Horse Listening

11 Unexpected Side-Benefits Of Riding Tests (Or Patterns)

Turn left here. Canter circle there. Halt for five seconds. Then trot in a straight line out of the halt.

If you've never ridden tests (or patterns - I'll use the word "test" for simplicity here) before, you might be in for a bit of a surprise. You gotta do what you gotta do when you're told to do it! There's no built-in sensitivity to your horse's need to trot before canter. Your squiggly "straight" line might become a lot more apparent when it's supposed to be off the rail down center line. Or you might become more aware of your horse's lean-through-the-corner-and-fall-off-the-rail just before you need to set up for a lengthen at trot.

When we ride on our own, or even in a lesson, we tend to ride according to our needs (both the rider and the horse). We take time developing our transitions, riding half a circle or even more to increase impulsion, half-halt the balance to allow better rounding through the horse's body, maybe increase impulsion a little more, then finally proceed with the transition.

To be sure, this is the way to improve our skills. Learning takes time, and developing accurate aids and responses from the horse takes practice. There are occasions when there simply is no other way, and rushing yourself or your horse results in stress and tension and maybe even worse.

However, there is something to be said about putting yourself through tests or patterns. If you rarely ride a pattern, you might initially be surprised how difficult it can be to ride according to specifications. But it is very much worth the effort.

There's a reason why it's called a "test" in dressage! You are basically testing your skills against a structured, step-by-step progression of development. Think of it as a performance. Can you do what is required at a given level?

There are so many side-benefits to practicing a test. Even while you are working on one part, so many other things have to fall together to make the test flow. Check them out below!

1. Focus on specifics

When you work on particular movements, you realize how much goes into each skill. For example, a lengthen at canter down the rail may look like the horse just took larger, bounding strides. But give it a try and you'll notice that developing the lengthen through the body takes more than just energy.

The tempo needs to be maintained while the impulsion is increased. Keeping the line straight looks a lot easier than it feels, especially if your horse has a tendency to lean on a shoulder!

2. Become more consistent

When you ride movement to movement, you become more aware of the lurches and stop-starts that happen during each figure. Have you ever noticed your horse lose energy going into a corner? Or maybe he shortens his stride length as he steps into the beginning of a circle. Test riding will help you notice inconsistencies and give you reason to work on them.

3. Accurate transitions

In dressage tests, you ride movements letter to letter. It happens in other disciplines too, where the patterns indicate exactly where a gait or figure begins and ends. When you are not used to being accurate, you let the horse take those few extra strides before or after a given point. Working on specific placements of transitions makes you and your horse sharper and more in tune with each other.

4. Well ridden figures

Once you know the test, you also learn the exact dimensions of a figure. Let's take a loop, for example. The loop starts at the letter after the corner, goes to X and then back to the final letter before the next corner. Following set figures gives you and your horse a reason to develop specific abilities, such as changing bends, stepping deeper underneath the body, maintaining rhythm and tempo, and so much more.

5. Count strides

When you stick to what you are required to do in a test, you will learn a lot about your horse. One thing you might notice is the stride length your horse may have for each particular movement. You might realize, for example, that your horse takes 4 strides from the last letter into the corner. This information will help you in the timing of your half-halts and bends into and out of each corner.

6. Improve your aids

You'll have to get better at your aids in order to improve in the test. So as you practice, you'll find what you need to adjust - maybe an outside leg here, an inside weighted seat there - in order to fulfill the requirements of the test.

7. Develop bend and straightness

These two wonderful concepts are easy to forget or become lazy about in general. When you aren't carefully placing movements according to a sequence, you tend to let the horse go a bit straighter (or even counterbent), or a little less straight. Haunches to the inside, anyone?

8. Be more comfortable during stress

There is no doubt that having to do particular movements in particular places adds a stress element to both the horse and rider. Once in a while, it is good to work within that stress level to develop the ability to continue to perform even under less than perfect conditions. It will get better with practice

9. Learn new skills

Do you ever get caught in a rut of doing the same thing over and over again? Use the tests to remind you of new movements you may have forgotten about or never attempted. The dressage tests, in particular, are leveled in a way that you can work from one test to the next, as they increase in difficulty. This way, you never stagnate at one point for very long.

