389Make sure you don't fall into the trap of treating your horse like he is a baby, long after he is a no longer baby. This is a common problem when a rider has brought along a young horse from scratch.Tip/Quote of the Day # 388Impress the Dressage judges by showing a clear difference between riding a corner and part of a circle.Tip/Quote of the Day # 387For shows it can be helpful to write up a time schedule for the day, working backward from your ride times. For example, if your dressage ride is at 11am, you might plan to be on and warming up at 10:15, tacking up at 10am, grooming at 9:30, braiding at 8:30, etc. Having a schedule completely thought out and written down can help ease any anxieties that you may have about what to do when.Tip/Quote of the Day # 386The last couple of strides before a jump belong to the horse. Don't interrupt him.Tip/Quote of the Day # 385One of the most important things to remember in this sport is that we do this for FUN! Make sure that you remind yourself of this often. If you access more of the fun in your riding, your horse will usually go better.Tip/Quote of the Day # 384"Dressage is not just for competition. It is gymnastics for horses, and all horses can benefit from it, as they are more likely to stay sound with a long, stretchy neck, soft body and easy movement." ~ Carl Hester Tip/Quote of the Day # 383Positive reinforcement is a very powerful way to train horses. And because of this, you must be very careful that you are actually reinforcing the right things.Tip/Quote of the Day # 382Your training goal for the "hot" or high strung horse should be to get him to learn how to control his energy. Don't try to wear him out. That will never work with the truly hot horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 381"If you control the hind legs, you control the horse."Tip/Quote of the Day # 380From Facebook fan Anne Rawle ~ "Never teach a horse something you want him to forget."Tip/Quote of the Day # 379Dressage is the passionate pursuit of perfection by the obsessively imperfect. ;)Tip/Quote of the Day # 378"Breathe deeply and calmly in the canter. Expand your rib cage" ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 377Always 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 # 376"Through gaining competence, we gain confidence” ~ Erik HerbermannTip/Quote of the Day # 375“When the horse is resisting the left rein, try to substitute the left rein aid with the left leg.” ~ Nuno OliveriaTip/Quote of the Day # 374Get out of the arena as much as possible. It will do your horse good both mentally and physically.Tip/Quote of the Day # 373Give your horse direction by telling and showing him what TO do, rather than what not to do.Tip/Quote of the Day # 372Keeping your thumbs on top and your palms facing each other stabilizes your upper body.Tip/Quote of the Day # 371 Smooth, flowing transitions only happen when the horse is balanced and engaged behind.Tip/Quote of the Day # 370 A still tail carried close to the horse shows the inactivity of the back muscles in the loin area. Tip/Quote of the Day # 369Let the turn into the jump assist with your half halt.Tip/Quote of the Day # 368Too much use of the inside rein will almost always make a horse fight. If your horse is fighting with you in any situation, check that you are not hanging on it unconsciously. Tip/Quote of the Day # 367Talking to your horse when on course keeps you breathing!Tip/Quote of the Day # 366From Facebook fan Erin Kavanaugh Kirkley ~ "If you don't know how to use your core, look up some core strengthening Pilates moves. You will discover the transversus abdominis and your riding will improve in many ways."Tip/Quote of the Day # 365When you need to perform a shoulder in down the long side of the arena in a Dressage test, make a point to ride extra deep into the previous corner to help set up for the movement.Tip/Quote of the Day # 364Always remember that the release of the aid is what teaches the horse that he did the right thing.Tip/Quote of the Day # 363A half halt should not kill any of the energy in the horse's stride, but rather rebalance it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 362Remember that change is a process, so go easy on yourself and your horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 361A horse's energy flowing through a turn is similar to water flowing through a tunnel. Just as the outside wall of the tunnel is paramount, a good connection on the outside rein is crucial to a successful turn. Tip/Quote of the Day # 360Horses generally mirror their riders. If your horse is tense, check yourself. If your horse is crooked, check yourself. If your horse is distracted, check yourself. If you want your horse to carry himself properly, make sure you are carrying yourself properly on his back.Tip/Quote of the Day # 359Many 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.Tip/Quote of the Day # 358From Facebook fan Lauren Slattery ~ "Pulling will teach the horse to lean and support itself on you without working properly as well as make the horse dead to your rein aids."Tip/Quote of the Day # 357Always keep in mind that the Dressage horse is supposed to be (and look like) a "happy athlete". If the horse does not look happy in his work, that work is probably not correct.Tip/Quote of the Day # 356Don't wait until things are perfect to reward your horse. You must praise the horse when he makes even the slightest step in the right direction. Training this way will encourage your horse to love learning. Tip/Quote of the Day # 355When you need to change your stride length in any related distance, aim to do it early on in the line, so you can just maintain the rest of the line. This will give you the best chance to have a smooth jump out.Tip/Quote of the Day # 354From Facebook Fan Brenda Herzog ~ "When trying to sit the canter or trot, relax the legs down and around with each stride and to pick the horse "up" with you. This eliminates the bounce in your seat and helps to elevate the horse."Tip/Quote of the Day # 353If your horse is spooky, be careful to make sure he never feels punished for spooking or getting tense. If you get mad, pull, kick, or do anything else that can be perceived as a punishment, the anxiety that will be created will usually make your problem worse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 352The faster you are going, the more you must generally think of maintaining a contact with your horse's mouth on the takeoff of a jump.Tip/Quote of the Day # 351Be careful not to sit the trot too early on in a ride. Doing so before the horse is fully warmed up and truly moving through his topline can often be detrimental, as the horse is more likely to stay stiff and tight in his back.Tip/Quote of the Day # 350It may seem like you only need to think about a formal conditioning schedule at the upper levels, but every horse at every level will benefit from a balanced and well thought out conditioning schedule.Tip/Quote of the Day # 349From Facebook fan Nicole Cotten Ackerman ~ "I work with a lot if lower level eventers, and I tell them that when you are in the 20x40 ring you must stay bent all of the time because there's so little space between riding a corner or a circle. The bend will automatically quiet the horses' impulsion, so plan to go forward throughout the entire test. This will keep the horse connected and keep the test from "deflating"."Tip/Quote of the Day # 348To sit the trot or canter well, you must think about letting your hips be moved by the horse's motion.Tip/Quote of the Day # 347"Only the best trainers should be allowed to ride in draw reins, but the best trainers know they do not need them." ~ Ingrid KlimkeTip/Quote of the Day # 346Your horse's stride can only be as long as his neck is long. So try not to shorten the neck, but rather look for the feeling that your horse is reaching forward into your connection with his head and neck.Tip/Quote of the Day # 345The use of "half steps" in your training can be very beneficial, as it can help the horse to understand the idea of engagement without increasing speed. Tip/Quote of the Day # 344Position your horse in a slight shoulder fore before every movement or transition, to help him engage his inside hind leg and really step through from behind. Tip/Quote of the Day # 343Riding on undulating ground really helps to develop a rider's seat and balance - and of course, the horse's balance as well!Tip/Quote of the Day # 342The more contact you hold on your horse's mouth between jumps (or indeed on the flat), the more work you may have to do to half halt or stop. Try to be as light as possible, so that when you do ask for something, your horse will hear you.Tip/Quote of the Day # 341Sometimes do your flatwork in your jumping length stirrups, and mostly up off of your horse's back. It is harder to be as effective on the flat this way, but only by working on it will you get better at it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 340If you learn the *whys* behind each aid or exercise used in each specific circumstance, you will become a more educated rider with a greater ability to be productive.Tip/Quote of the Day # 339"To understand the extent of damage caused by overbending, think of a horse’s “broken” neck as of a garden hose slashed between faucet and nozzle. Like the stream of water, the impulsion can no longer reach your hand in full. Proper head position is determined by its elevation and the direct flexion at the poll which must remain the highest point of the neck. This elevation must be such that the bars, which we subjected to the action of the bit, are situated at a horizontal passing at about the upper third of the chest. By such a head carriage, the horse’s mass in its entirety is affected by the rider’s hand, however light its action, and the head in turn receives the slightest forward shift of the horse’s weight." ~ Jean FroissartTip/Quote of the Day # 338"What to do with a mistake - recognize it, admit it, learn from it, and then forget about it." ~ Dean SmithTip/Quote of the Day # 337Make your gridwork more challenging by setting it up across the short side of the arena. This means you will be able to practice shorter approaches, and your horse will have to learn to process information and think more quickly. Tip/Quote of the Day # 336“Look for a genuine coach with real coaching skills rather than a rider who may know how to do something, but not how to teach it. Also, find someone who has solid experience of working with riders of your level." ~ William MicklemTip/Quote of the Day # 335
