It seems pretty simple, navigating a corner or bend with your horse. And yet, for many riders, this becomes a complicated task really quickly. The issue is not the turn or the bend. No, the issue is that they are trying to turn their horse, rather than simply setting things up and allowing their horse to turn. As the rider,…
You can feel it when your horse ‘hollows’, right? And I bet you can also feel it when your horse ‘grows a hand’ and begins to carry himself. There is either a feeling of contraction or expansion. Okay, so because we agree on that, it makes sense that your horse can probably feel the same thing… Right? And yet, so…
Posture. It’s something that many people (equestrians or not) have memories of a parent or teacher correcting them on! And perhaps this is why many riders don’t want to hear about their posture when it comes to their riding. However, no matter what way you approach your riding, or what discipline you choose to work with your horse on, posture…
Self-carriage is a pretty big topic when it comes to riding and riders in general. And it should be. It is an important aspect when it comes to training moving in the right direction. However – you knew there was a ‘however’ coming, right?! Often we put the cart before the horse when it comes to self-carriage in riding. We…
Have you been using your lunging whip incorrectly? Have you decided not to use it at all? Your lunging whip is one of the best aids you have to help you clarify your communication when it comes to lunging your horse. However, in order for it to be of benefit, it must be used correctly. And, unfortunately, the lunging whip…
Have you ever ridden in an open space, a large open space? A space with no boundaries, or fences, or hedges, or any natural ‘this is the end of this space’ obstacles. It takes a lot more focus to ride accurate shapes and straight lines. We tend to ‘wander’… So many of us forget how beneficial an artificial aid the…
