All Blog Posts Tagged 'horse training' (432)

Learn to Feel When Your Horse's Hind Legs are on the Ground

Hi Guys,



Can you feel when your horse's hind legs are on the ground? This is an important skill to develop because you want to time your leg aids so that you give them when your horse's hind leg is on the ground...specifically just as it's getting ready to push off. That's the only time you can influence a hind leg.



I feel where the hind feet are by feeling my horse's hips. When a particular hind foot is on the ground, my horse's hip is higher. It feels like my…

Continue

Added by Jane Savoie on February 5, 2009 at 11:00pm — 3 Comments

How to Help Your Stiff Horse Bend

Hi Guys,



You can help your stiff horse bend better by using benign antagonism. Remember, benign antagonism is just a training philosophy that allows you to custom design your program for each and every horse. It simply means that you kindly and quietly do the opposite of whatever your horse chooses to do on his own. For example, if your horse likes to carry his head too high, then you ride him "deep". If he likes to put his head on the ground, then you ride him "up". If your horse…

Continue

Added by Jane Savoie on January 30, 2009 at 10:30am — 2 Comments

SO YOU WANT TO START FLYING CHANGES...

Hi Guys,



With a young horse, you do changes of canter lead through the trot. Around Second level, you do simple changes of lead. In a simple change, your horse goes from canter to walk and back to canter without any trot steps.



At Third level and above, you do flying changes. In a flying change, your horse stays in the canter and switches his lead during the moment of suspension, when all four feet are off the ground.



In this article, I'll go over a single…

Continue

Added by Jane Savoie on January 23, 2009 at 11:00am — 3 Comments

What is the Best Rhythm for Your Horse?

Hi Guys,



First, let me define rhythm and tempo. I want to do this because lots of dressage riders use those terms interchangeably and they don't mean the same thing.



Rhythm - Regularity of the rhythm refers to the even spacing between each step in a stride of walk, trot or canter. Regular rhythm is a priority for all work--whether or not you're riding a pure dressage horse. Movements and exercises should never be done at the expense of rhythm. Rhythm should always stay…

Continue

Added by Jane Savoie on January 16, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Should You Work Your Horse Deep or Up?

Hi Guys,



You've probably heard lots of discussion about whether or not to work your dressage horse "deep." There are a variety of opinions on the matter. Some riders warm up and cool down their horses "long and low" to stretch and loosen the muscles. Others always school in a balance and frame appropriate to the level at which they are working; they never stretch their horses. Many trainers school in a deep frame only during the movements when the horse habitually comes above the…

Continue

Added by Jane Savoie on January 9, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

HOW TO GET YOUR HORSE ON THE BIT



Hi Guys,



Do you saw left and right on your dressage horse's mouth or wiggle the bit with both hands to get him "on the bit".



If you "saw" on your dressage horse's mouth by alternating squeezing and releasing with your hands, you're riding your horse from front to back. He might look like he's "on the bit" because his head is down and his nose is on the vertical, but you don't have an honest connection from back to front.



The only part of your horse's…

Continue

Added by Jane Savoie on December 19, 2008 at 2:30pm — 5 Comments

How to Use the Correct Aids to Communicate Better With Your Horse

Hi Guys,



When you train your horse, you're speaking to him in a foreign language. Think about how it feels to have someone speak to you in a language you don't understand. If you don't know the language, you can't understand them. If they speak slower, you still won't have a clue what they're saying. If they shout at you, you still won't understand.

That's how it is for your horse. When you train, you're developing a non-verbal language with him.…

Continue

Added by Jane Savoie on December 12, 2008 at 3:00pm — 1 Comment

SUPPLE YOUR HORSE'S POLL

Hi Guys,



Your horse should be able to flex laterally at his poll to the left and right. If you're not sure if he's locked at the poll, ask yourself some questions:



Will he easily flex to the left or right with one quick turn of your wrist or does he stiffen against the action of the rein?

Does he tip his head on small circles or lateral work with a bend like shoulder-in?

Are his ears level when you ride either to the left or to the right?



If he…

Continue

Added by Jane Savoie on December 5, 2008 at 7:30pm — 3 Comments

Jane Savoie's Three Easy Tips for Leg Yield

Hi Guys,



I hope you enjoy these 3 Easy Tips to Make Sure Your Horse is Crossing His Legs Enough in Leg Yields



When you do leg yields from the centerline to the long side, it's not always easy to make sure that your horse is crossing his legs enough. That's because as long as you manage to get from Point A to Point B, you can fake yourself out into thinking you're really going sideways. But if your horse isn't crossing his legs enough, you're losing most of the suppling,…

Continue

Added by Jane Savoie on November 7, 2008 at 8:30am — No Comments

Bending Advice from Jane Savoie

Hi Guys,



In order for your lateral work such as shoulder-in, haunches-in, and half passes to be effective as collecting exercises, your horse must BEND.



Think of the following equation. Bend+Sideways=Engagement. (Engagement means the bending of joints. As your horse bends his hind legs, his croup lowers, and his forehand goes up--kinda like a seesaw or an airplane taking off.)…

Continue

Added by Jane Savoie on October 31, 2008 at 8:30am — 1 Comment

How well do you communicate with your horse?

Mark Rashid helps people communicate with their horse. Here are some great ideas that he shared with PBS.



What’s your philosophy?



Basically, I try to help folks get along better with their horses by finding some common ground so they can accomplish what they want to accomplish. I have two main messages — Don’t fight; and be clear. If you can do those two things, it opens the door for pretty much everything else.



The vast majority of horse…

Continue

Added by Katherine on October 21, 2008 at 8:00pm — No Comments

The 12 Commandments of Horsemanship

There's not enough room in that saddle for you & your temper.

Your anger makes it harder for your horse to please you, & blinds you to the lesson s/he is offering.





Listen to your horse.

If you're not getting the answer you think you want, try listening for the answer the horse is giving you.





Make…

Continue

Added by Kevan on October 16, 2008 at 2:00am — 1 Comment

Monthly Archives

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

1999

The Rider Marketplace

International Horse News

Click Here for Barnmice Horse News

© 2024   Created by Barnmice Admin.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service