Crookedness – it is a word and a concept that is continuously showing up when we talk about horses, riding and training… It is also a little like the ‘chicken and the egg’ – which comes first? Many riders make the mistake of thinking it is only the horse we are speaking about. Meanwhile, riders can be just as crooked, if…
Horse riding is a skill that is always a work in progress. A rider can never truly claim to have finished or completed their training… That being said, one of the more frequent questions I get asked by new riders is “how long will it take until I can ride?”. Which inevitably leads to thoughts of “How long is a piece…
Coordination; It’s always a wonderful feeling when you can do something effectively without having to put too much thought or effort into it. Being able to cultivate this skill, regardless of what is being done, takes a large number of hours invested in practice. However in order for that practice to be beneficial, it must be correct or perfect practice.…
. Have you ever found yourself out on the trail needing to reverse? Or even in the arena, knowing that your horse reversing in a calm, quiet fashion would be a really useful achievement in that particular moment? You ask him to go back. However, rather than the smooth, no-fuss reverse you were imagining, it rather feels like you left…
Have you ever had the misfortune of a plan going awry when in the saddle? Perhaps something small such as a refusal or run out, or maybe something a little ‘bigger’ such as a fall or stumble? Either way, since it happened, you find that whenever you are in a similar situation or are reminded of it… Things are just,…
Do you find that the only time you begin seriously thinking about lunging your horse is when you are about to ride, and he has just a little bit too much ‘enthusiasm’ for your liking? Or perhaps your idea of lunging is chasing your horse round and round in circles until one or both of you are too tired (or…
