All Blog Posts Tagged 'riding' (641)

Equestrian Cross-Training. Taken from WCAX TV

Equestrian Cross-Training

Some young equestrians hit the riding ring Sunday morning for a rare opportunity with an Olympic-caliber rider, who also happens to be a Vermont native. But they weren't learning about the technicalities of jumping in the often tense-filled horse ring, they were learning about moving to the music.

It is crunch time for Geoffrey Hesslink and… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on September 7, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Does your horse come above the bit when you make a canter transition?

Does your horse come above the bit, toss his head or climb with his head and neck into every canter transition? If your answer is yes, you should ask yourself the following questions.

Picking up the canter on the bit is a big issue for a lot of riders. In this article, I'll give you some questions you should try to answer. You MAY find the ROOT of the problem!

There is a reason that your horse displays this behavior. Don’t look at the symptom. Get to the root of the problem. The… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 31, 2009 at 1:59pm — 2 Comments

"Other" Breeds in Dressage

(Disclaimer: sorry for the photo sizes...I don't know how to edit them smaller! LOL)

I have ridden, trained, and/or owned many different breeds and types of horses. I have also ridden and/or competed in many different disciplines. I won't list them all, but suffice it to say that in everything, the underlying principles of riding have been the same.

I believe (and practice) the same principles of riding and training the horse, no… Continue

Added by Mary McGuire Smith on August 26, 2009 at 11:30am — 2 Comments

Frank Lovato's 2009 Jockey Boot Camp!

Frank Lovato Jr Creates A New Path To The Winner's Circle

by Lori K. Black

And they're off... to Jockey Boot Camp! The first-of-its-kind workshop, which was developed and presented by retired jockey Frank Lovato, Jr., offered an outstanding start for those who dream of becoming a jockey or exercise rider in the Thoroughbred racing industry.…

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Added by Frankie & the Equicizer on August 24, 2009 at 8:32pm — No Comments

4 more tips for picking out great music for your horse.

I have been getting so may questions about picking out great riding music, i though i would give you a few more pointers!! For more information, sign up for my free newsletter! Its easy, FREE and private!

www.ruthhoganpoulsen.com

1. Choose music that has dynamic changes. Dynamic changes are audible changes within the music (either volume or intensity) where you can make transitions. (for example, the music should FEEL or SOUND like there is a transition to an… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 24, 2009 at 7:07am — No Comments

Ride your HORSE to MUSIC and solve training issues!!

Ride your HORSE to MUSIC and solve training issues! Whether you are riding a dressage musical freestyle, or just riding your horse to music, there are TIPS you should know before you start. Over the years, you have told me that the most important thing to you is that you want the RIGHT MUSIC for your HORSE and you WANT TO HAVE FUN!!

You've also told me that:

You want help recognizing the rhythm of your horse's gaits.

You can't maintain a rhythm.…

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Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 17, 2009 at 8:30pm — 2 Comments

Motivation

Have you ever felt that things have been so mad and so enveloping that you just need to be a little reckless and go and have some fun?

Things have been pretty tough for me this year and over the last few months I have had one thing and another effect me and tire me out.

Things are pretty hard for most people any way so, to go and have every day life that the normal fit human would cope with can be pretty difficult for someone with a chronic illness or disability to cope… Continue

Added by Cat on August 12, 2009 at 9:19am — 1 Comment

Equitation Science

Recently one of my students handed me an article written by McLean & McGreevy on Training Horses I found it to be of great interest. This article covered some problems with contemporary training, conflict behaviors-the manifestation of problems and some solutions.

As a horse trainer I have the gratifiying opportunity of working with horses and their owners to improve the communication between the two to help form appropriate relationships .

I agree that "problems arise when… Continue

Added by Ruth Heney on July 30, 2009 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

Ride Without Fear: Build Confidence & Control in Mind & Body

"Even among experienced riders, fear or anxiety can seem like an insurmountable obstacle in riding or just being around horses. Your horse spooks and you get hurt, you experience pain and lose the ability to be relaxed and supple, you see someone else get thrown. All of these events can cause anxiety and excessive fearful responses. Because horses tune in to our emotional states, our anxiety can cause unwanted behavior like shying or what seems like disobedience. When we are calm and confident… Continue

Added by Sit_the_Trot on July 26, 2009 at 3:22pm — 2 Comments

Competition Riding vs. Riding for "Fun"

There I go again...putting "fun" in quotations. Hey, for those of you that ride, you KNOW why that is! LOL For those of you that don't, riding is fun in the same way that a serious visit to the local gym is fun. It is hard work. Even when you aren't riding, horses are work; you clean the stall and paddock, you maintain the barn area, you groom the horse, you carry feed and hay and tack, etc.--it is physical (well, except for those of us that pay to have all that done for them). But even those… Continue

Added by Mary McGuire Smith on July 23, 2009 at 8:00pm — 3 Comments

Six tips for picking out great music for your horse!

