Strides for Success

Tag: excitable

  • What Not To Do When Riding a Fresh Horse

    What Not To Do When Riding a Fresh Horse

    What Not To Do when Riding a Fresh Horse

    What this episode is all about & how it can help you:-

    • Understand why you need to remain relaxed
    • Make sure you have a plan before you begin
    • Refrain from the one thing most riders do which actually makes things worse…!
    • Consider why ‘out’ is often better than ‘in’ where energy is concerned

    If you ride horses for long enough and you will, without fail, experience ‘that’ feeling.  The one where you’re in the saddle and you just know there is an inevitable explosion building underneath you!  The energy levels are high.  However, usually, your enthusiasm for that same energy is not quite as high at all…

    There are all sorts of reasons your horse may be fresh.  The weather can often play a big part.  So too can changes to routine or schedules.  Feeding is another consideration.  However, regardless of why your horse is feeling fresh, it is important that you know how to deal with the situation.  It will, after all, happen at some point in your riding.

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1100-What-Not-to-Do-When-Riding-a-Fresh-Horse.mp3″ title=”What Not To Do When Riding a Fresh Horse” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Is your horse a little over enthusiastic every now and then? Here’s what NOT TO DO when dealing with a fresh horse….” hashtag=”equestrian #horseriding” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast you will learn how to help return energy levels back to normal by NOT doing a few different things.  

    1. Do Not Freeze Up

    I realise this is often a case of ‘easier said than done’!  However remaining supple and flexible in the saddle is key to riding through a case of the ‘highland fling’ with your fresh horse.

    The trouble is, when you clamp down your horse can feel this.  And it usually feels uncomfortable for the horse.  Giving them the perfect reason to put that extra energy to good use by trying to get out of that situation!

    The other reason freezing up can work against you, is due to your being less able to ‘go with the flow’.  In this case, the flow of extra energy.

    Freezing up will result in you moving against your horse, rather than with your horse.  This, as before, can lead to your horse deciding to ‘help’ you both out and try to remove himself from the situation!

    2.  Do Not ‘Dilly Dally’

    I get it; often you can tell your horse is fresh before even mounting up.  And very often, when riders are in this situation they can, well, procrastinate on actually getting their bum in the saddle.  This is one of the worst things you can do in this particular situation.

    The more you put off, procrastinate or ‘dilly dally’ with getting on with the ride, the more likely that extra energy is going to convert from feelings of mere enthusiasm to frustration for your horse

    Having everything ready is not just advice for the days when things go to plan.  It is also great advice for when things are not going as well as you would like.  Being able to mount up and get moving in a relaxed but timely fashion will help you when riding a fresh horse.

    Try and aim to get things moving as soon as possible.  This will help you to remain influential and safe when riding a fresh horse.

    This applies equally as much to anyone you are riding with.  Being mounted up on a fresh horse and then having to try keep things ‘relaxed’ while your companion fuffs and faffs about is frustrating for all involved.  If you know in advance that your horse is possibly going to be full of the joys of life, hold back on mounting up until the other person is ready to leave.

    3.  Do Not Begin Endlessly Circling

    Now this one goes against the grain of advice many riders receive when dealing with a fresh horse.  They are often told to circle the horse in order to, well, I’m not quite sure!  Rather than calming the situation down and relaxing horse and rider, it most often has the opposite result.

    In my experience circling often is responsible for quickly converting excessive energy from enthusiasm to frustration.

    Circles are, by their very nature, repetitive.  I am going to rather suggest continuously changing things up.  Distraction is your friend when it comes to working with a fresh horse.  It also works brilliantly when working with a resistant or ‘nappy’ horse.

    Your number one focus should be to get your horses attention and focus back on you.  Asking different questions, over and over, will help you to do that.  It also keeps him moving, which works out some of the energy

    4.  Do Not Keep On ‘Reining It In’

    What you focus on expands…  This is so true when it comes to riding a fresh horse!  Focusing on the extra energy and trying to ‘manage’ it, often only results in it growing and expanding.  The horse becomes more and more enthusiastic!

    Let’s pretend you had a bottle of soda or fizzy drink.  And let’s pretend it falls out of your hands, on to the ground.  If you were to just open the bottle as normal, the result wouldn’t be great!  You would be covered in ‘fizz’ and foam.  However, if you open the cap just a fraction and release a little of the gas and then repeat this over and over; you will eventually get the cap off without having to wear your drink.

    Often allowing your horse to ‘let off’ some of his extra energy is the best way of dealing with an overly fresh horse.  Let him on for a few strides and then slowly bring him back.  Then let him on again… Rinse and repeat. 

    Trying to ‘rein it in’ can often turn your volatile situation into a dangerous one.  Bucking, rearing and all sorts of gymnastics above the ground can ensue!  When you let the horse on a little, the energy is being used.  But also, your horse is beginning to listen to you because you are asking different questions.

    Remain Flexible with Your Fresh Horse

    When riding a fresh horse it is important to remain supple in how you are approaching your horse and the situation.  Getting caught up in doing things a certain way is a recipe for disaster when working with a horse who has an excess of energy.

