Horse Listening

What Does “Forward” Mean To You?

I've discussed the term forward many times on this blog, in terms of training for it, what it is, how it solves riding problems, and how it feels. If you want to read up on it, scroll down to the links at the bottom of this article.

I'm coming back to the idea because as always, the concept is an integral part of horse riding, especially when you are working toward any sort of performance and overall balance. I'd say it's one of the most important elements of riding.

I'm forever checking and augmenting my "forward" with my horse, Cyrus. My students are constantly working on it (maybe it has something to do with my insistence - haha!) and I tend to really notice it in horses and riders when they don't have it.

In dressage, we call it impulsion. It's the pushing power that you get when you ask the horse for more energy. It's all-pervasive, in every gait, in every movement. It's also one of the most difficult things to learn to do, feel and create.

You can do whatever you want, but without "forward", the horse will always be working against itself physically, carrying your weight in a less than efficient manner, and often being hollow-backed and on the forehand.

What It's Not

Faster

It's definitely not speed of the legs. This is a common error, and it still happens to me at times. If you're not paying close attention, the horse just moves along faster, quite possibly more hollow and more on the forehand.

Slower

Even though increased impulsion, or more "forward", can result in better collection, it's not necessarily the same thing as slowing down. We often think that slow means collected, but true collection requires a lot of energy and engagement of the hind quarters.

If your horse is taking smaller and slower steps, staying generally flat in the overall movement, he's likely not forward. Collection is round movement, bouncy, "jump" in the hind end, active, energetic. The strides may be shorter but this happens because the movement is rounder and more elevated.

I've spent a considerable amount of thought on how to explain "forward" and what it really means. This time, I'd like to ask you.

What do you think "forward" means?

How do you explain it to your students (if you are an instructor) or riding friends?

How do you know you "have" it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Please post in the comments below, so we can share in everyone's expertise and experience. Thanks!

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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.

More related reading here:

The One Answer To Most Horse Riding Problems: There is one solution that will improve if not completely resolve the issue - whether it be straightness, slowness, speed, or any of the other problems listed above.

Try This To Feel "Forward": If you've never felt "forward" before, how on earth are you supposed to learn it? You need a friend to help you with this one.

18 Reasons To Establish "Forward" Energy: Riding forward is often an elusive concept when you're first learning to ride. It requires an increase in energy but paradoxically, the energy can't be let "out the front".

Stepping "Forward" in Horse Riding: The term ‘forward’ is used liberally in horse riding but is often misunderstood.

Impulsion: How Two Easy Strides Of Energy Might Solve Your Horse Riding Problem: It can help to straighten the horse. It can resolve “behavior” issues. It can even help to reduce tension in the horse’s body.

The Power Of Self-Talk While You Ride Horses

You probably already use voice cues to prepare your horse for transitions and gaits.

But do you use self-talk for yourself?

There are many reasons why self-talk can be extremely beneficial for both you and your horse. Even if you think you know what you're doing in your mind, saying it out loud is something else. Somehow, if you hear it (even if it is your own voice), your mind will zone in on what you're saying and your body will be better able to respond.

I'm not saying that you should go around the ring calling out to yourself ad nauseam! However, if you're stuck in a bind, learning something new, or simply wanting to clarify your thinking pattern through the movement of the horse, you might find self-talk to be very helpful.

This type of talking is not intended as a training tool for your horse, although it can surely become that too. It is more about training yourself.

3 Guidelines For Self-Talk

1. Speak in Words, Not Sentences

The idea is to use significant, meaningful words, terms, or even sounds that will help you get what you want from your body. It is infinitely easier to remember one word to mean one aid than it would be to try to say a whole sentence. By the time you've explained something out loud, your horse be on the next movement and you'll be consistently behind.

For example, if you need to remember to bring your outside leg back for the canter departure, think of a meaningful word that you can say quickly that will help you focus on that task. You could use a word like "leg" or "slide" or even "swish".

Use several words in a row to mean several aids, even if they are all combined into one movement.

