riding balance – Horse Listening

Top 6 Essential Lessons From Horses

When you enter the horse world, you might not really know what you're getting into. Especially if you want to become proficient at riding, set and meet some goals, and make regular progress. Every day can bring a new discovery, whether you intend it to happen or not!

Over the years, as you become more entrenched in the world of horses and riding, some "truths" repeatedly reveal themselves until you truly do "get" those essential lessons that will necessarily make you a better horse person, and a better human being. Here are the top 6 essential lessons that I've learned over my years of horsing around.

6) When to back off or leave it for another day.

Because you won't really have a choice. In the end, no matter your goals and desires, the horse is a partner in this whole "thing" (whether it's riding or ground work). And he's big. And there's always the possibility of you getting hurt. You might make a few mistakes in the early days, and not recognize the signs that your horse is giving you. But over time, you'll know just when he's had enough, and how useless it really is to force beyond that certain point.

And you'll definitely learn that with horses, stopping what you're working on, especially if things seem to be getting too complicated, will NOT result in your horse being worse the next time - as long as you end on a good note.

5) You really do have to listen.

Anyone who knows horses knows that you really can't make a horse do anything. The very fact that they weigh tens times the average person makes it that much more remarkable that they allow us to do the many things we do with them. Let's face it - when they don't want to do something, we'll know! Which is where the listening comes in.

If you are sensitive enough to recognize and accurately interpret their actions, you'll be able to get the feedback you need to make all kinds of decisions - from training to feeding to turnout friends to comfort and safety - it's all there for you to "listen to" and understand.

And the more you listen, the more rewarded you will be. Just as with people, when horses are well nourished, happy in their daily routines, comfortable and confident in their environment (and people)... that's when the sky is the limit. You will absolutely be able to recognize the happy, willing, giving horse when you learn to listen.

4) Patience and perseverance is the key.

Being patient when it comes to horses doesn't necessarily mean that you end up doing nothing and waiting till eternity for something to happen. Quite the opposite, actually.

In fact, if you can develop the self-control and skill that is necessary to know when you should repeat something, do something else, add something, break something down, or call it a day - then you can make incredible gains in fairly short manner.

Because having patience invariably allows us to make good progress, limit stress and set up for success - for both the horse and the rider. And the perseverance that is required isn't always the drill and skill type - it's the getting-up-and-doing-it-again-the-next-day kind of get up and go that sets us on our path and allows us to achieve.

3) Step only 5% out of your comfort zone. That's when the real learning happens.

I have to confess that I learned this from yoga, not from horse riding. But the horses continue to reinforce this notion for me over and over again Just think about it. If you push you or your horse too far out of your comfort zone, then bad things happen. We lose focus, harmony, beauty. Things become too difficult.

On the other hand, not challenging ourselves leaves us in an obvious plateau that we simply don't struggle enough to overcome. And so this concept of just 5% out of your comfort zone is enough to jazz things up, challenge and maybe even frustrate enough to motivate the required change, but then allow for the comfort zone that is inherently necessary to allow learning to be successful.

2) Maintaining balance is the key.

Well, horses teach you that right from the first time you sit in the saddle. But the nuances that we master at first become almost insignificant as we develop feel and core and seat and independent aids and so on.

Then we learn about the horse's lateral and longitudinal balance and wow - the feels we get when we first realize what "level" feels like, and then what "up hill" feels like! And then there's the bend and the 3 tracks and the lead changes and the half-passes... well, by then, we become friends with a whole new concept of balance that is simply non-negotiable. And we finally recognize how important good balance is to the horse's health and longevity, especially if he's going to be a performance athlete.

1) You're never going to be perfect! Not in this lifetime anyway...

As Charles deKunffy so eloquently says, "one strives, but never arrives...."

It's ok to settle on the fact that you'll never learn enough, even if you're determined and consistent and hard working (which will definitely get you very far). But there's always going to be something more. Something new, some other detail you never knew about.

And I'm sure that's what keeps bringing us die-hards back for more! 🙂

Which essential lessons can you add to this list? Comment below!

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

"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

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!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Long Reins – And How To Stay In Balance

Does this happen to you? You are working on a stretch over the back at the trot, but the moment you let your reins out, your horse goes faster and faster until he feels like he's going to go head first in the sand. Or you let your reins out and your horse throws his head up, hollowing his back and breaking stride.

Keeping balance on a long rein can be harder than it looks. The longer your horse gets, the more difficult it is for him to keep his legs underneath him.

Yet you know it can be done. You might have seen people doing it nonchalantly without any apparent effort. But the half-halt was there, even though the horse was stretching long and low and the reins were let out.

That's because the horse didn't just speed up. He stayed in balance, kept up his energy, showed a beautiful swing through the back and just kept going. He looked great!

