The challenge is real… And, unfortunately, the momentum is as well! For so many riders, cantering is all well and good until the point where you have to turn! Cantering around corners can be so challenging for many riders for a lot of reasons. Here are 3 points to focus on to help you maintain your alignment and balance. 1.…
One of the fun things about canter is the ‘moment of suspension’. Except when this ‘moment’ applies to the rider, not just the horse! Yes, there is a moment when the horse will be ‘off’ the ground; suspended in midair. However, we definitely don’t want you to experience this bouncing in the canter. Becoming airborne whenever your horse strides in…
Getting into the canter can be a challenge! For so many riders the transition into the canter can be a truly bumpy, hair-raising, rushed, and flat experience. There is none of the upward, poised, clean, and intentional 1 that leads to the 2, 3 for the canter stride. It is just a matter of creating enough momentum with a flat,…
Horse riding is essentially about how we can communicate with our horses – while riding our horses. However, as riders, in order to be effective we need to first master some basic coordination. And therein lies the challenge! It is often this part of communication, the one between our brains and our bodies, that can cause the greatest issues when…
Arena markers are a great tool when working on improving specific things in our riding. Whether it be rhythm and stride length. Or shapes of movements and shapes… Using strategically placed markers can really improve the overall quality of the work you do with your horse. However, just like all of the other artificial aids, we can sometimes become a…
There is a tendency for riders to ‘hold’ a little too much during the downward transitions. And while the half halt is essential to the preparation and transition itself… Too much can lead to a very ‘stuck’ feeling when the horse actually makes it into the new gait! A little like ‘stuck in the mud’. In this episode, I am…