Your self-talk for a canter transition might sound like this:

"tall" (stay upright)

"seat" (stay on your inside seatbone)

"swish" (windshield wiper outside leg)

"go" (move with the horse)

Whatever works for you.

2. Speak in Rhythm

This one is interesting. If you speak in rhythm with the horse, your movements will be timed to your horse as well. While you can probably speak at any time, try to get into your horse's groove. You'll notice that your aids may also be better timed as a result.

3. Say Every Word

If you have multiple aids in a row, say each word (which represents each aid) in order, in rhythm, in a row. Once you get pretty good at it, you might want to stop saying the words out loud but even as you think them, be sure to think each word in order. If you skip a word, you might find that idea drifts away in time and you forget about that part of the aid.

When To Use Self-Talk

Self-talk can be used for several purposes.

Focus

Get your whole body zoned in on one aid. Use self-talk especially to make sure you don't skip anything. Help your body stay on topic with the words you use.

Speed Up Or Slow Down The Aids

Sometimes, your timing might need to be adjusted to match your horse's tempo. The aids might need to be applied in the appropriate moment of the stride. You can slow down your aids by slowing down your words.

The opposite also holds true. Too slow in your aids? Speed up your self-talk and let you body move.

Calm Down

Self-talk is an excellent strategy for helping you deal with any jitters, lack of confidence, or tension. Rather than focusing on a negative situation, you can literally talk yourself out of a bind with selected words that are meaningful to you.

Breathe

Have you ever been told that you need to breathe better while you ride? If you speak out words in the movement of the horse, you will literally be nudging your body to remember to breathe, without having to think about it. If you talk, you breathe.

If you breathe, you ride! 🙂

Let us know in the comments below how speaking your aids influences your rides.

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

Just as with all the Horse Listening Collection Books, this book is focused on helping the rider improve for the sake of the horse. But this book goes deeper into the best training articles from the blog - horse-centered theory, strategies and ideas you can try with your own horse.

The book begins with the horse's hind end (!), considers the horse's back, moves on to rider development, and fills it all in with the fundamentals of horse riding so your horse can be:

happier in his body

happier in his "work"

better balanced all-around

Available as an eBook or paperback.

How To Improve YOUR Trot-Canter Transitions

canter long — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

What happens to you and your body when you head into a canter transition from a trot?

I've written plenty about how to do the transition, what leg aids to use, and how to improve your horse's impulsion. But really, what are you doing while you're negotiating the balance to and through the gait change?

Do you stiffen up and get left behind the horse's movement?

Do you collapse and lean forward?

Do you look down at your horse's head and neck, frantically grabbing for and/or releasing the reins?

I'm sure there are other things that can happen. And if you do any of these things, don't feel bad or guilty. We have ALL been there at some point, and the ones who look like they're doing nothing at all have practiced and practiced to get to that point.

Obviously, the goal is to appear to be as motionless as possible, not interfere with the horse's movement while at the same time, be effective enough to help him with his energy level, balance and tempo. It's a fairly tall task, especially when you are in the early learning phases.

Exercise

This one can be a lot of fun, although it can challenge you in terms of strength and endurance. The key benefit is that you will be working your muscles, not your mind. A by-product is that your horse will likely also improve as cantering becomes more routine.

OK so first, do a quick review of the canter transition here, so you know what you are going to do.

Now, the only thing left to do is practice it.

But there is a special way you can practice the transition that will help you lose your tightness/fear/anticipation.

1. Do a LOT.

How many transitions can you do? Let's say you can start with 10 on each side, in a row. So 10 transitions to the right, 10 to the left. The key is to do them all in a row.

Go to the trot, and then canter. Don't stay in the canter too long. We're not practicing the canter here, we're practicing the transition. So you should emphasize the transition, not the trot before or the canter after.

After you get the canter, go back to trot. Then do it all again.

When you get good at this, you should do all 20 transitions within a few minutes. The idea is not to tire your horse out, but to get through all of the transitions quickly.

However, the real idea is to do the repetitive movement so many times that your muscles finally give up (being tight, strained, stiff, and whatever else they're doing)! You're basically working on your muscle memory (especially in your core).