10. Think ahead

When you ride movement to movement, something wonderful happens pretty much on its own. Even while you are performing one figure, you need to know what is coming next so you can set up for it. Thinking ahead while riding is an excellent way to develop a flow to your riding that you can't achieve when you do one thing at a time.

11. Look where you're going

Do you tend to look down when you ride? You won't have that opportunity when you need to plan where you are going in the test! You must look to the letters, to the perimeters of the ring, and to the placement of the figures, so eyes come up naturally.

If you dedicate some time to practicing tests on a regular basis, you will notice that both you and your horse improve in your ability to meet the predetermined goals of each test. As you become more familiar, you can start to work on new skills that challenge you to grow and develop - both horse and rider.

Do you regularly include test or pattern riding in your routine? How has it helped you and your horse? Post in the comments 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.

The Difference Between Rhythm and Tempo

Confused about which is which? Do you use them interchangeably sometimes? I did, until I finally figured out the difference. Although I've already had a good grasp of rhythm and tempo in musical arrangements, it took some time for me to extrapolate that understanding and apply it to horse riding.

Rhythm

When it comes to horses, rhythm refers to the number of beats in a horse's gait. So for example, a walk is a four-beat gait. A trot is two beats (diagonal pairs fall together) and a canter is 4 beats (outside hind, diagonal pair, and inside front, suspension). However, because the canter has that moment of suspension, you hear only three footfalls with a quiet moment in between.

The rhythm of the gait is non-negotiable. That is, a canter must have three footfalls and a moment of suspension, while a trot must have two. Problems arise when the horse demonstrates what is called an "impure" or "irregular" gait.

Let's say you are trotting along and you hear four beats per stride, something like a thud-thud-thud-thud in quick succession. This indicates that the trot is not in rhythm. If you were on the ground watching, you might even be able to see the legs hitting the ground at different moments. It happens quickly but a practiced eye can see it.

More often, we see horses four-beating the canter. Rather than maintaining the diagonal pair of legs for the second beat, the horse lands those legs in a one-two fashion - which results in four independent footfalls.

In both cases, the rhythm needs to be maintained. Chances are, the horse needs more impulsion, especially in turns or changes of bend. It is also possible that the irregularity stems from a physical discomfort, so you may want to call a vet to make sure there is no unsoundness.

There is one exception to these rules: the gaited horse.

Many horses have been bred over generations to produce distinct 4-beat gaits specific to their bloodlines. For example, the Tennessee Walking Horse is famous for its running walk. These horses shouldn't move in two beats in these gaits. The four-beat is the rhythm of the gait.

Developing Rhythm

When working on any particular gait, you must maintain the rhythm of that gait. So if your horse four-beats the canter, you probably need to ask for better impulsion and engagement of the hind end.

First, work on getting and maintaining distinct rhythmical footfalls.

Tempo

Once you can keep a consistent rhythm, the next area to focus on is the tempo, otherwise known as the horse's leg speed. Tempo is the second priority only after the rhythm has been established. Incorrect tempo is possibly more difficult to recognize and correct than rhythm.

Think of tempo as the speed of the footfalls. You could be in a two-beat trot, but how fast you go would be due to how quickly the legs land on the ground. You can imagine that there are many tempos within one gait. So a trot may be two beats, but how quickly the horses move in those two beats can be dependent on the horse's breed and conformation, and the rider's skills.

Many of us are prone to letting the horse (or sometimes actually "chasing" the horse) into a too-quick tempo, which can result in the horse falling to the forehand, or even breaking stride. We get into a frantic one-two rising trot that speeds up the horse, which then speeds up our posting, which then speeds up the horse even more....

You get the idea. We end up in a never-ending cycle of speed and eventually it feels "normal" to rush along on the forehand, using the rail to keep the horse from drifting out too far.

The opposite can happen too, although not quite as often. If we work at slowing the tempo down to point that the horse loses energy, we run the risk of breaking rhythm. This is often why horses four-beat in the trot or canter. Too slow without additional energy can be as detrimental as too fast.

Try This

Listen carefully to your horse's footfalls as you ride at each gait. Every horse has an ideal tempo that allows him to work with adequate energy - but not too much - so he does not lose balance.

Your horse's best leg speed is probably slower than you think. But you can try an experiment. Increase the leg speed in a particular gait and feel for your horse's threshold. At some point, your horse suddenly feels like he has to scramble to keep his legs underneath him.

