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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"Don’t do too much with young horses. I do 20 minutes with most four year olds. Walk, trot, canter, on the bit, straight. Educate them in a really easy way, relaxed trot, easy canter, work on steering and control, and work from there. With a bigger horse, like
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"The techniques you use for relaxation, stretching, walk breaks, things like that, a more competitive or nervous rider doesn’t pay enough attention to that. They think, 'I’ve got a test to do so I won’t keep stretching him until he’s relaxed, I’ll just
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Always use both reins together to steer, especially when jumping. Using one rein only turns the horse's nose - but using both reins turn the horse at the shoulders, which means his body will more accurately follow your chosen line.
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The suppling exercise shoulder in can be used to gain more control of your horse's shoulders, and will help you to make your horse more truly straight, and therefore even in the reins.
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Ride your horse like you just know he is going to do everything right. He will feel your positive vibes.
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A 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
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"Shorter reins generally allow for a better connection and less delay of the aids." ~ Reiner Klimke
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If becoming a great rider wasn't hard, everyone would be able to do it. It's the hard that makes it great.
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"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
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The rider hanging on the inside rein creates stiffness, resistance, head tilting, and loss of control of the horse's outside shoulder.
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Just putting in the time does not guarantee success. You have to be practicing correctly to improve.
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"If you get left behind jumping up a bank, your horse will HATE you!" ~ Jimmy Wofford
