Strides for Success

Tag: resistance

  • Developing a Light, Balanced Downward Transition Every Time

    Developing a Light, Balanced Downward Transition Every Time

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dailystridespodcast/1218_Riding_Consistent_Balanced_Smooth_Downward_Transitions.mp3″ title=”Riding Balanced, Smooth, & Light Downward Transitions” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Here’s how to ride smoother, lighter downward transitions – starting today :)” hashtag=”horselovers #equestrian” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    What goes up, must come down.  For every upward transition you ride with your horse, you will follow it, at some point, with a downward transition.  For many riders, these can prove a little more complex to balance.

    Having to prepare and then guide both yourself and your horse ‘downwards’, while continuing to maintain forwardness, tension, and energy… It can feel more like falling into, rather than stepping into, the new gait!

    However, as with all things riding-related, there are things you can do to really begin improving each downward transition that you ride.  Implementing these changes can begin today, with the very next downward transition you ride with your horse.

    What is a Downward Transition?

    One of the easiest ways to think of this transition is moving from a higher gear to a lower gear while on your horse.  It can be as simple as the walk to a halt.  Or your downward transition could be something more complex such as a canter to walk.

    There are also downward transitions that happen within the gait itself, where you transition from covering more ground each stride to covering less.  

    There are lots of different ways to make this sort of transition happen and, therefore, there is a whole wide range of possible outcomes to each transition that you ride.  The key is to begin working on creating a good quality transition, rather than simply hauling your horse back each time you ride one.

    Light, Smooth & Balanced

    So, rather than your horse ‘falling’ into the new gait, we want the opposite to happen.  We want him to literally, maintain composure and balance, to step into it.  If the transition was from the walk into the halt, the good quality transition would result in your horse arriving at the halt in a way that allows the energy to be maintained in his body.  This is so that he can simply step out of it again.  If we use the canter to walk, it is often helpful to think can-ter, can-ter, can-ter, can-walk, w.a.l.k.   The canter is literally a stepping stone into the walk.

    The horse can only achieve a light transition if he is engaged and carrying himself throughout his body.  This is where self-carriage comes into the conversation.  

    In order for your horse to ‘step’ into the downward transition with confidence and grace, he must believe that he can carry himself while maintaining forwardness.  This takes training, development, consistency, and time to achieve.

    Often, the horse’s abilities to remain balanced through the downward transition are actually hampered by the rider. 

    This is where a lack of composure, balance, and self-carriage in the rider can have an obvious negative influence on the horse’s performance.

    Preparing a Downward Transition

    Just like the upward transition, the amount of preparation you put into the movement before you ride it will become clear as you ride the movement. I think one of the first, key things to think about is what you want to ask for, and where you want it to happen.  Once you are clear on this, you can begin thinking about how to most effectively communicate this to your horse in order to get the outcome you want.

    Your half halt will be a key factor to riding a good quality movement.  You will initially use it to bring your horse’s attention and focus back to you. From there, you can use it to balance and prepare both of you. 

    Each half halt, I recommend riding quite a few, will help you to begin ‘gathering’ the energy that is coming through from your horse’s hindquarters.  The half halt is also a great way to really connect with your horse’s hindquarters.

    It allows you to begin ‘syncing’ your seat bones with your horse’s corresponding hind feet. This will help you to know when to actually ask for the transition; your all-important timing. 

    The Rider’s Self Carriage

    When you feel that you are both ready to actually make the transition happen, focus on yourself for a moment.  What you do next can influence everything else going forward.  Think about how you want your horse to use his body throughout the transition, and work on modeling it first.

    Your job is to ‘ask’ your horse to perform the transition.  It is not to ‘make’ your horse transition. 

    As you work on developing your skills, pay attention to responsiveness.  The more responsive your horse is to your aids, the more smooth and clean any transitions will become over time. However, this is only assuming that you are carrying yourself!  So many riders throw their body about in the saddle in some misguided attempt to ‘ride’ the downward transition. 

    Remember, once you’ve asked for it, you must simply be in the best position to allow the transition to happen. 

