Strides for Success

Tag: Aids

  • Confidently Assessing Walk on a Different or New Horse

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    Whether you’ve just purchased a new horse, or the opportunity to regularly ride a different horse, the first few rides can feel a little daunting. Especially if you are coming back to riding after a break or you’re used to riding another horse. One of the best things you can do is to begin assessing where you are both at in terms of training and communication. This episode is the first in a week of 5 lessons called ‘First Rides for Confidence on Your New Horse’ which are available now inside of Daily Strides Premium. 

    Those first few rides have to happen and if done right, can set a positive tone for both of you as you work together going forward.

    And these rides are the perfect time to really pay attention, assess where you both are in your training together and then build your relationship together.  In this episode, I will walk you through an exercise you can do while in the saddle to begin figuring out where you both are in your training.

    Finding & Stacking Wins

    Wins are not just for the competitive riders in the world.  All riders can find and ‘stack’ wins when working with their horses.  The key is to really notice them. So often we take the little things for granted.  However, it’s these little things, when accumulated and put together; that make the partnership great.

    Each time you have a set expectation of your horse, and your horse meets it; that’s a win! Especially true when it’s a new horse that you’re not really sure of or familiar with.

    The more ‘correct answers’ your horse gives you, the stronger the understanding between both of you becomes.  See it like a list of boxes that your horse must check.  Anything he doesn’t understand must be worked on – and will be.  But it’s also important to appreciate all of the ‘checks’ he did get. This will build both of your confidence in yourselves and in the partnership as a whole.

    1. Assessing the Shoulders

    Begin in walk with your new horse and pay attention to your horse’s shoulders.  How well are they moving?  Are they covering the ground or are they a little ‘choppy’ or ‘short’? It’s important not to lean down or over to do this.  Just ‘glance’ down with your eyes. You may have to move or plait/braid your horse’s mane if it is hiding or covering the shoulders.

    The shoulders are something you can ‘see’ when you are riding. And you are going to use this to assess what you can’t see.  The hind quarters.  

    Once you can identify the shoulders moving, begin to tie that into the feeling in your seat.  The movement of the shoulders will coordinate with the swing of your seat as your horse walks. You’ll notice both a backward and forward swing to your seat. And also a ‘left to right’.  The left to right is created by your horse’s barrel or rib cage moving as the horse walks.  And this will correlate with his back legs…

    2. Engaging the Hind Quarters

    The reason your horse’s barrel is swinging left to right is simple; it must move to create room for your horse’s back leg to come and step in underneath it.  So, if you’re not feeling that left-to-right swing through the barrel, there’s a good chance your horse is not using his hind quarters.

    Think of ‘engagement’ as being a committed relationship between your horse’s back end and the front end. No committed relationship; no engagement!

    If your horse has training and development under his belt, you will also see that the distribution of his weight has changed slightly so the front end is not so heavy.  However, even if your horse is very green or unfit, the ‘engagement’ we are talking about is a connection or relationship.  The energy is flowing through from the back to the front.  And all horses can do this, regardless of where they are in their training journey.

    3. Balance Through Corners

    A great way to assess this with your new horse is to pretend you’re a marble, ball, or egg! If your horse’s back is a tray and you are on the tray, what would happen while you’re riding on the straight? So down the long side of your arena. Is the tray tipping slightly to one side of the other?  Or is it perhaps tilted to favour the back or the front?

    Ideally,  you (the egg or ball) will remain nicely balanced in the centre of the ‘tray’, both on the straight and as you ride through corners and bends. 

    Often we don’t feel when our horses is tilting or tipping.  Especially through corners and bends.  However, play this game the next time you’re in the saddle.  Close your eyes if you can (and it’s safe to do so). And feel if you are ‘tipping’ somewhere you shouldn’t be!

    4. Noticing Relaxation / Tension

    Building from the previous exercise, you can then begin to add your use of the half halt before and during the corner into your assessment.  Does your horse respond to your half halt? And if so, does this have an impact on any of the previous elements of the ride?  How his shoulders are moving, the swing of the hindquarters, or you ‘rolling off’ the tray that is his back?!