But when you tried it yourself, the result wasn't exactly the same. When you lengthened the reins, your horse stuck his neck out and even higher. He sped up, taking the longer rein as a signal to go faster. Or he got longer and longer in the body until he eventually had to break from a trot to a walk.

If something like this has happened to you, you're not alone! We've all been there.

The key is in knowing what to do when, with good timing and a nice feel on the reins.

When To Use A Long Rein

In dressage, we ride with long reins when we want the horse to stretch over the top line. He takes the bit forward and downward, allowing his back to be the highest point. You will often feel an increase swing in the movement, especially in the trot, if the stretch is done correctly.

Alternatively, you may use a long rein for your particular riding style. The hunter under saddle horses move with a long neck and so need a long rein even as they move with good activity and impulsion. Many of the western disciplines also go in a longer rein with little pressure on the bit. In any case, the horse's balance must be maintained, preferably in a non-intrusive, invisible manner.

How to Half-Halt On A Long Rein

This is where the half-halt can be handy. All good riders use some version of the half-halt (in western riding, it might be called a "check"). Whether you use your whole body, seat, back or fingers, you need to do something to help your horse stay in balance.

Here is something you can try.

Shorten the reins (even though they are long) until you have a soft contact with the mouth. You can play with the strength of the half-halt. Many times, you won't need more than a finger squeeze on the reins to keep the horse from falling to the forehand. Other times, you can use your seat. In trot, post slowly to encourage a slow tempo (but keep up the energy). Give your horse time to bring each leg through to the next step.

Keep your rein length and make sure you start with energy coming from the hind end and over the back. If you want your horse to stretch more, see if your horse will take the rein out from your fingers. If your horse is not used to stretching over the back, he might not be willing to take the bit forward. You might need to try this a few times.

Once you are riding on the length of rein you want (it can be given out all the way or some of the way), the trick is to keep the horse balanced, with the same impulsion and the same leg speed. Keep the rein tight enough that you can still feel the horse. Then go ahead and work on the half-halt all over again.

Many riders tend to stop riding once they let the reins out. You have to continue riding with all your aids regardless of the length of the rein. In fact, if you imagine that you can ride pretty much the same way regardless of rein length, you'll be on the right track. Long or short, keep a light contact, keep your horse moving over the back, and use half-halts to maintain your horse's balance.

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

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!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

How To “Allow” A Lengthening

It isn't easy to work your horse into a true lengthening. That is because most horses tend to increase their leg speed when asked for "more" by the rider's aids. Invariably, we speed up our posting tempo to mirror the horse's and soon enough we are going faster-faster and then the horse switches into a canter.

If the horse doesn't speed up, he might stay in the same trot. So in effect, there was no lengthening at all.

What is a lengthening?

The key to a true lengthen is in the horse's body. The leg speed has nothing to do with the movement (other than in horses with suspension, the tempo might actually slow down a touch). Instead, the horse should stretch in the body from hind leg to front leg, allowing the stride to open up and the body to lengthen. The head can be held high and the nose on or ahead of the vertical.

There should be a feeling of uphill movement and quite a surge of energy (impulsion) as the horse gets into full swing.

Why lengthen?

There are so many reasons to add the lengthen to your daily riding routine. First, it helps strengthen the hind end by asking for the hind legs to come deep underneath the body to start the initial push of energy. Second, it strengthens the topline by allowing the opening of the body and transferring energy through the topline, under the saddle and to the horse's neck and poll.

Third, it challenges the horse to increase energy without losing balance. This is a prerequisite for higher level movements such as the medium or extended trot. Fourth, when done right, it just feels good! Some horses (and riders) lengthen just to feel the freedom of power that it allows.

Use a lengthen after (basic) collected work and see how fun it is for the horse to "go big" after some carrying work.

What not to do.

We'll start with what you shouldn't do to help eliminate the common problems from the get-go.

Don't kick the horse faster. You need seat and leg aids, but you don't need to stun or rush a horse into a lengthen.

Don't grab a hold of the reins and pull the speed back. Use half-halts before, through and after the lengthen. But do your best to allow the horse as much freedom as possible without coming to the forehand.

Don't fall behind the horse's movement. There should be an energy surge as the lengthen develops. Make sure you keep your upper body on top and in center of the saddle. If the horse does in fact lengthen the stride, you'll cover more ground than usual. Be there!

Don't let you reins go. This is the opposite extreme of pulling on the reins. If you let the reins get longer through the movement, the horse will have nothing to support him and will likely fall to the forehand. So it's not exactly a free-for-all in rein length. Keep the reins the same length before, during and after the lengthen.

What to do.

