What is it about the idea of a fresh start that is so appealing? You know, a clean slate, a blank canvas. A ‘do-over’! As riders, we often make the crucial mistake of approaching all of our work with our horse, or improving our riding this way. And this can be a mistake because we are not asking one important…
Have you ever noticed how you instantly start riding better the minute you realize someone’s watching? Your posture improves, you become more precise with your aids… And suddenly there’s a whole lot more attention to detail! Now imagine having that same benefit, even when you’re riding completely alone… Good news: your new training partner is already sitting in your pocket.…
Working alone without a regular instructor or trainer is tough. And often it’s the ‘little things’ that become the bigger sticking points for riders. Things like staying accountable, using feedback to make tweaks and changes, and creating a regular schedule filled with exercises and activities to move things forward. But all is not lost… It is still possible to move…
While many people associate driving a Ferrari with happy things, most riders know that ‘riding’ the Ferrari of the yard is not that enjoyable at all! Riding a horse who rushes and runs everywhere is usually frustrating and challenging! And, assuming that you have ruled out physical issues, if your horse is rushing and racing, it’s time to focus on…
Being on a horse who is determined to run as fast as he possibly can towards every pole, fence, or jump that he sees is nerve-wracking! There are many reasons your horse might do this. And assuming that you have ruled out discomfort or pain, then retraining can begin. Unfortunately, retraining a horse who has become practiced in rushing jumps…
Contact is something so many riders want to achieve when working with their horses. However, it’s always worthwhile remembering that your horse was not born knowing how to be ridden. This means that contact is something both of you must learn about and then refine through your work together. For many horses, the challenge is made even more difficult when…