2. Focus on the gaits before and after

The trot should be a nice, controlled trot. As in - running out from under you is not an option! Develop a good, cadenced, rhythmical trot, and then canter.

The canter should be a nice, controlled canter! Once again, keep your horse "on the aids" so that any rushing or running can be avoided.

Oh yeah. Didn't I say that you shouldn't stay in either gait for too long? That still holds true. Get nice, controlled gaits before and after - quicker than you think! Don't tire your poor horse out too much!

*If your horse has a tendency to run in the gaits, and therefore has a transition that is difficult to manage, you might have to change your focus from this exercise to one that teaches you how to control the gaits first. Then come back to this at a later time.

3. Getting good?

Now you can move on to a little more challenge.

You can ride wherever you like in the ring, and switch between left and right lead transitions. Maybe you'll do three right lead canter to trot transitions, then one left lead, then one right, then two left. Get creative, try to "pop quiz" your horse a bit (and your body).

4. Feel your body.

This is the hardest part. The thing is, once we're blue-printed in a "feel", we think it's the right feel. So if you hunch over in the transition, it will feel very awkward for you to stay tall and tighten your core. In fact, it might actually feel wrong.

An instructor, or an educated eye on the ground, is most indispensable at this point. You need to have someone tell you how you look, and what you should do to improve your body position through the transition.

The idea is to stay tall (no lean in any direction), stay loose but toned enough to not flop, and follow the horse. Keep your eyes up and look ahead to help keep your upper body aligned. Ride from the seat first. Soften your elbows but be ready to support the horse (half-halts) if there is any rushing or falling to the forehand.

5. Lunge?

I put a question mark because I know how hard it is to find a good lunging horse and instructor. But if you have access to both, you're very lucky and on the best short-cut to improving everything about your body.

The most amazing feeling is to have someone control your horse while you go through multiple trot/canter transitions - without having to steer, balance on the reins (yes, we all do that at some point!), or even worry about your horse's gait. Then you can focus on you - your seat, your upper body, your legs... there's plenty to do without the reins!

There you have it. Don't overwork your horse, but get used to the transition by doing many over a short period of time. Also, have fun with it. Don't make it a stressful thing - just play, try, and even if things don't come together right away, your body will develop over time just from the practice.

*Thanks to Kelle, who asked about stiffness in transitions on my Facebook page. Hope this helps! 🙂

Use this hands-on guide to create your own personalized, structured and organized horse riding goals. Track your progress for a complete 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

Click here for more information.

#TwoHearts Down Center Line

And it doesn't even have to be at the Olympics.

It could be at your local "grassroots" show. Or not at a show. It can happen in your riding ring, on the trails, or during ground work.

Describing the sentiment behind the FEI's #TwoHearts hashtag to the non-horsey set can sometimes be a difficult proposition. After all, it's just a horse. And realistically, it's only doing what it's being told to do - like your phone, it's programmable and robotic.

Right?

Not likely.

After you've ridden for a while, you'd probably have many #TwoHearts moments to cherish. For me, it was down center line, with my own mare, at a dressage show.

We'd been showing for a while - at least a year or more and beginning to be comfortable enough to really enjoy the experience. We were finally getting into the swing of things. I had developed a comfortable routine that made the logistics of preparing for and getting to the show effortless and extremely efficient.

My mare Annahi, too, was getting into the groove. She walked off the trailer, headed calmly through the unfamiliar show grounds, checked out the various horses, and settled into the grooming/tacking/warm up session before our scheduled show time. Then it was our turn to go into the ring.

It's one of those feelings I'll never forget.

They say that horses are trained to do as they are told, that they are forced to be ridden and perform - and given a choice, they'd rather not, period. Maybe there are some horses like that, I don't know.

But if you ever had a chance to be a partner to a 1000 pound horse that told you with every fiber of her being that she was MADE to go down that center line, you might change your mind. I sure did.

In dressage, it's a bit different because unlike most other disciplines, you are in the ring.

All.

Alone.

