deconstructing riding – Page 3

How Many Aids Are You Using?!

"Which aids are you using?" I routinely ask my students this as they develop a particular skill, especially once they have gained enough experience that they can analyze a problem while they ride.

But here, we can do it off the horse. Let's use this example:

You are in left lead canter, and getting ready to leave the rail to make a left circle. As you head into the circle, your horse drifts out, loses balance and breaks into trot. (If this does really happen to you, don't worry! It happens all the time to all levels of rider and horse!)

It's like he is losing just enough balance that he is unable to maintain the canter. What aids would you use to correct the problem?

(If you like, stop here and quickly think about or jot down the aids you would use. Then read on. I've added links in blue to other articles that explain some of the specific concepts better.)

***

1) Outside Neck Rein

One of the most common errors is to use the inside rein to pull the horse into a turn. When you pull on the inside rein, though, the horse's neck has to follow your hand. So before you know it, the neck is pulled to the inside, which requires the outside shoulder to bulge outward. The horse then HAS to step out in order to manage to stay upright. While you're trying to turn the horse left, he's got his neck left but is actually stepping right.

Use the outside neck rein to catch the outside shoulder that wants to bulge toward the rail. That helps keep the horse's front end from drifting around the turn. The neck rein is also the initiator of the turn.

2) Outside Leg

Use the outside leg to prevent the horse's hip from swinging out.

Another tendency is for the horse to swing the hind end outward. When you are on a turn, you want the horse to turn "straight" (well, not literally, but physically). If you use your outside leg back slightly, you can influence the hind end so that it follows the front end on a single track.

There's got to be more than just those two aids. So let's fill in the details. It takes some concentration and "feel" to break things down even more.

3) Inside Seat Bone

Put your weight on your inside seat bone, swinging it forward on the turn line so that you encourage your horse to come under your inside seat more - to basically keep him on the turn and not drift out from under your seat.

Using your weight aids is something that needs a lot of fine-tuning at first. But with practice, you will be able to first know which seat bone you have more weight on, and then be able to actually direct the weight to where you want it to be. Your weight can have a lot of influence on the horse.

4) Inside Leg

Use a strong downward-stepping motion on your inside stirrup - like you are standing on the ground through the stirrup, in rhythm with the stride.

The stepping down helps the horse have a solid balancing aid on the inside rib cage, which encourages better bend and balance through the turn.

5) Inside Rein

Give a tiny bit with your inside rein as you cross the middle of the arena, to allow the inside hind leg more space to step into. Keep the outside rein fairly steady.

6) Impulsion

Use two legs for forward just before you leave the rail. This helps him engage a little more before he starts to drift, sending him forward rather than sideways.

7) Keep Your Balance

Try to let your seat come through more after you ask for impulsion (don't resist), so you keep your center of gravity over the horse as he moves off. Don't get left behind!

8) Use Half-Halts

Even while you ask for more energy, use half-halts to help the horse stay in balance and not just run faster and onto the forehand. You can try a half-halt before you leave the rail, through the middle of the circle, and then again as you finish and go to the next movement. But it might depend on your horse - you might need more or less.

Pinpointing your aids like this is actually a very interesting exercise, because while we often recognize the most significant aids, we rarely feel everything that the body is doing to produce one result. I bet you can think of a few more to list here as well.

Seriously?? So many aids for one simple movement?

Well, yes. And, not really.

The thing is, once you get the hang of it, it won't be nearly as complicated as it sounds here. If you think about it, we can probably break down every movement into multiple aids and skills like this. The more aids we can control through our ride, the more sophisticated we can be in communicating kindly and gently to the horse.

From Wikipedia:

Automaticity /ˌɔːtəməˈtɪsɪti/ is the ability to do things without occupying the mind with the low-level details required, allowing it to become an automatic response pattern or habit. It is usually the result of learning, repetition, and practice.

I like this word! And I like how it feels when I'm doing this while riding. The less you have to think about things, the easier it gets. But at the beginning, you do have to learn the skills first (practice, practice, practice!), before they become blueprinted into your body.

