Strides for Success

Tag: rhythm

  • Establishing Flow in the Space Between Jumps

    Establishing Flow in the Space Between Jumps

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1240_Effectively_Riding_the_Space_Between_Jumps.mp3″ title=”Establishing Flow in the Space Between Jumps” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”How to use the space between the jumps to improve your riding overall…” hashtag=”horsepodcast” ]

    Jumping is one of those things most riders love or hate.  In my experience, their personal preferences depend on how well they can use the space between jumps. If every jumping track feels like a tug of war from start to finish, it’s easy to see how jumping itself won’t be all that enjoyable.  The same applies if the rider feels like they are doing the work for both themselves and their very uninterested, laid-back, and uninspired horse!

    One of the best ways to improve your jumping is to work on the space between jumps. This will improve the overall experience for both horse and rider…

    But simply saying the space between jumps can sound a little overwhelming.  After all, we really are only ‘jumping’ for a tiny amount of time.  The rest is spent working inside of this ‘space’. I think there are a few key areas you can begin to improve, to help both you and your horse get more out of working over fences.

     1. Get Clear on Your Track

    Riding a line is something that I believe all riders need to know how to do. This is regardless of if they are riding on the flat (doing flatwork) or riding over fences.  Without the ability to both see and line and remain true to the line, things will ‘wander’.

    Riding a line allows you and your horse to remain focused, stay on track, reach where you want to go in the best possible way and keep energy flowing. 

    This is really something worth practicing.  Start on the straight, and simply work on being able to ride between two points without wandering. From there, work on remaining on track both before, through, and after each corner, you ride.  Finally, work on both creating a curved track and riding a curved line.

    Once you feel confident riding a line, simply put poles or jumps to mark the A and B of your line, and practice using them as well.

     2. Notice Weak Points

    As you begin to work on your lines and make them more accurate, you might notice leaks.  These leaks are where energy is being lost through the horse, rider, or both.  It could be an outside shoulder that doesn’t want to connect the energy through (falling out) or maybe an inside hind leg that is finding it difficult to stay on track.

    By figuring out where you and your horse are losing energy, you can work on strengthening those weaker points and, because of this, create more flow.

    A good way to assess this is to first ‘feel’ the energy.  Is there a corner or bend where, once you have ridden through, you find you have to do a lot to reestablish things again?  Or is all the energy flowing too fast out of the front end, rather than being recycled and contained?

    Once you have identified the issue (and almost all horses and riders have weak points), find exercises to help strengthen and correct this. Remember this process will take time.

     3. Develop the Rhythm

    When you know where you’re going and you can maintain a certain amount of energy getting there, the next step is to develop your rhythm.  Whether you are working in trot or canter, maintaining a rhythm in the space between jumps can be a challenge.

    Many riders experience changes in the tempo, especially on the approach to the fence.  There is a quickening of the footfalls… And this can often lead to a loss of relaxation.

    I think that practicing over ground poles is a great way of getting started when trying to establish and maintain rhythm.  It allows the rider to simply work on the space, without actual jumps complicating the issue for them.  I also like to use unrelated distances when doing this exercise.  As in, two poles on either side of the arena that the rider must ride a half oval shape between.

    This is also a great way to notice how relaxation (the level of tension present in horse and rider) can affect rhythm.  And vice versa. By becoming keenly aware of these smaller changes, you can begin to create a more fluid, consistent, rhythm around the whole course of fences.

     4. Become More Aware

    The final point I want to make today is regarding you, the rider.  Very often, it is actually us and what we are doing while riding in the space between jumps that are causing things to go a little awry.  Getting ahead of the movement is a big issue I see many riders struggle with.  Also, too much tension is present in the rider’s body.  This one is often due to thoughts or beliefs that the rider has.

    As you begin to more consistently model to your horse what you actually want from your horse – your horse will improve. 

    So, instead of worrying about what your horse is doing and ‘fighting’ him on it.  Rather focus on yourself and improve your responses. Are you moving with your horse?  How about tension; is the amount in your body right for the task at hand? And also position; are you in the best possible place to both communicate and support your horse?

    By tidying up your riding style and basics, you can have a huge positive influence on your horse.  You can also much better use the space between jumps to school and train your horse – and to get clear rounds!

