Strides for Success

Tag: audio horse riding lessons

  • Improving Your Feel in the Saddle

    Improving Your Feel in the Saddle

    Developing Your Feel in the SAddle

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA376-Improving-Your-Feel-In-The-Saddle.mp3″ title=”Developing Feel in the Saddle” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” ]

    Feel…  A hugely important component of successful horsemanship and something that is often considered as a talent that you are either gifted at birth with or your not!

    From years spent helping and watching people ride, I do agree that some people seem to have a more natural feel than others. However, I have also found that, often, riders who seemingly lack natural feel can learn it. They can develop it with consistent effort and diligence.

    What Is Feel?

    So what is feel?  My explanation of feel is the ability to know the right time to ask a question of your horse without having to consciously think about it.  It is also the skill of reacting correctly, in a timely fashion, to almost all situations without, again, having to think too long or hard about it.

    True feel is not a conscious thought, rather a subconscious response to the present situation to affect the outcome you want.

    However, often the frustration felt while trying to find your ‘feel’, is the very thing that will prevent you from developing your riding skills and mastering your body. This prevents you from getting in tune with your horse and dancing the same dance.

    Warm Up Before Riding

    Firstly, before you hop into the saddle, invest some time warming up your body.  This will ensure that you are just as ready to work as your horse is.  I think as riders we can definitely improve our own personal performance in the saddle if we invest even a quarter amount of the time and dedication we spend on warming up our horses, warming up our own bodies!

    Some initial simple stretches & exercises can be a huge game-changer when you do then mount up.

    Correct Your Position & Posture

    When in the saddle, begin by engaging your core. Then make sure your shoulders, pelvis, and legs are aligned as they should be.  More times than not, a locked pelvis or hip joint is what works against you developing your natural feel as a rider.

    Pay attention that your legs are not too far back, leaving you sitting on your crotch. Also that you are not squeezing or pinching with your thighs or legs which stops you from releasing your knee.  Allow your legs to hang. Then look at ‘wrapping’ them around your horse, keeping your knee off so your legs do not ‘stick out’.

    Relaxation is, as always, of the utmost importance in order for you to be receptive to the horse & his movement.  Excess tension in either you or the horse will stop most of the feel between horse & rider. And stop you from absorbing the movement as it happens.

    It is also important to remember that your horse must be allowed to move forward. When he does you,as the rider, should follow your horse. Make adjustments based on what you are feeling, when, and with each body part.  Only when you, the rider, can truly feel the horse underneath you can you then actively begin to make adjustments based on what is happening, or what you desire to happen.

    Developing Your Feel in the SAddle

    Increase Your Awareness

    You need to become aware of your horse and be sensitive to their every movement.  I suggest taking things back to walk. Then, with your feet out of your stirrups, allowing your legs to drape over your horse’s sides. From here,  begin counting each footfall in each stride your horse takes.

    Begin to notice which hoof is the 1, which is the 2, the  3 and the 4 of each stride.

    Once you can accurately tell which hoof is moving when in the sequence, begin paying attention to your body. Notice how your horse’s moving is affecting & influencing your movement. If you are in a safe, enclosed space with a horse you trust, you can even close your eyes. This will help you to block out other distractions and really allow you to feel what is going on underneath you. So, as your horse is walking, first begin to feel the rhythm of the walk, the 1, 2, 3, 4…

    Notice The Hind Legs Moving

    Once this is established, begin focusing on which of the beats is your horse’s inside back leg moving forward (before) he puts his hoof on the ground.  Your left hip (on that same side) will dip down as his leg lifts off the ground to move forward underneath you both.

    This is because his barrel will swing out to the opposite side to make room for the leg coming under him.  Often this is an easy way to remember this…

    Concentrate and focus on the movement, rhythm, and beat.  If necessary, have a person on the ground first tell you when this is happening.  Then notice and remember how your body reacts to this movement.   If you are not fortunate enough to have a reliable person on the ground and you are still struggling to feel, it often helps if you place your hands on your upper thighs and feel which thigh goes up and down, and when.

    Only through correct repetition of this exercise in a calm, relaxed manner will you begin to enhance your powers to feel what is happening and from there, begin to move with your horse as a real team.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    This topic is just one that we regularly cover inside of Connection. If you are interested in finding out more about Connection, have a look HERE >>

    Additional Resources for Equestrians

  • Controlling Your Hands While Riding

    Controlling Your Hands While Riding

    Do you find that often when you ride, your hands begin to do their own thing?  Waving about, flagging some imaginary air traffic, conducting a symphony, or just bouncing up and down like a jack hammer?!  To make this even more frustrating; it seems like the more you try to ‘quiet’ or ‘still’ your hands the worse the problem becomes…

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA371-Controlling-Your-Arms-and-Hands-While-You-Ride.mp3″ title=”Controlling Your Hands and Arms While You Ride” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Having trouble with controlling your hands in the saddle? This will help…” hashtag=”horseriding” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    The uncomfortable truth is that while you might be feeling frustrated about your lack of control, it is often your horse that is taking the brunt of this particular riding challenge. He may begin to fight you for the reins, lean on you or pull you along.

