Tip/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
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