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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  • Cantering on the Lunge? Here’s How to Make it Work…

    Cantering on the Lunge? Here’s How to Make it Work…

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    Here’s a confession; for years I used to think of cantering while on the lunge as just something I did to ‘finish the session’. It was like something that I could check off a list. There was no intention behind it (only to get it done),

    And with any cantering happening while on the lunge, there was definitely no thought put into using the time or gait to develop the horse.

    Which, now, seems so bizarre! Why would I have even bothered with it when there was no set focus or intention?! It really does seem like madness; except for one thing…

    Every week, I see so many riders making the same mistake. Cantering endless circles while on the lunge – without a single thought about why and what it might achieve or work towards…

    Transitioning Into the Canter

    Let’s start at the beginning with this one. I love thinking about the similarities between what happens when riding and what happens when lunging. Meaning, if you were to ride a ‘good’ transition from trot to canter, what would you consider before ‘asking’?

    The transition into canter will only be as good as the quality of the trot asking for it – and the quality of the preparations for the ‘ask’.

    Meaning that the trot must be moving forwards, not running. And the rider (the lunger) must invest a little time, energy, and focus in preparation for the transition itself.

    Become comfortable with your half-halt while on the lunge – yes it is a thing – and spend time on coordinating and balancing your aids to ask for the transition.

    Starting to Canter

    When your horse does transition into the canter – resist the urge to panic! If you are not used to lunging on a consistent basis, the canter can seem very, well, fast! It is almost like a rider who is learning to canter for the first time. It can seem like things are, literally, flying by! They’re probably not!

    And if your horse is ‘running’ in the canter, check out this episode HERE to help you with that.

    Watching your horse canter while on the lunge often requires you to feel a little mentally uncomfortable for a time. This is due to a perceived ‘lack of control’.

    Keep in mind that you have the same level of influence you had while in the trot, it is just that you may need to say things a little louder (using all of your aids) in order to be initially heard. This is a training process.

    Your job will be to refine the aids and increase responsiveness so that you can be heard by your horse while in canter on the lunge.

    Improving the Canter

    From here, you can begin to actually work on the canter. See your aids, both natural and artificial, as being a channel for energy. Use your outside boundary to help you channel things a little more.

    Become aware of the rhythm of the canter itself. Is there a distinctive 1,2,3..1,2,3.?
    How can you, using your aids, help define this further?

    From here, think about straightness. Are you using the lunge line to ‘slow your horse down’? Or are you using it to keep your horse while on the circle? In both cases, this will cause the energy to fall out. And, any leaks in energy will result in a canter that is far less than what it could be.

    Just like when you ride, your lunge line should be used to create contact. Not steer the horse (keep it on the circle) or slow the horse down (pulling on it like an anchor).

    Assess your aids, and be honest with yourself. Are you using all of the aids at your disposal in order to positively encourage a better canter from your horse, or are you just relying on the, unfortunately, obvious lunge line to ease your mental discomfort and make you feel more in control?

    Be Consistent with Your Actions

    Just like when you began cantering in the saddle, cantering on the lunge is probably not going to look pretty the first few times you try. It might consist of rushing and funning in wild circles. It could turn into a situation where any sort of request for a more balanced canter is met with a transition back to trot!

    The key to developing your influence in the canter is to keep trying. Notice what works. And change what doesn’t.

    Over time, if you can consistent with your approach, you will begin to see moments of ‘good’ canter on the lunge. Build on these. Give yourself a challenge of trying to prolong those moments just a little. And watch your efforts begin to produce real and lasting results.

    Happy Lunging
    Lorna

    More on this Topic:-

  • Re-Defining the Rhythm in the Canter When Riding

    Re-Defining the Rhythm in the Canter When Riding

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1233_Redefining_the_Rhythm_in_the_Canter.mp3″ title=”Redefining the Rhythm in the Canter” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Let’s go past strides when we think canter + rhythm, shall we?!” hashtag=”horsepodcast” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    There are some things that many of us simply accept in life.  Rainy days. Horsehair is everywhere in Spring. The rhythm in the canter.  And yet, while we cannot change the weather (okay, debatable) and we definitely cannot get around the necessary loss of the winter coat…

    The Rhythm in the canter is definitely something we can have a more positive influence over when we ride – rather than simply accepting what is. 