"A rider must never put his own ambitions above the horse's needs." ~ Klaus Balkenhol
Tip/Quote of the Day # 334"Ninety-nine percent of problems riders have with horses are actually problems with the basics." ~ Christopher Hess
It may look like a more specific or detailed problem, but it can usually be traced back to a hole in the basics.Tip/Quote of the Day # 333The sign of a good rider is that their aids are so subtle and smooth that you can hardly see what they are doing. Tip/Quote of the Day # 332It is wise to remain slightly seated on the takeoff of a ditch.Tip/Quote of the Day # 331Whether on or off the horse, the lower you center of gravity is, the easier it is to balance. So what does this mean to your riding? Keeping your balance point low, by keeping your seat close to the saddle when up off of your horse's back, and your weight sinking well down into your heels, will make you more secure.Tip/Quote of the Day # 330Think of using every corner of the Dressage ring to increase your level of engagment. Tip/Quote of the Day # 329Be careful when jumping a spread fence on an angle, as the spread gets considerably wider when you do so.Tip/Quote of the Day # 328Always think of keeping your shoulders aligned with your horse's shoulders (or where you want them to be), and your hips aligned with your horse's hips (or where you want them to be.)Tip/Quote of the Day # 327Throughness is the result of relaxation, suppleness, energy, connection, submission, and balance. Tip/Quote of the Day # 326If your horse is not "hot" to your leg, and you need lots of leg just to keep him going, how will he ever hear the leg aid that asks for something more, like lateral work or a flying change?Tip/Quote of the Day # 325Something to say to yourself often when riding - "Strong seat and core, and soft elbows"Tip/Quote of the Day # 324Lots of little demands... ie riding a little forward and a little back, will not only keep your horse sharp to those aids, but will help to keep his attention on you.Tip/Quote of the Day # 323Counter bend is a great tool when your horse tries to bulge against your outside aids. And following that up with a change of direction backs that aid up even further, and will make your horse have more respect for it. Tip/Quote of the Day # 322You don't get a supple horse by trotting round and round the arena - so don't stay in the same pace or movement for too long. Lots of turns, circles, and transitions will be the most beneficial.Tip/Quote of the Day # 321"It is not our horses job to understand our language, it is our job to understand theirs" ~ Reiner KlimkeTip/Quote of the Day # 320The horse should always set the pace of the progression of both training and competing. Pushing too hard, too soon will usually result in having to go back and start over. Tip/Quote of the Day # 319If you want to be able to soften the reins without your horse speeding up, make sure you think about relaxing all driving aids (seat and leg) when you give the rein. Tip/Quote of the Day # 318"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." ~ Theodore RooseveltTip/Quote of the Day # 317Just as a horse needs to be relaxed throughout his body to be honestly throughand connected from behind on the flat, a horse needs to be relaxed throughout his body to jump with the best technique that he is capable of. Tip/Quote of the Day # 316When a rider "hangs on to" or uses too much inside rein, it can create stiffness, resistance, head tilting, and often the loss of control of the horse's outside shoulder.Tip/Quote of the Day # 315Riding lots of transitions within the gait (i.e. a little more trot, to a few steps of a quieter, slower trot - and then back to forward again), will make your horse more attentive, responsive, and longitudinally supple. Tip/Quote of the Day # 314"In training, make jumping the reward" ~ Jimmy WoffordTip/Quote of the Day # 313Think back to when you first started riding… how hard it was to just post at the trot. Now you do that without even thinking. As long as you are actively working on your riding, you are always improving. Usually improvement is so gradual that you don't see it unless you stop and look back at where you came from. Do that sometimes... as it can be a great motivator. Tip/Quote of the Day # 312From Facebook fan Heather Salamone ~ "Short cuts will bite you in the butt later, and not when you think it will, but some other time when it will be one hundred times worse. Don't skimp."Tip/Quote of the Day # 311You must think of allowing your horse to have a long neck, to allow for him to truly come over his back and be "through". Tip/Quote of the Day # 310Good jumping involves landing at the same speed that you had when you approached the jump. Tip/Quote of the Day # 309From our very own blogger Kelly Jennings ~ "Sometimes you just have to allow it to happen rather than trying too hard. Remember...they can feel a fly. Lightness does matter."Tip/Quote of the Day # 308Jimmy Wofford on learning how to gallop a horse ~ "Picture this: some 4 foot 11 waif of an apprentice jockey is living on 1000 calories a day to keep his weight down to 100 pounds so that he can make the weight in cheap claiming races. He canters happily down the track, talking with friends, standing in a two point - and all the while he is controlling 1,000 pounds of testosterone crazed stallion....and his hands are quietly fixed at the withers....and he is poised like a feather above his horse's back....and he is not kicking and pulling."
It's all about technique, rather than brute strength. Tip/Quote of the Day # 307The basis of a successful Dressage quality flying change is the balance, understanding, and correctness of canter/walk/canter transitions.Tip/Quote of the Day # 306Your ability to do accurate and smooth simple changes of lead through the trot speaks of the amount of rideability that you will have on course.Tip/Quote of the Day # 305From member and Facebook fan Karen Barbato ~ "Even if the canter is messy on a wiggly green horse, JUST DO IT! Amazingly it gets better from just going forward and staying out of the way without trying to micromanage it."Tip/Quote of the Day # 304The more consistent a rider can be with their hands and the contact, the more the horse will be able to pick up on the rider's highly subtle cues.Tip/Quote of the Day # 303From Facebook fan Maddison Craye ~ "Riding defensively makes the horse equally defensive. Consistency and softness = a happy horse."Tip/Quote of the Day # 302A horse has to be honestly on the aids before they can stretch properly over their entire topline.Tip/Quote of the Day # 301The more weight the hocks carry, the less a horse will look for support from the rider's hand.Tip/Quote of the Day # 300The evenness of the contact reveals the straightness of the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 299Balanced riding makes for a sound horse. If a horse is unbalanced or crooked, and is loading some joints more than others, the joints with increased loading will feel increased stress. As an example, the horse that is lazy behind about engaging the joints of the hind legs, will be overly stressing the joints of the front feet and ankles by being heavy on the forehand.Tip/Quote of the Day # 298From Facebook fan Anne Johnson ~ "No matter the level, never be afraid to go back to basics. A flaw in the foundation will cause problems down the road eventually."Tip/Quote of the Day # 297From Facebook fan Deborah Carr ~ "It is OK to be the rider that I am today." Tip/Quote of the Day # 296
It takes enormous lumbar strength for a horse to carry itself in an uphill frame with a rider on its back for any length of time. Asking for too much too soon can cause tension, resistance, and resentment. Allow frequent stretching breaks.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 295If the rider leans back and water-skis off of the horse's mouth, the horse will usually oblige, and become the motorboat that tows them around.Tip/Quote of the Day # 294In Dressage (as in life), think of every transition as a new beginning, not an end. In other words, you are not "stopping" the trot when performing a trot to walk transition, but beginning a quality walk. Tip/Quote of the Day # 293The rein back is a great exercise for strengthening the horse, and increasing the amount of "sit" behind. But only if it is done correctly. Tip/Quote of the Day # 292Did you know that horses push upward with their front feet to begin a jumping effort? That is why it is so important that you don't make a move forward with your body as the horse is trying to take off. Your weight leaning up the neck at this crucial moment hinders the horse's ability to raise the front end.Tip/Quote of the Day # 291When training a young horse you should be fairly single minded. Your main goal should be to build your horse's confidence in you, so that they think of you as a fair but strong leader.Tip/Quote of the Day # 290All change is usually hard at first, often messy in the middle, and usually worth it at the end.Tip/Quote of the Day # 289The key to success when shortening the reins is for the rider to be able to keep the hand forward feeling. Think short reins, long arms.Tip/Quote of the Day # 288When on a cross country course that is partially on wooded paths, always keep in mind that you are never going quite as fast as you feel you are when you are in the woods. The trees may be whizzing by, but if you slow down too much you may find it hard to make the time up on the more open areas.Tip/Quote of the Day # 287It can be really helpful to get someone to regularly video you