Then do the opposite. Slow the legs to just before the point that your horse is going to quit. Maintain energy and see if he can soften through the body and breathe in better rhythm. Too slow, and he will likely break stride. But slow and strong might be just what he needs.

The ideal tempo allows the horse to move with less tension in better balance and in a steady, true rhythm. There is no speeding up or slowing down every few strides. Each step is deliberate and well placed. There is a sense of strong but calm energy from both horse and rider.

You can try this exercise several times. It doesn't hurt for the horse to know what it feels like to increase and decrease the tempo in a gait. In fact, it might help as he progresses into more collected work. But in the meantime, remember that rhythm must be maintained while tempo can be adjusted.

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

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.

6 Things You’ll Learn While Riding On The Trails

Kayla was all pumped up, bright eyed and bushy tailed (for real!) as we flew on winged legs over the sandy terrain. The footing reverberated deeply with each footfall as I heard the soft, hollow-sounding thumps from each of her steps.

These were some of the best trails in the province! I couldn't believe that I was there, looking ahead but feeling the trees beside the trail fly by as my fearless steed kept up an eye-watering pace. Her attention was focused ahead to the horses in front but she was also keeping an ear back, listening to the rhythmical breaths of the horses behind.

There is nothing better than being involved in an activity you love, with an animal you love, with like-minded people all working toward the same goal. Although the above scene was a competitive trail ride, you don't have to ride competitively to get the same level of enjoyment and challenge. Just head for the trails, with friends or without, and explore the surrounding natural landscape at your preferred speed.

The trail provides opportunities that you just don't get in other riding venues. There are forested paths that weave through dense brush, or open fields covered in high, waving grass that surrounds your horse's legs. There are hills and bogs and cleared tracks and bumpy root-encrusted trails.

There are also fairly flat, fairly clear fields where you can enjoy practicing your riding skills without the constraints of walls or fences, in the open air where your horse is inspired to move more openly and enthusiastically, covering ground with less inhibition or restriction.

It's not like you won't learn anything while riding the trails. In fact, there are many things you can learn because of the trails, especially when travelling at the trot or canter. Here are six.

Don't pull on the reins!

This is something that Kayla taught me really well, but is true for many horses. I know I've mentioned not pulling on the reins a lot, but it's mainly because I learned the hard way that grabbing the horse's mouth (or nose if you're using something bitless) only positions the horse to lean forward into the pressure, lean forward in balance, and move along at a faster rate - especially if you are already at a canter!

Rather, use your seat and half-halts to balance the horse into a position that allows him to transition downwards. By all means, pull if it's your last resort, but don't be surprised if it doesn't bring the desired result.

It took a good amount of ring riding - and then on the trails, where the environment can be significantly different - for me to really understand how to do a down transition from the seat and not the hands.

Feel the energy.

There is so much room for the horse to move in a more natural environment. So if you find your normally flattish, pluggish horse resembling a sprint runner (or doing a jiggy dance on the spot), see if you can "ride" that energy and put it to good use.

Feel the energy come over the horse's back and use it as an opportunity to memorize what it really feels like when the horse tucks under and engages. You can try to emulate that feeling later on when riding in the ring.

Slow down to turn.

If you drive a car, you know that you need to slow down a bit before the turn, take the turn, and then speed up again after the turn if needed. Same goes with the horse.

Although you might not need to physically slow the legs down, you do need to shift the horse's weight back before you head into the turn. Otherwise, gravity will work on your horse just as it does on a car - and you may discover that your horse has to scramble while careening around a turn. So if you have a little speed going, check your balance before the turn.

Know when to trust your horse.

There is no better place to learn about your horse than on the trails. You really have a chance to bond and get to know each other, while also "becoming one" with nature. The more you ride on the trails, the better you'll know your horse's signs and signals - when he's on alert, when he's truly relaxed, when he's going to ignore your aids, and when he's honestly tired.

The more I rode the trails, the better I got to know Kayla's personality. I learned that she was super honest and rarely acted up unless there was a reason (stampede of cows coming straight for us). I learned that she would go go go until she could go no further - which meant that I needed to stop her long before she was completely spent. I also learned that I could ride a bold, fast moving horse with full confidence in her.

Bend your horse - for a reason.

Bend - it's often such a difficult concept, especially when riding in the ring. Try NOT bending when moving along a curvy trail, and you'll know why instructors harp on it so much. There is a reason that your horse should step under with the inside hind and "wrap his body around your inside leg": balance!

Be careful if you are approaching a curved path at speed because it's easy to lose balance if your horse is rigid or counter-bent. It helps if you can get him to look into the turn (flexion), and avoid leaning one way or the other. Getting a full body bend gives the horse the balance he needs and supples at the same time. The trail is the best place to learn all about balance!

Smell the ~~roses~~ trees.

So far, I've talked mainly about riding the trails at trot or canter. That's probably because of my horse's competitive trail experience (you can't really take the speed out of the equation once she gets used to it).

But there is another huge facet to riding on the trails - the beauty. Our often hectic lifestyles tend to reduce opportunity to simply be in the moment and enjoy it for what it is.

Some horses love ambling along at a leisurely gait. Walking on the trails allows you to take in every aspect of nature - the smell, the breeze, the scenery, the squirrel scurrying off under the leaves.... We're heading into fall here in our neck o' the woods, and the brightly colored leaves and the swish of your horse's feet through the foliage is enough to make a good day great.

Happy trails!

Well, those are some of the things I've learned on the trails. I'm sure I've missed many. If you have some experiences of your own to share, please add them in the comments below.

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

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

Available as an eBook or paperback.

5 Things Your Horse Doesn’t Know About You

horse doesnt know We ride our horses as if they should know what we want them to do. We know we're perfectly clear in our aids as we go around the ring or on the trails, so surely the horse should have no problem interpreting our aids and answering "yes" to our questions.

To be honest, I regularly marvel at how well they do understand us. When I get on a horse for the first time, I am amazed that the horse can accurately interpret my aids and respond - even if the horse was ridden in a different discipline, or was trained in a different country. Horses are definitely better listeners than we are in that sense!

Having said that, it might be a bit different for the horse when it comes to other unknown facets of our lives. Although we often don't think about these things, they do influence how we ride, especially in our "feel" to the horse. Our stress, or exuberance, or lack of energy affect our interactions with the horse from the moment we grab the halter and lead rope and head to the field.

The horse won't have a clue that you had a seriously stressful meeting at work, or if you carried boxes around all day so that you're physically exhausted by the time you get to the barn. By becoming more aware of your external life circumstances, you can improve your interactions with your horse.

Do a quick mental check of the things your horse won't know about you - even as you head to the field.

Your Frame of Mind

Ideally, you'd be calm and reasonable each and every day. Horses have no idea about your life stresses or pressures that you have to face outside of the barn, nor do they really care. They are most concerned about things that relate to them - food, water, turnout, shelter, herd mates....

They don't brace themselves ahead of time if you happen to be upset about an earlier event. Learn to live in the present and leave your woes in the driveway as you head to the barn.

Your Emotions

In this world of physical communication, how you feel while you ride is fairly easy for horses to decipher. This means that they will quickly pick up on mis-matches such as a sweet tone of voice but an aggressive body language. In general, you will likely convey what you're really thinking through your physical actions and the energy you give off. It gets even easier for them when you're in the saddle!

Learn to intentionally control your body language. The horse can feel any tension instantly. The trick is to catch yourself as you become tense, and actually teach your body to not reflect that tension. Keep your riding position open, soften through the elbows, loosen your gripping legs.

"Fake it till you make it!" Riding is supposed to be fun, after all!

Your Riding Goals

Let's face it! Horses are not interested in your riding goals. Period.

And they have no way of even beginning to understand what you want out of a given exercise.

However, most horses can identify good work and bad work. If you can improve the horse's way of going to make him feel better physically, the horse will learn to look forward to spending time with you under saddle. You can definitely earn trust through your riding skills and activities.

Your Preferred Riding Style

It would be great if you could know your horse well enough to know which discipline he would excel at. Then you could ride in that discipline yourself. However, most horses will go in any saddle assuming they have the ability and aptitude for the required movements. You could easily slap on a western saddle instead of a dressage saddle, or scrap both of them and go side saddle!

What's more important is that the horse feels comfortable. Horses may have a preferred or special skill in particular riding activities but if you ride well and keep them comfortable, you can probably do what you want and your horse will happily accommodate you.

Your Riding Skills

How you ride is probably the most critical aspect to your horse. When all is said and done, an easy moving, well balanced human partner is more important than anything else to the horse.

The more educated you can be, the more you can serve your horse as he develops his own skills. No learning is ever wasted, even if it feels difficult or unreachable at first. What you learn from one horse can always be applied to other horses so there is really no such thing as "wasted" learning.

People often talk about doing activities that help us "live in the moment." There is nothing more "momentous" than horseback riding, and the beauty of our chosen activity is that the horse offers us the opportunity to really let go of our daily lives and spend a few hours just doing and being with the horse.

Take some of the guesswork out of it for your horse. Become consistent in how you work with and around your horse, and develop the aspects that are really important. And above it all, have a great time!

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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.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:

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.

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.

The Top 8 Perks of Horse Keeping: Here are a few positives that keep us going when everyone else is enjoying their leisure time.

Because of Horses: What has changed in your life because of horses?

Feeling Like A (Dressage) Queen

Like many people, I have traditionally heard the term Dressage Queen used in a generally negative manner. When I think of those words, I often picture all the stereotypes that are depicted about dressage riders - stern, tight-lipped, maybe just a little overbearing. If you go by what you hear, aspiring to be a dressage queen is often a frowned-upon goal.

But something happened that completely flipped around the meaning of the phrase for me.

The other day, I had one of those rides we all dream of. Cyrus was energetic, confident and bold, bouncy-bouncy and just full of life. He was sharp and had a spring in his step as if he was going for gold (in his own mind). He felt so upbeat that he carried me right along with him, lifting my spirits and putting me on that pedestal that only a horse can do.

Here is my attempt to capture the feel of the moment.

Soft, harrowed footing draws sweet patterns ahead

inviting the thumpety thump of my horse's rhythmic footfalls,

making a hoof print trail in the untouched sand.

Blue sky;

gentle, warm breeze and

a wonderfully huge, open space

calling to us,

urging us to move, move, move!

Almost soundless footfalls

traversing over space and time

pushing, lifting, carrying two as one.

Walk/trot/canter merrily-we-go-along

making circles, lines, loops and turns,

bends and laterals, straights and engagement

taking us from flat to round to uphill-like-an-airplane balance.

Heartfelt snort from my horse,

steady breaths on my part,

moving to stay still but covering ground in literal leaps and bounds.

Lofty almost floating yet

welcomed back to the earth with soft cushioned landings

step by step, stride by stride,

until we're both spent and needing to walk.

For a break.

Is this what being a queen feels like?

Not just a dressage queen -

but a Queen

riding dressage,

on top of the world

(on top of my black beauty)

savoring every fantastical moment,

enveloped by all that surrounds us in sound, sight, feel and movement

and welcoming it all

deeply.

Into my being.

Maybe this is what being a queen really feels like.

Have you ever had one of these rides? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Collection: A Beginning Exercise To Try

I made a fairly bold statement in a previous article that was about differentiating between frame, roundness and collection. I said that most of us don't actually ride in collection with our horses, even when we think that's what we're doing.

I still stand by that comment, especially because there are a couple of misconceptions about what collection really means.

The Misconceptions

Collection isn't only about being slow. Many people think that if they slow down their horses (think disengagement of the hind end), that they are "collecting". It is true that upper level horses don't move their legs quickly, but the slowness doesn't come about because of lack of forward. In fact, it's quite the opposite. If the horse needs to elevate the legs higher, then he needs more time to do that. The legs move slower to allow for the increased "joint articulation" and movement required in collection.

Collection isn't about shortening the stride length either. People often think that if they can get their horses to travel over less ground, that they're collected. In fact, the leg activity increases. Although the horse takes more steps in less space, the energy goes into forming higher and rounder leg movement rather than just moving ahead over ground.

This is how I explained collection in the article:

In dressage, collection is the highest level of training for the horse. In other words, travelling while collected is difficult and requires a sophisticated level of balance, mental/emotional control, and understanding from the horse. The collected horse has developed the strength to tilt the haunches so the hind legs are far underneath the body, and the front end (head and neck included) is at the highest point. The horse moves in an “uphill” manner.

