11 Symptoms of Strong Rein Aids
In an ideal world, we’d all communicate to the horse use only with our mental intentions. But since we’re still living in the real world there is a compromise to be made, and using physical…
forward
Classical Dressage Inspiration: Visuals for the Week #2
Inspired by the video of Wonderful I shared yesterday, here are some additional videos of stallions from various State Studs for your inspiration. All of these videos are excellent visuals, demonstrating forward moving horses, and using…
How To Ride The Horse’s Neck
Let’s establish one basic truth, each horse has a neck. Sylvia Loch once remarked, “horses would be so much simpler to ride if they didn’t have necks”, which I can’t much argue with. Early in…
Creating Energy Through the Reins
In a perfect world the horse is connected to us through the reins, meaning that the contact we’ve established on the reins serves as the ultimate communication tool. There is no tension, simply touch and with it the power to execute energy through the horse at a moments notice.
Relaxation is a Virtue : Calm, Forward, Straight
When training the horse relaxation must come first. Anything we gain in ‘training’ without the horse being relaxed is compromised. Any measure of tension prevents him from fully committing to your request.
Now, the rub is that most training methods are built upon manipulating and maintaining some measure of tension in the horse.
Forward : An Essential Ingredient
The essential ingredient in a horse who develops into a well balanced, collected, light horse with a beautiful and correct head position.. is forward. We all hear it told from instructors and riders alike, “MORE FORWARD!” What does that mean? What is forward?