    When riding a new horse, moments of incorrect tension will be pretty frequent and normal initially.  You are both getting used to each other…

    The important takeaway is to notice and begin refining so that the smoothness is maintained more easily.  I also suggest riding a 20m square when doing this work, as it will allow the corners to ‘come more quickly’ for you and your horse. And you will get more opportunities to work on improving it the next time.

    5. The Ears of Your New Horse

    My final idea for assessing the walk with a new horse is to watch his ears.  I realise this seems like a strange one, but bear with me! As you are riding the square or the rectangle in walk, and doing the above exercise with half halt and corners, do the ears change?  Do they get higher, indicating that he may be ‘hollowing out’ through is back? Or maybe they are dropping lower; possibly bracing against you? Or are they tilting (one higher than the other), showing a lack of straightness?

    When you are riding a different or new horse, the best thing you can do early on is to assess exactly where he is right now in his training. Then use this to create a plan to improve. 

    As the rider of the new horse, your job is to see how you are both getting along from the beginning.  And it is often so much easier to do this using what you can actually ‘see’.  Such as the shoulders and ears. Couple this with what you can feel, you’ll get a pretty good idea of how the ride is going.

    First Rides for Confidence on Your New Horse

    If this is something you would like more step-by-step help with, I am encouraging you to join us inside of Daily Strides Premium. You will get 5 episodes of audio horse riding lessons to use that will help you and your horse from the very first ride.  And they are not only for ‘new horses’.

    These lessons are also great for riders and horses who want to figure out what to work on next in their training and work together. Especially if working alone without a trainer or coach.

    So if you have your new horse, or you are getting to know a different horse to the one you are used to, let me help you both.  Those first few rides are really important ones; for both you and your horse… In this group of lessons you will steadily move through the different gaits with your horse, in a way that will build your confidence; and allow your horse to get used to you as well.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    More Help for Riders:-

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  • Improving Your Effectiveness as a Rider

    Improving Your Effectiveness as a Rider

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    This article was originally published on stridesforsuccess.com in January 2022 by Lorna Leeson

    How many hours do you devote to training your horse each week?  Have you ever considered that you might just be the ‘team member’ that needs more work…?  That you might just be the ‘cap’ on your horse’s progress in his training and his development?

    Regardless of how much training your horse has,  eventually your effectiveness as a rider will determine what your horse can actually do with all that training…

    This week, I want you to begin thinking about, planning, and taking action on your own development. Your own conditioning, training, fitness, nutrition, social time, rest, and all of the things that you meticulously plan for your horse. 

    Why Do You Ride?

    I think to answer this, we first have to get clear on why we are riding our horse, to begin with… Most, if not all, riders are in the saddle because they have a certain outcome in their head that they want to achieve. This could be a feeling, such as relaxation or enjoyment. It could be a certain task, like getting a clear round or qualifying for something.

    Whatever the reason, it is worth remembering that you are taking time from your life to try and produce that outcome each time you mount up.

    Unfortunately, many riders often fall short of reaching the desired feeling, goal, or outcome. And, many times, this can be due to their horse not actually understanding what the outcome is that they are working towards. A lack of communication between horse and rider.

    What is ‘Effectiveness as a Rider’?

    When you know what you want to experience, it then becomes your responsibility to effectively communicate this to yoru horse. We do this, as riders, using our aids. And it is always a combination of aids.

    Your thoughts, legs, hands, body language, voice, position, seat, weight… And these are just some of your ‘natural’ aids.

    You also have a whole toolkit of artificial aids you can use to communicate with your horse. The saddle, bridle, arena, spurs, whip, lunge lines, lead ropes, etc. Most riders use a combination of natural and artificial aids in order to get their message across to the horse.

    The challenge becomes when they lack control over their own actions. This results in sloppy, haphazard, attempts at communication that muddies the message being communicated.

    When Communication Goes Awry…

    It is important to remember that, for the most part, whenever you get a result with your horse that is different to what you initially had in mind, the message probably became muddled. A simple case of you asking for one thing, but your horse hearing another, different, request.