Collection is achieved primarily by the seat and legs. The hands are the last to act, and ideally, serve to “catch and recycle” the energy produced by the seat and legs. The horse is not kept in place – the collected appearance is the result of the activity of the hind end. Let go of both reins, and the horse should stay in collection for several strides.

In The Beginning

Collection is difficult for both rider and horse to achieve, especially in the beginning, because of the re-definition of aids that needs to take place. While the horse and rider are in the novice stage of riding, leg aids can be used to just move, or to perform a transition.

But when you start working on collection, you will change your seat and leg aids to mean something different. In this case, leg aids need to mean "engagement" rather than just "go". Your expectation, as the rider, is that the horse puts more energy into the movement, without going bigger or faster or longer or changing gaits. In fact, your leg and seat aids combined will be morphing into something new to tell the horse: put more energy into your movement, reach deeper underneath your body, and begin to tilt your pelvis so that you can start to carry rather than push.

An Exercise

There is a (seemingly) simple exercise you can use to start to teach you and your horse what collection feels like. It can help your horse begin to feel what it's like to reach under with the hind legs and tilt the pelvis (even if just a little). It basically puts you into "assuming the position" rather than trying to force anything.

These are called "nested circles." The trick with doing them is that they both should start at the exact same point. So if you start the large circle at C, but then go into the small circle three-quarters into the circle, you'll lose the purpose of the exercise. Make sure you start them at the same place.

Do the large circle first. I have it spaced out here at 20 metres, but you can adjust the size according to your riding space. The key is to make it large and evenly round. Take the opportunity here to activate your horse's hind legs.

You only need a mild bend, so although you want flexion (the horse looks in the direction of the turn), you can keep the horse fairly straight and focus on energy and activity. Make the strides large, find your ideal tempo and stay at that tempo, and then focus on the accuracy of the circle.

Then do the small circle. In the diagram, it's a 10-metre circle but again, you can play with the size a bit. Just don't make it too large, nor too small. You need it small enough to ask for a fairly deep bend, but not so small that you horse has trouble negotiating the turn in the first place.

Bend! As you approach the small circle (in the last quarter of the large circle), apply your bend aids - inside leg at the girth, outside leg behind the girth, your core and shoulders turned to the middle of the circle, mild inside rein contact for flexion, outside neck rein for direction - and bend before you hit C again. Then, move into the 10-m circle.

The horse should now have a fairly deep bend in the hind end as well as the front end. But make sure he doesn't just fall to the inside. The image of "wrapped around your inside leg" works well here. Complete the 10-m circle.

But Don't Forget!

This is where we all fall apart a bit. We tend to flop - either to the inside of the turn, or in our seat. Stay tall, turn in but don't lean or collapse, and keep riding!

During the small circle, you need to focus on more than just bend. You also have to encourage the horse to maintain or even increase his energy level. You can accept a mildly slower tempo with the legs, but you can't let the energy dissipate. In fact, you need to do everything you can to encourage your horse to stay in front of your leg especially in the small circle.

At first, you'll feel a bit like a teeter totter. You will ask your horse to go, and he'll go but fall to the forehand and begin to rush off. Half-halt and try again.

If you don't ask the horse to go, he might break gait or quit altogether. Or sometimes, you ask the horse to go and he just runs off.

Be patient through these tries. Both of you have to learn what it feels like to carry rather than to just push with the hind end. Both of you need to figure out how much energy you need to put in to maintain the gait with more activity and roundness.

So listen carefully to your horse, and see how much go you need and how much half-halt you need to not let the energy just run off.

If you find yourself and/or your horse huffing and puffing after just a few tries - congratulations! You're on the right track. You'll both need to develop the stamina to keep moving in collection over a longer period of time.

If you feel like you're just going from "go to no", then you're also on the right track. Over time, you'll be able to be more diplomatic in your aids and your horse will become better at keeping his own balance.

Give this a try. Did your horse step deeper on the smaller circle? Were you able to keep up the activity level while on the smaller circle? Did you have any difficulties? Let us know in the comments below.

If you like this sort of pattern work, join my Practice Sessions Premium Membership. The Practice Sessions are a complete program beginning with exercises like the one above, designed to improve specific aspects of the horse and rider. All set up and ready to go, all you have to do is watch the video, print off the pattern PDF and head to the barn!