6 tips for picking out great music for your horse

1. Know your horses ideal BPM (beats per minute)

2. The average horse has BPM as follows.

Walk 90-106 BPM

Trot 138-160 BPM

Canter 96-108 BPM

3. Pick music that matches your horses BPM within 4-6 BPM range.

(For example if your horse has a canter of 104 BPM, choose music that is between 100 BPM and 108 BPM)

4. Choose music that has a very clear down beat. (The down beat is the beat that you… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on July 21, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

It's Time...

For me to let you know I’m still alive! My computer had to be sent to service because it broke down and screamed at me when I tried to turn it on. So I’ve been without my dearest computer for almost 2 months! Anyways, enough about me. Let’s talk horses

All the horses have had/are having 5 weeks of summer vacation. Linda has finished her vacation and is now put back into work. We started out easy by walking around in the heat, going swimming and just goofing off. But we cant go around… Continue

Added by Hannah on July 17, 2009 at 7:00pm — 1 Comment

Chloe's progress

Chloe rode at Western Lawns Equestrian (England) at the w/e achieving first/second/first team on the Saturday on Sunday first in both classes Discovery and Fox. Chloe is still achieving great things with her show jumping and never ceases to amaze me with her patience. Going to Gracelands equestrian (England) tomorrow with her riding two ponies trying to acheive her double clears for next years… Continue

Added by Anne Marie Turnbull on July 17, 2009 at 1:30pm — 2 Comments

Show Biz

Been busy this week preparing for the Dressage Waikato "American Idol" show, this weekend. I'm doing a Pas De Deux with another local rider, Debbie, whose horse is like Mr B's white twin. They are really cute together, I'm just hoping they don't mind performing in a crowded indoor.

It's nice to have a fun project like this to work on during the winter,… Continue

Added by Ottilie on July 14, 2009 at 4:00pm — 2 Comments

Today went well besides the stalls i had to do, we had a rain storm and I ran out of my house and scrambled to get everyone inside and fed- like a little rain would hurt them. So this morning was a c…

Today went well besides the stalls i had to do, we had a rain storm and I ran out of my house and scrambled to get everyone inside and fed- like a little rain would hurt them. So this morning was a change in scenery as I was inside doing stalls instead of working on my tan..aka paddocks.

Rode Frankie today - what a good boy. He was going exceptionally well so I cut our ride short with a 20m canter circle. He has progressed so much as have I!

Tomorrow we have a lesson togeather with… Continue

Added by Emily Stopp on June 26, 2009 at 4:30am — No Comments

Have Tape Measure Will Travel - But "Ooh the Mud"

Hi again. Since our last blog entry we have been very busy logging air miles and accumulating dirty clothes. After Edmonton we headed to Blainville, Quebec for a great week of jumping. It is great to work in Quebec because they have a unique tradition of holding what I like to call traditional hunter classics. The two round variety - with a course that encompasses all the characteristics of a traditional hunter classic. What is exciting is for Sunday they combine the two hunter rings to make… Continue

Added by Evie Frisque on June 23, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Nice and Easy.

I'm back to riding again! That really makes me happy.

My ride this week was pretty relaxed compared to the previous weeks of preparation.

The others in my group that qualified are now working hard to prepare for the Nationals in a few weeks. so my ride at the moment is not so focused.

But I will get myself back in to that focus again, as I want to become the best rider that I can possibly be despite my FM - I don't want it to get the better of me.

Riding is my… Continue

Added by Cat on June 5, 2009 at 1:22pm — 3 Comments

Alberta On My Mind .... Mind the Wind

Last week Evie and I spent our time “toiling” in beautiful Edmonton, Alberta, home of the Northlands Horse Show. Edmonton Northlands Horse Show has become one of the premier events in Western Canada under the stewardship of the Edmonton Hunter – Jumper Association and the direction of Show Manager Caroline Jones. The event is unique in the fact that it is held on the infield of Northlands Race Track, who along with Hastings Park in Vancouver is the location for all of western Canada’s Grade… Continue

Added by Evie Frisque on June 4, 2009 at 11:30pm — 1 Comment

Ride Better 1-2-3: Fitness for Riders- Getting better posture and aids with fitness on the go

Hi,

Over the past three months since starting this rider fitness blog, we have had some really great questions and photos submitted. We've covered topics from back strength to leg position and more.

Some of you may not realise that each week I select one reader's questions (pictures are great but not necessary), and provide feedback on fitness recommendations targeted to specific goals as a rider.

Because so few of you submit photos, I was starting to wonder if you either… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on May 26, 2009 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Back again

Still waiting on surgery for my gall stones and gall bladder to be removed and have had some health issues tied to that - my iron is rock bottom, as well as a few other things not where they should be- explains the great need I have for naps! LOL Hopefully got that problem straightened out and in a few weeks, have a consult with my surgeon and then hopefully surgery. Until then, I am okay for riding as long as I stop when it hurst (like that will happen) but until my iron is up to specs, I have… Continue

Added by Andrea Hard on May 14, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments