Unless otherwise noted, all quotes on this page are the work of Lesley Stevenson. Please ensure proper attribution when sharing. Thank you!
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You can't make a horse relax. You have to HELP him relax. The mindset of helping rather than trying to make it happen makes a world of difference to the horse. This might sound like an obvious thing to say. But I see a lot of riders somewhat
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Be conscious of keeping your core engaged and your body stretched up tall as you soften the reins. Many riders mistakenly "let go" in their core and/or lean forward when softening the rein.
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When preparing for a jump from a galloping position, one should always sink down into the heel before any touching of seat in the saddle, and only THEN should you take the mouth if necessary. Taking back on the reins first will almost always cause resistance.
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"The basic techniques, or what they call basics, are more difficult than what comes later, this is the Trap of Dressage. Correct basics are more difficult than the piaffe and passage." ~ Conrad Schumacher
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"Collection without impulsion is worthless, and I’ve yet to see a horse at any level who has no issues with straightness." ~ Christoph Hess
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The most difficult horses are almost always the best ones in the end. Often because they are so darned SMART.
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Circles and basic lateral work offer us the best opportunities to work on increasing the horse's understanding and acceptance of the rider's leg aids.
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Any deviation from the optimal straight line from the rider's elbow to the bit acts as a block in the rein connection.
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Riders should be checking for self carriage often throughout their work. Do you??
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Be careful not to let your hot horse train you to ride with no leg. Every horse must learn to accept both the hand and the leg.
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"Riders need to learn to ride the horse to the bit, and not to block from the bit back." ~ Carl Hester
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Horses brace against the bit when their RIDERS are bracing against their mouth. If you want your horse to soften, you need to be softer and more supple yourself.
