I would just like to thank the Ottawa Area Dressage Group for the opportunity to ride in the clinic with Steffen. It was a well organized event and I appreciated all his help and input with Discansano. Steffen is a great clinician and would enjoy working with him again in the future.



I would also like to thank ECOGOLD for sponsoring the event and the donation of the saddle pads.



Thanks again to everyone involved that made this such a great event.



Andrea…

By Chris Brooke The Mail Online

Last updated at 12:54 AM on 01st May 2009







For the average pet rabbit, the daily routine involves nothing more strenuous than chomping on a carrot.



But life is very different for the Haslam household's six showjumping bunnies.



Under the guidance of twins Mathew and Thomas, they have learned to leap over miniature fences in the back garden.

Hop…

Taurus April 21 - May 20



Happy Birthday! Another great year in store for you, although the trend to be the life of the party will not be as strong, as last year. This year the focus will be more on your career. You will have quite a lot of responsibility, this will in turn lead to success, both in the equestrian field and in your private life.Getting involved in your community activities will move you to aspire to greater things. Good luck.



Gemini - May 21 - June…

To understand and work with your horse’s stride length, keep in mind that whilst you are riding, the horse’s legs are your legs, and your brain needs to react to what they are doing.



Try this exercise:



Build two fences five canter strides apart. Warm up your horse, thinking about the canter rhythm.



As a very simple way of understanding your horse’s stride length, call out the strides as you ride the fences. This will help your brain tune in to what your horse…

Hi Guys,



No matter where I travel, the most frequently asked questions I get are, "How do I put my horse on the bit...and how do I keep him there consistently?" This concept baffles many riders. My hope here is to simplify the process for you with the following information.



First, you need to know that there is a SPECIFIC AID to put your horse on the bit just like there is a specific aid to ask for canter or for a leg yield. That aid is a half halt. (Don't groan...I can…

It's my favourite time of the week again! Riding!

My week has been filled with pacing my activities and recovering from my lesson last week. My FMS pain and fatigue levels has been up and down, and the other symptoms nagging at me, but this week has been an ok week, illness wise.

But, I have been going through everything my instructor told me last week. Trying to memorize everything I had to do to get Pink down on the bit and moving forward as well as my position.

I am pretty…

This quote is wonderful for both riders and artists:



"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France



Many great athletes practice mentally picturing themselves performing to perfection. Could this be a form of dreaming -- incorporating planning -- that leads to confidence and believing? Have you tried it with your riding? During my riding lesson yesterday my…

WHY DO WE TRAIN



I have would like to put across to you some part of my philosophy with regard to the very important subject of why we train. I have also given some part of this blog to what to look for in a good trainer.



BEFORE WE START TO TRAIN OUR HORSES I BELIEVE THAT A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE REASONS BEHIND TRAINING ARE MADE CLEAR.



What about human beings?



All of us human beings are capable of certain moderately athletic functions which…

Last night I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. I went to bed at 11:00. I wasn't doing anything I can't write about here, either.



I was reading my newest Kindle 2 download, The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson.



Like a schoolgirl who's laid hands on her first bodice-ripper and reads it with fascinated, secret relish, I could not put this book down. It's that compelling. Even if you care not an iota about horses, you'll enjoy this book.



This is no passionate daddy…

Home for the summer. Two years of school done, two years to go. It was a challenge riding this school year, but I managed to ride at least 6 days a week, often more than once a day! I volunteered with the local Riding for the Disabled association as an exersize rider. I got to ride some pretty cool ponies and even a clyde/mustang! I also took lessons on some pretty wild TBs, and ended up riding one two or three times a week on top of the ponies to keep it in shape while his owner is away in…

This past weekend while doing a clinic, I had a really great example of a rider with extremely tight lower back and hamstrings muscles. Since I see either one or both of these issues quite frequently, I thought it might be helpful to share some ideas about what to do about it.



Kelsey (photos in the comment below) is an intermediate level rider, but she seemed to be at a plateau- which is why she registered for the clinic. She works during the day seated at a computer, commutes…