Dear Julie,

My understanding is that spurs are to be used to back up a request if the horse is not responding or to make a cue more clear as in lateral work. It is hard for me to picture how to not have the spur contact the horse, especially in the most forward position when cueing with one's leg. In general, should leg cues be given with the inside of the calf to avoid hitting the horse with the spur rather than turning the heel inward?

Thanks,

Casey

Mariposa…

Can't get your heels down when horseback riding? The problem may not be your heels!



I've been asked a lot recently about why riders have such a hard time keeping their heels down. A heel that is not "down" may not have anything to do with the heel itself, but rather the knee and the calf muscle.



Many times the heel is not down because the calf needs to be stretched. A soft calf allows for the heel to drop below the toe when the foot is resting on the stirrup…

When riding your horse, it's important to keep your hands forward in what I call the "work area".



The work area is just in front of the saddle above the horse’s withers. Put your hands in that position and draw an imaginary box around them. That box is your work area.



No matter what rein aids you're giving, keep your hands in the work area. If you bring your hands closer to your body, you steal power from the hind legs. If you put your outside hand forward, for…

Dear Julie,

My question to you is what is your opinion of Myler bits? I came across a book recently that talked about the Myler comfort snaffle. I was surprised to learn that not all snaffles are exactly what they are supposed to be. The reason I'm asking is my horse Montana is in a D-ring snaffle. I have noticed at times him pulling the reins and opening his mouth. Even when I put him in the round pen with saddle and head stall on he does the same thing and I'm not even on him. It…

Horseback riding is all about balance and staying centered. You always want to keep your horse in good balance for his stage of training no matter what your discipline.



It doesn't matter whether you're a dressage rider, a western pleasure rider, a trail rider, or an event rider. Correct balance is essential to effective riding because the center of your balance directly affects your horse’s balance.



Your goal should be to have an independent seat so you can…

One of the most frequently asked questions I get is, "Can you help me sit the trot better?"



So here are some quick tips to help you with this all too common challenge.



1. First and foremost, your horse needs to be on the bit. If his back is hollow, stiff, or tight, you’ll find it impossible to sit comfortably. (And, in turn, you'll make your horse uncomfortable too!)



To put him on the bit, review my blog post…

Dear Julie:

I have a 13 year old daughter who has been in 4H Pony Club since she was eight years old. She has become a great rider and is interested in learning how to become a professional rider of reining, cutting...or any western type horses in shows. What kind of advice would you give her as far as working towards that goal? She dreams of making it into the NRHA Reiner publications someday. She is also interested in becoming a clinician and has already begun training young horses…

I need advice for my daughter and her horse. My daughter is 10 years old and very interested in riding, however she lacks confidence in riding. Her horse has come to figure this out. Cheyenne is a very sweet and gentle horse and a tad bit on the lazy side. I would like to find out information or suggestions on how to teach my daughter to win her horse's respect and have him respond to her commands. When she asks him to walk he refuses. He cocks his back leg and stands there no matter…

Rearing, bucking, nappiness as well as needing "a lot of leg" are all symptoms of your horse not going forward. Many people think that forward only means going forward over the ground. That's the physical expression of forward. That is, going forward is a direction in the same way that going sideways is a direction.



But having your horse "think forward" is even more important if you want a horse that's safe and not exhausting to ride. There are 2 aspects to this concept of…

Correct Fundamentals help you "do the right things right".



As a rider, you need to put the fundamentals in place so that the right things happen by habit. Good riders ride well, because their right habits are so ingrained into their philosophy and their thought processes that they do routine things without thinking.



Developing the correct habits is a bit like instilling good manners into children and teaching them to say "please" and "thank you". This can be quite…

I am the parent of an 11-year-old girl who is serious about horses. She's been riding for 5 years in California, and we just moved to Michigan. For two months now, I've been looking for a good stable and instructor. Her former teacher in CA was CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) certified. Should I be limited to finding a CHA certified instructor? What other questions should I be asking to insure her safety with a new instructor? My daughter is riding English with focus on…

Always have in your mind that horses are unpredictable animals, not machines. Our familiarity can lead to taking liberties and accidents occurring.



How many of these practices are on your own safety list?



1. Always wear clothes and boots that are designed for riding.



2. ALWAYS wear a riding helmet that fits you correctly and complies with current standards.



3. If you are young, your horse is misbehaving, you are out of practice…