while you are riding, so you can actually see what you are doing right or wrong. Sometimes it can be even more beneficial than having someone on the ground. As when you can really see the problem yourself, you will be even more determined to fix it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 286Stiff shoulders cause a rider to have tense, tight hands. To relax your shoulders, take a deep breath in, and exhale... looking for the feeling that your shoulders and elbows drop and become supple.Tip/Quote of the Day # 285Let your plan be... to change and adapt your plan as much as necessary on course. Ultimately, you ride the horse, and not the plan.Tip/Quote of the Day # 284Sometimes on a cross country course, they will mow the grass to form a path from jump to jump. Do NOT get suckered into always staying on that path on your approach to the jumps. If it would give you a better approach to move off of that visually inviting path, then do so.Tip/Quote of the Day # 283Courage is like a muscle. The more we use it, the stronger it gets.Tip/Quote of the Day # 282"Dressage is not just for competition. It is gymnastics for horses and all horses can benefit from it, as they are more likely to stay sound with a long, stretchy neck, soft body and easy movement." ~ Carl HesterTip/Quote of the Day # 281Remember to breathe... it's a lot easier to remember your Dressage Test or Jumping course with the benefit of a little oxygen.Tip/Quote of the Day # 280When a horse collects, his shoulders will come up naturally. Don't attempt to artificially raise the front end.Tip/Quote of the Day # 279Lunge lessons allow you to focus more on learning to feel what your body is doing, as you don't have to worry about controlling the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 278"There are many horses that can only be taught through lateral bending, especially second degree bending, to let the rein aids go through to the hind legs." ~ Sigismund v. JosipovichTip/Quote of the Day # 277On roundness - "If you have the body, you have the head - if you have the head you don't (necessarily) have the body." ~ Jack LeGoffTip/Quote of the Day # 276When jumping, imagine that the jump is coming towards you on a conveyor belt... and just focus on keeping the rhythm and the quality of the canter consistent, while you wait for the jump to come to you. Tip/Quote of the Day # 275Always 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 # 274From Facebook fan Gabby Ballin ~ "Just because something went bad once doesn't mean it'll go bad again. If you anticipate a problem, your horse will too."Tip/Quote of the Day # 273We want the horse to understand that he is not to go against the rider's hand. But we do not want him to think that he should give to the hand. If he learns to give to the rider's hand, he will tend to want to tuck his nose when the rider is attempting to create a connection, rather than truly moving into the bit and seeking that connection. Tip/Quote of the Day # 272To steady your horse between jumps, many times it is sufficient to square your shoulders and stretch up your body in a poised way... opening up kind of like a sail on a sail boat. Tip/Quote of the Day # 271"Frankly, everyone from intermediate on can and should learn to jump with a following hand. The crest release may be fine for the beginner, but it is a very limited technique for anyone who aspires to ride really well." ~ William SteinkrausTip/Quote of the Day # 270Under developed muscles need building slowly. Tip/Quote of the Day # 269The more the rider listens to the horse, the more the horse will usually listen to the rider. Tip/Quote of the Day # 268A common cause of knockdowns in the show jumping is the rider being too "handsy" in front of jumps. The more you fuss with the bit in the last few strides, the more you take your horse's focus off of the jump. Try to keep your contact as consistent as possible to allow your horse to stay focused on the top rail of the jumps as you approach them. Tip/Quote of the Day # 267When your horse backs off or gets a little weak over a fence, you must have an immediate reaction. Send him sharply forward on the landing, to help him think more forward at the next fence. To do nothing makes your horse feel like he has a passenger on his back, rather than a confident leader. Tip/Quote of the Day # 266Walk is the "explaining" pace, so whenever possible ride every exercise in the walk first, until your horse thoroughly understands. Tip/Quote of the Day # 265"To get a good flying change, one has to perfect the original canter above all" ~ Nuno Oliveira Tip/Quote of the Day # 264When approaching a plain drop jump with no log (or other defining factor) on top, it is usually wise to trot the last few steps before takeoff, as well as allowing him to look by softening the reins. Cantering off of a plain step makes it more likely for the horse to make a mistake, and mis-judge where the actual edge of the ground is. And this can cause him to be inaccurate with his footwork on the takeoff. Tip/Quote of the Day # 263As my horse's leader, it is my job to always try to be aware that I am the leader, and act accordingly. Tip/Quote of the Day # 262"A good rider rides from transition to transition, a great rider rides from half-halt to half-halt !" ~ Robert Dover Tip/Quote of the Day # 261"If you get left behind jumping up a bank, your horse will HATE you!" ~ Jimmy WoffordTip/Quote of the Day # 260A tense, tight back is a blocked "bridge" for the energy that should be moving from the horse's hindquarters to the rider's hands.Tip/Quote of the Day # 259"Your back must stay strong in a canter/walk transition, but your hands must stay low so that your horse will stay through." ~ Stephen ClarkeTip/Quote of the Day # 258It is not wise to add pressure to the situation when the horse is already tense. Use quiet, soothing exercises that the horse is already familiar with, rather than push for anything difficult, to help him relax.Tip/Quote of the Day # 257"You know it ́s impossible to achieve great riding success with a horse that ́s stiff, crooked, weak, and unbalanced, but have you ever stopped to think that a horse has just as difficult a time achieving great success with a rider who ́s stiff, crooked, weak, and unbalanced?" ~ Daniel StewartTip/Quote of the Day # 256To get the best canter to walk transitions, you need to have a canter so collected that you can canter at walk speed.Tip/Quote of the Day # 255Always keep in mind that you need to engage your horse's brain to get him to truly think forward. Your goal should not be to merely get his feet moving, but to ignite the area of his brain that makes him decide to want to move forward. Only when your horse really wants to go forward do you truly have a forward horse... no matter how fast you are actually traveling. Tip/Quote of the Day # 254 "Success isn't magic or hocus-pocus - it's simply learning how to focus." ~ Jack CanfieldTip/Quote of the Day # 253Always remember that horses are herd animals, and are experts at reading the emotional status of their herdmates to know when there’s danger lurking ahead. Every time you ride or handle a horse, you become a part of your horse’s herd. When you tense, he expects trouble. When you keep cool, he takes confidence from you.Tip/Quote of the Day # 252What you are used to doing will often feel right to you. However it is worthwhile to make sure it really is correct, before you practice that way so many times that it becomes an ingrained habit that will be difficult to change.Tip/Quote of the Day # 251Lunge lessons are extremely invaluable, as they allow you to focus more on learning to feel what your body is doing, since you don't also have to worry about controlling the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 250One of the most important things for you to think about during your Dressage Test is to maintain a consistent rhythm and tempo throughout. Even if other things are not perfect, maintaining that consistency will produce the best possible score. Tip/Quote of the Day # 249If you don't take the time to do things right, you will usually have to take the time to do things over.Tip/Quote of the Day # 248Don't "sort of" have a contact. Try to either ride with a connection, or with a loose rein. That "in between" area, where there is sometimes a feel and sometimes not, is where horses learn to fear and/or evade the contact.Tip/Quote of the Day # 247Great quote from Facebook fan Lisa Hamilton-Smith ~ "Contact is a living breathing thing. It's elastic from the elbow and has little to do with the hands. Imagine your elbows are holding the rein, and that your contact is then held by your seat/trunk rather than the hand in any way. The hand merely holds the rein."Tip/Quote of the Day # 246If your horse tends to lean heavily on his inside shoulder when making transitions, think about a few steps of spiral outbefore asking for the transition. Tip/Quote of the Day # 245The key to training horses is patience and consistency... stick with it and you will get there!Tip/Quote of the Day # 244Remember to take advantage of any hills you may have to build your horse into a stronger athlete. Progressive hillwork done several times a week, with days in between for muscle recovery, will build your horse up to a peak level of strength... which of course will make his job easier for him. Tip/Quote of the Day # 243When learning movements like shoulder in and haunches in, always start out with minimal angle and focus more on the quality of the bend. Tip/Quote of the Day # 242Asking a horse to bend before instilling a basic understanding of lateral aids is like asking a child to read sentences before he first learns the alphabet. Tip/Quote of the Day # 241For those of you who don't get a lot of riding time, but want to build up strength in your legs, riding in a standing position while pedaling on a bicycle works the leg muscles in a similar way to riding.Tip/Quote of the Day # 240From Facebook fan Anna-Lindsay McIntyre ~ "If my abs don't hurt throughout my ride, I know I'm doing something wrong."
Of course this may not be true once you are really fit and strong, but it is always a good sign when you can feel your core muscles after a ride. :)Tip/Quote of the Day # 239"A three-day event is not a test of speed and endurance, it is a test of character." ~ Jimmy WoffordTip/Quote of the Day # 238Sometimes it's hard to tell exactly how close you are to success. That's why you have to keep going... to find out.Tip/Quote of the Day # 237Activity doesn't really start in the horse's hind legs... it starts in his brain. He has to decide to create activity before it will appear. Why is this significant? You need to train his brain to understand and respect your light leg aids, rather than try to physically push him anywhere. Tip/Quote of the Day # 236Make it a habit to pet your horse with your inside hand when you reward or give the rein. That way you can be in the habit of maintaining a consistent connection on the outside rein.Tip/Quote of the Day # 235If you really think you can (or can't) do something, your horse will usually believe you. Tip/Quote of the Day # 234On cross country, riders always need to have a "plan B" in their heads while on course. And sometimes a plan C and D as well. Being ready to change your plan in an instant can make or break your success.Tip/Quote of the Day # 233“Learn to cease the aids.” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 232Imagine that you have two headlights on your chest, and turn your headlights slightly into the the direction of the turn, while still keeping a level and erect beam of light.Tip/Quote of the Day # 231"Riding is simple - it's just not easy." ~ Jimmy Wofford
What does this mean to you?Tip/Quote of the Day # 230"If a horse becomes more beautiful in the course of his work, it is a sign that the training principles are correct." ~ Colonel PodhajskyTip/Quote of the Day # 229"Dressage is the art of putting one crooked body on top of another crooked body and making them both straight." ~ Richard WeisTip/Quote of the Day # 228When you hurry a horse, you usually just get to the wrong place faster.Tip/Quote of the Day # 227From Facebook fan Annette Gaynes ~ "Scott Peterson gave me advice of thinking of myself as a chimney and letting my horse's tension pass through my body and out instead of holding it in so it could build." Tip/Quote of the Day # 226"The horse’s response cannot be to say to his rider, 'You blinked. I can’t jump when you blink. I can’t work under these conditions!' Oh, no. The fact that you needed three-sixteenths of an ounce more pressure with your reins or that your heels could have been down another five degrees has nothing to do with it. He knows how to jump. You arranged an obstacle in his path, and his job is to jump—first time, every time." ~ Jimmy WoffordTip/Quote of the Day # 225You can give the rein without throwing away the contact. As with most things in riding, giving the rein should be subtle. Tip/Quote of the Day # 224“Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding.” ~ William Arthur WardTip/Quote of the Day # 223Always be on the lookout for the horse's natural tendency to step to the outside of its body with the outside hind leg in circles and turns, in an attempt to avoid loading the hind legs. Only by truly bending in the ribcage and staying on the track with the hind legs will riding figures cause the horse to carry more weight behind. Tip/Quote of the Day # 222Riders who can accept and learn from criticism will generally improve the most. Tip/Quote of the Day # 221If you keep your horse balanced at the gallop between fences, you will have less "set up" work to do in front of the jumps. This means that you can be faster, smoother, and more efficient at the fences. Which will help to preserve your horse's energy on course, as well as his overall soundness. Tip/Quote of the Day # 220You cannot judge how "light" a horse is entirely by the feel of the reins. Many times riders are fooled into thinking they have found true lightness, when in fact the horse is just posing in a false frame. Tip/Quote of the Day # 219Systematic, progressive training is like stacking one building block squarely on top of another, to eventually build a strong, solid building. Done this way, you have a solid foundation, and can simply "go back a step" if you run into difficulties.Tip/Quote of the Day # 218Do not let your hot horse train you to ride with no leg. Every horse must learn to accept both the hand and the leg. Tip/Quote of the Day # 217Don't wait until the horse is doing something perfectly to reward. You must reward the horse when he begins to go in the right direction of the correct response, however slightly that may be.Tip/Quote of the Day # 216If you can maintain an elastic, bungee cord like connection with the reins, no matter where the horse goes with their head, they will more quickly learn to accept that contact. Tip/Quote of the Day # 215"Dressage is the art of teaching the horse to carry you. Riding is the art of learning to be a good load to carry." ~ Richard WeissTip/Quote of the Day # 214"Whenever a horse has learned a new movement or a new aid in its basic form, the rider should give him a break and deliberately ride something else for a few days or weeks. When he returns to the movement, he will notice how much more easily the training will proceed." ~ Reiner KlimkeTip/Quote of the Day # 213Transitions engage the horse's mind as well as his hind legs.Tip/Quote of the Day # 212Always refresh the forward after any period of lateral work. Tip/Quote of the Day # 211"Travers improves the horse’s bend and makes him more obedient and attentive to the calf aid." ~ Ernst Friedrich SeidlerTip/Quote of the Day # 210"First and foremost is attitude. You have got to have the right attitude to succeed. How bad do you want it?" ~ George MorrisTip/Quote of the Day # 209“For a horse to be in balance, it has to be relaxed - which is why it must not be compressed.” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 208
It is very important to treat each horse... and each situation, individually. When problems arise - sometimes the best answer is time, patience, and encouragement. While at other times, strong corrections might be in order. A big part of success in interacting with horses is being able to read each situation accurately. And that comes with experience.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 207In addition to the suppling benefits, basic lateral work helps the horse to understand that the rider's leg creates engagement of the hind legs, rather than merely speed.Tip/Quote of the Day # 206People often tend to forget their outside leg in the equation of the bending aids. If you want to achieve true bend in the horse's ribcage, your outside leg must keep the hind quarters on the track. Tip/Quote of the Day # 205"Most people bend the neck because the neck is more flexible than the back, but in truth, you’re supposed to bend the horse with your inside leg in his ribs. You make the horse straight by bending on curved lines.” ~ George MorrisTip/Quote of the Day # 204From Facebook fan David Wilson ~ "Communicate more effectively - not necessarily more vigorously."Tip/Quote of the Day # 203Always try to think ahead and set yourself up for success. Prevention is better than correction.Tip/Quote of the Day # 202Sometimes do your flatwork in your jumping length stirrups, and mostly up off of your horse's back. It is harder to be as effective on the flat this way, but as with most things, you will only get better at it by working on it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 201"If horse isn't even in both reins don't keep pulling the heavy one - work to put the weight in the empty rein" ~ Carl Hester
If you figured everything out today, then what would you do tomorrow? Enjoy your process of being a "work in progress"!
Tip/Quote of the Day # 199Use the corner after the jump to get your horse back to you if necessary. Use the corner on the turn into the next jump to elevate the horse's front end.Tip/Quote of the Day # 198Intelligent horses need plenty to occupy their minds. And poles on the ground provide them with something visual to focus on. They help to improve attention, focus, awareness, and confidence.Tip/Quote of the Day # 197From Facebook fan Carrie Allen ~ "What makes a good coach? Someone who can put a 'feeling' into words which make sense when you read them…"Tip/Quote of the Day # 196Work on a horse and that horse gets better. Work on yourself and all your horses get better.Tip/Quote of the Day # 195From our very own blogger Shannon Elizabeth ~ "There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes you just have to dig a bit further to find it."Tip/Quote of the Day # 194"Once the resistances of the muscles are overcome and the animals are balanced, all horses have soft mouths, as the school horses prove, often with very flat bars. If the muscles resist with full force, if the hindquarters thrust more than the forehand supports, etc., the horse will always seek his lost balance in the hand. And then all of them have hard mouths, like race horses who take an arm-numbing contact in spite of the sharpest bars and bits. Thus, the hard-mouthed horse becomes soft-mouthed, when he develops the strength to carry his neck, and the soft-mouthed horse becomes hard-mouthed under a weak rider." ~ Friedrich v.KraneTip/Quote of the Day # 193"The goal is not to raise the neck, it is to lower the hips .” ~ DecarpentryTip/Quote of the Day # 192In the Dressage ring, you must look at the corners as your friend! Each corner is an opportunity to improve your horse's carriage and connection.Tip/Quote of the Day # 191Most problems can be solved by riding forward. Tip/Quote of the Day # 190Tension meeting tension = double the tension. If your horse becomes tense, you must be able to stay relaxed, or you will make it worse. Tip/Quote of the Day # 189In a correct circle, you should be slightly turning continuously to the exact same degree from beginning to end. No corners or flat sides!Tip/Quote of the Day # 188When a horse has true impulsion, they become easy to steer and keep straight. And being able to perform perfect geometrical figures (the ability to be straight on curved lines) proves your ability to maintain a consistent level of impulsion.Tip/Quote of the Day # 187Get off the rail to verify your horse's straightness. Use the quarter lines and center lines. Or better yet… go out in a big field!Tip/Quote of the Day # 186Your horse can feel whether or not you have a strong, detailed plan of how to ride your jumping course or dressage test. And he will gain confidence in you if he feels you are confident in your plan. Tip/Quote of the Day # 185The horse needs to understand that he should not go against the bit, but we do not want him to think that he should "give" to the bit. When the horse thinks he should give to the bit, he merely poses in a false frame when he feels pressure on the reins. What we want is the horse happily moving INTO the rein connection. He should literally "chase" the bit, wanting to connect with it as if it were a carrot. Tip/Quote of the Day # 184Part of being a good cross country rider is having the ability to ride forwardat the fences even when your horse is strong. Riding backwards at cross country complexes can cause all sorts of problems.Tip/Quote of the Day # 183The best riders are masters at self control.Tip/Quote of the Day # 182The more spirit the horse has, the more difficult he may be to train. But once you have developed a good partnership with the horse, this same spirit will make him a tremendous competitor who will fight for you when the chips are down.Tip/Quote of the Day # 181There is a time for being in perfect balance, and a time for being in a defensive balance (with your center of gravity behind your feet) - but there is never really a time where it is productive or beneficial to be in a position where your balance point is ahead of your feet.Tip/Quote of the Day # 180It is possible to have contact without a real connection (in fact it is quite common, unfortunately), but a true connection always involves good contact. The connection involves the horse's entire body… with energy created in the horse's hind legs traveling through the horse's supple body, and into the rider's hands.Tip/Quote of the Day # 179You will get more of whatever behavior you tolerate - both from horses and from people.Tip/Quote of the Day # 178Ride forward within the stride you have to the jumps, vs pushing horse out of its stride and disrupting balance.Tip/Quote of the Day # 177"In training we must be encouraged to first establish the principles and only then to tackle the details." ~ Reiner KlimkeTip/Quote of the Day # 176"Nothing is as impressive or as valuable for the training as being able to control the impulsion and the desire to go forward to such an extent that the rider is able to bring his horse to a standstill from an extended trot or canter without the slightest effort or disturbance. Conversely, departing immediately from the halt into an extended gait is an equal proof of the absolute desire to go forward." ~ Alois PodhajskyTip/Quote of the Day # 175"Your back must stay strong in a canter/walk transition, but your hands must stay low so that your horse will stay through." ~ Stephen ClarkeTip/Quote of the Day # 174"Riding must be a totality of exercises that bring the horse into the hand without leaning onto it." ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 173There is usually an opportunity hidden within every challenge. It pays to look for it. Tip/Quote of the Day # 172Keeping an even rhythm and a consistent pace will allow the horse to make his own adjustments in front of the fence.Tip/Quote of the Day # 171If you are not willing to put in the effort, don't expect the results.Tip/Quote of the Day # 170The elasticity in your connection should really come from your elbows - not active fingers.Tip/Quote of the Day # 169"Impulsion has nothing to do with speed. Impulsion begins by the mind of the horse, not by his legs," ~ OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 168"When I do a half-halt, I try to bring the weight of my horse on his behind (his back), in this way I can set free the front of the horse and so I can feel him more soft in my hands, while he is staying in the contact. After the half-halt, he should be able to carry himself more easily. He may have more self carriage and be more uphill.” ~ Arianna PetronciniTip/Quote of the Day # 167Ride the horse you are on at the moment. Don't be suckered into bringing along yesterday's baggage on today's ride. Tip/Quote of the Day # 166"A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there."Tip/Quote of the Day # 165"The first thing to think in half-halt is to make it invisible to those watching on, which is easier said than done." ~ Carl HesterTip/Quote of the Day # 164"A little practical hint for the aids in lateral movements and turns: If you want to move the horse’s shoulders sideways, you can picture the face of a clock, and move your belly button like the hand of a clock in the direction in which you want to turn the shoulder. For instance, in the shoulder-in right, your belly button points towards 1 o’clock, or 2 o’clock, if you want to ride with a steeper angle. In the shoulder-in left, your belly button points towards 11 o’clock, or 10 o’clock, if you want to achieve a steeper angle. If you point your belly button back towards 12, you end the lateral movement and ride straight ahead. If you want to move the haunches laterally, you move your tailbone in the direction in which you want the horse’s tail to point. In the haunches-in right, you turn your tailbone towards 5 o’clock or 4 o’clock. In the haunches-in left, you point your tailbone towards 7 or 8 o’clock. To end the lateral movement, the tailbone moves back towards 6 o’clock. You can find more on this in my arena gps smartphone app, which is due out very soon." ~ Thomas RitterTip/Quote of the Day # 163"To ride a good corner in a test one must sit in balance and make sure that the diagonal aids (outside hand and inside leg) are working effectively together." ~ Ingrid KlimkeTip/Quote of the Day # 162Core strength is a key factor in good riding, as it is with most athletic endeavors. Tip/Quote of the Day # 161When training a spooky or green horse over fences, keep all new or odd looking fences quite small at first. This way you can make sure that there will be no refusals. If he spooks at it, you can just walk over it. When you train a young horse with the mentality that he is going to go over a strange fence the first time he sees it, even if he has to crawl over it - he will come into each fence knowing that he must figure out how to get to the other side, and that there is no other option.Tip/Quote of the Day # 160Create good habits right off the bat with the young horse that is just learning how to jump, by using rails on the ground on both sides to form a visual chute for any gymnastic line or gridwork. With less steering needed from his rider, he will be more free to focus on his footwork, and learning how to use his body over the jumps.Tip/Quote of the Day # 159Many horses attempt to avoid bending in their bodies by stepping to the outside with their outside hind leg. Be on the lookout for this, and keep that outside hind leg under control to make sure the horse truly bends in the ribcage. Tip/Quote of the Day # 158Control the tone of the voice in your head when you are riding, as if it becomes irritated or harsh, your horse will feel it and become tense. If it becomes timid or uncertain, your horse will feel that and may either become timid and uncertain himself, or he may take advantage of you and take over. No voice in your head at all? That's a problem too! Be a thinking rider!Tip/Quote of the Day # 157“I don’t want to have riders who tire themselves out. Work by thinking instead.” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 156It is hard to maintain tension in the body when smiling. Make yourself smile when you feel tension creeping in.Tip/Quote of the Day # 155"Major improvements take time. They don’t happen overnight. If you make a commitment to learning something new every day, getting just a little bit better every day, then eventually – over time – you will reach your goals." ~ Jack CanfieldTip/Quote of the Day # 154The more freedom you can give your horse when performing, the more brilliance he will be able to show.Tip/Quote of the Day # 153"If you’re a typical goal-directed, Type A personality kind of rider, it’s easy to over- focus on short-term goals and over-school the movements your next test calls for. Yes, it is OK for your main concern to be where your horse is in the moment, but you can get so wound up in the “now” that you neglect the bigger picture of your horse’s overall physical and mental well-being." ~ Bill WoodsTip/Quote of the Day # 152An oldie, but a goodie ~ "If you always do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten."
