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  • Why is Your Horse Falling In?

    Why is Your Horse Falling In?

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    Why is your horse falling in?  More importantly, how do you know if your horse is falling in?

    The quickest and easiest way I can explain falling in is to imagine you are riding a circle. One that you have planned out beautifully in your head. However, as your horse travels around it you seem to be getting more and more off track with each passing stride. In fact what started out as a 20m circle is soon resembling a 10m triangle, drawn by a three-year-old…

    Another area where this problem can tend to rear its ugly head is when traveling around a corner and, again,  just like before you have set the course. You half halt, but your horse’s actual path and the one you envisioned in your head are worlds apart.

    The initial problem is then compounded by the frustration that it is happening so regularly, there being 4 corners in every arena and all.  

    Welcome to the world of falling in… Which is almost exactly what it sounds like.   You set a course, and instead of following it, your horse ‘falls in’ on the shape.

    What Causes Falling In?

    Now while we may initially blame ourselves for bad planning or awful usage of basic shapes, this is often not the root cause.  Because, very often, after we reach for our markers to help guide us along, we begin to realize that far from this being our inability to correctly execute a circle, this issue stems more from our horse’s inability to balance himself while being ridden on the said circle.

    This is a frustrating and annoying problem that  may represent a fundamental flaw in a horse’s basic training. What is actually happening is your horse cannot balance himself correctly.

    The Ineffective Quick Fixes…

    Now, most riders’ first reactions are to pull the ‘outside rein’ and try to get back on track.  This causes horses to flex incorrectly to the outside and often has the effect of the body continuing to fall in while the head and neck are poking out having a good look at everything outside the arena or circle…

    When this happens, riders will turn to the next tool in their box; coupling their outside rein with a few well-placed ‘kicks’ of the inside leg. And, to be fair, often this is enough to get their horse back out to the original track.  The problem comes when instead of it being an enjoyable circle, you are now having to use every ounce of strength and concentration to keep him there…

    You begin to literally hold him up with your legs and reins. You have become his stabilizers or support for when he is not feeling balanced

    In doing this ‘quick fix’ the problem has just been made worse by training your horse to balance on your hands/reins. This means that he will not become strong or correctly muscled enough to rely on himself for balance… Which, as we mentioned, is usually the core of the issue, to begin with.

    Straightness on the Circle

    So how can be we begin rectifying the problem in a way that will build a solid foundation for you to build on in the future?

    By learning to go ‘straight’ on a circle. Back feet tracking corresponding front feet – not inside back foot slightly more to the outside (hind end swinging out).

    When asking for true straightness, your horse will begin to work correctly and use himself for balance.   Only by consistently maintaining this ‘straightness’ on a circle, will the necessary muscles develop to balance and carry you both in more complicated work and movements

    Get Clear on Your Track and Your Aids

    The first thing I would suggest is becoming very clear in your head about what you should be doing on the circle, and being consistent in not straying from that path, no matter what!  This can be difficult, as it is so tempting to ‘fix’ your horse back onto the correct circle, but your horse must learn to ‘fix’ himself!  Make sure you keep a correct position on the circle, you are asking the correct questions, and then keep persevering by riding from your inside leg to your outside rein.

    Your inside leg is not a prop for your horse, so don’t allow it to become one.  

    The same applies for your outside rein.   Try keep your leg and hand position as close to where they should be as possible, however initially, you may have to open your outside hand or rein to encourage your horse back out to it.

    Developing Your Horse

    Your horse must develop equal muscles on both sides of the body in order to carry himself and the rider.  This will take time and consistent correct action, so don’t expect it all to happen in one day.

     Rather spend a few minutes each day working correctly on both reins; slow and steady will win the race.

    Initially, you may just end up going on smaller circles, but if you remain calm and true to your correct position, all the while keeping a sharp focus on not allowing him to ‘run’ forward and continuously speed up, your horse will soon begin to realize that the bigger circle, ridden correctly, is generally the easier way to go… Small circles are hard work, especially when your rider is no longer propping you up with reins and legs!

    When you are riding correctly, you are not supporting the horse with your reins.  

    This means no neck reining or crossing your hands over (your right hand must stay on the right-hand side, and vice versa!)… Rather guiding or indicating when necessary, but then allowing him to figure it out for himself.   Maintaining your correct position and consistent use of correct aids at the appropriate times will soon nullify this bad habit that may develop.