    Resisting Forwards; Not Pulling Backwards

    A great way to think of how to really remain balanced and best placed to allow for a successful transition is to think of a tug of war…  If your body feels in any way like you’re in one with your horse – you’re pulling!  This can range from pushing your heels down, pulling with your hands, or leaning backwards.

    You rather want to simply stop moving forward with your horse.  It can help to think of yourself as being ‘still’. Not moving ‘against’ your horse (maybe pulling?), but also not moving ‘with’ him (resisting). 

    Things to look out for is your lower leg swinging back.  Standing up (or feeling like you are going to stand up) in your stirrups is another indicator that you’re pulling.  And any movement in your hands is also a no-no. Finally, leaning will look (and feel) like your shoulders coming behind your hips.

    I am a firm believer that whatever you want to achieve from your horse, the key is to align with that first throughout your body. 

    Meaning that if you are trotting and want to walk, think and then act ‘walk’.  And if you are cantering, rather than allowing your seat to ‘rock’ with your horse, think of the more ‘equal all over’ feeling of trot.   This leads me to the next important thing you need to work on to improve every downward transition; your rein aids.

    Your Rein Aids

    Okay, so I have mentioned not to pull… And yet, that is the very first thing most riders are thought when they get on a horse and begin to ride!  “Pull the reins to stop”.

    Let’s be honest here; at the end of the day you do not want to get into a tug of war with another ‘being’ who is equally as opinionated as yourself… Particularly when that ‘being’ outweighs you by about 10 to 1… 

    I use the word ‘being’ in the above few sentences to hammer home the fact that your horse has a mind of his own.  Whatever you believe about the abilites of your skills as a rider; it is absolutly essential that you take into account your horses presence in every single downward transition.

    A steady ‘this is it’ goes a lot further than a furious ‘reining in’ or ‘hauling out the back teeth’.  And yet, if your horse only knows ‘reining it in’, I strongly suggest beginning his retraining in a fairly confined area…!

    All horses have been thought different things when it comes to contact and rein aids. One of your biggest responsibilities as a rider and trainer for your horse is to be consistent, true, and kind with yours.

    Riding the Downward Transition

    So, once you have your horse’s attention, and gathered the energy, you can begin thinking about the transition itself.  Understanding that each transition is different is important.  This will allow you to use the all-important ‘feel’ in your riding.

    Feel is when you almost intutivly know what is needed in order to communicate your desires with your horse

    Choose the place and then begin to ‘ask’ for the downward transition.  Remember to keep your legs on.  Downward, even if it’s all the way back to halt, should still have you both thinking and working forward.  Your legs will help to maintain the creation of energy throughout the transition.

    As you feel your horse taking that very first step inot the new gait, it is important to release for just a moment. This will allow the tension to smooth out, producing a better result in the new gait. 

    Once your horse has transitioned, the focus will be on establishing a good quality movement within that gait.  This may take time.  However, the better the quality of the downward transition that was ridden, the easier this will be.

    The lightness will develop over time as your horse develops.  Being able to carry himself requires training.  And, as mentioned, a rider who is doing the same thing!  I will link to more episodes below in the resources section on specific transitions that you can work on with your horse.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources:-

  • Taking a No Nonsense Approach to Napping

    Taking a No Nonsense Approach to Napping

    Taking a No Nonsense Approach to Napping

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

    • Understand why napping can become a learned ‘go to’ behaviour for your horse
    • See how seemingly ‘little things’ can quickly escalate to ‘bigger things’
    • Use your horses short concentration span to your benefit here
    • Become clear on how to make your horse ‘want’ to do what you ask

    Napping… Whoever decided that this was a good word to describe what is literally the equine equivalent of a two-year old throwing a tantrum?  When we speak of napping outside of equestrian circles, we think of peaceful ‘cat naps’.  However, when we think of napping as it relates to horses; it is almost the opposite scenario that springs to mind!

    Simply put, napping is when your horse decides to be a little ‘otherwise’ with regards to going where you want him to go.