It's easiest to introduce the lengthen to the beginner horse or rider on the long side of the ring. Use the rail to help guide your horse for the first while so that you can focus on the stride length and your own aids and body. Graduate to a diagonal line only after you have some success on the rail.

Use the short side of the ring to prepare for the lengthen. You could do a 15-m circle at A or C to prepare. Develop a good working trot in the circle. Work on rhythm, a nice controlled tempo, and suppleness both laterally and longitudinally. You can post or sit, but if either of you are new to the lengthen, it's generally easier to post while you and the horse develop your strength.

Take that good trot out of the circle and into the corner.

Half-halt into and out of the corner. Make sure your corner is forward and energetic, but the trot stride should still be the horse's normal working trot length. Pump up the energy through your seat and leg but don't let it out yet!

Develop the lengthen.

One of our most common mistakes we make in teaching and/or learning the lengthen is to think that we have to take off like a cannon ball out of the corner. This is how horses learn to stiffen, fall to the forehand and learn not to use their backs.

Instead, come out of the corner as if you're still in your working trot. Then a few strides at a time, "allow" the energy out. If you did your homework in the circle and corner, the horse should be almost exploding with energy and now has a chance to let it come through.

Remember to keep the same rein length and keep your body on top of your horse (don't lean back or get left behind). Just ride as you normally would ride the trot.

Your post might be a touch longer in the forward and back phase if the horse does lengthen the stride. If you are sitting the trot, your seat will have to follow the bigger strides. Half-halt before the next corner, readjust your seat to a regular stride length, and half-halt coming out of the corner.

What usually happens.

Chances are, your horse either speeds up or doesn't make any change at all.

In both cases, don't worry too much. Instead, go into the next circle, go through the set up and try again. The key is that you have to learn to do the allowing, and your horse has to learn to accept it. Many horses don't even recognize the allow initially. It takes time to learn how to let go.

There is also the strength factor in both of you. Your horse might be able to really give only a handful of lengthen strides before falling to the forehand or scrambling faster. You might fall behind the movement and inadvertently pull or interfere in some way.

It takes time for both of you to develop the core muscles necessary to lengthen. So don't be too hard on yourself or your horse. Whatever happens, just make a mental note and come back to it next time you ride. Don't expect it to happen overnight.

A good lengthen feels effortless. The strides bound down the rail and you can feel the surge of energy coming from the hind end. The horse should be forward-feeling, uphill and energetic. Bonus points if his ears are pointed forward and he calmly comes back to a working trot at the end!

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

Personally signed books available! Just send me a message.

Would you like to be the rider that all horses dream of?

By following simple, useful exercises, you will be able to develop a better understanding about many topics including:

- the rider’s aids

- the use of the seat

- the half-halt

- accurate turns and circles

- transitions

- horse ownership and horse care

- goal setting for the rider

- rein lameness

… and much more!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

3 Questions to Consider Before Riding Bareback and Bridleless

Last weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of watching Stacy Westfall work her horses and riders in some demo rides during Ontario's "Can-Am" weekend event. It was fabulous to watch her and listen to her words of wisdom. My take-home from her sessions: safety around horses is essential at all times.

You've probably already seen her 2006 video. You know, the one with her amazing horse Roxy going bareback and bridleless during an unforgettable ride that she dedicated to her then recently passed father. I'd be willing to bet that most of us didn't have a dry eye once it was over. The ride was emotional, sensational and technically correct enough to win them the championship at that show. If you haven't already seen it, here is the ride:

Shortly after the video became a YouTube sensation, many people thought it was a good idea to try and do this with their own horse.

Can you predict what happened after that?

Well, people got hurt.

The reason? Not all horses we ride are trained as impeccably as Roxy was, nor are we all Stacey Westfalls (although maybe we are in our wildest dreams).

I'm not saying that you should never try riding without a bridle. And riding bareback is surely on the bucket list for most riders as they grow and develop their skills. There is simply no feeling like sitting directly on the horse's back while he goes through his paces (assuming the horse has kind and accommodating withers).

Coming out of the sessions, I was reminded yet again about the themes that become evident to me every time I consider safety around horses, regardless of riding discipline.

Before you jump on the "no tack" bandwagon, please consider the following three questions so you can be very, very careful. You might decide that riding without tack might simply be a long-term goal to be risked only after you have considered the following stipulations:

1. Are you going to be safe?

This one is a no-brainer! Chances are, if you sit on someone else's four legs - without tack for balance and communication - you might part ways! Before you throw away your saddle and bridle, please consider: can you get your horse to do everything you need without the use of a bridle?

Would your horse respond to you during unpredictable situations 100% of the time? Can you stop him before he spooks/rears/bucks/spins? Until you can, play it on the safe side. Wear the saddle so you can balance better. Keep the bridle on so you can use it if necessary. And wait until your horse is ready.