***

After a few rounds, and a few transitions down to trot and then back up into canter, things should get better. Your outside aids might keep your horse straighter. Your "ask" for impulsion might help him reach further underneath with his hind legs. He might drift less and then not at all. And slowly, his canter might become more fluid, stronger, more balanced.

And even while you know which aids you are using, you won't actually have to think about them. Well, maybe you'll be thinking about only one or two!

#1 Rider Problem of 2017: Riding “Disconnected”

As in, we should be riding with better "connection."

This is not just about contact. It's quite a lot more than just what you feel through the reins (although that is a part of it).

Since I started the blog in 2011, I've ended each year with an article about something that I feel is a common problem for most riders. In the past, I've discussed the leg aids, pulling on the reins, the outside rein and more. I've zeroed in on bits and pieces that make up riding, but this year, I've been thinking a lot about the "whole" of it.

I often feel it's necessary to break riding skills down into small, concrete chunks. Because without the pieces, we can't possibly put it all together. On the other hand, if we never consider "the whole," then we won't be successful in the application of the skills. Plus, we effectively cheat our horses out of what we should really be doing, which is to make everything seamless, smooth, balanced, and not interfering.

So we need to begin somewhere. Because really, if we always ride our horses in bits and pieces, we will always ride the horse into lack of connection.

What is connection?

This is a difficult concept to clearly describe, because like contact, it is based on feel. Let's look at it from this perspective:

What happens if you apply pressure with both legs?

Will your horse move straight forward, round through the body, reach farther underneath with the hind legs, lighten the forehand and stay in balance, swing through the back, swing through the shoulders and reach for the bit?

Will you have this wonderful lightness of contact that feels at once super powerful and yet incredibly sensitive, as if your hands are out of the discussion and the slightest shift through your body (lower back, seat, legs) will be all that is needed to communicate with the horse?

Will you feel at one with the horse, literally dancing with imperceptible whispering aids, together "as one?"

That is connection.

And unfortunately, most of us ride outside of connection most of the time.

How do you know you are missing connection?

There are many hints to tell you when the horse isn't "connected." You might experience one or more of the following:

you can't stop your horse from spooking
the horse speeds up faster and faster in a gait when you ask for a transition
the head swings upward while the back hollows when you use your leg aigs
your rein contact is on/off/on/off, long-short-long reins no matter what you try
you feel you're often out of balance - either on the forehand or the horse drifts through the shoulders
your horse's neck is bent inward going one direction and outward going the other way
the horse's footfalls are very heavy (more than you think they should be)
your upper body reacts forward or backward with either sharp stops (or downward transitions) or lurching take-offs (or upward transitions)
your transitions don't happen where you want them to
you have difficulty maintaining straight lines
your circle size changes, or you tend to have large circles going one way, and really small ones the other
you feel that your horse is very heavy on the bit
you have trouble walking from canter
you have trouble cantering from walk
you feel like there is absolutely no pressure on the bit

There have to be many more. In general, the symptoms of lack of connection show up in the horse as imbalance, inability to respond accurately or quickly, and/or stiffness through the body. The horse might also have little confidence in the rider.

How can you improve connection?

There really is no one magic pill to developing connection. Unfortunately, it takes time and practice for you to be able to influence your horse well enough to make a difference in your horse's way of going. You will likely need an instructor's input to first identify the many skills you will need, teach them to you, give you feedback as you try and make mistakes, and finally confirm when you make progress.

However.

There is something you can try on your own, and get enough feedback from your horse to help direct you on your path toward connection.

Try this:

1. Squeeze both legs.

2. Go with the horse.

3. Give with the reins (a little).

4. Half-halt to maintain the same tempo throughout.

So this sounds very simple and it can be, if you know what you're looking for. First, you have to create energy, then ride that energy.

1. Start with a soft but steady contact. Then apply leg pressure to ask the horse to move ahead. Keep steady rein contact throughout.

2. When the horse does go, you go with him! Don't get left behind.

3. Give the horse a little space to step into - even while you maintain a light contact. You can do this by extending your elbows just a little, or letting the reins out - not more than an inch. Make sure you don't suddenly let go of everything and "drop" the horse on his forehand. It's just a little give, but it's enough to let the horse move more freely forward.