    Or maybe you spend time while riding continuously changing or fiddling with the length of your reins, dropping your hands and straightening your elbows, twisting your wrists so your knuckles are on top.  Or perhaps you are flapping your shoulders and arms in an attempt to ‘relax’ and all the while, that soft, following contact with your horse’s mouth continuously evades you…

    Controlling Your Hands and Arms as you ride

    Steady hands come from a relaxed body that is carrying itself. Relaxed does not mean floppy or loose, but rather supporting yourself without any signs of tension. Relaxation will also allow your body to follow your horses movement, which is the first key to controlling your arms and hands. I realize that it seems almost counter intuitive to focus on your body first when trying to ‘fix’ your hands, however one will not happen without first controlling the other.

    When your body is relaxed, your ‘shock absorbers’ can work optimally, working with the energy from the horse and not against it. Often hands that bounce around are the result of a rigid or tense rider, who is only rigid and tense because they are trying so desperately to control their body! It is a vicious cycle.

    The first thing to do is begin paying attention to your seat and pelvis and how, in walk, they follow your horse. Notice your breathing, and lift your upper body to allow your lungs to fill with air with each breath, to remove any tension from your body. Open your chest, remembering all the while to carry your body, not slouch, and then allow your arms to simply fall from your shoulders.

    Then remember to carry your hands. Don’t just allow gravity and your horses mouth to dicate where your hands are at any given time. In order to become soft through your contact, you must carry your own hands, which means bending your elbows. A good guide line is to try keep your hands around the height of your belly button.

    Once you have your hands where they should be, pay attention to how your shoulders, upper arms, elbows, fore arms, wrists and fingers all work together to follow your horses mouth. If you move your hand forward, move it from the elbow. Supple elbows will allow you to absorb movement and continue to keep a soft contact.

    Pay attention that your fingers are closed on the reins. Also, that you are ‘holding’ the rein with your thumb by pinching the rein between your thumb and index finger, not by squeezing your fingers. This will then free up your fingers to have more subtle ‘conversations’ down the reins to your horses mouth. Holding the reins this way will also prevent your reins becoming long and causing you to drop the contact with your horse.

    Controlling Your Hands adn Arms while you ride

    Begin establishing a following contact by lengthening your reins out, so you initially will have very little connection with your horses mouth. Move your elbows and hands with your pelvis and seat. Think of them being somehow invisibly connected to each other and relaxed enough that the movement of your horse underneath you is enough to quietly influence your body. Don’t force the movement, you must follow your horse, not drive your horse along by pushing with your seat or hands. When you feel that you are now following your horses mouth, you can begin to slowly gather up your reins again and begin establishing a contact with your horses mouth. If you feel any tension coming back, gently lengthen your reins and begin again.

    Another good visualization you can use is to think about carrying cups of hot tea… If your arms are tense, the tea will splash and spill from the cup.  If your arms are floppy, the same thing will happen. Only when your arms are ‘working’ with your moving body, will the tea stay in the cup!

    Remember that you do need to have a contact when riding. However that contact must come from soft, following hands that provide steady, consistent support connection and direction when needed. Sometimes it seems that more emphasis is placed on the leg and getting our horses back end working underneath him while being ridden. And this is true…

    However, there must also be a contact to direct and contain that energy and ask your horse to work in a frame. Be careful not to hang on your horses mouth, but also not to lose the contact either. It is a fine balance, which needs to be continuously re-evaluated and adjusted depending on the work or the results of other aids.

    30 Day Rider Fitness Challenge

    A strong core must be maintained throughout, so you are carrying yourself and are agile enough to follow your horse. When you can begin to confidently carry both your body and your arms, you will find that the tension which was causing the jarring or bouncing will soon dissipate, leaving you with quiet, soft hands from which you can begin direct that wonderful energy.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

     

  • Solid Foundations for Jumping

    Solid Foundations for Jumping

    Jumping, it has the ability to thrill and to strike fear into riders, sometimes all at once!   However, if approached in a systematic and patient manner, most of the fear will dissipate allowing both you and your horse to enjoy jumping; whether it be a pop every now and then, or a trip round a course of fences weekly at a local show.