Everyone's eyes are on you. The judge is watching. You notice the scribe who sits beside the judge and gives you a smile on your first pass, before the judge rings the bell. If you're not used to having everyone's attention, it can be somewhat intimidating.

Well, maybe not everyone is watching. There will be people outside of the ring walking, talking, and not even noticing you at all. Sometimes they can unnerve you in a different way - distract your horse, take you out of your mental bubble.

And so as we entered down center line, I was unprepared for what was about to happen. I was busy trying to maintain my composure, thinking a little ahead to where I was turning after the salute, and basically trying my best to not interfere but also stay active enough to keep Annahi in a strong and true rhythm to the halt.

Ananhi did something I hadn't felt before.

She grew.

At least two inches. Her withers came up, her stride strengthened, and we bounded down that center line like we were born for that moment.

Like Annahi was telling me, "You just hang on and look pretty. I GOT THIS."

The perky ears, the awesome expression, the bounce in her stride, the sudden power - she was telling everyone at that show: "Watch me."

At first, I didn't know what to do with that attitude. I'm not shy but so far, I hadn't been excessively bold during the entrance. We halted, I saluted, and we skipped into that first trot like we were the only thing that mattered that day.

I figured I'd better step up and match my horse's 'tude - hang on and look pretty, right?

Sure enough, everyone stopped what they were doing and watched. I thought I could see heads turn as we cruised into the first movement. We certainly had the judge's attention, and we were off in a flurry of spirited energy.

I don't remember what our score was at the end, or how we did specifically, but I do know I was really happy with the ride. More important than anything else was that feeling of joy and exuberance that wasn't mine. It was Annahi's.

I have to say that there is nothing more confidence-building than a horse that likes to be a show diva. That first time was amazing, but Annahi was like that for the balance of her show career. She loved being in the ring, getting everyone's attention, and strutting her stuff.

Thanks to her, I became the rider that went down center line thinking, "Watch us!" and acting like it was the best time of our lives. Well, it was. There really wasn't any way I could discourage her attitude and instead, I emulated it.

So when I first saw #TwoHearts, I instantly remembered that moment. Riding really is about two hearts, and the constant communication you have with your horse. While we tend to think it's always about us, the horse certainly has a whole lot to say in the matter. If we can learn to listen, we can learn so much about ourselves - and the partnership that is horse riding.

Do you have a #TwoHearts moment to share? Post in the comments below.

Horse Listening – Book 2: Forward and Round to Training Success

If you enjoyed the above article, you'll find many related chapters about horses and riding. Your favorite Horse Listening training articles are compiled in this beautifully bound paperback (or digital) book.

Instantly order online. Click here to learn more.

Read more from the blog:

Be Productive With Your Nervous Energy at the Horse Show: The tension that builds in you during the warm-up ride can be very useful if you know what to do with it.

Five Secrets to Winning at the Horse Show: The fun part about winning is that winning isn’t everything!

Horseback Riders Do Nothing Anyway! Well, at least, that’s what “they” say. But we know differently, don’t we?

Ten Habits of Competent Riders: This is our most popular post by far. What do great riders have in common that makes them appealing to watch, steadily develop their riding skills and become role models for others to aspire to emulate?

Top Ten Reasons To Ride A Horse: There must be as many reasons to ride horses are there are people who ride.

What Are The Leg Aids For Canter?

leg aids to canter — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

While the leg aids change little between the walk and trot, the canter does require some change in function and coordination.

Even when riders seem to know what they're doing, there may be some confusion about the fine tuning of the aids. Students often ask me to review especially the leg aids for the canter to make sure they are asking for the correct lead, and timing the aid in a way that helps the horse the most.

Basic aids

The basic aids are the way you first learn to ask for the canter. This method helps the rider find and keep balance especially as the horse changes gait and takes that first step into the canter.

1. Inside leg at the girth

The inside leg must stay at the girth. This leg might not have to do much in terms of squeezing at the calf but it is important in case the horse falls in on the inside shoulder. Many horses will lean into a turn or come off the straight line when they move into the canter, and the inside leg is the aid that helps keep the horse straight through the transition.