    And yet, it can seem daunting! Many riders find that when they attempt to begin doing this, they tend to lose the canter altogether.  They quickly find themselves back in the trot.  Or the canter has lost its 3 beat sequence – so it’s technically no longer a canter!

    Why Redefining?

    I think that in order to really make your time in canter count towards the overall training of your horse, we need to first define what is already there.  Most riders know that rhythm in the canter consists of a repetitive 1,2,3..1,2,3..1,2,3..

    And yet, many riders almost see each stride in the canter as being the rhythm, instead of each individual beat that truly makes up the rhythm. 

    By redefining the rhythm in the canter, I would love for you to stop seeing the rhythm as being stride for stride.  But rather being noticing the individual beats that, together, create the rhythm of each stride inside of the canter itself.

    Noticing Each Individual Beat

    Once you have committed to really separating things out regarding what happens within each stride, the challenge becomes making this happen when you’re riding.  In canter, the strides can feel fast!  They seem to come flying along and so fast and furious that really being able to identify individual beats inside of the stride can seem daunting!

    Start with the first beat of each stride.  Start with 1.  Each stride, after the break that the ‘roll’ (suspension) creates, notice the 1 in each new stride. 

    Once you have identified the 1 of each stride, begin creating a connection between that beat and your outside seat bone.  1 is your horse’s outside back leg stepping down on the ground. Your horse’s back leg and your outside seat bone are connected.

    Let your awareness of the first beat inside of each stride, and its connection to your outside seat bone help you to begin to ‘define’ rhythm in the canter.

    Finding the Second Beat

    Once you have identified the first beat, it simply becomes a matter of mindfulness and awareness to begin identifying the second and third beats of each individual canter stride. I feel that one of the best ways to do this is to begin using 1 as an opportunity to half halt.

    Half halt is only really held for a beat, so using the beat from the 1 inside of the canter stride as a timer, will allow you to begin clearly identifying the 2 in each stride. 

    The second beat, 2 is when the horses inside back leg and outside front leg move forwards together.  It will feel like activation of your inside seat bone.  A swinging forward feeling.  Some riders describe it as a ‘scoop’.

    If you can begin to identify the 2nd beat within each stride, and then tie that in with the movement of your inside seat bone, it will allow you to start truly defining the rhythm in the canter itself.

    Third Beat and the Roll…

    The third beat, beat 3 happens when your inside seat bone has swung or scooped as far forward as it is going to go inside of that particular stride.  The 3 is the culmination of the stride.  However, the horse’s body now has to move forward over the inside front leg in order to start the process again.

    This ‘gap’ between the 3rd and last beat of the old stride and the 1st beat of the new stride is marked by a moment of suspension.  It feels like a rolling feeling when you are in the saddle. 

    This allows. your body to reset itself and be ready for 1 (or the first beat) again.  Any resisting, excessive tension or lack of balance from the rider will become amplified here.  This is where many riders can become a little ‘airborne’!  It is also where riders can tend to override with their shoulders and upper body.

    The key to riding the canter is suppleness and if is in this ‘roll’ part of each stride that a lack of suppleness in the rider will become very clear!

    Re-Defining the Rhythm in the Canter

    Once you can clearly identify each individual beat inside of the canter itself, you can begin to intentionally use your aids to have more influence.  Each individual stride is an opportunity to connect with your horse and help him to create more space within that stride.

    By consistently connecting your individual aids to each individual element of the canter stride, you can begin to intentionally ask different questions of your horse

    Questions like “Wait a fraction longer here please” using your outside seat bone on beat 1 of the canter stride. Or “A little longer please” using your inside seat bone on beat 2.  Or “A little shorter here please”!

    What is important is to remember that no one aid will be applied in isolation.  I am just mentioning the two above to help you gain connection to the individual beats within the stride itself.

    When you can easily identify each beat of the stride, you can begin to measure your influence as a rider.  You can be creating more space within each stride.  Defining each beat more so that they are ‘stand out’ and easy to spot (or hear).