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA356-Building-Solid-Foundations-For-Correct-Jumping.mp3″ title=”Building Solid Foundations for Correct Jumping” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Jumping with your horse? Here is how to get it right from the start…” hashtag=”equestrian #horseriding #jumping” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Generally speaking, all horses can jump, however some horses have more jumping ability than others and it is important to work with your horses natural ability and focus on improving it using a specifically tailored program.

    We should also remember that some horses no matter how much time and effort is invested in their training, just don’t enjoy jumping and that must be respected as well.  Be sure that your horse enjoys the task as much as you do!
    Building a Solid Foundation for Jumping
    In order to produce a horse that is both safe and competent over fences his jumping schooling must be combined with basic flat work or dressage schooling to develop suppleness, balance, strength and agility.

    The stronger the horse, the better he can use himself and his natural ability.  Strength takes time to develop and pushing your horse before he is physically or mentally ready will potentially cause him to become tense or anxious about jumping which can show itself in a whole host of problems, from rushing to running out.

    The key to building a solid foundation is to develop confidence; both your horse’s and your own.   This confidence will ensure relaxation through your horse, which will soften the neck, back and body in general so it can be used correctly and fully both between and over fences. 

    Also in jumping, timing is everything however in order to time correctly, there needs to be a few key pieces in place first, namely; Rhythm, straightness, balance and impulsion.  If anyone of these parts are missing, the likelihood of a smooth, successful jump diminishes greatly.

    Firstly, lets begin by looking at you, the rider.  

    Before you begin jumping I strongly recommend that you have an independent seat.  A quick ‘challenge’ you can do to test this is having the ability to hold the 2 point seat for at least a couple of laps of your arena without falling over, your legs swinging or collapsing on your horses back.  This sounds easy enough, however 30 seconds in your body will know all about it…!

    I also suggest using this quick and simple exercise while out on hacks or trails; pick different markers such as trees, shadows of telephone poles, fence posts and pretend they are a jump.  Begin trying to judge where your horse would take off and being able to ‘slip’ into your jumping position when necessary.  You can initially do this in walk, then in trot and, if you have a grassy bridle path or somewhere else suitable, in canter also.

    You can then take it one step further by beginning to see if you can adjust the ‘take off point’ for your horse and use that accordingly.  I find doing this exercise really helps you ‘feel’ what a balanced jumping position is like, helps you quickly adjust your body in and out of the jumping position and also helps to begin training you to ‘see a stride’.

    Back in the arena a really useful and extremely versatile exercise can be ridden by placing a single pole on the center line at X and working over it in a similar fashion.  Test yourself initially in walk to see how straight you can make your approach and then, once successful, move onto trot and, later, canter.  See if you can judge the take off point and adjust your position to suit this accordingly.

    This exercise is always a good exercise to come back to when ‘tuning up’ both you and your horse.  You can also begin improving your ability to ‘see a stride’ by counting backwards the last three strides to your take off point, “3,2,1 Jump”, and when more experienced, “5,4,3,2,1 Jump”.

     

    Once mastered, the pole can be ‘popped’ from different angles, all the while making sure you remain riding on a straight line of your choice.  Imagine two long narrow triangles, their points touching at the pole to create a long angular figure of 8.  Ride each line, popping the pole each time at an angle and then balancing your horse around the ‘turn’ at the top of each triangle to come back on the opposite line.

    Again, begin at walk, choose your line or path and once mastered take up trot and then on to canter.

    Secondly, it is important as a rider to allow your horse to ‘figure things out’ for himself.

    I know myself how tempting it is to interfere and ‘help’ but this will only lead to problems further down the line when your horse cannot get himself out of trouble.  At some point in your riding, you will inevitably get it ‘wrong’ and you need your horse to firstly realize this has happened and secondly to make a plan of his own to get you both out of trouble.

    This comes more naturally to some horses than others, however you can also begin to teach your horse this invaluable skill by not interfering.

    I personally think one of the most difficult things to do on a horse is nothing!  However, as riders we sometimes must do just this!

    In the arena, use simple grids to work on both you and your horse, separately and together, to grow your skills over bigger more demanding fences.  Make sure that you are guiding your horse all the way through the grid, however that you are also allowing him to see that adjustments must be made and to actually make the adjustments himself.  Often horses pull through fences only because the rider is pulling through the fences.  You need to disengage and allow your horse to jump the jump.

    Building a solid foundation for jumping

    This also means being balanced over the fence, not throwing your weight about and not depending on your horses neck, body, mane, reins etc for your balance and support, which we spoke about earlier.