2. How will the horse's quality of movement be affected?

We might not want to hear this, but that doesn't make it less true: not all horses are built well enough to carry the weight of a rider. This means that if we throw away the bridle and saddle, we are pretty much guaranteed that these horses will have more trouble moving correctly under our weight.

We use tack to direct the horse's movement, whether to flow energy forward or to contain movement. We can reduce tension, stiffness and imbalance through correct riding, which is usually easier to do with the help of our equipment.

Consider what less-than-perfect conformation will do to the joints, muscles and skeletal body if ridden poorly over long term. Then, you might opt for the tack before you get on.

3. Will your own riding position be compromised?

There is a purpose to stirrups, saddle seat design and saddles sized to your derrière: balance. The stirrups are not just to keep you from falling off; once you have achieved basic torso control, stirrups help you maintain optimal balance while your horse moves underneath you. Let's face it: without a saddle, you rock 'n roll on your horse's back more than it appears to the observer.

Of course, with a little practice, you could probably stay on the horse (most of the time) when riding bareback. But as your balance shifts in the movement, the horse's balance also changes. You might get thrown forward/backward, your knees might rise or you might lean to one side to counteract the effects of gravity.

The horse might fall to the forehand or tighten his back in response. His footfalls may become heavier or more labored, and he might need to drop the base of his neck (and lift his head and neck) to keep you both from really losing balance.

Well, you get the idea. The point here is to consider all the consequences of bareback and bridleless riding. If you want to be the next Stacy Westfall of your riding discipline, go through a step-by-step process that can keep you safe and your horse healthy.

Keep in mind what it will do not only to you, but (almost) more importantly, to your horse.

Because although you have a choice in the matter, your horse does not.

Have you ever seen Stacy Westfall and what was your take-away?

*Please note: The opinions in this article are solely the author's and do not represent any promotion or endorsement for either Stacy Westfall or the Can Am event.

*****

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Horse Listening

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Ride Backwards, But Ride Effectively! Although the rider had developed the correct “look”, the horse was telling a different story.

The Truth About Balance

"The classical seat with a vertical alignment of ears, shoulders, hips, and heels, is the 'neutral' position to which the rider returns immediately after all deviations that the horse may have made necessary. It is the position in which the rider is the least burdensome, even to a young horse - because he is sitting in balance with the horse. Leaving this position is either an aid, which helps the horse improve or regain his own balance and straightness, or it is an interference, which destroys the horse's balance and straightness."

- Thomas Ritter, ArtisticDressage.com

One of the "golden rules" in riding is the seeking of the perfect balance. We all strive for balance - in our position, our seat, our movement with the horse. Another fundamental area of emphasis is in the horse's balance: too low, and the horse is on the forehand; too high, and we risk taking unplanned airs above the ground!

But there is so much more to balance.

The secret is identifying when you find the "perfect in-between" - and being able to replicate that just-right-balance regularly enough to reap the rewards.

When considering horses, finding balance occurs in avenues other than just during the rides themselves. Too much of something can be just as harmful as too little, and the horse person must learn to 'listen' carefully to the horses to know how much of something is just enough.

You must find balance in:

- hay: too much is almost as bad as too little

- supplements: too much can be wasteful or damaging, and too little can be similarly wasteful and useless

-riding: too often, and the horse can get "sour"; too infrequent, and your horse becomes less fit, able, and mentally ready

-turnout: too long and your horse gets dirty/cold/tired/ "wild"; too short and your horse gets bored/sour/unhappy

-bathing: not often enough, and the coat gets grimy and bacteria can cause skin problems; too often, and the oil gets stripped from the hair and the coat loses its luster and shine

Well, you get the idea.

There must be balance in pretty much everything, and all you need to find it is awareness and willingness to make the necessary changes to even out the scales. And whether you are sitting in balance on the horse, or achieving balanced nutritional requirements, you can be satisfied in knowing that the perfect-in-between is a great place to be!

What other areas do you find balance in your horse riding and keeping endeavors?

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

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Read more!

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In the Beginning (riding): What can you expect when you start riding? Read this article to know about the beginning of "the path".

Horses. Riding. Life.

Tag: riding balance

Top 6 Essential Lessons From Horses

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

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

Long Reins – And How To Stay In Balance

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

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

How To “Allow” A Lengthening

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

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

3 Questions to Consider Before Riding Bareback and Bridleless

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

The Truth About Balance

But there is so much more to balance.

You must find balance in:

Well, you get the idea.

What other areas do you find balance in your horse riding and keeping endeavors?

Want to advertise your business on Horse Listening? Click here for more info.

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