4. Maintain the tempo in the interest of balance. If the leg speed changes, the horse will likely lose balance and the whole disconnected thing will start all over again! Use your half-halt to keep the tempo, and to keep the energy from "leaking out the front" of the horse.

Do it on a circle and stay on that circle as you play with the aids. You can start with walk and trot at first, as you will have your best balance in those gaits. Initially, you're looking for what I described above:

your horse moves straight forward,
rounds through the body,
reaches farther underneath with the hind legs,
lightens the forehand and stays in balance,
swings through the back,
swings through the shoulders,
reaches for the bit.

Any of these responses are a step in the right direction.

Don't be too disappointed if nothing much happens when you first start this exercise. If you and/or your horse are used to riding without connection, it will take time and coordination for you both to learn how to let the energy flow and reach forward (rather than pull backward) to achieve movement. But practice, and one day, all the bits and pieces will fall together as one!

Good luck, and happy Horse Listening!

10 Tips For The Average Rider (Video)

Are you an average rider? You know the type - the one who has to work hard for one step forward and two steps back.

Enjoy the following tips to get through those average rider moments that we all experience from time to time.

Read the original post here.

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If you enjoyed the above post, you might also like to check these out:

When “Good Enough” Just Isn’t Good Enough In Horseback Riding: We come up with all sorts of excuses to explain why we don’t want to or can’t get past the problem.

Too Good to be True? Finding Your Horse’s “Happy Place”: Did you know that through riding, you can help your horse achieve a happy, content outlook on life? Sounds ridiculously far-fetched? Too good to be true?

How Do You Develop “Feel” in Horseback Riding? Developing ‘feel’ in horseback riding doesn’t have to be an impossible dream! If you can ride with feel, you will be able to respond immediately to your horse’s needs.

What you Ought to Know About Instant Gratification in Horse Riding: There is no such thing!

Quit To Persevere: Quitting isn’t always a bad thing in horse riding – sometimes, it may just be the ticket!

6 Ways To Compete Against Yourself in Horse Riding

horse lunge rider development — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

It's tempting to watch other horse people and feel either somehow deficient, or somewhat rushed. Many of us end up avoiding new learning because it takes us out of our comfort zones.

However, it helps to think of "competition" not as an aggressive, winner-take-all, loser-get-none scenario, but as a process of self-development and education. In other words, the quickest route to winning might be to "compete" against yourself instead of others - in all areas of riding and horsemanship.

Not just in the show or competition arena, but in everything from horse management, to ground skills, to training and skill development, to doing the most fun things you've always wanted to do with horses - like a weekend camping trip, a trail challenge, or a swim at the beach.

If you regularly look for ways you can expand your skills, you will surely be on track toward making progress as you build in step by tiny step into your regular routines. Here are 6 ways that you can improve by competing against yourself.

Watch Others

In this day and age, you don't even have to watch a rider in person (although you certainly can do that too). Search for your topic of interest and you'll likely find many videos on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Look for clinic videos, major shows (that are often live-streamed) and training videos put up by professionals from all around the world. Watch them and see what you would like to emulate, and what you would definitely like to avoid doing. Then take some of those ideas back to your horse and start practicing.

Instruction

You can't avoid instruction when it comes to horses. Not even for ground work.

Find a well educated instructor who understands your goals and needs, and commit to a regular riding schedule. If you would like to develop new skills, you have to find the information you need, and then dedicate time and effort into your "homework."

Steps

Break down your goals into small, manageable steps and be satisfied with making incremental progress. Learning is a funny thing. Once in a while, you might make a huge leap in your skill development all at once. Other times, you might have to claw your way through each phase, feeling like it's one step forward, two steps back.

Stay devoted to challenging yourself and build your repertoire of skills one after another.

Routine

One way you can develop new skills is to put them into your regular riding (or ground work) routines. So if you want to work on canter departure, for example, make sure you integrate this specific skill into each and every ride.

You can work on the transition toward the end of your warm-up, in the "lesson" phase of your ride (when you do something new or something you're still working on) and then maybe do a little "pop quiz" at the end of your ride, just before you get off the horse.

