As a rider, I bet that part of what you love about being an equestrian is the bond that you have with your horse. However, this bond, for many riders, takes time to develop and strengthen. This is because building a connection with your horse takes more than just time in the saddle. It requires attention. As well as understanding,…
Your hands are an aid in your riding. So understanding why the way you hold your reins and how to judge the height of your hands when riding is important. And realizing how much your hand aids are impacting and affecting your riding can change everything. As riders, one of the first things we learn is how to ‘hold’ the…
Accuracy can seem like a dull and boring concept when riding horses. Sure, if you are going to compete in dressage or show jumping, accuracy can become really important. But what about if you are simply a rider, working alone with your horse, trying to improve your overall skills? Is accuracy still as important? I’m going to say yes, accuracy…
What does your average ride or training session with your horse look like? Do you have a riding routine that you follow? If yours is leaning towards, or if it already is, a little too predictable; maybe it’s time for a change? While riding the same sequence often can sometimes be beneficial to your riding and training (more on that…
![[Training Scale Series] Part 4 – Creating True Impulsion](https://stridesforsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Copy-of-training-scale-i-3_jpg-770x433.jpg)
How do you know if you have actually achieved true impulsion? What makes this ‘real’ impulsion different from simply running around the arena like the energizer bunny with your horse? This post is the fourth in a series I have created about the training scale. I suggest also checking out the previous posts on rhythm, suppleness, and contact. At ‘Step…
![[Training Scale Series] Part 3 – Contact in Your Riding](https://stridesforsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Copy-of-training-scale-i_jpg-2-770x433.jpg)
Contact and connection; hot topics for many riders. This is often because they can feel quite elusive. There is confusion regarding what needs to happen in order for contact to occur. And, how can you tell if the contact is correct and ‘good’? This post and episode are the third in a series about the training scale. We have already…