But there's so much more! There's quality of movement exercises, theory "Mini-Classes" on specific aids and figures, a fantastic group of riders who motivate and encourage each other, and so much more! Click here to learn more.

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Buy the books for many more riding tips! Horse Listening Book Collection.

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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 as paperback. Click here to learn more.

What “In Front Of The Leg” Feels Like

transitions — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

"Keep the horse in front of your leg!" This is an expression you might often hear in dressage lessons, but it is also highly relevant and often referred to in other disciplines. Although the phrase sounds fairly self-explanatory, knowing what it feels like can be difficult to ascertain especially when you're just learning.

What It Isn't

"In front of the leg" isn't just faster. Even though there is a significant energy increase when the horse increases the tempo of the footfalls, speed isn't exactly what you're looking for. If you could harness the energy you get from speeding up, but not let the legs move faster, then you'll be on the right track.

It also isn't so strong that your horse is gets heavier on the reins and falls to the forehand. Even if you can increase the energy without leg speed, you shouldn't end up having so much energy forward that it causes your horse to fall out of balance.

To avoid this "throwing of the energy out the front end," you need to use effective half-halts that help keep the energy harnessed so that the horse can use it to improve everything from balance to quality of movement.

What It Feels Like

You can probably identify what "in front of the leg" looks like, but here we will focus on the feel, because when you're riding, you don't always have the privilege of knowing how you appear (although a friend with a video camera or mirrors in your riding area can be indispensable for your progress).

There's no stop to the movement

Do you know how it feels when your horse wants to stop every step of the way? You end up almost trotting or cantering for your horse, constantly using your legs or pumping your seat just to get that next stride?

That is the opposite of what "in front of the leg" feels like. When your horse is going well, you feel like the energy is just there. Your horse trots along until you ask for a transition. He canters and allows you to communicate with him during the canter - half-halt here, turn there, stay balanced here, lengthen there. So rather than using all your attention to keeping him going, you can focus on other things and count on him to maintain the gait.

The energy is rhythmical and forward

One of the first hints to "in front of the leg" is rhythm. If the horse wants to stop every other stride, you simply won't be able to maintain a clear rhythm or tempo of the footfalls. So that should be your first focus.

But then, there is also this sense of forward energy, the kind that feels like the horse is moving under his own power. You both progress ahead in space together freely and with regularity. It's not fast but it's also not restricted. He feels like he'll explode forward at a moment's notice, with the slightest leg aid.

Good balance

A horse that is in front of the leg is also in balance. There is a purely physical reason for this. When the horse is forward and rhythmical (without falling to the forehand), the inside hind leg reaches further underneath the body and promotes better balance.

You'll find that your horse has an easier time with everything from transitions to changes of direction, but done well, you might also feel your horse actually lighten on the forehand and assume an uphill tendency in the front end.

Round movement

Along with energy and balance, you'll find your horse can "round" easier. So instead of feeling like a piece of plywood through the back and neck, you should feel that the horse can send the energy "over the back" and allow longitudinal flexion to occur.

A gentle half-halt can result in the hind end rounding so the legs step deeper, the back assuming more of a "bridge" that can carry the weight of the rider and the poll and jaw softening in response to the bit contact.

The whole outline of the horse looks round, as does the movement.

The horse's neck is thick at the base

I think of this as a "stallion neck." Even though your horse may not be a stallion, the freely energetic horse can allow enough energy through the body so that the base of the neck is elevated slightly into this gorgeous neck arch position that bulges with muscles and looks surprisingly thick.

Expressive movement

Your horse's movement simply becomes more expressive. Rather than moving flat and uninspired, the horse that is in front of the leg moves with animation, eagerness and buoyancy. His ears might be slightly forward (not like in a spook), because he is looking ahead and thinking forward.

Bold and Confident

Finally, the horse exudes a boldness and confidence that is simply not present otherwise. The horse moves forward, straight ahead between the legs and reins, seeming to know exactly where he is going and what he is going to do. The sense of confidence allows for a certain level of "looseness" or lack of tension.

If you're not used to riding a horse that is "in front of the leg," you might be somewhat unnerved at first at the strength and energy that forms every stride. You might even get left behind a bit, as your upper body and core must become more adept at keeping up with the horse's movement.