In this manner, you can weave the new skill into other more comfortable movements.

Feedback

Get feedback from a clinician or judge (who maybe doesn't know you at all) and work on their recommendations.

Alternately, self-assess. How did your ride go on the trails? How well did you get along with your horse at the beach? All of the results are a form of feedback that you can use to inform your understanding of your progress and training with your horse.

Track It

Finally, it is important to keep track of your progress. Use a journal to reflect on the new skills and plan your next steps week to week. Or use the Goal Setting For Equestrians workbook I've designed specifically for equestrians to document rides and events. Later on, you can come back to your notes to gauge your progress, areas that need special attention, and achievements.

Don't think about competing against everyone else. Rather, compete against yourself, step by step. One sunny day, you may come to the realization that skills which seemed unreachable have become your new everyday comfort zone. Soon enough, you will have to challenge yourself even beyond those levels!

Now is the time to re-evaluate your goals and path to riding success!

If you’d like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look our Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages

The Workbook is available for instant digital download so you can print the pages right off your computer. There is also the option of a paperback version if you’d rather have a professionally bound book to hold in your hands.

Click here for more information.

“You’ll Ruin Your Horse!”

If you've been in horses and riding even for just a while, you've probably already heard someone say that about how someone is riding their horse. Or they may have even said it about you and your horse.

The theory is that you can "wreck" your horse if you ride poorly. If you do something wrong long enough, your horse will forever be negatively affected, develop bad habits and never, ever go properly after that.

I suppose it can be true. If you are not interested at all in developing your skills, and you do the same terrible thing over and over for an extended period of time (expecting a different result, perhaps?)... then yes, your horse will likely be ruined as long as he remains in those circumstances.

HOWEVER.

Let's say you're not trying to hurt the horse. And despite your best efforts, you are still having trouble with a fundamental skill - for example, you put your horse too much on the forehand. And you're getting negative feedback from your horse: tail swishes, hollow back, pinned ears. And you know it, and you're doing something about it.

The trouble is that it will likely take a long time to change your bad habit, or develop that new skill (or likely, set of skills).

What then? The horse will surely go through this tough time with you.

Will you actually ruin your horse?

My answer is: no!

Here's why.

Same Horse, Different Riders

The horse can only go as well as you can. This is why you might see the same lesson horse go so much better for a more experienced rider than a novice. Even if the horse is "ruined" by one rider, the next rider can help the horse find the stability he needs. Soon enough, the tension and apprehension caused by the first rider will be eliminated.

So it stands to reason that once you get through that learning curve, your horse will go back to being that same happy horse - only better. But you have to learn the skills first.

You Have To Learn At Some Point

The reality is that no matter how hard you try, your learning curve will negatively affect your horse. You have to develop timing, coordination, probably core strength, independence of aids - all over again for each new circumstance. These learning stages have to happen if you are to progress.

And they will negatively affect even the most educated horse.

My suggestion is to take note of the horse's feedback, work to improve your skill set, and beg for forgiveness from your horse. 🙂

The Horse Forgives

I often go back to John Lyons on this one. During his clinics, he often would say (I'm paraphrasing), "Zip is the most patient, forgiving horse. He forgives me for making mistakes. He waits and waits until I get better. Then, as soon as I'm better, he's better! He's been waiting for me to get better all along!"

What an optimistic perspective! Just trusting that my horse will get better when I get better has given me hope and determination during my most difficult learning phases to keep trying, keep working hard at learning a particular skill. Because I know if I can get better, my horse will reflect that change.

What To Do?

Here are some ideas if you feel like you're in a bind.

Get help from a knowledgeable instructor. If you've read my blog regularly, you'll know that I always start here. There is no replacement for an "educated eye on the ground" who can give you ideas, teach you skills and make suggestions you might not even know about.

Be prepared to "study."

The concept of studying might be rare these days in equestrian circles, but there is no other way. Read, watch videos, audit clinics, watch lessons, set goals, ride in lessons. Immerse yourself in learning.

Get a more experienced rider/trainer to ride your horse. This person can help the horse work well and stay calm mentally. She might even be able to teach your horse something he needs to know. Watch and learn what the rider is doing that may be different from what you are doing. Take mental notes and try to duplicate when you ride.

