How much time do you spend strengthening your relationship with your horse while on the ground? Many riders only think in terms of ‘riding’ when they think of communicating with their horse. However there are many other ways you can begin to not only create a stronger sense of trust but also to improve your horse’s overall training. Groundwork is…
You are cantering towards the jump… 3… 2… 1… But instead of the ‘Jump’ that should have followed the 1; you get a chip in. A moment where your usually trusty horse decides to test both of you by inserting a little ‘half stride’ in there before takeoff! The result is you do a great Thelwell impression and your horse…
Have you ever looked at photos or videos of your horse and it looks like his hind quarters are, literally, being left behind? They are dragging out behind him, rather than working underneath him. Or perhaps you have gotten the feeling that when you ask for ‘more’ when in the saddle, there is just no way he can provide ‘more’…
. 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,…
You halt, salute, and exit the arena from your latest dressage test. Your best ‘free walk on a long rein’. Now, your thoughts turn to your scores; how well your dressage test went… That one circle may have looked a little more on the triangular side… But, on the plus side, you aced the canter leads each time and you’re…