Put pressure with the lower leg and calf if your horse falls in. Wait for the horse to straighten up before you apply the outside leg, even if it takes a few strides before he's ready. If he doesn't fall in, you can apply both legs almost simultaneously (inside leg should go first though).

2. Outside leg behind the girth

I call this the "windshield wiper" leg. If you can free your leg at the knees, you can "swoosh" your lower leg back behind the girth, and basically teach the horse to take that first step with the outside hind leg as you swing your leg back. Please note that the leg doesn't have to stay far back behind the girth, though it should be positioned a little further back than the inside leg to be effective in keeping the hip straight and asking for the correct lead.

In general, you shouldn't have to apply a lot of pressure with the outside leg.

3. Seat

Well, I'd be remiss to not mention the seat here, even though I know I'm focusing on the leg aids.

The seat really is THE aid that indicates the gait change. In other words, your legs position the horse's body so he doesn't swing in with the shoulders, or swing out with the hips... but really, it's the seat that indicates the canter.

Just to keep it short - you position yourself so you are sitting tall on the inside seat bone, and you switch your seat rhythm from the trot to the canter. You can sit the last few trot steps so you can be in the saddle for the transition.

Please Note

Notice that I didn't mention a kick in any of the aids.

Sometimes I get questions about why I don't want to kick into the transition, and I realize it might be a little controversial for me to say this. However, in theory, the strike off for the canter does not need the rider to bang the horse on the sides and throw her weight forward (or fall behind backward). In fact, the quieter you can be, the better it is for the horse (and invariably, for you as you negotiate the balance change into the canter).

If your horse absolutely won't canter without a kick, then yes, go to the kick. But I encourage riders to work toward first positioning the legs as above, second exaggerating the windshield wiper outside leg, third changing the seat to a canter movement, and FOURTH - kicking with both legs. Then work toward weaning your horse off that kick, and become quieter in your position.

The Upper Body

The idea is to not fall forward or backward through the transition. Many of us want to collapse forward in attempt to encourage the horse to "go forward" - but changing from the trot (or walk) to canter is not really going forward at all.

In fact, it's more about changing the horse's legs. It's not about going faster, or getting longer in the body, or pulling on the horse to keep him shorter, or anything at all. There should really be no change (in our dreams!) other than the legs going from the two-beat trot, to the three-beat canter with an easily heard moment of suspension.

Ideally, the first step in the canter should be bold and strong, but not runaway. The next steps should be the same. You should clearly hear the three-beat rhythm of the footfalls. The canter should be round (not flat), ground-covering (not fast) and consistent (not slow down-speed up - slow down - speed up).

The Hands

This article is about the legs, so I won't go much into the hands except to say that they really shouldn't do much. 🙂

Ideally, they'd maintain the horse's flexion and bend. The rein might need to be shortened a little (an inch or so) if the reins were long-ish at the trot. Otherwise, there's little to do other than not interfere.

For a more advanced description of all the aids, check out the 7 Essential Aids For An Epic Canter Transition.

Now that I've shared my version of the leg aids for canter, I'd love to hear yours. What problems have you had with the transition to canter? What solutions have you found over the years? Share in the comments below.

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

From 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.

7 Facts We Can Learn From Equestrian Olympians

Traditionally, I've always felt a strong affiliation with the idea of the Olympics and Paralympics, mostly because of my love for sports in general, and especially for the determination and perseverance that I know athletes must have to pursue in order to be at the top of the world in their skill area.

I am also fully aware of the business that IS Olympics, the political repercussions, the expenditures that could be so needed in other areas and the big business behind it all that is interested only in the bottom line.

Having said all that, the allure of the Games is nevertheless attractive and appealing. The simple fact that venues such as the Olympics and Paralypmics feed the dreams and aspirations of athletes to push themselves to the limit, not only physically - but mentally, emotionally, financially and probably in many other ways that we, the audience, can only begin to understand - is what draws me to take the events so seriously.

We see the moments of the main event, but there is so much more that goes into the day-to-day, year-to-year path.