Be patient, especially during the worst times. Cut yourself (and your horse) some slack. Learning takes time. Mistakes have to be made. Do everything you can to reduce the duration and frequency of the mistakes, but know that there is a better time waiting for you ahead.

Practice consistently. This means getting out to ride as often as you can. You have to ride regularly in order to develop new muscle memory. Just one extra ride a week will make a huge difference in your learning curve.

The thing is, every ounce of effort you put into becoming a better rider is an investment in yourself. Every horse that you ride after you have consolidated a skill set will benefit. There really is no other answer. Don't be afraid of ruining your horse. Instead, put all your energy into improving yourself!

Now is the time to re-evaluate your goals and path to riding success!

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages

To The 50+ Year-Old Horse Rider

Horse Listening 50+ Rider — Credit: NBanaszak Photography

I know you're out there.

In fact, I know there are more of you (us) than ever before.

It seems like more and more middle-aged people are able to maintain their health, finances and activity level enough to own, ride and care for horses well into their 50s, 60s and beyond.

Some people are coming to horses for the first time. Maybe it was a lifelong dream, or wishful thinking that is finally coming to fruition.

Others have been "in horses" since they were young children, and were among the lucky ones who have a long history of enjoying every avenue that horse riding has to offer: riding lessons, ownership, showing, trail riding, special tricks and performances (musical riding, anyone?) and so much more. Many of their lifelong friends are likely of the horse-loving variety.

Both types want to keep riding. They want to keep showing up at the barn, savoring the ambiance and environment that it has to offer. Most of all, they want to spend time with the horses themselves.

People often ask me what they need to do if they are older riders. Is anything particularly different for the over 50 crowd?

Well, sure. And, not really.

Because after all, a horse is a horse of course, of course!

If you look at the guidelines for people as they age, you'll see that horses and horse riding meet all of our "grown-up" needs. I'm no doctor, but I can tell you that being involved in horses maintains and maybe even improves many areas of our lives, such as:

general muscle strength (lifting, pushing, pulling)
balance
core strength
general mobility (both fine and gross motor skills)
emotional health
mental health
socialization
lifelong learning

Walk through any riding facility and you'll likely find children, teenagers, adults, "grown-ups" and every age in between. Age has little meaning to a horse. They respond similarly to all of us.

However, there are some things you might want to consider if you're in the "grown-up" category (although honestly, I'd give these same recommendations for children and new horse riders of any age).

Pick the right horse

I can't stress this point enough. The horse you ride/buy can make or break your experience - never mind your body! Know your strengths and limitations, and find the horse that will enjoy what you want to get out of riding. This might mean that you'd pick a more experienced, possibly older, but likely much more forgiving horse that will be happy to do whatever you want to do - whether it be a good grooming, a riding lesson, a trail ride on a nice day, or just hang out under a tree enjoying a nibble on some grass.

Stay away from horses that need more attention or require more athletic ability that you are able to provide. Younger horses may need to be ridden every day. They may need training by a professional. They may go through learning stages of their own, which might include bucks/rears/spins and whatever else a horse could do under difference circumstances.

Pick well!

Ride at your level

You might think riding at your level is common sense, but many people try to push themselves far outside of their comfort zone, for various reasons. As an older rider, you should constantly challenge yourself to keep developing new skills and "feels," but make sure that you are riding at a level that you can be safe and confident.

Take lessons to keep developing your skills

This is not to say that you should be content with maintaining the status quo. Learning to ride is a life-long quest and you can absolutely continue working on your aids, balance, coordination and timing. Keep setting goals and working toward personal bests. Realize that goals might take longer to achieve, but keep at it!

Finding a good instructor is even more important for someone who has no prior riding experience. There is no replacement for honest guidance and a safe learning environment and horse.

Take more walk breaks

This is a recommendation I'd give to "grown-up' riders as well as young children and anyone new to riding. Walk breaks give both you and your horse some time to catch breath, regroup, let the muscles relax for a moment, and allow some rest between more demanding work.

