So often when we are riding, relaxation for both ourselves and our horse is one of the goals for the ride. This being so, you may have tried working him long and low. And probably during warming up or cooling off. However, you may also have noticed that asking your horse to work long and low can be pretty hit…
Think back to the last time you were cantering along on your horse and a change of rein was coming up. You began the task of preparing to drop back a gear into a trot to change the canter lead. “Better than losing rhythm and balance through a flying change…” However before you even got there, your horse (being the…
When we first learn to ride, turning is often explained to us as merely a ‘tug’ or pull on one rein or the other to turn our horse’s head. There’s a general consensus being that where his head turns, his body will go… However, anyone who has ridden a determined pony or horse will know that this is very often…
Do you find that when asking your horse for canter, you tend to ‘over do’ some aspects of your aids? Perhaps you throw your reins at your horse, or you try to ‘push’ too much with your seat or upper body… You are shoving and bumping about in the saddle! And when your horse eventually ‘strikes’ the canter, you are…
Have you ever ridden a horse and they feel so wonderfully loose and pliable underneath you? Perhaps you can remember how your horse was able to really and truly use his body and how the suppleness made it feel like he was performing movements in the best possible way that his body, fitness and confirmation allowed? True suppleness allows your…
Who doesn’t love to canter? It may just be the most enjoyable gait to ride when in the saddle for many riders, however it is also the gait that might just have us working the hardest to actually successfully get there and then, returning back to trot or walk seems to also open a whole can of worms for many…