Don't keep doing the same thing over and over. If something is not working, try something else.Tip/Quote of the Day # 151When softening the reins, it is common to mistakenly and unconsciously lean forward at the same time. Avoid this problem by thinking about pushing yourself away from your hands as you give the reins.Tip/Quote of the Day # 150Always be ready to stop jumping and do a few minutes of flatwork when you run into a problem. Good flatwork will fix most jumping problems. Tip/Quote of the Day # 149"When you are galloping cross country, there has got to be a give in your position." ~ William Fox Pitt
So make sure you always have some bend in your hips, knees, and ankles - these are your shock absorbers.Tip/Quote of the Day # 148It can be very helpful to keep a journal of your daily rides, and especially lessons. As soon as you get done riding, write down a few notes of things you learned that day, while it is still fresh in your mind. You will then be able to look back on it, and make better use of everything you have learned. Tip/Quote of the Day # 147A running martingale that fits correctly does not come into play unless the horse tosses its head. It should not be used to keep the horse's head down.Tip/Quote of the Day # 146If you are going to make a mistake when jumping, make it coming forward, not pulling back.Tip/Quote of the Day # 145An automatic release over jumps ensures precise yet subtle communication between horse and rider even in the air over the jump - but is especially benefical upon landing. Tip/Quote of the Day # 144Horses that carry tension in their bodies are much more likely to be spooky, resistant, and disobedient. Use suppling exercises to help dissolve that tension.Tip/Quote of the Day # 143A rider should focus on the top rail of the jump they are approaching, until the moment that the horse's head blocks their view of the jump (which is dependent on the size of the jump and the height of the horse's head carriage.) At which point the rider should look to their next jump.Tip/Quote of the Day # 142Jumping from the trot is a great exercise in patience for both the horse and the rider. Tip/Quote of the Day # 141From member and Facebook fan Catherine Norman ~ "I must remember that my hands can go forward without the rest of my body following." Tip/Quote of the Day # 140From Facebook fan Lisa Roberts ~ "Good dresssge, like good coffee, is rich, smooth and well worth the wait."Tip/Quote of the Day # 139Many riders have a tendency to take their legs off when the horse gets excited, but this trains the horse that he can make the rider take the pressure off of him by acting up. Keep your legs on, ignore the nonsense, and keep riding forward.Tip/Quote of the Day # 138The horse usually tries to compensate for the lack of strength in his back and his haunches by seeking support in the rider's hands. So if your horse does this, you might want to consider adding some strength training to your horse's regime.Tip/Quote of the Day # 137Horses love a routine… it gives them confidence. With the nervous or green horse, develop a warm up routine that you will use every day. And make sure it stays the same at shows.Tip/Quote of the Day # 136“The most important thing that I want to see today is horses looking where they’re going. I don’t want horses to be waiting, waiting, waiting for instruction. I want them to be looking forward, watching how their expressions change and how their ears lock onto the fences." ~ William Fox PittTip/Quote of the Day # 135Always be on the lookout for even the most subtle amount of bulging to the outside on circles and turns, as it is highly unbalancing to the horse. And remember that too much bend in the neck is the number one cause of bulging to the outside. Tip/Quote of the Day # 134Think about keeping your head up and still throughout the jumping motion to help keep your upper body more quietly poised.Tip/Quote of the Day # 133
The rider's hand should act as a filter, and not as a closed drain plug, which would kill the energy of the hind legs.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 132Whenever a horse jumps in less than ideal form, it is almost always a result of loss of balance on the approach. So fix the problem by improving the quality of the canter on the approach. Tip/Quote of the Day # 131When you hurry a horse, you just get to the wrong place faster.Tip/Quote of the Day # 130Excessive bend in the neck, whether lateral (to the side) or longitudinal (behind the vertical), disconnects the haunches from the rein aids and allows the horse to remain locked up in other parts of the body, such as the poll and hips.Tip/Quote of the Day # 129When you turn your knees and toes outwards as you remain seated in the saddle, the muscles in your seat tighten and pinch your horse's back.Tip/Quote of the Day # 128As your horse brings his body together from back to front into a higher level of balance and collection, if you do not shorten the reins to adapt to the horse's shorter body length, you will tend to lose what you have gained with respect to the "coiled spring" of the hind quarters. Tip/Quote of the Day # 127Land from a jump thinking about what you are going to do next. Don't land thinking about what you just did.Tip/Quote of the Day # 126Quote from Facebook fan Kristin Powers ~ "It takes WAY MORE outside rein than you ever think it does!"Tip/Quote of the Day # 125If you are inexperienced, it is truly invaluable to walk your cross country course with a coach. Due to terrain issues and fence design, there are many details that you are likely to miss if you are walking without a coach, or at least an experienced cross country rider.Tip/Quote of the Day # 124Practice your two point position. A lot.Tip/Quote of the Day # 123"If you go forward and "miss", your horse will forgive you. If you pull back and "miss", your horse will never forgive you." ~ Jimmy WoffordTip/Quote of the Day # 122You should always be just a nickel behind the horse's motion when jumping at speed.Tip/Quote of the Day # 121Transitions act as a test of your connection. If the quality of your connection is lacking as you begin a transition, it will be particularly evident as you execute it. Tip/Quote of the Day # 120If the horse is incorrect in the first stride of a movement, then don’t do the second stride. Abort, fix any connection issues, and start again. Tip/Quote of the Day # 119Train your horse to be responsible for maintaining the gait or movement you put him in, with no nagging from his rider.Tip/Quote of the Day # 118PREPARE for your transitions, don't just do them.Tip/Quote of the Day # 117“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing” ~ Theodore RooseveltTip/Quote of the Day # 116Only the horse with a supple, relaxed back can have true impulsion.Tip/Quote of the Day # 115"It hardly needs to be mentioned that, in order to ride good corners in the arena, you have nothing more to do than to apply the same aids as for enlarging the circle. Just as we don’t need to mention that spiraling out on the circle is a preparatory exercise for shoulder-in and spiraling in on the circle is a preparatory exercise for the haunches-in." ~ KimmerleTip/Quote of the Day # 114"Americans want instant dressage the same way they want instant coffee." ~ Jack LeGoff Tip/Quote of the Day # 113A good jumper is a delicate mix of chicken and bravery. Too chicken and he won’t go, scared to run on down to jumps he is not familiar with. Too brave and he may lose his carefulness - knocking everything down, as it doesn't bother him too much when he hits a jump. The best Eventers have this mix just right, to be good at both cross country and the show jumping. Tip/Quote of the Day # 112Systematic, progressive training is like stacking one building block squarely on top of another, to eventually build a strong, solid building.Tip/Quote of the Day # 111Think of that girth tight against your horse's side… after a while he tunes that out and barely notices it. The same will happen with your legs if they are always tight and clamped on his sides.Tip/Quote of the Day # 110Most riders don't do nearly enough transitions in their daily work sessions.Tip/Quote of the Day # 109Energy has to be created before it can be shaped or contained.Tip/Quote of the Day # 108A horse can become lazy or unresponsive to the aids within a single ride. Always pay attention to the strength of your aids, and be ready to stop what you are doing for a moment when necessary to focus entirely on increasing your horse's responsiveness to the aids.Tip/Quote of the Day # 107"If we don't ask for a shorter frame and more suppleness, the horse won't offer it," ~ Steffen PetersTip/Quote of the Day # 106"It is not what you don't know that causes problems, it is what you don't know that you don't know." ~ Brian SaboTip/Quote of the Day # 105Ride smarter, not harder. If it starts to feel too hard, look into learning how you can use a more intelligent technique to make yourself more effective. Tip/Quote of the Day # 104Your seat and weight aids "trump" your leg and rein aids every time.Tip/Quote of the Day # 103“In the art of riding, any excuse to yield is justified.” ~ Nuno OliveiraTip/Quote of the Day # 102"The legs bring the horse to the seat, and the seat brings the horse to the hands. When the teacher says "shorten the reins" it needs to be translated into: "engage the hind legs, sit on them, and then take the slack out of the reins", because if you shorten the reins from front to back, the horse will only resist." ~ Thomas Ritter Tip/Quote of the Day # 101Lunge lessons are one of the best ways to improve a rider's seat. They allow the rider to focus more on learning to feel what their body is doing, as they don't have to worry about controlling the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 100 Be careful to use the same emphasis, speed, and tone of voice with any voice commands. This helps to make things very clear to your horse. I often see riders yelling and screaming a voice command such as "whoa", in such a way that the horse probably has no idea what they are saying. Horses don't learn the words per se, they learn what something sounds like. Tip/Quote of the Day # 99A key to success is the rider's ability to differentiate between resisting and pulling on the reins.Tip/Quote of the Day # 98Always try to respond rather than simply reacting. Always try to listen more than you talk. And always think and ask questions rather than assuming. Tip/Quote of the Day # 97Mindfulness isn't difficult, we just need to remember to do it.Tip/Quote of the Day # 96The more you know, the more your horse will appreciate you :)Tip/Quote of the Day # 95The rider's elbows should at all times act as a hinge, following the horse's movement much like the rubber donut in side reins. Tip/Quote of the Day # 94The upper arm belongs to the rider's seat, while the rider's lower arm belongs to the horse, and should be forward feeling at all times. Tip/Quote of the Day # 93"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 and pat the ground, or say thanks for getting me here right." ~ Jimmy WoffordTip/Quote of the Day # 92If you are struggling to achieve something, it can often be helpful to act "as if" you already have the qualities you desire.Tip/Quote of the Day # 91If the horse doesn't want to be straight in his body, you can best improve him by exaggerating the opposite of whatever tendency he has. If he likes to over bend his neck to the left and carry his haunches to the left - regularly ask for flexion and bend through the body to the right (no matter which direction you are going.)Tip/Quote of the Day # 90
A correct inside bend in the body is truly evident only when there is a soft, almost loose inside rein.
Practicing transitions on a circle allows you to utilize the bend and increased engagement from the circle to improve the connection in your transitions.