But the rewards are exhilarating. While your horse moves along, you are free to work on yourself. You are also able to use your aids more effectively to improve your communication with your horse - a goal we aspire to work toward at all times.

What does "in front of the leg" feel like to you? Comment below.

Buy the Book! Book 2: Forward and Round to Training Success

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.

A Summertime “Round Up” Of Great Horse Riding Links

There is so much good information on the Internet if you know where to look. I regularly read and watch videos about horses and horse riding, just as you probably do. Some of them are instructional while others are inspiring.

Here are top quality links that I've visited lately. Some are new and some were posted years ago, but they are all worthwhile.

Light In Your Hand - Not Non-Existent! This blog is written by an excellent riding instructor, and an online friend. I'm sad to say that she passed away a few years ago but her knowledge has been carefully preserved here in her own words on her own blog. Lots of great info on this site.

Don't Give Up On Your Dressage Dreams: A super encouraging and inspiring article by Canada's Belinda Trussel, letting us in on her path to achieving her dreams, and to just jump over the hurdles!

Develop Your Dressage Horse's Topline: Written by Sue Blinks, this is an older article that just keeps on giving. Very detailed information about the aids for developing your horse's topline, and discusses the various components including conformation, age and temperament. A must-read.

The Pain That Is Back Pain, Part I: Everything you've always wanted to know about the horse's back (well, almost), written in clear and easy to understand terms, written by veterinarian Dr. David Ramey.

The Pain That Is Back Pain, Part II: More information on diagnosis and treatment of back pain in horses.

How to Ride First Level Leg Yields: The aids, how leg yields affect the rib cage, and a great exercise.

How Stretching The Horse Lines Up The Vertebrae: The author tells about Ingrid Klimke's stretching warm-up routine.

Riding With A 'Library-Quiet' Position: The rider's hands, legs, seat and a bunch of exercises to try.

The Balanced Horse: An excerpt from Sylvia Loch's 2015 book. Excellent advice for the rider's position.

Arthur Kottas-Heldenburg: Measuring Degrees of Dressage Collection: What does the term "degree of collection for this level" mean?

Plus, if you're still looking for more reading, here are some of the top 5 Horse Listening posts from the past three months.

When Good Riding Instruction Becomes Great: Great instructors repeatedly show characteristics that make positive effects on their students. They are the ones that make a difference in their riders in one single ride.

9 Things You Need To Know If You Want To Ride Horses: You've booked riding lessons at a local barn and you are convinced that you are ready to tackle the learning curve that lays ahead. Before you begin, here are nine tips to smooth the way into your new adventures!

Dear Adult-With-Many-Responsibilities Horse Person: Here are 8 ways you can feel good about your horse ownership and riding decisions even though it may not be the ultimate arrangement.

7 Essential Aids For An Epic Canter Transition: In the following seven steps, I've tried to break down each component of the transition in order to explain the nuances that go into a split-second movement! Although it might seem a little complicated, I hope that it can describe each moment that goes into a better developed canter departure.

"Inside Leg To Outside Rein" - The Cheat Sheet: Here is a detailed breakdown of how to do it, and what the aids are.

If you have a quality link to share with us, please add the link in the comment section below.

Horse Listening

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

Available as an eBook or paperback.

More reading:

14 Ways To Have A Great Ride: Here are some quick ideas to add to your normal repertoire of horsin’ around activities.

13 Reasons Why You Should Be A Barn Brat: Not only is time spent at the barn well spent, but here are 13 reasons why barn bratting is good for us – and more importantly – makes us better not only as equestrians, but as all-around humans.

4 Mutual Grooming Strategies For Your Life: It’s mutual grooming madness back at the ranch!

Horses. Riding. Life.

Author: Horse Listening

11 Unexpected Side-Benefits Of Riding Tests (Or Patterns)

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

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

The Difference Between Rhythm and Tempo

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

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

6 Things You’ll Learn While Riding On The Trails

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

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

5 Things Your Horse Doesn’t Know About You

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

Feeling Like A (Dressage) Queen

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

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

Collection: A Beginning Exercise To Try

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

What “In Front Of The Leg” Feels Like

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the Book! Book 2: Forward and Round to Training Success

A Summertime “Round Up” Of Great Horse Riding Links

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

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