    This is how you can then begin to improve the rhythm inside of the canter – for you and your horse.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    More Episodes on This Topic:-

  • Improving the Canter with Groundpoles

    Improving the Canter with Groundpoles

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1230_Improving_the_Canter_with_Groundpoles.mp3″ title=”Improving the Canter Using Groundpoles” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Groundpoles and Cantering… So much goodness :)” hashtag=”horseriding” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    The canter and using groundpoles; as the song goes, these are a few of my favorite things! And I especially love how, with a few well-placed and simple groundpoles, the canter can begin to become more intentional, rhythmic, and balanced. The added bonus is that so does the rider… So, that being said, let’s improve the canter for you and your horse…

    Today, I want to give you a few simple, easy to follow tips so you can begin effectively using groundpoles in your training program with your horse to improve the canter

    You see, once you and your horse are comfortable cantering together ‘on the flat’ (no poles involved), groundpoles can really begin to help you both to develop on from here.

    Getting Started

    Before cantering over a pole, it is always a good idea to first become comfortable walking, and then trotting, over a single pole on the ground. Both horse and rider should feel confident and balanced. From here, the horse and rider can work through lines of poles, such as trotting poles.

    It is equally as important for the rider to feel confident, as it is for the horse, when it comes to working over the groundpoles.

    Any excess tension through each of the ‘team members’ bodies will result in a loss of forwardness, rhythm, and ‘flow’. All are essential if we want a smooth and enjoyable experience through the canter groundpoles. And, from here, working to improve the canter using them.

    The Rider’s Balance

    From here, I feel that it is important for the rider to have developed a secure and balanced light seat. This, in my opinion, is essential to initially riding groundpoles in a canter.

    Keep in mind that a jump is simply a large canter stride. Similarly, a canter stride over a groundpole can often feel like a small jump…

    This is where a lack of suppleness can hinder progress. Many riders can ‘kinda sorta’ get in and out of the light seat – at a walk. Maybe trot… But canter?! I feel that this should be practiced first. The flowing in and flowing back out, while maintaining balance, contact, position, and posture.

    Being able to move seemlessly in and out of light seat is key to ‘getting out of the way’ and allowing your horse to do his job.

    Start Over a Single Pole

    There are so, so many different things that you can do with a single pole on the ground in the canter. Begin with testing you and your horse’s abilities to ‘ride a line. Choose a start point, an endpoint, and have this line intersect the pole at its center, to create a perfect cross. (create graphic)

    Riding a straight line each time over a single pole in the canter is not as easy as it seems and requires both horse and rider to focus

    Next, over this same single-pole, use your approach to ‘test’ your ability to ‘see a stride’. Simply ride the above-mentioned line, but this time you are going to count down how many strides you have left until ‘take off’ over the pole.

    3,2,1 (or the more difficult 5,4,3,2,1) on approach will get you thinking about how many strides you can realistically fit into a measured space in the canter.

    This will allow you to begin noticing where the stride length can be adjusted in certain situations. Being able to do this is more useful than you think… On the trail, it can become invaluable!

    Adding a Related Pole

    From here, you can start to add ‘related poles’. All this means is that you are measuring the distance between the first and second poles so that you can begin accurately getting a certain outcome with your horse. This really will help you to see what needs to happen to improve the canter.

    It is always important to allow your horse to initially set the distance. Meaning that when starting, adjust the poles to suit his stride, rather than the other way around.

    I also strongly suggest knowing how to ‘step’ certain distances using your own strides. Practice over a measured distance to get the feel for it. So 1m or 1 yard. Or set out ‘one non-jumping canter stride’ distance and go from there. Again, it is vitally important to know the distance your horse is comfortable with and begin to work over that.

    Maintaining the Canter Through the Groundpoles

    Once you have found a distance that your horse is happy with, you can begin to truly work over the poles. Begin noticing how the canter feels before, during, and after the poles. To improve the canter, paying attention to what is happening while you ride it is so, so important.

    Notice if you both can maintain rhythm and relaxation all the way through the poles you have laid out.

    Often, the best gauge of relaxation is the ‘smoothness’ element. If the canter changes drastically so that it feels choppy, jerky, or disjointed, there’s a good chance that relaxation has been lost. If this happens, go back to where you can maintain it, and work from there.

