Tip/Quote of the Day!
"The legs bring the horse to the seat, and the seat brings the horse to the hands. When the teacher says 'shorten the reins' it needs to be translated into: 'engage the hind legs, sit on them, and then take the slack out of the reins&
Tip/Quote of the Day!
"I've always been a stickler on saddles. I see a lot of saddles that sit on the side of the horse's back, and if you think about it you are fighting against the movement in one direction or the other, if the saddle doesn’t
Tip/Quote of the Day!
The stirrup bar placement on your saddle can make or break your position when riding. Make sure you choose a saddle that will allow you to be in balance.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
"Use counter canter to work on straightness in collection." ~ Carl Hester
Tip/Quote of the Day!
You cannot shape energy that you don't have. So do not try to make your horse round, without first having them in front of your leg.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
For a forward response, the rider should be using the lower leg as an aid - mainly the inner calf. For collecting, a half halt, or a downward transition, the rider should wrap the whole leg lightly around the horse, thigh through calf evenly - as if giving the horse
Tip/Quote of the Day!
Thoroughbred horses tend to thrive with the use of patterns and figures in training.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
"Stop being a passenger, and start being a pilot." ~ Mark Todd
Tip/Quote of the Day!
"Acceptance of the bit happens in the haunches, not in the mouth." ~ Thomas Ritter
Tip/Quote of the Day!
If you are too much "on guard" and ready for any possible shenanigans from your horse when riding, you might actually cause them. Your horse will feel your state of tension, and feed off of you.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
When riders maintain constant aiding to keep the horse going, the horse will become more and more dull to the rider's driving aids.
Tip/Quote of the Day!
"We all get better at riding by riding." ~ Carl Hester
