Light Seat
Riding regularly in the field, jumping for cross training, working with jumper riders on their seats I have discovered some very important balance/stability principles. The challenge is these...
View ArticleLeg-yield in canter
When I introduce these exercises to my students they are usually not familiar with them at all even though they already have been riding leg-yields in walk and trot before starting lessons with me....
View ArticleChallenges of riding a crooked horse
All horses are inherently crooked. Their left and right sides are different. The so called "stiff" side of the horse is the one that does not have a mane. It is also convex one. The other names for it...
View ArticleIndependent Aids
We all heard a phrase:Leg and hand aids must be independent from the seat. This is not only a very important statement. This is actually vital to the harmonious and effective communication between...
View ArticleAllowing your horse to move
It sounds simple, doesn't it. Many riders will exclaim but of course I allow my horse to go forward! It is surprisingly easy to give your horse a feeling of restriction, tightness, not quite matching...
View ArticleRomulus
This summer big changes happen to my little herd of horses. Arroyo is gone now to US, Florida, he will not see the snow again, may be ever! :) And I bought a new horse! He is very young, only 6 months...
View ArticleGreat canter exercise!
As the winter weather throws lots of cold days in the mix I have been rereading my notes from last year lessons. I came across a great exercise done mostly in canter. The sequence encourages...
View ArticleTeaching a horse versus moving a horse
Erik Herbermann beautifully pointed out that A rider is a control center that tells the horse what to do..., not a mover of a horse. The challenge with this concept for humans is a horse may not...
View ArticleFlexion versus steering
Dr. Andrew McLean in his book Equitation Science poses a question that dressage cues can be so similar for different things that horses can easily get confused how to respond. It is a very valid point....
View ArticleA great exercise to work on reaction, bending and suppleness
The basic description of the exercise is transitions on progressively smaller circles. The best benefit happens with trot-canter transitions, but also can be done with any kind of combination of gaits...
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