    It is frustrating, time-wasting and, in many situations, downright dangerous for both horse, rider any innocent bystanders who happen past the horse throwing the ‘hissy fit’!  This is definitely a behaviour that needs to be replaced when it comes to how your horse reacts to certain situations…

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1092-Taking-a-No-Nonsense-Approach-to-Napping.mp3″ title=”Taking a No Nonsense Approach to Napping” tweet_text=”That ‘stuck in the mud’ feeling… Napping is a pain; here’s how to get your horse unstuck and moving again…” hashtag=”horseriding #equestrian” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast we look at practical ways you can nip this in the bud with a less experienced ‘napper’.  We will also discuss what to do with a more seasoned pro.  

    Why Napping Can Become a ‘Habit’ for Horses

    Napping, especially when it becomes a  viable ‘way out’ of doing something for your horse, is really dangerous behaviour.  It can often leave you, the rider, with very little influence over the situation.  It can also lead to tempers on both sides becoming flared. 

    In order to effectively deal with napping, the rider must be committed to their outcome.  It is also essential that the rider keeps a level head at all times. 

    I have found that there are three big reasons that riders often end up drawing the short end of a stick when it comes to napping.

    • The rider has no confidence in their abilities to deal with the situation
    • Many riders struggle to remain level headed and lose their temper
    • And finally, some riders worry about what other bystanders and onlookers are thinking of their skills at handling the horse

    This is why it is absolutely essential that you are ready to take correct appropriate action if you find yourself faced with a ‘nappy’ horse.

    Be Clear on Your Outcome; Mentally & Physically

    One of the easiest ways to allow your horse to gain the ‘upper hand’ in a napping situation is to lose sight of your end goal.  It is vitally important that you keep thinking and moving forward.

    By thinking of what you want to make happen, you will physically act that way.  This will help you to ‘encourage’ your horse to rather align with your desired path!

    It is easy to allow yourself to be led by your horse in this situation.  Focusing your attention and efforts on what your horse ‘is’ doing, rather than what you ‘want’ your horse to do.

    Horses align with their riders.  It may take some a little longer than others.  However if you are committed, your horse will eventually come around to your way of thinking. 

    Learn to Nip the ‘Little Things’ in the Bud

    The clearer you are on your desired outcome, the clearer your application of your aids will be.  Often a horse who naps; a ‘nappy’ horse, is created by an inconsistent rider.

    Riders who allow the little things to regularly ‘slide’ literally train their horses to not really respect their aids and desired outcomes. 

    Consistency is not just a nice added extra when it comes to horses.  It is absolutely essential for you to build a relationship both in the saddle and on the ground.  Your relationship between you and your horse should be built on respect.

    If your horse sees that you are a little ‘relaxed’ when it comes to what is allowed and what is not, he will begin to push the boundaries.

    ‘Little’ things that are allowed slide tend to escalate and build momentum.  What started off as something small and insignificant can quickly snowball to big things; such as napping. 

    Use A Potentially Short Concentration Span to Your Favour

    Horses are a little like toddlers when it comes to where they focus their attention and energy.  It can seem intense at times, however it is also usually short-lived.  They are easily distracted by something different or new.

    If your horse begins to throw the proverbial tantrum, try distracting him by asking another question. 

    This can look like turning or changing rein.  Shallow loops work well.  Maybe you can transition or prepare for a transition.  Another way of distracting is to use your voice or weight aids in a different way.

    What is important is that you do not lose sight of what you want or where you want to go.  You are simply taking a slight detour in order to avoid what feels like an inevitable train smash on the track you are currently riding.

    You still get to where you want to go, but you are just getting there in a slightly different way.

    Remember to Reward Quickly & Frequently

    Horses like to please.  They like to be told that they have done well or ‘done good’.  Depending on your horses age or even temperament, sometimes those rewards need to be very frequent.

    Often simply ignoring the undesirable behaviour and then praising any step in the right direction can be enough to get you both ‘unstuck’.  

    Remember napping is a learned behaviour.  Your horse has learned at some point that if he doesn’t want to do something, he can throw a wobbler and usually get his own way.