Tip/Quote of the Day # 85Counting each stride out loud or in your head can help you to maintain a rhythm and an even stride when jumping, and is a great trick to keep the troublesome part of your brain quiet as you negotiate fences.Tip/Quote of the Day # 84"It’s normal to lose momentum when pursuing goals. Sometimes this happens because we’re not truly committed to our goals. Other times, it’s because we struggle to hold ourselves accountable for doing the necessary work… but it’s time to re-focus, re-energize, and re-align with your goals and dreams so you can achieve greater success and finish off the year strong!" ~ Jack CanfieldTip/Quote of the Day # 83In training the horse to be more responsive and self motivated, it is better to use the whip than the spur as reinforcement. As if the horse only ever feels light aids on his sides, he will be more sensitized to that light pressure. While reinforcing with the spur might get the job done, a touch with the whip behind the saddle will do a better job of keeping him sensitive to a light aid on his sides. Tip/Quote of the Day # 82The horse's favorite reward is the release of the aid.Tip/Quote of the Day # 81Horses learn by a process of trial and error based on trying to make themselves more comfortable. Tip/Quote of the Day # 80Never let your hand drop below the elbow to bit line, as this makes the bit work in a downward action on the sensitive bars of the horse's mouth, increasing the severity of the bit considerably. Tip/Quote of the Day # 79Always have more time than your horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 78Temporarily riding with your hands a bit wide can be helpful to prevent the horse from evading the contact. You will be more easily able to follow your horse's movements elastically, and your horse will find the connection a bit more inviting, as wide reins are essentially an opening rein on each side. Horses are much less likely to resist an opening rein than they are a direct rein, as the effect of the opening rein is more gentle. Tip/Quote of the Day # 77On straight lines, the principle of inside leg to outside rein still applies - particularly in canter, to keep the horse truly straight.Tip/Quote of the Day # 76The canter is often the most valuable warm up gait, as it can be more effective than the the trot in loosening the horse up and encouraging him to move fully through the back.Tip/Quote of the Day # 75Focus on the horse's hind legs in upward transitions. Look for the feeling that your horse begins to step into the new gait with their hind feet first.Tip/Quote of the Day # 74Always keep bend in your knees and elbows. If either become straight at any time, that limb will become rigid, and unable to follow the horses movement.Tip/Quote of the Day # 73When seated, you must be sitting in the lowest part of the saddle. It is common for riders to mistakenly sit too far back in the saddle, where the seat of the saddle is rising towards the back - especially when riding in Dressage saddles. This renders your seat ineffective, and makes it hard for the horse to feel your seat aids. Tip/Quote of the Day # 72It is a good idea to alternate harder days and easier days in your training schedule. That way you give the horse a chance to physically recover from each day of hard work, and lessen the chances of injury. Tip/Quote of the Day # 71While a thicker mouthpiece is generally considered to be more gentle than a thinner bit, the horse with a small mouth or a low palate often prefers a thinner bit. Tip/Quote of the Day # 70Only the horse with a supple, relaxed back can have true impulsion.Tip/Quote of the Day # 69Bending and lateral work stretches the outside of the horse's body. As with any type of stretching, increase your demands gradually as the horse becomes more supple. Tip/Quote of the Day # 68
"Generally riders do not pay enough attention to the geometry of the circle. The circle is a line of equal curvature and, to ask for it, the rider advances the outside shoulder taking care to keep the contact of the outside rein, which determines the circle rather than by the backward movement of the inside hand." ~ Nuno Oliveira
Tip/Quote of the Day # 67Hillwork is one of the best strengtheners. If you have any hills available, use them judiciously to make your horse a stronger athlete.Tip/Quote of the Day # 66"People seem to understand the power of practice when it comes to skills. You know you'll get better if you practice a riding skill like a shoulder-in or a right-lead canter transition. Well, you can also practice traits. You can practice courage. You can practice self-confidence. You can practice optimism. You can practice things that you might not think are able to be practiced, such as being a better friend to yourself or not always denigrating yourself." ~ Denny EmersonTip/Quote of the Day # 65Any rounding of the shoulders is weakness and immediately disconnects the arms from the back and seat.Tip/Quote of the Day # 64An effective rider has trained their inner voice to be either positive or constructively negative, never defeating.Tip/Quote of the Day # 63Some riders seem to think that if they can just sit perfectly enough, their horse will naturally bring his body together and move in a balanced way. And that is not necessarily true. While it is very important to sit correctly, horses are likely to remain on the forehand until the rider actively improves the horse's balance through specific exercises.Tip/Quote of the Day # 62Try this little experiment: Spend some time doing a turn on the forehand in hand (on the ground), so you can really watch what happens to your horse's body when he steps underneath himself with his inside hind leg. While he may remain hollow at first in tension, as he relaxes into the exercise you will usually see him naturally becoming "rounder" in his body, and therefore lowering his head and neck. You will also likely see him chewing the bit softly. This is an example of how changing the back and the hind legs positively affects the front end.Tip/Quote of the Day # 61Soften the reins too much at the beginning of a lengthening, and you may find that you lose your stored energy. Which will likely cause your horse to quicken his stride rather than giving you a true lengthening. Tip/Quote of the Day # 60Always be on the lookout for signs that your horse's topline is becoming fatigued, such as increasing mental agitation or fussiness, and allow for a stretching break before true resistance begins, or the horse will start to become resentful.Tip/Quote of the Day # 59Nearly 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.Tip/Quote of the Day # 58Stay quiet and let the exercise teach the horse.Tip/Quote of the Day # 57Correct Dressage is like physical therapy for a horse. When done well, it brings out the best movement the horse is capable of - creating a straight and supple athlete, that is therefore more likely to stay sound.Tip/Quote of the Day # 56The intensity of a half halt is determined by the strength of the push into it. Tip/Quote of the Day # 55"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 StallerTip/Quote of the Day # 54A calm, attentive horse begins with a calm, attentive handler.Tip/Quote of the Day # 53When one speaks of "disciplining" a horse, it does not mean to punish, but rather to correct. You simply stop the unwanted behavior and show them what they should be doing instead. Always train the horse to give you a consistent pattern of behavior.Tip/Quote of the Day # 52The mouth is never the real problem. What you feel in your hand is a reflection of what is happening behind the saddle. Get the back relaxed and swinging, and the hind legs active, and the horse will feel like putty in your hands.Tip/Quote of the Day # 51The horse shouldn't feel punished for trying to escape the connection, they should just feel unsuccessful.Tip/Quote of the Day # 50The pulley rein can be used as a back up to ANY restraining aid that is ignored by the horse. Don't save it just for emergencies! Tip/Quote of the Day # 49So that you don't make the common mistake of following with your body when you give the rein, think of pushing the horse slightly away from you with your hands.Tip/Quote of the Day # 48Turn your horse from the middle of his body by using your seat to initiate the turn. 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 # 47From member Kayla Wafful: "Something I've found that works very well with my students is instead of "pushing" your heels down to rather think about relaxing the ankle joint and let the weight fall naturally into your heels. This way you don't create any unnecessary tension in the ankle joint, which then transfers to the rest of the body. You get a much softer and more fluid position that way!"Tip/Quote of the Day # 46When a horse is equally laterally supple on both sides, it will be evident in the ease of which one is able to perform changes of bend and direction. If it is harder to change from one direction to the other, the horse needs more lateral suppling exercises on that side.Tip/Quote of the Day # 45It is wise to remain at least slightly seated on the takeoff of an open ditch jump, and to look for the feeling that your horse jumps out in front of you. If you are too far forward, and/or are ahead of your horse's motion as he begins to take off, he can easily lose heart and jump weakly (and therefore losing confidence). Or he can even change his mind completely and stop, in which case you would then likely become a victim of the laws of physics. ;)Tip/Quote of the Day # 44The horse needs to understand that he should not go against the rider's hand - but we do not want him to think that he should "give" to the bit. When the horse thinks he should give to the bit, he merely poses in a false frame when he feels pressure on the reins. Our goal should be to have the horse happily moving INTO the rein connection. He should literally "chase" the bit, wanting to connect with it as if it were a carrot. Tip/Quote of the Day # 43From 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 # 42You don't really do yourself any favors when you cater to your weaknesses. For example, if you only like to ride with your whip in your right hand, and it feels odd and uncomfortable in your left - you need to make yourself ride with it in your left hand. And if you are uncomfortable riding amongst distractions or with people watching, you only better yourself by seeking out those conditions.Tip/Quote of the Day # 41In just about all situations, the best transitions are initiated from the rider's seat... not the leg or hand. Tip/Quote of the Day # 