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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A great way to introduce flying lead changes to your Event horse is when out galloping in a field. It is quite natural for them to change leads cleanly when galloping strongly (when they are also in balance.) So this can be used to our advantage to help them understand
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As you finish a course, ask yourself if you are finishing with the same pace that you started with. If the answer is no… the next question you need to ask yourself is which speed was better for your horse's jumping - the way you started, or the way
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"To get TB's (which easily can get hollow and short necked and tight in the back) to stay loose, swinging and over their back you sometimes let them go a bit "deep" to start, then always going to engaging exercises to bring the poll up.
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When working on trot/walk transitions, if you feel your horse is being lazy with one hind leg in the transition, do a few steps of leg yield off of that leg before moving on - making sure your horse is hot to that lateral aid.
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Horses that have a smooth and naturally balanced gallop stride often have longer careers in this sport. Keep that in mind when looking for a prospect.
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Frequent transitions and half halts are ultimately what give you impulsion rather than speed from the energy in your horse's stride.
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"Relaxation is the bread and butter without which you cannot advance to stage two, balance." ~ Charles de Kunffy
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"A horse with impulsion will display rounder, more fluid, and more continuous action and will develop supple joints and an elastic musculature. There is a subtle vibration in the impulsive horse's body." ~ Charles de Kunffy
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From Facebook fan Andi Stockton Fox ~ "It's much easier to ride to the base of the fence when I am actively riding forward to the fence."
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When jumping, long stirrups might seem easier to you, but shorter stirrups (within reason, of course) will make you a better rider.
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When teaching, I am always on the lookout for signs that the horse might need a short stretching break. Sometimes it is something as subtle as a more anxious look in the horse's eyes. And sometimes it is more obvious, like the horse starts to become a little
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"Stay dedicated to the quality of the basic gaits—the suppleness and balance of the walk, trot and canter. Then as you cultivate the movements, those gaits improve." ~ Volker Brommann