    Your job is to make him want to do whatever it is you ask him to do.  Regular praise and rewards are the surest way to make this happen.  

    Maybe a Different Rider is Necessary to Get ‘Unstuck’

    Take heart in the fact that because napping is learned, it can just as easily be ‘unlearned. 

    As I mentioned at the top of the post, often napping occurs because the horse has learned that the rider is ineffective in riding them through or out of the situation.  If this is the case, sometimes the simplest way of dealing with the situation is to put another rider on board.

    A different, perhaps more experienced, rider will use a different approach in order to ride the horse through the napping episode.  This is often a combination of different mental and physical aids.

    You can also use a person on the ground to help you, if necessary.  Obviously safety is paramount.  However, sometimes a gentle ‘encouragement’ from someone behind the horse is enough to either distract them, or simply get them moving forwards again.

    Positive Communication is Essential at All Times

    Finally I want to stress that however you decide to deal with a napping horse, it is essential to remain positive.  You want the outcome to be your horse moving forwards in a happy and relaxed as possible way.

    In the saddle, it is important to give the horse ‘somewhere to go’.  Often opening your hands wider than usual will do the trick here.  

    Think of your hands as being like a big neck of a funnel.  Then your other aids, legs and voice being the main ones, encouraging the horse into the funnel.

    When you are dealing with napping, remember to always approach the situation with a positive approach and a level head.  Remember, the key is to make your horse ‘WANT’ to go wherever it is you are asking him to go.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

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

    Starting April 2019, you will get built-in accountability when you become a Daily Strides Premium Member.  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 weekly 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

  • Overcoming Resistance in Your Horse While Riding

    Overcoming Resistance in Your Horse While Riding

    Overcoming Resistance While Riding

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

    • Understand what resistance is in your horse
    • Start with taking steps back to simple
    • Realise the importance of rewarding every little positive element
    • Know how far to take each ride

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1070-Overcoming-Resistance-while-Riding.mp3″ title=”Overcoming Resistance in Your Horse While Riding” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Do you often feel like your horse would rather be somewhere else than in the arena with you? This episode of the Daily Strides Podcast might help…” hashtag=”horseriding” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Most riders have been there, some more regularly than others… You are mounted up, in the arena with your horse.  Your plans are all laid out in your head for the upcoming schooling session or ride.  And you are feeling positive and ready to get it done.

    However, you sense that your horse is, well, not feeling the same way.  In fact, you get the distinct feeling that he would much rather be somewhere else, doing something else.  It’s not that he is being naughty, but rather uninterested and there is definitely resistance to what you are asking.

    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast I want to chat about how, very often, when this happens ‘pushing on through’ is not the best way of approaching your horse.  I want to give you some other ideas that can get you both back on the same page with your focus and your work.

    What is Resistance in Your Horse?

    Recently I was in the arena preparing to start work with a specific horse and her rider.  The rider had a specific focus that she wanted to work on for that schooling session.  However, it was pretty evident that her horse had other ideas.

    The horse wasn’t bucking or even being ‘naughty’ however, she was moving and, it looked like, thinking in a way that showed she wasn’t the least bit interested in being in that arena with us.

    There was a certain tension and resistance which was obvious throughout her body.  She lacked ‘softness’ and also focus with regards to her work.

    Often when we think of ‘resistance’ in horses, we jump to the extreme end of a whole host of ways our horses can show resistance.  This horse was more ‘meh’.  Almost like a disengaged teenager!

    “I’ll do what you want but I will let you know every step of the way that I don’t want to be here and I don’t want to do this at all…”

    If you have ever been there, you will understand how frustrating it can be for the rider.  Maybe you would agree that it is even more so than if your horse resisted outright with bucks and highland flings!  Pushing on through it rarely produces an outcome both horse and rider can be proud of and yet, the work has to get done.

    So How Can You Begin Turning this Level of Resistance Around?