    Recognise that your influence (whether it’s positive or negative) will have a big consequence on the overall outcome.

    If there are challenges, first make sure you are not contributing to them before looking to your horse… Many riders can be crooked in the saddle, or collapse through their bodies over canter groundpoles. Try to remain centered, straight, relaxed, supple and balanced before, through, and after the poles.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Improve the Canter with Groundpoles

    If you would like a full riding plan on how to effectively do this with your horse, check out Connection. For February 2022, this is the topic for the month. In there you will get a riding plan to follow for the month to help you do this with your horse.

    You will also get audio horse riding lessons that give you step by step instructions on how to effectively guide yourself and your horse to the best outcome.

    And if you’re reading this after February 2022, all of the training will be available inside of Connection when you join today🙂

    Additional Resources for Riders:-

  • Are You Blocking a Better Trot with Your Seat?

    Are You Blocking a Better Trot with Your Seat?

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    Let’s be honest; many riders don’t really long for a ‘better trot’ in their riding.  In fact, most are quite happy to simply work with what they already have right now and see the trot as a filler.  A part of the ride that gets you from one thing to the next.

    And trotting, by its very nature, doesn’t really help change this! The rhythm can often have a slightly hypnotic effect on riders.  Lulling them into a contented 1,2,1,2,1,2,1,2, regardless of how good the trot is – or isn’t.

    In this episode, I want to begin helping you to turn your mind towards a better trot.  What would it look like for you and your horse? And how would it feel for you and your horse?  Finally, how prepared are you to actually allow this better trot to happen underneath you?  Will you be able to move with it? Or will you begin to block it with your seat?

    Rhythm & Tempo

    It is easy to simply accept standard 1,2,1,2,1,2, that you feel and move with every time you trot.  Believing that, after finally mastering the whole posting or rising, your work in the trot is complete.   Thinking that your sitting trot is as good as it is going to get right now – and not paying attention to it anymore.

    Being able to stay with your horse while posting, rising, or in the sitting trot is merely the beginning of your work to encourage a better trot.

    And I think becoming more aware of the rhythm and tempo you have right now will then help you know where to focus your attention going forward.  Start by really noticing each distinctive hoof beat inside of each stride.

    By paying attention to each individual beat, the 1 or the 2, you can then begin to notice what is between those beats – the space. 

    Creating More Space for a Better Trot

    How do you think having more ‘air’ within each of those strides will help you and your horse?  It will allow for slightly more time.  A bigger movement perhaps.  More energy. Which will all contribute to ‘more’ of a trot.  A better trot.

    Creating space begins with you, the rider.  If you lose your balance at the slightest change in tempo or rhythm, this is where your work will begin. 

    Focus on using your core in a way that positively impacts you in the trot.  Whether you are posting or sitting, assess if you’re carrying yourself, or being carried along by your horse’s energy.

    Two great exercises to begin testing this are ‘up,up,down’ and ‘down, down, up’.  Basically, you are either sitting or rising for an extra beat each time.  Two downs, followed by one up.  And two up’s (with no down in between) followed by one down.  Doing this will allow you to see if you are supporting yourself, or relying on your horse for support.

    Blocking with Your Seat

    Once you have the basics in place, begin asking bigger questions of your skills by adding more energy into the trot.  More energy will require more suppleness – from you and your horse.  And it is this lack of suppleness in the rider that often causes the seat to block the flow.

    If you feel like you cannot keep up with your horse’s movement, you’re probably right! This is caused by a lack of suppleness (or swing) through your seat. 

    In sitting trot, the result will be more bouncing.  The ‘trampoline effect’ of the horse’s back comes up to meet your bum as it comes down.  This causes that uncomfortable ‘double bounce’.

    When you’re posting, unable to ‘keep up’ will feel like either being left behind the movement or being bounced out of the movement. Both are caused by the rider depending on the horse to move them – rather than taking responsibility for their own body.

    Many riders find that they can do quite well when their horse is ‘slow and steady’ – but as soon as more  energy is made available inside of the trot – they are no longer in sync with each other through the movement. 

