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…
Isn’t it amazing how so many riders just seem to ‘know’ what will happen each time they ride? They have certain expectations that, almost magically, seem to always come true for them. Unfortunately, the keywords in that sentence are ‘for them’. I see time and again how riders, regardless of what is really happening, will define each ride based on…
It can seem like a strange topic for many OTTB riders and owners. One that, initially, may not seem all that important. And yet, for many OTTBs, the lack of boundaries is the number one frustration. And, it is something that can eventually undermine the whole relationship between horse and rider. Setting boundaries requires that both you and your horse…
The key to a good quality trot is to remember that your horse must be moving forwards at all times. I call this forwardness in the trot. This is not to be mistaken for running, rushing, or jig-jogging. True forwardness requires that you, the rider and decision-maker, must be thinking forwards throughout your ride… And, in this case, in the…