    Retraining can play a big role in closing gaps between the expectations of riders and horses, however training is equally as important

    And training is not just for the horse. You, the rider, must also learn how to ask with more intention, focus, and clarity. It is easy to say that the horse is ‘stupid’ or ‘doesn’t understand’. However, the truth is often that the rider not clearly asking the question…

    There is a common misconception in horse riding that you ‘control’ your horse. You don’t – and never will. You merely influence…

    Your responsibility is to become better at influencing your horse using the aids that are available to you, natural and, when required, artificial.

    Developing Self Control

    The good news is that you can develop more positive influence if you work on improving your control over your body. How it moves. The range of motion you have with it. Your physical and mental stamina…

    Coordination is developed over time through a mix of developing physical strength, focused and intentional thinking, and building emotional confidence.

    I feel that saying ‘I’m not very coordinated’ is the easy way out for many riders. Lack of coordination, in most cases, simply means a lack of dedicated training; physical, mental, and emotional.  Improving effectiveness as a rider requires consistently upgrading yourself and your skills.

    I feel that, in order to truly begin experiencing the outcome you desire every time you get into the saddle, there’s work to be done on the ground as well.

    Taking Responsibility as a Rider

    If you are currently getting less-than-perfect results with your horse, then this work is for you. I think that it’s fair to say this is true of all riders. There will always be ‘more’ that we can do regarding developing our skills as an equestrian.

    Taking the time to develop yourself as a rider will allow you to begin responding rather than reacting when in the saddle.

    It will allow you to use your different aids in a way that is easily understood by your horse. Your mindset will become resilient, positively expectant, and open to new ideas and ways of doing things…

    All of these things will help you to have better conversations with your horse as you consistently improve your effectiveness as a rider.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Equestrian Fitness Challenge ’24

    Let’s walk together for 21 days and have a chat about how you can do much more than you think you can as a rider and an equestrian… I am so excited to bring you along on this journey for the 100% FREE 2024 Equestrian Fitness Challenge
    There will be a daily walk, a 10 minute daily yoga practice, and lots of tips, ideas, exercises, and ways to improve so that you can show up as the best version of you – for you and your horse.
    Sign up today and let’s transform your riding – one stride at a time! 100% FREE 2024 Equestrian Fitness Challenge

    More Help for Riders:-

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  • How to Secure a Swinging Lower Leg

    How to Secure a Swinging Lower Leg

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    What is it about a swinging lower leg that makes it so annoying for riders, horses, and trainers the world over?! I mean, everyone has their specific ‘riding issues’ and deals with them accordingly. And yet, a swinging lower leg has the potential to have riders stuck on a plateau forever!
    I don’t need to tell you how important it is to have a secure lower leg when riding. It is vital for the safety, communication, and, maybe, mental health of all involved!
    If you have been struggling with a lower leg that prefers to play ‘hokey pokey’ swinging back and forth, rather than help you gain clarity with your horse, don’t lose faith. Here are a few ways to begin securing those legs, once and for all.

    1 . Check Your Stirrup Length

    I think sometimes riders can be a little too optimistic when it comes to deciding on the length of their stirrups. This is especially true if there is a more advanced rider that they are trying to emulate in the saddle. Those riders have been practicing for years and are also most likely more ‘riding fit’ than the average ‘happy hacker’.
    There is nothing wrong with having shorter stirrups initially when riding. This will help you to feel more secure and develop your independent aids initially when getting started
    What is also key to remembering here is that your energy at the start of the ride, and then in the middle of the ride will differ. When you begin to feel tired, it can become more difficult to ‘control’ your aids. This is especially true of your legs. So, keep in mind that sometimes, putting your stirrups up a hole mid-ride can help with this issue as well.
    Adjust your stirrup length for the rider that you are right now… Not who you ‘want’ to be further down the line.

     2 . Is Your Horse Moving Forwards?

    Just like an untamed swinging lower leg, if your horse has to be kicked, shoved, or pushed forward every single stride, it is equally as exhausting! And this will really begin to negatively impact your position and posture over time. Not to mention the coordination and timing of your aids.
    Your horse must work forward on his own. Not have to be coaxed forward every single stride by you kicking your legs.
    Creating a secure lower leg is close to impossible if you are having to keep ‘rallying’ your horse to go forward. My suggestion for this is to work on responsiveness. Do so while riding, while lunging, and also with your groundwork. Once he/she is moving forward, you can begin thinking about your lower leg ‘asking’ questions, rather than shoving your horse along!