    His Hindquarters & Falling Out…

    Finally, make sure you are using your outside leg in a correct manner to prevent his hindquarters from falling out. This is often what will happen if you manage to ‘fix’ the front end.  Your horse must learn to be truly straight on the circle. Meaning that the inside back leg is on the same track as inside front leg and same for the outside legs.  If your horse’s inside back leg is following his outside front leg, he is falling out through his hindquarters.

    If you find this all overwhelming, try breaking things down into steps, and be persistent in working through them, step by step, until it becomes second nature.  Just, again, make sure you are correct in your riding and position before graining a habit in yourself!

    The final piece of advice I can offer is to regularly, or as much as you can,  jump onto a horse that is well-schooled so you can feel what it is like and how your body is perhaps compensating for your horses lack of balance, without you even being aware of it.  Often we can become the ‘enabler’ to our horse’s bad habits… Make sure you are not falling into this trap.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources to Help with This Topic

  • Moving Off Your Leg

    Moving Off Your Leg

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    Is there a more frustrating and exhausting experience when riding to match that of being on a horse that is not paying you a blind bit of notice?!  You are on board kicking and pumping away.  And all the while your horse is just meandering along.  Ignoring you completely and acting as though he is on a relaxing Sunday outing.

    Training your horse to move off your leg will help you overcome the inertia.  It will also actively improve responsiveness in your horse.  Starting the very next time you ride. 

    Why Is He Ignoring Your Leg?

    It is always a good idea to first take a good, in-depth look at your horse’s health.  Rule out the possibility of there being something physically wrong that may be causing him to be so nonchalant and laid back.   Question whether or not the environment or weather could be contributing factors.  Or perhaps his fitness levels, or lack thereof?  Also, things like tack fit and confidence working on a particular type of surface or ground.

    Moving Forward off your Leg
    Once you have confirmed that he is fit and healthy and able for the level of work you are asking for, you can then begin to look at other factors.

        • Has he been trained to ignore the rider’s questions?
        • Is his rider asking correctly and then allowing him to go forward?

    Inconsistent Riding Aids

    Let’s first look at the fact that he may just be ignoring your aids.  Some horses will only do what is absolutely necessary for them to do. Surprise, surprise!  In a lot of instances, if they are not motivated sufficiently to go the extra mile, they won’t. Simple as!

    As riders, often we ride to enjoy ourselves and relax.  Unfortunately, during these rides, we can be a little ‘too relaxed’.  This is in both our communication and our instance of doing things the correct way.  

    The problem arises when we ask for ‘more’ and then get upset when our horse doesn’t want to actually do ‘more’ for us.  This is a direct result of our inconsistent riding and disciplining!  If this is the case, your horse is simply reacting to how he has been conditioned or trained by you, the rider.

    Nagging Riding Aids

    On the other side of this incorrect training are novice riders who, whether knowingly or not, consistently do too much in the saddle.  Whether it’s due to a lack of awareness, balance, or control over their seat and limbs, the result is the same.  Riders become the ‘dripping tap’ on their horse’s sides… Nag, Nag, Nag.

    Unfortunately, like the dripping tap, your horse will soon learn to completely ignore the leg aids.  ALL OF THE TIME!  So when you actually put your leg on to go forward, he just sees it as another ‘Nag’ and ignores it.

    One of the most important skills we can cultivate with regard to our riding is mindfulness.  Knowing what we are doing, when we are doing it, and why. 

    I also think it is worth mentioning that you must carry yourself, and your horse must carry himself while riding. This will help you to be more effective with your leg aids.  And your horse to become more responsive.  Both are necessary when moving off your leg is what you want to improve in your riding.

    Conflicting Riding Aids

    The last part of the equation is the fact that the rider may be giving conflicting instructions to the horse.  Using their leg while at the same time, using the hand for balance.  This is often due to a lack of independence in their seat.

    It is a common sight in arenas, the knee jerk reaction of the hand moving when the leg is used.

    Alternatively, instead of actually applying the leg when and where you should, riders often ‘polish’.  This is when, to ask a question, the rider allows their leg to swing back along the horse’s side.  It never actually does anything constructive except to shine a 6″ stripe on both sides of the horse’s body!

    The rider gets frustrated.  And their horse becomes confused. Luckily, being the kind soul he is, decides that if in doubt, rather don’t go or move anywhere! This is definitely not moving off your leg!

    In fact, he is now ignoring your leg at all costs… Which is the exact opposite of what the rider actually wanted in the first place! 

    Improving ‘Moving Off Your Leg’

    I have other resources on this topic, which have more detail on how to more effectively use your legs when riding.