    The hours spent practicing over the smaller fences will ensure you can both successfully negotiate a course of larger fences when the time is right.

    Lastly, you can begin to improve both you and your horses effectiveness and technique

    Once both of you are confident, you can then begin looking at improving your style and effectiveness and your horses technique and skills.  However, again, this can only really begin when the foundation has been properly cultivated and developed.

    You can do this using grids that ask more questions of your horse, such as bounces, shorter distances, longer distances, angles, bends, types of fences.  The list is endless and different elements will be more beneficial to improve specific parts of your horses technique.

    At the end of the day, you are looking for the best way to allow your horse to really reach his full potential in a happy safe manner.

    Horses should not be jumped every day.  Remember most of the time spent jumping a round of fences is actually spent on the flat, between fences.  Use this ratio when creating your training program for your horse.

    Also remember that if you can negotiate the smaller fences easily, the larger ones won’t prove a problem… However anyone can get from A to B over a small fence… Getting there correctly and with style is what counts.

    Invest your time training over the smaller fences and less complicated grids and return there regularly as often bad habits slip in when least expected and only every now and then, test your knowledge and skill over larger fences.

    Happy Jumping!
    Lorna

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  • Developing Your Riding Seat

    Developing Your Riding Seat

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA341-Developing-Your-Riding-Seat.mp3″ title=”Developing Your Riding Seat” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” ]

    There’s always a desire among riders to develop their seat in the saddle. Most riders understand that developing this one aid is a key part of improving as a rider. But what does it really mean? And how can you start to do it?

    Developing your riding seat begins with understanding that your seat must be used to signal to your horse.  It is not there to interfere or disrupt his natural movement.  

    In order for you to utilize this aid successfully, it is imperative that you be relaxed first.  Relaxation is not floppiness, it is just an awareness of your body and how you are using it without any excess tension or resistance through your muscles.

    Control Without Excess Tension

    The problem and confusion over developing your riding seat often begin right at the start when we first learn to ride. We hear certain phrases repeated continuously. Phrases like “sit up straight, shoulders back, heels down, look up, bend elbows”.  The list goes on and on.

    However, all those commands, while each in their own way is correct and coming from a good place, can very often have the negative effect of making us stiff and resembling a poker!

    Developing your riding seat essentially the ability to control your core muscles, both when you need to use them and when they should remain passive or neutral.

    Many riders think that this is a foreign thing for them to do; using their core to influence something else. But cast your mind back to when you were small and enjoying the sensation of the wind in your hair as you swung back and forth on a simple swing. Yes, the ones with two ropes hanging from a branch or beam and a plank in the middle for you to sit on.

    Now, think how you were more than able, on your own steam and without touching the ground, to make each swing go higher than the last… You were essentially using your ‘driving seat’ to do that.  

    Likewise, think about when you wanted to get off the swing; you used your body to slow the momentum down and bring the swing to a halt; your resisting seat.

    How Your Seat Can Influence Your Horse

    This same approach applies when riding a horse, although admittedly used in far more subtle applications.  We can use our seat to drive our horse forward.   We can also use our seat to slow our horse down or gather our horse up a little.

    In fact, when we start being mindful about what we are doing and the effect it has on our horse, we realize that our seat is an important factor in going, turning, stopping, starting, transitions, not to mention the more intricate movements such as lateral and adjusting suspension and movement within a gait.

    Developing Your Riding Seat

    But just as being able to guide your horse along to perform what you wish of him, equally as important is the ability to shift your seat into ‘neutral’ and allowing our horse to actually do his job.  

    Often when people begin realizing how powerful their seat is in riding, they are quickly horrified as to how much ‘chatting’ they are doing without realizing it every time they are in the saddle!

    Becoming Mindful of Your Seat

    So, what do we need to do in order to begin tapping into our seat aid and using it when we ride?

    First and foremost, you must have or begin to condition your body to have, a strong core in order to correctly use your seat.  So many people are after this ‘independent seat’ but are not willing to put in the necessary effort and time that it takes to achieve it.  Learning to use your seat correctly is not something which we achieve overnight.

    It takes years of practice to develop the ‘feel’ and conditioning of your bodies in order to truly support you when you ride

    30 Day Rider Fitness Challenge

    It seems so strange, but so many riders just don’t carry themselves when on their horse… And those same riders get awfully upset when their horses refuse to carry themselves as well!

    You also must become almost obsessive about the cause and effect of every movement while in the saddle.  Being finicky and playing close attention initially to each movement and the reaction that it causes is the key to being able to perform what appears to be an effortless ride in the long term.