     3 . How’s Your Overall Position?

    The first big question is “are you sitting on your bum?”! If you have pitched forwards, even slightly, onto your crotch area, your lower leg will swing. This is due to you ‘closing’ your pelvis and, subsequently, squeezing your knees together. Sitting on the small of your lower back (tucking it in under you and sitting on your tailbone) is equally as problematic. This will result in your lower legs shooting forwards.
    Remember, your lower leg wants to be below you at all times – not in front of you or behind you. And it wants to channel your weight to your heel…
    Which leads me to ‘heels down’. Keeping the weight in your heel will help with so many of the issues riders struggle with when riding. You don’t have to ‘force’ your heels down. But simply allow the weight to drop there. This will go a long way to securing your lower leg.

     4 . Drape, Don’t Grip, with Your Legs

    Now, I get it. If your leg is swinging back and forth, it almost makes sense that if you can ‘hold’ it still, this will help. Unfortunately, it usually won’t. First of all, usually, riders try to secure their lower leg by squeezing their knees. This will 100% make the swinging lower leg even worse. That I can guarantee you! Don’t squeeze your knees!
    Focus on your legs being a channel and directing the energy. This way, you will begin to feel the contact with your horse down the full length of your leg – rather than just focusing on your knees.
    When you can allow your legs to drape, your focus will naturally shift to the contact between the inside of your thighs and the inside of your calves with the saddle and your horse. Your knee and ankle should be loose and supple.

     5 . Rider Fitness and Practice

    I think it is a little unrealistic to end this advice without mentioning your overall fitness as a rider. So many riders who struggle with a swinging leg are actually riders who are coming back after a break. Whether this break is 2 months, 2 years, or 22 years, it is vital to acknowledge that your body has changed. Give yourself time to improve.
    And remember, as you become more physically tired in the saddle, your lower leg will begin to swing more. So rather focus on shorter, more intentional rides where you can get more from the work.
    I would also suggest starting some form of complementary fitness activity. I personally love hiking and cycling. But I think any sort of movement will help you to gain more control over your body. And to increase your stamina too.
    Finally, good practice makes perfect; the quality of your rides will determine how quickly you progress. Riding for the sake of riding will not help this…
    So plan rides where you get to make the most of your energy and see if you can do more of those shorter rides.

     6 . Your Light Seat

    This leads me to specific exercises you can use while warming up and cooling down that will help you remedy a swinging lower leg… The trusty light or 2-point seat.  Practicing this while riding will help you to put many of the above principles into action.
    When you ride a true light seat, your lower leg is positioned where it should be, under you.  It allows your weight to drop into the heel and requires you to ‘drape’, not grip with your legs. And will help improve your fitness and your riding in general. It also prevents you from blocking any forward energy with a potentially heavy seat.
    However, just like everything else, your light seat must be correct in order for this exercise to be effective. It also really requires you not to balance on your hands, your horse’s mane or a neck strap to have maximum effect. 
    I have an episode on “Improving Your Riding with Your Light Seat” HERE that will help you.  Alternatively, sign up for the Equestrian Fitness Challenge HERE.
    You can learn to secure a swinging lower leg, but it will take consistency, dedication, and time. Good luck!
    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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  • 3 Lunging Exercises to Train Your Horse

    3 Lunging Exercises to Train Your Horse

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    As a rider, it is important to always look for ways to keep your schooling work interesting; for you and your horse. One of the ways you can do this is by working on different lunging exercises.  And they don’t have to be ‘fancy’ or complex.

    In fact, there are a few basic exercises you can begin working on introducing, or refining today that will help you to really begin utilizing lunging as a training tool for you and your horse. 

    Now, just like riding, it is important that before you dive into ‘working’ your horse, you take the time to warm up correctly.  I enjoy walking my horse (leading my horse) the ‘long way round’ to the arena I will be working in.  I use the 5 or so minutes to do a little groundwork on the way.

    And bonus points if the groundwork sets up, introduces, or relates to what you will actually be working on when lunging your horse.  It is the perfect way to start the conversation. 