    Choose one of the topics, go deeper and see what you can achieve in your riding.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources:-

  • Rising or Posting in Trot

    Rising or Posting in Trot

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    Have you ever sat down (no pun intended) and thought about how correct your rising or posting in trot actually is?  Rising or posting in trot is one of the first aspects we learn when starting out riding a horse.  And it is also one of those things that we forgot to come back and upgrade!

    We happily spend hours trotting around the arena or along the trail. Up-down, up-down, up-down.  And all without ever stopping to consider if the movement we are performing is helping or hindering our horse.  Or if it is stalling our own progress as a rider…

    Let’s Chat About Trot

    Trot is a two time beat, 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2. This 1 2 is caused when the pairs of diagonal legs move together underneath you; off fore with near hind (creating the 1) and then near fore with off hind (creating the 2).

    A rising trot, or posting, is used in many different aspects of riding.  Warming up, trotting long distances for comfort, schooling in the arena, and lower level dressage to name a few.  It is also used, later, to begin influencing your horse’s tempo in the trot. Which can only happen if you have developed your posting or rising sufficiently to do so.

    It really is a versatile and well-used skill when riding.  And, of course, when we are rising or posting in trot we are not sitting in the trot.  For many riders, this can become bouncy and often uncomfortable after a while.
    Rising or Posting in Trot

    Up and Down?

    When posting in trot, we will ‘sit’ for the 1 and ‘rise’ for the 2, or vice versa. However, when we are thought rising trot early in our riding education the words “down” and “up” are often used. These are instead of “rise” or “sit”.

    Because the words ‘Up’ and ‘Down’ are used most people do just that, which is not technically correct…

    Next time you are at the barn, watch a few riders trotting. Notice the different styles of posting in trot and also, the differences between these styles.  Those that look stiff, and unbalanced, and falling back in the saddle are often doing an up and down movement.

    Their legs will straighten.  Often they will thrust their whole body ‘up and forward’. It’s like they’re pulling themselves up from the shoulders, rather that using the horses momentum, their core, their own legs to ‘push’ them up.

    The usual outcome for this type of a ‘rise’ or post is a lack of balance. It also results in an inability to use your body to affect the ‘down’ or return to the saddle. The rider will get slightly left behind and fall back into the saddle.  The problem is worsened due to the fact that because they fell backward, much too close to the cantle or back of the saddle, it becomes uncomfortable for both horse and rider.  It is also not great news for your saddle!

    Lack of Suppleness

    Another downside of actually standing up and down is the fact that your whole body moves with each rise or post. As we all know, trotting requires you to keep your hands and upper body ‘quiet’ while riding…

    Standing straight up makes this pretty much impossible. And using your shoulders and upper body to ‘pull’ yourself up, whether with or without the use of your reins, requires quite a bit of movement!

    The result is ‘bouncy and jerky hands in the trot.  This negatively impacts your horse’s way of going due to the jarring effect on his mouth. It also produces a lack of consistent contact through the reins.

    Rather Think Forward and Back

    Imagine moving your pelvis, and only your pelvis, in a forward and diagonally upward direction. This movement will happen in perfect coordination with your horse.  This is because you will use the energy of your horse to help lift yourself ‘up and down’, rather than having to pull yourself.

    Posting like this allows your lower leg to remain in position.  It is underneath you and supporting you as you ‘rise’ and it also lessens the movement in your upper body. These two factors are huge for not only your ability as a rider to continue providing a consistent ‘conversation’ with your horse.  But also your horse’s comfort levels.

    Being secure in your position is essential to being able to ride with independent aids and queues… This softer rise or post to the trot allows you to use your body in other ways to ask different questions of your horse.

    Influence Your Horse By Posting in Trot

    Once this ‘rocking’ motion is perfected, you can then begin to use your posting or rising to influence your horse’s tempo in the trot.  If he is running on a little, you can re-balance the situation by slowing your rise slightly. The same applies if he is trotting in a less than energetic fashion.

    However, like all things horse riding and aids-related, positively influencing your horse’s trot requires more than just posting in the trot. It requires a host of supporting aids as well.

    There is a full week of audio horse riding lessons on this topic inside of Connection (formerly Daily Strides Premium).  They are focused on improving your technique to rising or posting to the trot. We work on the straight, work on circles and also go through exercises for the transitions into and out of the trot.  You can find out more about Connection (formerly Daily Strides Premium) HERE >>

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Get Audio Horse Riding Lessons and Begin Training Your HorseToday!

    Right now, there are so many lessons, on all different topics, available for you on a Private Podcast Feed that delivers them straight to your phone, so you can listen as you ride your horse. Your own time, your own arena, your own horse… More Details HERE

    Connection is an online membership for equestrians working alone to train their horse without a coach or trainer.