40"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work." ~ Stephen KingTip/Quote of the Day # 39For the horse, the learning happens on the release of the aid. That means if you don't release the aid, the horse will not learn. Tip/Quote of the Day # 38Some people misunderstand the term "on the forehand," which refers to the shoulders being down, regardless of where his head and neck are positioned. Many times when a horse's head and neck are up, his shoulders are down. Even though he appears "up," he is definitely on the forehand. When his shoulders are down, your half halt only raises his head and neck and pushes his shoulders down more -- further breaking the bridge." ~ Conrad SchumacherTip/Quote of the Day # 37A horse must first be able to travel in a connected long and low frame before a proper higher head carriage can be achieved. If you struggle with lengthening your horse's neck while still maintaining a soft contact - be sure to master this connection before moving on to more advanced work. If you don't all of your "upper-level" work will be incorrect and will lack the back connection necessary for engaging the hind end.Tip/Quote of the Day # 36"Nothing is as impressive or as valuable for the training as being able to control the impulsion and the desire to go forward to such an extent that the rider is able to bring his horse to a standstill from an extended trot or canter without the slightest effort or disturbance. Conversely, departing immediately from the halt into an extended gait is an equal proof of the absolute desire to go forward." ~ Alois PodhajskyTip/Quote of the Day # 35While it is important to have a plan when riding, you should be ready to adapt that plan as necessary. Ultimately, you ride the horse and not the plan!Tip/Quote of the Day # 34If you shorten the reins when your horse is not yet thinking forward, he is likely to become even more stuck and behind your leg. Always get him thinking forward first!Tip/Quote of the Day # 33Generally the fastest way to get where you're going is to take your time.Tip/Quote of the Day # 32If your horse is heavy on one rein... and empty in the other - fight your instincts to take back on the heavier rein. It won't help. Instead focus on engaging the hind leg on the heavier side to put the horse more up into the opposite rein. Tip/Quote of the Day # 31Immediate, accurate feedback is necessary for a horse to learn if what it is doing is right. The timing is absolutely crucial, as there is a window of only a few seconds for the horse to make a clear connection between its behavior and the feedback that the rider provides.Tip/Quote of the Day # 30You can learn so much by watching the warm up areas at shows and events. Spend some time there, and you will see a multitude of lessons and techniques. You can educate your eye by making predictions on how each horse and rider will perform in the show ring or on course based on their warm up. Tip/Quote of the Day # 29From Facebook fan Kathy Wilson Rowe: "When you ask your horse to do something, MEAN it!!! When you give an aid, your horse needs to listen the first time!!"Tip/Quote of the Day # 28Try to give your horse a short vacation now and then. Horses appreciate a break from their jobs just as riders do.Tip/Quote of the Day # 27Many riders mistakenly believe that they have achieved lightness when the horse is not connecting with the bit, when what they are often actually feeling is emptiness in their hands due to lack of a proper connection over the back. True lightness does not come from the horse learning not to touch the rider's hand, but is only achieved by the causing the horse to carry more weight behind. Tip/Quote of the Day # 26To successfully maintain the elusive "forward feeling hands", imagine that you are pushing a shopping cart as you ride forward into the bit.Tip/Quote of the Day # 25An exercise to check if you are sitting straight and putting your weight equally down into both stirrups is to stand straight up for a few strides, and notice which stirrup you have to consciously put more weight into to keep yourself balanced.Tip/Quote of the Day # 24Always think about the depth of the water when deciding how fast to approach and negotiate a water obstacle. Riding too fast in deep water can easily cause the horse to lose his balance or even fall.Tip/Quote of the Day # 23“A horse is not ready to start work until he neither hurries forward nor holds back” ~ Peter DeCosemoTip/Quote of the Day # 22From Facebook fan Gina Riedmuller: "Riding on undulating ground really helps one develop a seat."
I agree! Once you feel secure enough, get out of the ring! Riding out on uneven terrain will further your riding considerably more than merely going round and round in a perfectly manicured arena. Tip/Quote of the Day # 21On Event horses: "The worst of them sense our fears and take advantage of us. The best of them sense our dreams and take us there." ~ Jimmy WoffordTip/Quote of the Day # 20To professional instructors: "You will teach and sometimes you will hate it. You will be tired, you will be disappointed, and you will be hot, cold, bored, and sometimes scared out of your wits by horses and riders experiencing "learning opportunities." New parents to the sport will question every move you make, and loyal clients on Saturday afternoon will leave your barn on Sunday night, and they will leave with their bill unpaid. Of course you will be greatly rewarded with more positive and immensely gratifying moments than you can ever imagine, and your life will be spent enjoying the fact that you do make a difference and you are around horses. Please stick with it. It is a noble and valuable profession." ~ our USEA president Brian SaboTip/Quote of the Day # 19"The most repeated mistake is the riders' weight taking off before the horse and often with catastrophic results - The rider that learns to look after the Engine, Line and Balance of his horse on the Approach and allows his horse to make the decisions about where he takes off, repeatedly puts in a smooth and confident performance" ~ Lucinda GreenTip/Quote of the Day # 18"For nine out of ten horses, the canter helps the trot." ~ Stephen Clarke
I think one thing to take from this quote is to actually think about using the canter to improve the trot. If your trot needs improvement, rather than working endlessly in the trot, intersperse bits of canter work to help improve the quality of the trot. Tip/Quote of the Day # 17Keep breathing. It is much easier to remember a Dressage test or a course of jumps with the benefit of a little oxygen. If you have difficulty with this, try talking out loud while on course, or in your head during a Dressage test. This will help you to relax and breathe naturally. Tip/Quote of the Day # 16Problems can only truly be fixed by finding their root cause, and addressing that rather than merely addressing the symptoms. Address the symptoms alone, and they will keep coming back - or new symptoms will develop. Tip/Quote of the Day # 15Always remember that horses are herd animals, and that they read the emotional status of their herdmates to know when there’s danger lurking. Every time you ride or handle a horse, you become a part of your horse’s herd. When you tense, he expects trouble. When you keep cool, he takes confidence from you.Tip/Quote of the Day # 14With any related distance, make any needed adjustment early on in the line, and then focus on riding the rhythm and quality of the canter, while patiently waiting for the jump to "come to you". Tip/Quote of the Day # 13As a rider you "are" where your center of gravity is, not where your shoulders are. This means to ensure you are not ahead of your horse's motion, you need to keep your hips back over the horse's center of gravity. Tip/Quote of the Day # 12“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” ~ Dale CarnegieTip/Quote of the Day # 11Riding lots of transitions back and forth between trot and canter is a good way to loosen up a horse that is tight or stiff in the loin area.Tip/Quote of the Day # 10Try to let go of old baggage... and ride the horse you are on at the moment.Tip/Quote of the Day # 9Asking a horse to bend before instilling the basic understanding of lateral aids is like asking a child to read sentences before he first learns the alphabet. Check out this article for a description of how to teach the lateral aids. Tip/Quote of the Day # 8From Facebook fan Heather Shanda, "There are many articles about "teaching" your horse to halt square. But if the horse comes into the halt equally balanced over his two hind legs he will halt squarely all on his own. If the left hind leg is always trailing, then you have to ask it to step under and carry more weight BEFORE the halt, not after."Tip/Quote of the Day # 7If your reins are even slightly too long, you will have more of a tendency to take back and act backwards on the reins to control your horse. Only if your reins are short enough for the situation can you be in control while riding truly forward and into the connection of your hand. Tip/Quote of the Day # 6Very true quote from Facebook fan Anne Rawle, "Never teach a horse something you don't want him to learn." Tip/Quote of the Day # 5"Use lots of forward and back transitions within the canter to spice up the hind leg." ~ Carl HesterTip/Quote of the Day # 4Horses usually mirror their riders. If your horse is tense, check yourself. If your horse is crooked, check yourself. If your horse is distracted, check yourself. If you want your horse to carry himself properly, make sure you are carrying yourself properly on his back.Tip/Quote of the Day # 3From our Facebook fan Heather Salamone, "Don't groom a shedding horse right after applying chapstick." And I will add body clipping to that! :)Tip/Quote of the Day # 2Always make any necessary adjustments early on in the approach to a jump. The last few strides belong to the horse - who will only be able to jump to the best of their ability if the rider remains stable and doesn't interfere at that point.Tip/Quote of the Day # 1"For riders: It is hard work, takes more time than you have, and requires more money than you thought. You will learn more than you ever thought possible when you began in the sport, but you will never learn it all. You will never be as good as some, but you will probably not be as bad as others if you are willing to work. It is the best thing you could ever do, and even when you fail you learn, and even if you never get a ribbon it is still worth it. Stick it out." ~ USEA President Brian Sabo
Newsletter Sign Up
Please fill in the details below to sign up to our newsletter.