TV broadcasting schedules and timetables for the Summer Olympics in Rio:

Equestrian Timetable At Rio - with a conversion for your time zone

US: The Olympics Broadcasting Schedule on NBC

Canada: CBC Olympics Broadcast Schedule

Here are 8 things we can learn from our equestrian Olympians, as they head off to the premier horse show at Rio.

It's more about technique than strength.

It's true when they say that Equestrian is the great equalizer in sport. It is the only Olympic sport where men compete against women on equal terms. This is because riding doesn't depend on raw strength. In fact, it's more about timing, coordination, strategy and character.

The never ending learning potential that is horse riding is one of the key factors that keeps us coming back for more over the hard times and the plateaus that we invariably cross.

Age doesn't matter.

Then there's the age factor. The elite level of many sports is reserved only for the very young. Not so with horse riding. At age 52, both Beezie Madden and Phillip Dutton are the oldest competitors of team USA at these Games. Ian Miller of Canada competed in his tenth Olympic games in 2012 at the age of 65.

Equestrian is one of the only sports that rewards experience and longevity. Regardless of the riding discipline we choose, age really is only a number. And years in the saddle, acquired knowledge and muscle memory can carry you a long way for a long time.

Para competition - riding is for everyone.

All abilities are included at the highest level of sport thanks to the Paralympics, which is the elite level of the sport Para-Equestrian. 11 medals are up for grabs this year. With 29 countries participating, it will be an awesome and inspiring competition on some of the world's finest horses.

Horses provide an alternative for people of all stripes, and serve in many ways to promote independence, confidence, mobility and sheer joy.

It's all about the horse.

Equestrian is the only sport where your teammate is an animal. While we are all vying for the medals in the competitive arena, we are also all bonded together by our love for the horse. At their core, all equestrians are horse lovers first and foremost.

Gotta put in the time.

Dedication and commitment take on a whole new meaning when it comes to horses and horse showing. Not only does the rider have to work on herself, but she also has to put as much, if not more, effort into preparing her horse. While the elite riders have grooms and support personnel, the rest of us tend to assume a D.I.Y. approach for everything from riding to grooming to training to loading up the trailer and transporting.

The show at the Games is only the tip of the iceberg.

It really does take a village.

Imagine the iceberg that is horse showing - at home, or at the Olympics. There is so much preparation behind that momentary kick at the can. It starts years before, for both horse and rider, and is the result of the coming together of many efforts by many people, some of whom might never have been part of the initial Olympic plan.

Let's take the horse. Years before the big show, that horse was just a young'un learning to walk, trot and canter, just like the millions of other horses in the world. People fed him, other people walked him to the field, and back to the stall. Farriers took care of his feet, chiropractors keep his spine aligned.

The rider, too, might have been putting in the long hours of sitting trot, or two point at the canter. Graduating from coach to more advanced coach, riding first one horse, then the next, always seeking to improve and develop her skills.

The road converges when both horse and rider become a team, when lady luck smiles on them and keeps them both safe and sound, and they make that trip to their destination that is the Olympics... or the local show down the road.

You can't always peak when you want to - and it's still worth the trip!

There are so many variable that must come together that most people will not actually get the best performance of their life on the day that it really matters. But here's the thing. It's about the process, not just the result.

Even if things don't pan out exactly the way we want them to, the whole lead-up to the Games (show) is worth every minute. Both the rider and the horse are richer for the experience, and can carry what they've learned onto new venues and situations.

Having ridden (literally!) side-by-side with some of the top riders in my area, I have seen the regular effort, persistence, and sometimes downright stubborness that is essential to get back on the horse (pun intended) - all to culminate in this Olympic "dream" that they are now a part of.

I watch and marvel at the perseverance of people who touch me at the core of my being because of their:

- tenacity.

- determination.

- and probably most importantly, because of the disciplined raw energy they put into their chosen field of endeavor.

It makes you think, what would the world be like if everyone put just a percentage of that intensity and devotion into something we feel equally attracted to?

