I remember the excitement I felt when I began working with my pony ‘alone’ at home in the fields when I was younger. The feeling that anything was possible if I was only willing to put in the consistent effort and work. And the feeling that there was just so much to do and so little time to do it!…
Your time or your money; it’s an age-old toss-up! For the most part, most things can be improved, strengthened, corrected, or achieved when we invest either time or money towards it. And, for the most part, you can excel in the progression if you are able to invest both. And training your horse is no different. And while many will…
When it comes to being ready for training your horse, you probably fall into one of two categories. The first one is filled with riders who genuinely believe they can do anything. And that they’ll probably be successful. The second is the riders who really weigh up every pros and cons before making a decision. And they often second guess…
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,…
Your hands are an aid in your riding. So understanding why the way you hold your reins and how to judge the height of your hands when riding is important. And realizing how much your hand aids are impacting and affecting your riding can change everything. As riders, one of the first things we learn is how to ‘hold’ the…