    First and foremost, I feel it is important to figure out why this is happening.  Perhaps it is feeding time for your horse?  Or maybe your horse becoming a little sour working in the arena?  In the example I am using today, it was non of the above.  The horse was just having a ‘off day’.  Maybe she didn’t get enough sleep the night before; who knows!

    What is certain is the fact that the more the rider pushes and forces the horse to work with them, the more the resistance the horse is going to express to the rider. 

    Start with Taking Things Back to Simple

    Begin by finding something you can do together that is a simpler or easier version of what you really set out to achieve that day in the saddle.  Something that doesn’t require too much effort from either of you and that you can both enjoy.

    In the case of the horse and rider I was working with that day, I suggested they take it back to walk and begin working on simple loops in the walk.  The focus was on suppleness.  Lots and lots of small loops.  Constantly changing direction.  All the while keeping the focus on forwardness and suppleness.

    Within a few loops I could see a change in the horse.  A “hmmmm…. This is different to what we were doing before”.  With that change in thinking came a change in how the horse was ‘going’.  A softness began to emerge.

    Suppleness requires softness, one cannot really happen without the other.  What I also saw was that the rider was relaxing more.  There was less tension, which I imagine was an initial result of feeling a little frustrated.

    As both horse and rider began to align more with each other, the work improved.  Literally every loop began to look (and I would imagine feel) more natural and ‘together’. 

    Reward Every Positive Movement

    The other thing I had suggested to the rider was to reward every single positive step or movement in the right direction from the horse.

    I find this works in two ways; the rider begins to look for positive outcomes (rather than focusing on the negative) and the horse genuinely enjoys being praised by the rider and will look for ways to make it happen. 

    Horses, for the most part do try to please those they respect.  Whether that be other horses, people on the ground or their rider.   Looking for small things you can praise or reward will lead to larger things.

    You literally need to begin looking for every ‘thought’ your horse has that is moving him in the direction you want to move him in

    Reintroducing What You Were Initially Working On

    Once this softness was there and it was obvious both horse and rider were now keen and interested in what was going on, I suggested reintroducing the original exercise.

    I could see that the horse was open to working with the rider AND that the rider was far softer in their approach to the exercise now. 

    The communication and conversation had opened up again between horse and rider.  I think when this happens it changes how the rider actually rides as well.  The rider feels as though they have achieved a ‘win’ in the saddle.

    It might not be the ‘win’ they initially set out to get for that ride, however knowing that you worked through something and turned a situation around is sometimes a bigger win.

    Knowing How Far to Take Each Ride

    So once you can feel your horse is back working with you, rather than resisting against you, you can make a decision on what to do going forward.  Should you return to the original exercise and try again? Or should you clock this ride up to experience and end it on the high note you are currently experiencing?

    I think it depends on your unique situation.  How much ground have you covered?  Is it essential for you and your horse to work on that original exercise?  Or is this new positive layer to your relationship together enough for this ride?

    In the case of this horse and rider, I suggested they call it a day at this point.  The horse is a young horse and I felt that the lesson they had worked through together for that session was a really beneficial one going forward for both of them.

    However, if it had have been a more experienced horse, or perhaps a horse that had an upcoming event or similar to work towards; that may have been a different call.

    It is important to judge each situation on the day and think about the long-term.  Just getting your horse back on the same page as you is a great win for that day…

    A Long Term ‘Win’ or Stepping Stone

    If you do manage to reestablishing the conversation between horse and rider, you will have really created a positive stepping stone in your journey together.  It is a huge win.

    Building the relationship with your horse, on confidence and trust, is such an important element to a successful riding partnership.

    Some days you will make it happen and add another layer to your strong foundation.  However, it is equally as important to keep in mind that there may just be other days where things, regardless of what you do, don’t go to plan.

    That is the beauty and the challenge of horse riding.  Two separate minds, you and your horse, each with different ideas having to come together and agree to work towards a single goal or outcome.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    I am hosting a free live online training on “Understanding True Relaxation in Your Riding” and I would love for you to join me there…  If you’re interested, you can register for your seat by CLICKING HERE

    Click HERE to register for the free online training

    Links mentioned in the episode:-