Enjoy this fun FEI video for the horses going to the Olympics.

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

Click here for more information.

More fun reading here:

8 Ways To Help Your Horse Achieve His Highest Potential: Regardless of what we want to do with our horses, our first responsibility is always to the horse.

17 Wise Reflections - Straight From The Horse's Mouth! My horse, Annahi, is full of words of wisdom for those horses around her who are willing to listen.

Eight Legs Plus Two: A poem.

Starting to Breathe Again: Written before Hickstead’s untimely passing, this post described what it felt like to watch his $1 million CN International winning round.

5 Life Lessons From Horses: How can horses help us grow and develop in our own lives?

Summer Study Session – Videos and Articles

It's the middle of the summer, and there's no greater time to take a small break from all of our riding and horsin' around. Going to the beach? Taking a well-deserved vacay complete with hotel, swimming and night life?

Sounds like the perfect time to take some "me" hours to catch up on what you might not normally have a lot of time for! A horsey summer study session!

Previously, I posted a reading round up of suggested equestrian books.

This time, I decided to let you in on some of my favorite articles and video links straight off the Internet. There are SO many excellent sources of information, demonstrations and actual lessons that we could be watching and benefiting from.

I've selected what I feel are the most relevant topics that may have been discussed here on the blog, as well as some absolute must-sees like the Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin Master Class. Even if you are not a dressage rider, you will likely find good basic information here that will be useful for you and your horse in your discipline.

If you have a favorite article or video you'd like to share, please feel free to post it in the comments below.

Enjoy!

Articles:

How To Ride The Walk: Pedaling: Introduces a "pedaling" technique that works with the horse's rib cage swing in the walk.

Quotes From A Master: Nuno Oliviera: Some wonderful nuggets of inspiration from a legendary equestrian.

Inside Leg To Outside Rein: This article explains why it's so important, and what it means.

The Tooth, The Whole Tooth, And Nothing But The Tooth: Veterinarian Dr. David Ramey weighs in on tooth floating.

Understand How To Ride The Horse "Forward Into The Bridle In Balance": This is a very difficult concept but it's critical to all disciplines.

7 Under-Saddle Problems And How To Fix Them: Fast horses, slow horses, stiffness, neck-in, behind the bit, fussy mouth, and developing better contact. We've talked about many of these here before, but it's great to "hear'" it from another perspective.

Correct Body Alignment To Ride Bending Lines: Some great rider position tips.

Videos:

Robert Dover: Passive versus Active Seat

George Williams: 4 Exercises For Getting Your Horse On The Bit

Dressage Mastery TV: What To Do With Your Hands And Reins

Debbie McDonald: Working Through Roundness And Tension

Dressage Masterclass With Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin

Ingrid Klimke On Cavaletti Work At Canter

Charles deKunffy Explains Half-Halts

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 here:

4 Steps To Help Your Horse Through A Turn: I’m sure you’ve seen it before – there are many situations where a horse turns too abruptly, unbalancing himself and also the rider. Most often, the rider hangs on but other times, she might be unseated, losing balance, stirrups and/or seat.

Ode to the Stretchy Trot: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

What Do Leg Aids Mean? Instead of relying on them only to get the horse to move his legs faster or transition to a new gait, we might discover more involved messages that can be given with a sophisticated leg aid.

Why you Don't Want To Pull On The Inside Rein - And What To Do Instead: There is one other consequence to pulling on that inside rein that has little to do with turning.

In Praise Of The (Horse Riding) Hand: What goes into developing the type of hands that horses dream of?

How to "Flow” From the Trot to Walk: Although we rely on our hands too much and initiate all movements from the horse’s mouth, there are many alternate aids we can go to.

A Simple and Effective Horse Riding Warm Up (Exercise)

I've written about warm-ups before but this is one of my favorites.

I often start the ride with this exercise, and it's great for so many reasons! It suits many horses for different end goals. Of course, you can use it during the middle of the ride as well, or maybe even make this your whole ride with a few variations.