Use these moments to work on stretchy walks, lateral work at the walk, halts and then transition out of the halt, any sidepass/turn on the haunches/backup practice. Walk over poles, back around a pylon, work on inside leg to outside rein (bend)... the possibilities are endless! When you're ready, move back into the trot and canter.

Listen to your body

Well, here, I'm referring to the aches and occasional creaks the ol' body might complain about. Seriously, though, if you feel a recurring ache, or a new strain, be sure to listen. There is absolutely no reason to push the body to a point of disrepair and discomfort.

Take it easier, change what you're doing, or get off altogether and look forward to riding the next time. Getting hurt, even from something like a repetitive strain injury, is not worth the extra few minutes you can keep riding. Give the body time to recover.

Enjoy the social aspect

For many of us, interacting with fellow horse lovers is an essential part of the whole horse "experience." The barn is where friendships are made. Enjoy spending that extra time with your friends even while you're grooming or tacking up your horse. You might not notice - but your horse likely enjoys your chat time with your friends as much as you do!

All this to say, if you want to ride horses, your age doesn't really matter! Get out there, get active, and enjoy the companionship of this very special animal.

The Best Of The Best From Horse Listening!

Five Years Of Horse Listening

2016 was our fifth anniversary, and we commemorated the event by compiling the top 20 most popular articles from the blog, covering topics such as:
- rider position (hands, seat, legs, elbows, upper body)
- improvement of the rider's aids (kicking, inside rein, outside rein)
- and more!

Learn More.

Read more here:

Riding Should Be fun, Right? The only thing you have to keep in mind is how you define fun at different points in your riding career.

Your Horse Is How Old?? 7 Tips To Ride For Longevity: Here are some "accommodations" I put into place for the horses as they aged. Some of these ideas might work for your horse as well.

Ode To The Stretchy Trot: Counting the ways I love the stretchy trot!

42 Ways to Learn, Play and Grow With Your Horse: Horses give to us in countless ways. We play, learn and grow with them, making horseback riding not merely a sport (which it truly is, like no other), but so much more.

Good Day For A Little Horseplay: Snort, snort, snort, SNORT! My gelding couldn’t tell me in any clearer terms how much he was enjoying the moment.

Why We Dressage: The Rider

Dressage (in French) = To Train

It stands to reason, then, that all horse riders should learn dressage, even while specializing in their chosen discipline. I'm not talking about the type of dressage that it takes to get into a show ring well enough to put down a great score (which isn't a bad thing to do for sure), but the kind that teaches riders fundamental skills that are the basis of all good movement.

This is not to say that different riding disciplines don't teach effective skills. Far from it. But because dressage training is rooted in the absolute basics that all horses will go through (whether or not the riders are aware), time spent on developing the dressage in the rider is never wasted! Dressage can be a powerful addition to your regular riding program.

ALL disciplines use circles, straight lines, suppleness, transitions, energy from the hind end, and more. ALL riders can benefit from learning how to use their aids effectively, even if they ride in different tack with a different body position. Because in the end, "all horses have a head, a tail and four legs - and gravity sucks the same way for all of them!" (*credit for that quote goes to my long time awesome dressage instructor)

Here is what dressage can do for you, the rider.

1. Education

Let's start with the main reason. Riders from all disciplines will benefit from the fundamental instruction that is rooted in dressage. There is a reason that terms and phrases such as "inside leg to outside rein," "forward" and "hind end engagement" are pervasive in all riding arenas. While they are technically taught in dressage, they are applicable to all sorts of riding activities.

Riders who have spent some time learning the dressage basics will always have those skills to inform their future endeavors. Many riders from various disciplines use dressage techniques in their daily riding activities - not to take to the dressage ring, but to take to their preferred ring. Knowing what to do, why and when to use a technique or skill can make a huge difference in both the short and long term success of the rider.

2. Seat Use

When you hear "dressage," you probably instantly think "seat." The whole concept of using the seat as the beginning and end of balance, communication and "aiding" is a core teaching of dressage. When riders lack an educated seat, they likely spend their rides being reactive, out of balance, and ultimately, on the ground after an unplanned dismount.

Learning to use the seat effectively takes years of practice and is one of those things that you never stop developing, but every horse will benefit from your dressage-acquired seat.