    Negative Effects of Excess Tension

    Earlier, I mentioned how essential it is to relax your body while riding.  One of the reasons is to prevent gripping!  I see so many riders in the saddle and they seem like they have the fear of God inside them that they might just fall off!

    Firstly, you will fall off if you stay riding long enough.  It is as enviable as the sun rising in the East each morning and setting in the West every evening.  Secondly, gripping will only work to get you there sooner, trust me!

    When you find yourself tensing and beginning to grip, catch yourself in the act and then rather relax.

    Think of a stone and a piece of jelly on a plate.  If you bounce the plate up and down, which bounce off first?  The stone of course!  Don’t be the stone.

    Confusion in Communication

    Gripping also works against you because it tells your horse a different story to what you are really perhaps trying to convey.  I have come across quite a few horses, particularly OTTBs, whose riders get a little nervous and begin to grip.

    The horse’s general reaction is always something that moves them farther from what the rider actually was trying to achieve and quite often ends with the horse showing his athletic ability with a few cartwheels for good measure.  This of course causes the rider to grip more, drive more and so the cycle goes on and on.

    Learn to relax both your mind and your body while riding. This will improve your ability to really develop your seat

    Your Position and Your Seat

    We can also look at the rider’s position when speaking about seat.  Make sure you are sitting in the lowest part of the saddle and not leaning back towards the cantle of the saddle. Leaning back will cause your legs to stick out in front of you with your toes tipping your horse’s shoulders or elbows.

    When a rider is continuously tipping back while in the saddle, the horse will begin to hollow his back all the time in order to get away from the uncomfortable pressure of the rider’s seat-bones.

    Equally as important is to guard against crouching over the pommel of the saddle.  People who ride like this are completely unbalanced and will never cultivate an independent seat.

    Also, you cannot ride a horse sitting on their neck; so don’t try it!

    30 Day Rider Fitness Challenge

    ‘Driving Seat’ Challenges

    Another position fault I see with riders, particularly when they try and use a driving seat is the ‘Quasimodo Position’.  They have tucked their pelvis so far forward that their back and, in particular, the area between the shoulder blades become curved into a C shape.

    In this position, the core is being ‘squashed’ making it impossible to carry the upper body, with the effect being that the rider becomes extremely heavy and cumbersome on the horse’s back.

    The last position problem that I want to mention today which is common when riders try to engage that ‘driving seat’ is an upward and forward thrust of the pelvis, coupled with an equally powerful thrust backward of the shoulders.  The result is again, a complete loss of any core engagement and an extremely arched and uncomfortable position for your spine to be in!

    When we look at what causes riders to do any of the above, it tends to circle back to two underlying reasons.  The first is a lack of time spent cultivating that all-important feel for the seat. And the second is a lack of strength and flexibility in the core of the body.

     

    Step by Step Training on This Topic

    This week in Daily Strides we are working on your seat. Specifically learning how to begin feeling it and then how to influence your horse with it.  The second lesson focuses specifically on asking our horse to move forward and how the seat is the first part of this ask.  Think about how you subtly adjust your body just before you stand up out of a chair.  This is a similar use of your core.  You will be riding exercises to help you use your ‘forward going’ seat correctly and also the correct application and use of the driving seat.

    In Wednesday’s lesson we knuckle down on how we can use our seat correctly while slowing down and stopping.  We are working on transitions between gaits themselves and using your seat to encourage a change within the gait itself.  This seat is often called a resisting seat. And if used correctly can be the difference between a connected and fluent transition; or a hollowed and choppy one!

    Finally, we put this all together on Thursday…  And for the brave few, I lay down a challenge that will open your eyes to the consequences of using your seat aids correctly. And the unfortunate issues that can arise when riders choose not to!

    The aim of this group of lessons is to help you to sit quieter in the saddle. This will lead to greater influence and better understanding of all the intricacies you are communicating to your horse as you ride.

    All this week’s lessons are available for you right now inside of Connection.  In fact, there are over 500 audio horse riding lessons on a huge variety of different topics in there. All ready for you to dive into with your horse.

    We will also help you set goals and create a plan to reach those goals – and equally as important.  You can find out more about Connection HERE >>

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources on This Topic

    30 Day Rider Fitness Challenge

  • Moving Off Your Leg

    Moving Off Your Leg

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA331-Getting-Your-Lazy-Horse-To-Move-Off-Your-Leg.mp3″ title=”Moving Forward off Your Leg” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Struggling with a horse who ignores your leg? ” hashtag=”Equestrian #Horseriding #deadtotheleg” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    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

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