    Lunging Exercise 1 – Responsiveness

    The first exercise you can do will help to increase responsiveness in both you and your horse.  Many riders can ‘miss’ more subtle cues from their horse because they are simply not looking for them.  And by intentionally focusing on responsiveness as what you want to improve, you also ‘fine-tune’ what you’re noticing in your horse.

    Notice what combination of aids is most effective to ask your horse to go forwards.  Also, how much pressure is necessary to ask the specific question before you get an immediate and timely response? 

    From here, begin working on refining it all.  Begin expecting your horse to respond to ‘lighter’ or more subtle aids. This will require consistency and focus from you.  And it will require concentration and willingness from your horse.

    Lunging Exercise 2 – Accuracy

    As the level of responsiveness increases, you can then begin working on improving accuracy and again, this is for you and your horse.  Increasing accuracy is a lunging exercise that really requires both the horse and the rider (the lunger) to concentrate on what is happening.

    Increasing accuracy also requires both horse and rider to work together. It requires teamwork and there is a shared responsibility to help improve it. 

    Your horse will learn to wait for and then respond to your aids.  The ‘waiting for’ part can be a challenge for many horses initially, however, it is essential to increase accuracy.  This will also force you to become even more clear and intentional with your aids

    Improving accuracy as a lunging exercise also requires you to work on and improve your timing.  A key part of the answer depends on if the horse can respond at that moment…

    So, instead of simply asking questions, you must begin to pay attention to ‘when’ you’re asking the question. You will begin to time your ‘ask’ with the part of the stride where your horse can actually respond to you. This will take time.  And it will require that you have first worked on and improved responsiveness.

    Lunging Exercise 3 – Halt on the Track

    The third lunging exercise that will really transform your lunging sessions with your horse is the ability to halt on the track.  This means that your horse does not turn into you, walk towards you, fall in from the circle, or fall out of the circle.  And this often takes quite a bit of work initially!  Especially if your horse has been allowed or trained (same thing really) to do any of the above!

    Once you have established the halt, you can begin working on the quality of each and every halt.

    The better the halt, the more energy it will contain inside of it. This can initially feel mentally uncomfortable for your horse and he will probably want to step out of it.  However, by increasing his capacity here to ‘hold’ the energy inside of the halt, you are growing his comfort zone.  This will allow for bigger questions in his overall training.

    Developing Your Lunging Technique

    I love lunging and I am all about using this tool as a way to continue to train and work with our horses, even when time or space is short.  And just like riding, lunging takes time to develop and improve.  It requires coordination from you. And it requires a knowledge of the aids you can use to communicate with your horse.

    Lunging is NOT simply running in circles; it is an active way of schooling and training your horse. And using lunging exercises intentionally will help you to make the most of this tool.

    If you are unsure of where to start, make sure you check out the links below this article for more information and past Daily Strides Podcast episodes on lunging your horse.

    Happy Lunging
    Lorna

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  • Stop Trying to Control Your Horse!

    Stop Trying to Control Your Horse!

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    For years, I was all about control when it came to horses.  I wanted to understand how to control them better, and how I could help riders do this… Until, one day, I realized I was working under a false pretense! You see, I figured something out.  It was like an ‘oh wow’ moment.

    There is no way to control a horse – or at least a way to do this that encourages the development and training of horse and rider.

    And I really and truly believe that if more riders could understand this, they can make progress far more quickly. And enjoy the whole training journey a whole lot more as well…  In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, I am diving into all of the reasons that trying to control your horse is actually holding you both back from doing more in your work together.

    Why You Cannot Control Your Horse

    I realize that horse riding is essentially the act of us, the riders, getting onto our horse’s backs and having them do what we want them to do.  We can debate this all day long, but this is the long and the short of it!  However, it is also really important to remember three things:-

          1. We must ‘ASK’ our horses to do whatever it is we want them to do
          2. Our horse must UNDERSTAND what we are asking
          3. Our horse must actually ‘WANT’ to do it…

    If either of those three elements is missing, things can come undone very quickly!  Now, I am going to make an assumption here that you are a conscientious, caring, and compassionate equestrian, who is not into forcing your horse (whips, ropes, and all other methods) to do things against their will…

    Your horse has a mind of his own that you can never control. So, it makes sense to stop trying – and rather focus your efforts on controlling what you can, so that you can have a more positive influence over your horse…

    What You Can Control

    In order to increase your positive influence, you can work on controlling the one thing you can do; yourself.  Unfortunately, this is often easier said than done! For many novice riders, the challenge is physical.  Coordinating your aids and developing independence can feel exhausting in the early days of riding.  And, for more advanced riders, it becomes a real mind game.

