There is an energy that we experience when we are out on the trail with our horses. It can feel like an added enthusiasm from both horse and rider. And, maybe, blended with the thought of unlimited possibilities. Whatever the reason for it, as riders we can begin to use this energy to develop our horse’s training and our own…
Not having a designated space to ride in, like an arena, can often feel like a big disadvantage. If you have been riding in an open field or been confined to roads for any length of time, you’ll probably know what I mean! However, while an arena does help with some aspects of riding, having no arena will also force…
For many riders, collection can feel like an exotic and luxury destination that they can only dream about visiting. It can feel very much outside the realms of possibility when they consider their riding abilities and their horse’s abilities as well. Now, the flip side of this is that there are also a smaller group of riders who feel entitled…
When I was first starting out as a rider, I thought that straightness was a simple and easy concept. I remember the first time someone told me that one of the hardest things to do on a horse was to ride a straight line. I didn’t believe them! However, turns out they might just have been right… This is part…
How do you know if you have actually achieved true impulsion? What makes this ‘real’ impulsion different from simply running around the arena like the energizer bunny with your horse? This post is the fourth in a series I have created about the training scale. I suggest also checking out the previous posts on rhythm, suppleness, and contact. At ‘Step…
Contact and connection; hot topics for many riders. This is often because they can feel quite elusive. There is confusion regarding what needs to happen in order for contact to occur. And, how can you tell if the contact is correct and ‘good’? This post and episode are the third in a series about the training scale. We have already…