I find it a little mind-boggling how, the longer we spend developing ourselves as riders, the more we need to unlearn. Especially when it comes to those first one or two initial horse riding lessons! Using your hands and arms to ‘steer’ the horse is one of those things. And, flexion is often one of the best concepts to help…
Have you noticed how, for many people, the longer they spend in the saddle, the less curious they become about a lot of things ‘riding related’? Now, other riders are the exact opposite, they want to go deeper and further in all aspects of riding. Which is fantastic. If you have found yourself doing something for the sake of just…
Can changing one thing really help you to improve your riding? I think so, and the great news is that regardless of how well you ride, you can begin to implement this the very next time you’re in the saddle. This exercise is suitable for you to ride in walk, trot, and canter. It is also something you can use…
I am all for intentional, relaxing hacks with your horse. And I also think that it’s worth remembering that not all hacks have to be for ‘doing nothing’. In fact, there are some things that may actually happen more easily when out of the arena. Working contact is, for some riders and horses, one of those things. We are always…
Anyone who has ridden in an arena for a prolonged period knows how different the energy feels when they finally get out on the trail. What may have been feeling a little flat and, even, deflated, suddenly comes back to life. Both horse and rider seem to become more keenly self-aware. And more responsive to external elements. Rather than being…
Accuracy can seem like a dull and boring concept when riding horses. Sure, if you are going to compete in dressage or show jumping, accuracy can become really important. But what about if you are simply a rider, working alone with your horse, trying to improve your overall skills? Is accuracy still as important? I’m going to say yes, accuracy…