3. Independent Aids

Another main component of dressage is to get the riders to use their aids independently of each other. So when the seat is balancing or asking for more engagement, the hands are not pulling but still adequately containing the energy that is delivered to them. The elbows might be soft but toned while the hands are closed and not letting the reins out. The seat does its job while the legs stay inactive and on the horse's sides until more energy is required.

It takes a considerable amount of coordination to be able to work each body part independently from the other, but it can be done.

4. Connection/Contact

Dressage riders spend a large amount of time on both contact and connection, and for good reason. Communication with the horse is critical in all endeavors and the way we communicate can make or break a horse's life. Many riding problems and even lamenesses can be corrected by achieving "connection" - that amazing feeling of the looseness of a horse that is moving confidently forward into your rein contact and responding to your subtle aids despite the great energy he is offering.

This is another life-long quest that can be beneficial to all disciplines.

5. Quality Movement

Movement is another essential part of dressage - but in reality, it is necessary for any kind of horse related activity. Movement is what we're all after, and good gaits are desired in all riding styles, whether it be under saddle, in harness or at liberty. You'd be amazed at how much an educated rider can influence the quality of their horse's movement.

Dressage concepts are extremely relevant for all horses and disciplines. Adding a little dressage into your regular riding routine can make a huge difference in the level of success in your chosen field. Don't take my word for it. Just listen to your horse!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Personally signed books available! Give the best gift for the horse lover in your life (or for yourself! ). Send me a message for more information.

From the first book in the Horse Listening Collection: Horse Listening, The Book

"There are many reasons why we enjoy riding horses. Maybe one of the most appealing facets of riding is the sense of freedom: freedom from our own limitations, freedom from gravity, freedom to (literally) roam the Earth. Time stands still while we have the privilege of feeling movement from the back of our four-legged friend.

Riding gives us the place to just be.

Of course, there are other purposes too. Some of us revel in the challenge of learning the skills required to becoming a good team member of this unlikely duo. Riding is like no other sport or recreational pursuit simply because of the equine partner that must not only carry us, but also do so effortlessly and gracefully. As we develop our specific skill sets, we also grow as human beings in character, emotional maturity and mental acuity.

But there is one other motivation that drives some of us to persevere in the never-ending learning process that is horseback riding: improving the horse. As your own skills develop, you begin to realize that not only can you meet your own needs through riding, but also that you can even become an instrument of benefit for the horse."

And so begins the book that reflects the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.

This book is geared toward the rider:

- the rider's motivations

- the essential skills for the rider

- some specific strategies

- solutions to common problems

- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience

Available as an eBook or paperback.

How A Simple “1,2,1,2” Can Improve Your Ride

It's such a simple thing that you might not think about it in the first place.

However, if you're a hunter/jumper, you might be absolutely familiar with it because you simply can't navigate through the jumps without doing it.

What is it?

Counting strides.

The difference between dressage counting and the jumping kind is that there is no jump to count up to. So it's easy to forget about it and just go along however things work out. But there's so much to be gained from the count!

All you have to do is count. 1,2,1,2,1,2... and so on, with each step of the front feet. You can count in all the gaits, in their own rhythm. But the 1,2... must stay consistent in each gait.

Of course, the tricky part is to get your horse to keep that same 1,2... in the gait. If you take some time to watch riders from the ringside, you might notice the tempo speed up and then slow down and then speed up again. The horse scrambles in speed, then quits through the turns or circles, then speeds up again when a leg aid is applied. Usually, the horse just goes along and the rider changes tempo to meet the horse's changes.

But the idea is to let the counting help you maintain tempo. Consistency is key for so many reasons!

How can counting the strides help? Here are five things that might improve for yourself and your horse.

Rhythm

First off, keeping a steady tempo will quite certainly help you maintain your horse's rhythm in each gait. Change of leg speed almost always throws the horse's weight to the forehand, and can cause variations in the footfalls. If you focus on tempo, your horse will have a better chance of maintaining "pure" gaits - that is, keeping a walk to an even 4-beat, keeping the trot to a consistent diagonal pair 2-beat, and the canter to a 3-beat with the moment of suspension.