    Get Support & Guidance in Your Riding

  • What Makes a Good Walk?

    What Makes a Good Walk?

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    Walking… Does your horse do it with a sense of purpose, or is he rather resembling a slowly rolling ball of jelly; going nowhere slowly?  The problem many riders have is when we ask our horse to ‘walk on’, he becomes tense and stiff…

    The walk, when it is a good walk, should be forward-moving, unrestricted, and natural. There should be a sense of purpose to it; evident in both horse and rider. 

    Unfortunately, as riders, we can often have a very negative influence over this gait, causing our horses to begin shuffling rather than walking! Here’s how you can begin to nurture what your horse naturally does in the walk, and create a good walk for both of you.

    The Rhythm of the Walk

    The first thing to do is begin identifying the rhythm your horse has in the walk. The walk is a 4-time beat. This means that each hoof is placed on the ground at a different point during each stride. The left back hoof is first, followed by the left front hoof. After which the right back hoof and, finally, the right front hoof.  This means that the two hooves on one side of the body go first, followed by the two hooves on the other side.

    When a horse has learned to adapt or change his way of going in the walk, often the hooves on either side of the body can seem to almost move together. 

    So instead of the regular 1…2…3…4…1…2…3…4…1…2…3…4… your horse’s rhythm begins to sound a feel more like 1.2…3.4…1.2…3.4…1.2…3.4… Now, essentially, this is also a rhythm. It’s a pattern that is repeating.  However, it’s not a great quality rhythm! Meaning it’s not a good walk. This is where I would recommend beginning when you are assessing your horse’s natural rhythm in the walk.

    Ask yourself; Are there four distinctive hoof beats? And are they all equally spaced? Meaning that all are given equal ‘time’ within each stride?

    Seatbones and Hooves

    What you can begin doing today is syncing your seat bones with your horse’s hooves.  There is a direct connection between them and when you begin to understand it, you can be having a more positive influence. Your seat bones can help develop your horse’s walk. To begin creating a good walk.

    Your left seatbone is, basically, moved by your horse’s left hip. Meaning that you can beign to know where your horse’s back left hoof is at any point in the stride by paying attention to what your left seatbone is doing. 

    By knowing what is happening underneath you, you can begin to time your aids more effectively in order to have a better influence. Things like asking for the trot. Or even the canter. Your half halt. Noticing straightness or bending. When you begin syncing your seat bones to your horse’s hips, you have the potential to become more effective.

    Creating a Good Walk

    I go into much more detail in more recent episodes of the Daily Strides Podcast on how to do this and so much more. I will link to them all here and I highly suggest you give them a listen and begin improving things today.

    And, finally, if you would like to go further with your riding I highly suggest you give my free training series a go…Find the Gaps in Your Horses Training using this free audio series available for you to listen to in a private podcast feed – so just as easy as listening to the Daily STrides Podcast :) You can sign up for free HERE or visit https://stridesforsuccess.com/free

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Get Audio Horse Riding Lessons and Begin Training Your HorseToday!

    Right now, there are so many lessons, on all different topics, available for you on a Private Podcast Feed that delivers them straight to your phone, so you can listen as you ride your horse. Your own time, your own arena, your own horse… More Details HERE

    Connection is an online membership for equestrians working alone to train their horse without a coach or trainer.

    Get Support & Guidance in Your Riding

  • Keeping Canter Work Interesting

    Keeping Canter Work Interesting

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    I’ve often wondered what it is about the canter that makes riders almost seem to ignore it when schooling in the arena.  I see riders put so much time, care, and attention into the trot and to a lesser degree, the walk…

    But the canter is more often than not relegated to a few ‘laps’ of the arena and then back to more of the same with walking and trotting…

    In this week’s episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, we are focusing on some ways you can incorporate more canter work into your schooling sessions…

    Lateral Movement; Leg Yielding | Audio Horse Riding Lessons

    Canter work can require some serious work from both you and your horse.  It is easy to become tired while we are cantering and with tiredness comes a sense of complacency with the quality of the gait.   During this episode, we are covering four main points that will help keep you on track with your cantering and allow you and your horse to perform at your best.

     

    1. Establish Rhythm in Your Canter

    When you begin cantering initially I strongly suggest focusing on establishing a rhythm.  From here begin to notice when that rhythm and, later, tempo change and what may be causing this to happen.

    Pay particular attention to when ‘changes’ happen, such as a corner, a pole, or a jump.

    Being able to keep a consistent rhythm and tempo is vital to  good quality canter work.