This warm-up is suitable for:

young horses
inexperienced older horses
the sluggish to start horse
the runaway to start horse (!)
the imbalanced horse
the horse that is still trying to find a good tempo and rhythm
the horse working on basic gaits and transitions
the more educated horse, with some adjustments

It is also useful for:

the young rider
the inexperienced rider
the rider who is working on basic aids
the rider who is finding a good rhythm and tempo
the rider who is nervous of the runaway or unpredictable horse
the rider who needs some structure in the warm-up

The actual figure is fairly simple (but beware: simple may not be easy). Basically, you do four 20-meter circles as you make your way around the ring once.

Start at C (Circle #1). If I'm on the left rein, I will start at trot and do a 20-metre circle at C. Then I'll navigate the corner, and head up the rail to E.
Go into a new 20-metre circle at E. Then back to the rail, the corner, and head to A.
Start a new circle at A. Complete that circle, go to the corner, head for B.
This first round ends with a final circle at B. Go back to the track and head to A again.

I'll use this figure at the walk for ten minutes or so before I start the trot. Once I'm in the trot, I'll work on developing a strong but steady trot through the whole figure.

You can also do this at the canter of course, which presents all kinds of new and exciting challenges as you navigate turns and straight lines.

Do it several times each way, at each gait.

Pay particular attention to the following.

Circle Size and Placement

You don't have to aim for exact 20-meter circles if you are not practicing for dressage tests. However, do pick a circle size that fits your riding space, and be consistent all the way around the ring. Make it even on both sides (avoid falling in or drifting out).

Flexion

Flexion is one of the most basic component of suppleness over the top line. Always work on getting your horse to look in the direction of his movement. You don't even have to pretzel into a bend on these circles because of their large size.

However, you should be able to see the corner of your horse's inside eye in the turns. This helps your horse release the tension especially in the jaw and neck, as well as position him for better balance through a turn.

Rhythm and Tempo

This one is for the less-than-inspired horses and conversely, for the runaways. Try to find your horse's ideal tempo and stick to it.

Make sure it is energetic enough to allow him to use his hindquarters in such a way that he will have better balance in the turns and circles. You may need to jazz up the energy a bit in the circles - many horses tend to slow down or disengage when they head into a turn.

On the other hand, if your horse just goes faster-faster-faster, the circles are a great natural vehicle to help you regulate that leg speed and balance the horse better to the hind end. Use plenty of half-halts before, through and after each circle and in the corners.

Straightness

This figure alternates between mild bends on the circles, and straightness on the rails. This helps teach you and your horse to straighten after a bend and bend after being straight.

The straight lines give your horse a chance to unwind a bit out of the circles, reach forward and energize, and prepare for the next corner or turn. If your horse has a tendency to ride with his shoulders close to the rail, you might want to do a shoulder-fore as you travel up the straight lines.

Balance

As already mentioned, this exercise is a study in balance. Your horse might fall in to the circle. He might drift out. He might fall to the forehand on the straight lines. He might speed up and slow down. He might turn his neck in too much, or have a crooked head position.

These are all symptoms of imbalance and can be improved with half-halts, transitions and impulsion. As you develop your feel, you will know when to add some energy, when to stop it from "running out the front end", and when to slow the feet down altogether.

It is quite a challenge to be able to keep your horse in balance, in rhythm, in a steady tempo that is energetic but not too fast, in a mild bend as you go into and out of circles and lines. In fact, it is challenging enough that I tend to use this for not only beginner horses or riders, but also for the more advanced ones as they find their way through the nuances that improve quality of gait, connectedness and harmony. I use it myself too for horses at all stages.

Finally, you can get more creative with this figure. Once you feel you have a good handle on it, you can play around with transitions or circle sizes. You can canter one circle, trot another, walk a corner. You can do two 20-meter circles and two 10-meter circles. More advanced horse and rider combinations can add two "crunches" (or "sitting down") into the each circle. The sky is the limit in terms of what you can add to make it more exciting!

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

Click here for more information.

Horses. Riding. Life.

Author: Horse Listening

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

A Simple and Effective Horse Riding Warm Up (Exercise)

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!