    Being able to identify thoughts and beliefs that are limiting your progress in the saddle is a skill riders must work on developing if they want to do more and go further in their riding. 

    One of the best ways I have found to do this is to have a riding journal ready after each ride or session with your horse.  As soon as you dismount and have looked after your horse, begin writing things down.  This way, over time, you will begin to see patterns.

    Couple this with some form of exercise that will complement your riding and develop strength and fitness.  Hiking, cycling, swimming, strength training, yoga, pilates… Whatever takes your fancy really!  I suggest doing something you enjoy, and then if you find that you are needing further work in a specific area, going deeper then.

    The only way you can develop your skills as a rider is to develop yourself. And doing this is the way to then helping your horse to do the same as well. 

    Where to Focus Your Attention

    From here, instead of each ride being about how well you can control your horse, change the focus.  Think about how well you can set your horse up for success. How well can you plan what you want him to do, and then communicate that to him in a way he understands and is happy to try?

    When you work on setting things up, rather than controlling everything, you give your horse the opportunity to begin really being a partner in your work together. Rather than a robot. 

    And this leads to horses who can think for themselves in a safe, calm, and effective way.  Remember, you won’t get it right 100% of the time.  And when you do find yourself in one of those ‘sticky’ situations, it is always good to know that your horse can figure it out and get you both out of it.  Phew! But this is a skill you MUST allow him to develop.  And you can only do this by stopping trying to control your horse all of the time!

    Allowing for Mistakes (lots of them)

    One of the ways we learn is by making mistakes.  We realize the mistake and find a different way to do the thing that produces a different outcome.  Your horse is similar.  He also learns by making mistakes.  And yet, as riders, this can be something we dread to allow to happen!  But it simply MUST.

    One of your responsibilities as a trainer for your horse is to allow room for him to make mistakes. Allow, notice, and then simply correct.  Then allow again…

    It is rare to see a toddler simply stand up and walk on their first attempt.  They must attempt walking a lot before they get it right. Each attempt will result in wobbles, or loss of balance, and usually, falling down.  However, we accept this as par for the course because they are learning something new. So let’s begin to gift both ourselves and our horses with the same level of grace, compassion, and understanding.

    See each mistake your horse makes as an opportunity for him to grow and develop. Then, simply make the correction in a calm, timely manner – and forget about it. 

    Using Correction to Develop Responsibility

    When you correct your horse but continue to remember the mistake, you will end up trying to control your horse. This irrational fear of him making the same mistake again will dampen out everything else in your ride together… And erode your horse’s confidence.

    Your horse’s confidence will grow in his own abilities if you simply correct each mistake, and then move on! This means allowing him to make the same mistake over, and over until he gets it right. All without judgment or holding a grudge! 

    Trust me, when you leave behind trying to control your horse, and embrace becoming more of a positive influence on your horse, your riding will transform.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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  • Step Up Your Riding with the Walk to Canter Transition

    Step Up Your Riding with the Walk to Canter Transition

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1256_Step_Up_Your_Riding_With_The_Walk_To_Canter_Transition.mp3″ title=”Step Up Your Riding with the Walk to Canter Transition” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Something fun to try this week riding your horse…” hashtag=”walktocanter ” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    This transition is a personal favorite of mine.  To ride and to help other riders as well. I really do believe that the walk to canter transition can help you and your horse to connect more to each other.  It can help you to have more clarity over your canter aids, and your horse to become more responsive. And you both to develop so that your training can progress forward.

    In fact, the walk to canter can help horses and riders progress in ways that they don’t even realize they are.  It introduces a certain level of collection to the ride. For many riders, this is one of the best introductions to this as it feels very natural and ‘in flow’.

