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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Lunge work provides a sound foundation for your work under saddle. It helps young horses to develop confidence in their handlers, helps them to find their own balance at all three gaits, and builds their strength for carrying a rider.
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Bending 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.
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When you are teaching your horse something new, begin to teach it to him in the direction that he finds the easiest, so that it is a more positive experience for him.
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"You must teach the young horse to clearly understand the difference between yielding versus bending on a circle." ~Christine Traurig
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When your horse is learning something new, and he starts to "get it", giving you a correct response, let him stop and think about it for a minute. Reward, and then say nothing with your aids for at least a few seconds. If you give your horse that
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You have to keep your horse straight in the body when you ask for lateral flexion at the poll, in order to actually get true lateral flexion at the poll.
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When turning off of the center line in the Dressage ring, be careful to NOT let your horse drift right before turning left, or drift left before turning right at C. This is such a common mistake, and is an unnecessary way to lose points.
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"The quality of the [rider's] seat determines whether we can even speak of 'riding', or whether the horse simply has to 'deal with' the load on his back." ~ Kurt Albrecht
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After your initial halt at X, don’t be in a hurry to move off, just because the judge is watching you. Keep thinking about what your horse needs at that moment. If you need to stand for another second and ask for flexion at the poll towards your horse’
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"Use exercises that naturally encourage collection without mentally forcing it." ~ Christine Traurig
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A tip for instructors - Turn on the forehand can be a great way to teach your students about the importance of the outside rein.
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"We are trying to teach gymnastics through a tactile language." ~ Hilda Gurney