    Ride a Rectangle or Square (not an oval)

    The second point we cover is when you initially begin canter work, rather than riding a large oval shape around the arena, ride a rectangle. This is obviously when you are going large.

    By making a dedicated effort to ride a rectangle (or whatever shape your arena is), you will use your corners and straight lines on the ‘long and short sides’.  

    This will give you the opportunity to use your half-halt before each ‘corner’.  And also work on your aids to help your horse remain balanced around each bend.

    3. Pay Attention to Your Body Riding Canter Work

    The third focus point is what your body is doing while your horse is cantering.  The fact of the matter is that the bounding feeling that we can get while we canter invites us to get slightly ahead of the movement…

    And as always, we cannot ride our horse while sitting on the neck.  

    So make a consistent effort to keep your position while you are working in the canter.

    4. Your Posture when Cantering

    The final point that we touch on today and to take into consideration is the position of your shoulders, seat bones, and legs while your horse is working in the canter.

    This is particularly important when you are beginning to feel tired…  

    This is when our lower legs can begin to swing backward and forwards.  It is also when we are more prone to collapsing our bodies and becoming ‘heavy’ in the saddle.

    I have included links to other more detailed blog posts and Daily Strides Podcast episodes to help you in your canter. You can also download a FREE EXERCISE to use with your horse HERE

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    Additional Resources to Help with This Topic

  • Lateral Movement; Leg Yielding

    Lateral Movement; Leg Yielding

    Leg yielding is generally most riders’ first introduction to lateral movement.  Lateral moving, when we’re talking horses, means sideways.  It is a great movement to ride as it allows you to work your horse’s body in a different, yet equally beneficial way.

    Leg yielding, and lateral movements in general, are a test of our abilities as riders to move each individual limb independently at the same time.  

    Think of it like this; each part has it’s own equally important job which when applied together, give your horse the directions and support he needs to perform the movement.

    Leg Yielding and Shoulder In

    Become Clear on What You Want…

    To ask your horse to leg yield, you must first become clear in your mind as to what you want your horse to do and where you want him to do it.

    With regards to the ‘where’, I suggest coming in from the outside track to perhaps the quarter line. This is the line halfway between the center line and the outside track on the long side of the arena.

    This way you are using your horses natural tendency to want to return to the outside track to your favor.

    Setting up the Movement

    The next part is setting the movement up.  Your horse needs to be straight, meaning that his hips are following directly behind his shoulders.  This will remain a key part of correctly performing the leg yield.

    Ask for a slight flexion in the poll area (perhaps where you can just see the inside eyelid) but his body should remain straight.

    The final part of setting up the movement is the all-important half halt.  It will help to balance things, but also give your horse the heads up and that you are about to ask for something different.  Don’t limit your half-halt to just one.   In fact, usually, 3 or 4 or more will be necessary to give you the desired results.

    Make sure you keep your leg on throughout the half halt.

    Asking your horse to yield to your leg

    So the word ‘Yield’ means to give way to, in this case, pressure.  You must create pressure with your inside leg. This is the leg your horse must move away from.  Where you place your leg to ask will depend on your horse’s level of training.

    Younger or greener horses will require your lower leg to be slightly behind the girth, as they will often have the tendency to move over with their shoulders and leave their hindquarters trailing or following behind.

    Remember, in order to perform the movement correctly, your horse’s hips and shoulders must remain straight… Not one trailing diagonally across the arena after the other.

    Your outside leg will help to maintain consistent impulsion and also act as a ‘blocker’ should either your horse’s hips or shoulders get ahead of the other.  Your outside leg will also help to ‘end’ the leg yielding movement when you have reached your desired destination and asking your horse to go straight forward again.

    Asking for Flexion

     Begin with flexion.  Use your inside hand to ask for the slight flexion in your horse’s poll area. This must remain soft and all the while aware that you’re not asking for too much bend.

    Your outside hand, as always, holds everything together. It also helps to prevent too much bend in the head and neck of your horse.

    Also, your outside hand can also be ‘opened’ slightly away from your horse’s neck which may encourage your horse to move over into the rein.

    Remain Light and Soft…

    One of the biggest mistakes I see riders doing when first attempting this movement is an over-enthusiastic ‘shoving’ movement with their hips and seat…  This will not help!   In fact, sitting tall and quietly is vital to your horse being able to move in this manner.

    Your ‘pushing’ motion with your hips will only unbalance your horse and cause him to be unable to successfully yield to your leg.

    I have written (and recorded Daily Strides Podcast Episodes) in far more detail on this topic HERE and HERE. I will also link to more resources to help with this below.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    Additional Resources on this Topic