So, the first focus of your count should be to ensure that the horse has an even and consistent rhythm at each gait. Feel for the strides and listen to the footfalls to gauge the quality of the rhythm.

Balance

Lack of tempo often causes balance changes in the movement. Have you ever felt like you were going just great at the trot and then suddenly there's a small whiplash dive to the forehand, then a sudden blocking of the energy? Your upper body falls first forward and then backward. The tossing around you feel is connected to balance changes as the horse also falls to the forehand or loses engagement.

Balance is the second almost natural result of the 1,2... count. When you stabilize the leg movement, the horse will have plenty of time for each leg to come through. This allows for a stronger and more consistent weight bearing from the hind end, which will allow the horse to keep better balance. You won't be flung around as much, and soon enough, you will both float along as if "one."

Looseness

As the horse relaxes in the gait, he will likely find more opportunity for "free movement." You might notice more bounce in his stride, more reach through the shoulders, and more swing through the back. To me, it feels like a trampoline. Beware! If you cannot become loose yourself and ride that motion, you will likely block your horse from continuing in this manner. So you have to feel for the looseness, recognize it and ride it!

Posture

Once you have a steady rhythm, consistent balance, and looseness, the horse's posture will just fall into place seemingly on its own. The back will rise and fall, the body will round and the horse will begin to tilt a little more in the hind end. Your horse's neck will assume a height that is natural to his conformation. No more high heads, no more diving down necks.

Connection

The next step is an improved sense of connectedness between the horse and rider. The horse may reach more for the bit. The rider might be able to keep her own balance better and therefore stay better with the horse's movement. There will now be an opportunity for the aids to become more subtle.

The communication will be much more pronounced and clear than it ever can be when the horse is inconsistent. This means less rein aids are needed even while the contact is improved.

Athleticism

Finally, you might notice an amazing increase in athletic ability, both from the horse and the rider. All it takes is a small change of aid for anything - downward transition, sharp turn, change of bend, lengthen. Any movement becomes easier because the basic balance is already in place. The horse is stronger, looser, maybe slower than before - these will all contribute to better comfort in movement for both the horse and rider.

One last note: use the half-halt! Initially, keeping that absolutely consistent gait will likely be difficult. If you aren't used to counting strides, you will have to work hard to identify when the tempo speeds up and slows down. Then you will have to figure out how influence the horse to not let him rush but also not slow into disengagement. The half-halt is definitely an integral part of the puzzle.

Wow!

All this with a simple 1,2,1,2... count?

Try it and see what happens for you and your horse.

Horse Listening Book Collection - beautiful paperbacks with all the excellence of the blog - in your hands!

Buy the book for many more riding tips!

Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

From the first book in the Horse Listening Collection: Horse Listening, The Book

Riding gives us the place to just be.

And so begins the book that reflects the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.

This book is geared toward the rider:

- the rider's motivations

- the essential skills for the rider

- some specific strategies

- solutions to common problems

- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience

Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!

Special in this book are the "In The Ring" sections that give specific suggestions based on the preceding chapters. Take these to the barn to try with your own horse!

Horses. Riding. Life.

Category: deconstructing riding

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Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Horse Listening Book Collection - beautiful paperbacks with all the excellence of the blog - in your hands! Click on the image for more information.

#1 Rider Problem of 2017: Riding “Disconnected”

Try this:

1. Squeeze both legs.

2. Go with the horse.

3. Give with the reins (a little).

4. Half-halt to maintain the same tempo throughout.

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Horse Listening Book Collection - beautiful paperbacks with all the excellence of the blog - in your hands! Click on the image for more information.

10 Tips For The Average Rider (Video)

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Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Now is the time to re-evaluate your goals and path to riding success!

“You’ll Ruin Your Horse!”

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Now is the time to re-evaluate your goals and path to riding success!

To The 50+ Year-Old Horse Rider

The Best Of The Best From Horse Listening!

Why We Dressage: The Rider

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

How A Simple “1,2,1,2” Can Improve Your Ride

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Horse Listening Book Collection - beautiful paperbacks with all the excellence of the blog - in your hands!

Available in digital or paperback.