How many times have you asked your horse to leg yield, moving forward yet sideways, only for it to become frustratingly obvious a few steps into the moment that what is happening underneath you is definitely not what you had in mind?! Asking our horses to leg yield is one of the first introductions they will have to lateral movement.…
Think back to the last time you were cantering along on your horse and a change of rein was coming up. You began the task of preparing to drop back a gear into a trot to change the canter lead. “Better than losing rhythm and balance through a flying change…” However before you even got there, your horse (being the…
.. This Do you find yourself becoming confused and frustrated about how you are supposed to be using your rein aids while riding? Do terms such as soften your rein, fill up your rein, hold with the rein, lighten the rein leave you baffled? Not to mention how much pressure is good and how much is too much?! I want…
When we first learn to ride, turning is often explained to us as merely a ‘tug’ or pull on one rein or the other to turn our horse’s head. There’s a general consensus being that where his head turns, his body will go… However, anyone who has ridden a determined pony or horse will know that this is very often…
Riding through a bend is something you will have to do every time you get in the saddle, whether it be the 4 corners of your arena or just the route you take to get from point A to point B. It therefore makes good sense to work on your ability to navigate those bends successfully, without losing balance, rhythm,…
Have you ever had the experience of riding a horse who was so heavy on the forehand, it felt as though your arms were a couple of inches longer by the time you dismounted?! The whole experience is exhausting! It feels as though you are literally carrying the horse’s head and neck by bracing your shoulders and arms against him…