    You can begin introducing, or refining, the existing transition from the walk to canter today in your training by focusing on a few different elements.

    Your Canter Aids

    One of the reasons the walk to canter transition is so good for riders is due to the speed of the walk.  Many riders can feel flustered, bounced, rushed, or tense when preparing for and riding the trot to canter transition. Which is one of the reasons I love helping riders to effectively use the walk to canter transition in their training.

    The walk to canter transition allows riders enough time and space to identify the point in the stride to ask for the transition, as well as actually apply their aids in a meaningful and effective way. 

    I have an article and Daily Strides Podcast episode HERE that details the aids to ask for the canter that you might find useful for your riding.

    Timing Your Aids to Ask for Canter

    One of the biggest challenges riders have when it comes to getting into a canter with their horse is timing.  When you ask the question makes a huge difference to how your horse responds. If we ask at a point in the stride where he simply can’t respond, this can lead to excess tension, rushing, or just being ignored!

    When using the transition from walk to canter to really work on the timing of their ‘ask’ for the canter, it allows both horse and rider to begin riding cleaner transitions

    I would suggest spending some time on the walk familiarising yourself with what is moving where underneath you.  When you feel your right seatbone swing down and forwards, it means that your horse’s right back leg is also moving forwards.  As this is happening, your left seatbone will have moved up and is ‘moving backward’. This is because your horse’s left back leg is, at this moment, on the ground. His body is moving over the back leg, creating the ‘up’ feeling through your seatbone.

    You will ask for the canter as the outside back leg is moving forward and preparing to step down into the stride.  This will allow this leg to become the 1 in the 1,2,3 that makes up a canter stride. 

    I have another article and an episode of the Daily Strides Podcast HERE that goes into much more detail when it comes to timing your aids to ask for the canter.

    Increasing Responsiveness

    So often, we make the mistake of assuming this is a horse issue.  ‘My horse is not responsive enough’ is a common complaint among riders! I truly think this has more to do with you first.  And when you begin to become more responsive and intentional, your horse will respond by improving how well he listens.

    Begin building responsiveness by becoming very focused on what you want to make happen, when you want it to happen, and where you want it to happen – and stick to those decisions. 

    A great exercise you can use to help you work on increasing responsiveness is to ride set numbers of strides in each gait.  So, for example, 10 strides of walk followed by 10 strides of trot. Then back to 10 strides of walk again. As you and your horse improve the communication between you both, begin playing with the number of strides between each transition.

    The more responsive you both become, the easier you will find it to ride fewer strides in each gait while still maintaining your relaxation, balance, and suppleness.  

    This is when you know that you and your horse are on the same page, listening to each other, and ready to ‘step up’ into the canter from the walk.  I have a previous article and episode of the Daily Strides Podcast HERE that will help you to improve your responsiveness in your riding.

    Riding the Walk to Canter Transition

    Once you and your horse are clear on the aids, clear on the timing, and responsive towards each other, you can prepare to ask for the walk to canter transition. Start by focusing. on the rhythm of the walk, the energy inside of the walk, and the flexion.

    From here use your half halt to firstly get your horse’s attention, and then, from there, to gather and channel the energy a little more inside of the walk

    This will feel like a slight collection and your horse will need this in order to successfully make the transition from walk to canter. Your job in all of this is to set things up and then allow your horse to actually perform the transition. So many riders think it is their job to canter. It’s not. Make sure you engage your core, work on your posture, and allow your horse to simply ‘step into’ the new gait when you ask.

    I have a previous article and episode of the Daily Strides Podcast HERE on how important your posture is to a successful transition into the canter.

    From here, it is simply a matter of ‘asking’ and then allowing your horse to respond.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Riding a Smooth & Timely Walk to Canter Transition

    Some exercises can have a ripple effect all through our riding when we dedicate some time and energy to making them better.  I believe that the walk to canter is one of those exercises and I am excited to help you master the transition this month with your horse.

    This group of episodes is available for you to begin working with today, inside of Connection. They are suitable for all horses and riders who are able to canter. They will help you both become clearer on the aids, and more focused on timing and its importance.  And more balanced and responsive as well. 
    Riding a Smooth and Timely Walk to Canter Transition

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