    Developing Your Suppleness

    Your suppleness needs just as much attention and work as your horses.  It truly irritates me when riders spend HOURS working on their horse – and then completely fail to work on themselves!  And I believe that riding alone, (unless you are riding all day long, all of the days, the right way), is not enough.

    Just like you use different exercises to develop your horse, find different ways to begin developing yourself too as a rider. 

    The trot requires a ‘hinge-like’ movement through your lower body.  And this movement can be difficult if there is any excessive tension or stiffness through the body.  Particularly the lower back and pelvis. Exercises that work on stretching this area can be of great benefit to riders.

    It is also good to pay attention to symmetry.  Is there a side you favor? Or do you find it easier to do things on one rein over the other?

    Trotting is very much ‘equal’ from a movement perspective, so it is worthwhile working on developing symmetry through your body.  Symmetry and strength.  This will then allow you to have more control over your body inside of the trot itself.

    And by having more control over your body, you can have a more positive influence on the trot itself.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Extra Help for Riders

  • Establishing Fowardness in the Trot

    Establishing Fowardness in the Trot

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    The key to a good quality trot is to remember that your horse must be moving forwards at all times. I call this forwardness in the trot.  This is not to be mistaken for running, rushing, or jig-jogging.  True forwardness requires that you, the rider and decision-maker, must be thinking forwards throughout your ride… And, in this case, in the trot itself.

    And yet, forwardness in the trot is often one of those ‘easier said than done’ things – especially when we become stuck trying to improve that same trot!

    This episode of the Daily Strides Podcast has been plucked from a week of lessons from Daily Strides Premium called “The Basics for Establishing a Good Quality Trot”. The full week of lessons are available right now when you join Connection

    Why Forwardness in the Trot…

    Many riders accept their trot as being a ‘filler’ in their riding.  Something that they do pretty often between other, more important, things that they do!  And the often monotonous rhythm, the 1,2,1,2,1,2, can often have the effect of lulling riders into a false sense of ‘all being well’ within the gait. Trotting can be so much more…

    When you begin paying attention to how much space you and your horse can create inside of the trot itself, you can begin transforming the whole ride. 

    Shuffling about, using each iteration of trot in each ride as a means to an end, can similarly do the same.  But in the completely wrong direction as far as progress and development are concerned.

    Improving the trot itself starts with becoming aware of the energy inside of the trot. Are you truly moving forwards with a sense of purpose? Or shuffling along?

    I truly believe that before you can do anything else inside of your trot, you must first have the energy to work with.  Creating forwardness in the trot will give you this energy.

    The Half Halt

    Is there anything in riding that truly is ‘stand alone’? I have yet to find it if there is and forwardness in the trot is the same.  There are many different elements that must come together in order to make this happen for you and your horse.

    By correctly engaging the half halt you can begin better directing the energy being created within the trot itself. 

    Your half halt can be used for a few different purposes.  To bring your horse’s attention back to you.  Then, to prepare him that you are going to ask a question or something different. And finally, to help establish, balance, or maintain before, during, and after your horse’s response.

    Combining the half halt, with energy, and then adding thoughtful transitions can, over time, transform your trot. 

    And, just like most things in horse riding, the onus will be on you to maintain consistency.  You must become committed to the idea of gradually, day by day, developing each ride.

    And I believe that forwardness in the trot is a great place to start doing just this.

    Happy Riding!
    Lorna

    The Basics for Establishing a Good Quality Trot

    This episode comes from a full week of audio horse riding lessons on this topic. In this particular group of lessons, I help you work on identifying where your horse’s propulsion and thrust is coming from and how to begin not only influencing this but actually channeling it into a good quality ‘working trot’.

    After all, once you have achieved forwardness in the trot, it must then be harnessed.

    When you join Connection; my monthly online membership for equestrians, you will the full week of lessons on this topic.  You will also get weekly audio horse riding lessons (5 per week – each 12 minutes long) to use in your riding. 

    Guided audio horse riding lessons, weekly bonus live training, personal accountability, monthly challenges, and so much more… And all of your training is available on a private podcast feed so you can listen while you are with your horse :)

    Find out all the details and join today HERE

    Extra Resources for Riders