    Rather look for ways to channel that energy into something positive, that will benefit both of you in your riding.

    Maybe there are movements that require more energy which you can work on.  Perhaps that is the day to change-up what you are working on or where you are working.  You can even us it as an opportunity to see what really relaxes or settles your horse.

    What is important is that you remain flexible in your approach; and allow your horse a moment or three to feel enthusiastic, in a safe way :)

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    Other posts, episodes and resources that relate to this topic:-

    Daily Strides Premium

    When you join a Daily Strides Premium Member you will get built-in accountability.  A real person from our team will be reaching out to you on a fortnightly basis to help you build and then maintain momentum with your progress in the saddle.

    Couple this with the live Q&As, the monthly review and planning live calls and the members only private group ~ we are here to help you remain accountable as team leader for you and your horse.

    Daily Strides Premium is packed full of step by step trainings for you to use in the saddle. All the trainings are easily accessed using your phone, meaning that you can take them with you where ever you are going.  These trainings and so much more are available for you immediately when you join Daily Strides Premium. Find out more HERE

  • Riding Through The Handstands

    Riding Through The Handstands

    Is there a feeling similar to ‘that’ feeling? The one where you’re happily riding your horse and you begin to feel that subtle lift in your horses back underneath you. This ‘up’ feeling is often accompanied by perhaps a head shake, or a swish of the tail.

    You just know, with a growing sense of dread, that at any moment your usually placid and co-operative trusty steed is going transform.  Your horse will demonstrate his gymnastic abilities with perfect handstands and cartwheels across the arena or field.

    Think Differently?

    But hold on, what would happen if you began to think a little differently about this behaviour change.  Where, instead of feeling impending doom and dread, you think ‘thank you’.  You can now assume that your horse is actually continuing to be his usual reliable self and is perhaps warning you of his intention.  All so that you can strap on your safety belt and enjoy the ride?

    Okay, probably not! But now that he has let you know, you can change the outcome.

    Your actions in those few split seconds, before he begins his merry dance,  have to ability to change everything. And they can become the deciding factor as to whether or not you finish the ride or get off at an earlier stop!

    So, the three things that will greatly improve your chances of finishing your ride?

    1. A defensive leg position
    2. Keep your upper body back
    3. Looking Up

    So let’s have a look at these three actions one by one in a little more detail.

    Riding Through the Handstands

    1. A Defensive Leg Position

    When we are riding, under normal circumstances, our lower leg (below the knee) should be underneath us.  Almost as though we were standing on our own two legs. Having your leg under you is one of the basics of supporting yourself and your body while you ride.

    Now, if your horse suddenly decides to try his hoof at the highland fling, everything changes. When your horse’s back changes position, from being basically horizontal to having a more vertical alignment, it would make sense for your lower leg to change position as well, in order to sufficiently support you in this new, if fleeting, position.

    The trick is to ‘assume’ this new lower leg position before your horse changes his.

    Of course, it almost goes without saying but let’s just mention it to be sure, this all hinges on you keeping your heels down. This is certainly not the time to be a ballerina on your tippy toes, trust me!

    2. Keep Your Upper Body Back

    There are three reasons that this is a vital key to staying in the saddle and making the super glue work. The first one is that you will use your abdominal muscles to brace against the momentum your horse will create when he bucks. Having a strong core is extremely helpful here. However, even if you are not as buff as you wish you were, there are things you can do.

    Simply rocking slightly back on your pelvis and opening your chest will activate those muscles.  This will help keep your body in alignment when the buck happens.

    The second reason this that you want to get your horse’s head up as soon as possible. When your horse bucks, he is using his body like a catapult; front end down, back-end up.  Often with the sole purpose of flinging his ‘load’ somewhere.

    If you can get the front end up, odds are that the back-end will go down.

    The third reason is that when you use your core, in addition to having a slightly forward lower leg position, from the side you will look like a ‘tug of war’ participant mid match. If we visualize an actual tug of war competition, we can see that by keeping this stance, they are using their whole body, not just their arms.

    This is what you want to do, brace your whole body, not just your arms against your horse.

    3. Look Up

    It sounds so simple.  And it’s probably the last thing you think of doing!  But this simple measure may be the difference between hitting the dirt and riding your horse through a buck. When you look up, you naturally keep your shoulders open and back. You also help your balance by looking at something in the distance.

    The other advantage of looking up is to see where you can send your horse to distract him. This allows you to ride him through and out of the bucking spree. Simple but so effective.

    Practicing Your Riding Skills

    So, there you have it, the next time your horse decides to show you just how athletic he can be, you know what to do.

          1. Get your lower leg forward
          2. Brace your core muscles by tilting slightly back
          3. Look up.

    The quickest way to end the performance is to get his head up and ride him forward into something different. Strangely, this is one of those things that, if you can keep those three points in mind, it actually is not such a big deal anymore at all.

    Have you ever had any ‘hair raising’ experiences on your horse while riding?  We would love to know what happened and how you dealt with the situation.  Make sure you join our free online community for riders HERE and tell us all about it.  Oh, and remember to include the outcome :)

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources for Equestrians