Horse Listening

Skip Into A Straight Canter Transition (Exercise)

1. Start at F, on the left rein, already in trot. Head across on the diagonal. Canter in right lead as you pass over X.

2. Now, continue the rest of Step 1 in canter. Contrary to most patterns, we won't do a corner. Instead, start a half 20-m circle before you reach the corner, and continue in the half-circle in canter. Develop a slight bend through the half-circle.

3. Trot before you get to M and change across the diagonal again in trot.

Now, do everything in the opposite direction!

So transition to canter as you pass over X, this time in the left lead. Do the half-circle in canter and transition back to trot before F.

Repeat several times.

The theory behind "Practice Sessions" is that you need to practice in order to see benefits. So as you ride through the pattern, you might find that you need several repetitions just to get each component. THEN, once you and your horse know where you're going and what you're doing, you will be able to work on the nuances that are at the heart of this exercise.

The Details

The Corner

Use the corner to help set up for the diagonal line. As you head into the corner, a half-halt might help your horse maintain his balance as he navigates the tight turn. You might need additional "go" (two legs on) going through the corner, which will allow the horse to engage the hind legs enough to head into the diagonal with enough strength. Treat the corner as a tight bend and turn your own body into the bend the same way you expect from your horse.

The Diagonal Line

Now, the beginning of this line will give you a moment to focus on tempo and balance before the upcoming canter transition. Look for a 1-2-1-2 consistent tempo. Work on travelling in a straight line (no noodling!) and send energy again from the hind end to the front end. You might want to strengthen the trot if it feels under power. Or you might want to half-halt to contain too much energy.

The "Skip" (Transition Over X)

Prepare for the canter before X. You might need to set up a little for the right lead, because you just came off a left turn!

Look for the corner of your horse's right eye (flexion). Many horses will be still looking left at this moment. Having correct flexion will help your horse with everything from knowing where he's going next, to not wavering off the diagonal line, and finally, to knowing which lead to take.

Use a little right leg to balance the horse's right rib cage and shoulder (and prevent it from falling in). Sit balanced on your new inside seat bone (the right) and then... a little "windshield wiper" swish of your outside leg to ask for the canter depart.

The transition should be nothing more than a change of leg, in the correct lead. There should be no rushing, scrambling, head tossing, stopping, or deeking to the left or right. You know you (finally!) have a skip when nothing changes other than the gait. The line stays straight, the horse's outline stays the same, the energy just continues to flow as it was in trot. You can keep your balance because your horse was already in balance. And the horse is light on his feet!

The Half-Circle

The half-circle gives your horse time to enjoy the canter for a moment. See if you can develop the stride length (without speeding up), create a mild 20-m bend in canter, and still maintain a consistent tempo. Prepare for the down transition and trot before the next turn, so that you can trot again into the straight line.

The Final Picture

I mean, this is an easy pattern, no? (Joke!)

All you are doing is a trot figure eight with diagonal lines, and cantering from X to the end of the half-circle. 🙂

At least, the idea is to make it look easy after you've got a good handle on all the parts.

Work on developing ever smoother transitions, both up and down. Figure out where you need to do the half-halts to contain energy, and where you need additional leg to maintain energy. Where does your horse have a tendency to lean in? Which lead departure is the more difficult one? Through repetition, you can improve the weakest parts, then the next weakest, and so on.

Changing sides and gaits in this way creates quite a workout for you and your horse, teaches straight lines as well as bends, and gives you opportunity to develop the timing of your own aids as you fine tune the details.

Have fun!

If you like this sort of pattern work, take a look at 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.

If you’d like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look at the new 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.

30,000 Likes Celebration!

And Happy New Year!

What a great time for the blog to head into 30k territory! The beginning of the new year is a great time of reflection, evaluation, goal setting....

Goals? Did someone say, "goals"?

Who DOESN'T want to improve themselves for the sake of their horse? Isn't the whole point of being a good horse human to get better at whatever we're doing with our horses?

Let's Celebrate!

I'd love to celebrate the 30k (that's actually 30,000 PEOPLE!!) by doing a random giveaway of 5 digital copies of Goal Setting For The Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. Since we're coming on to the new year, I thought you might find this workbook timely and appropriate!

All you have to do is answer the following question in the comments below:

What is one skill you would like to work on this year?

Here are the "deets":

The deadline is 12 am (midnight) on the day that the Facebook page reaches 30,000 likes! We are only just over 200 likes away at the time of writing this, so enter quickly, as it may happen within the next few days!
Only one entry per person. Only serious answers accepted (no facetious remarks!).
The draw is completely random.
Be sure to enter using the comment section for this post. Facebook comments will not be eligible for the draw! Winners will be announced the next day right here on the blog. I will write a new blog post with the winner's comments and names. Make sure you come back to check for winners on the blog or the Facebook page if you aren't already subscribed to the email list.
Winners will be required to contact me directly by email in order to receive their eBook.

Good luck, and thanks for reading, liking, commenting, encouraging me, and of course, Horse Listening!

Kathy

P.S. Shameless plug to let you know that I'm currently working on a 2nd Edition of the Goal Setting Book, which should be ready for publishing in the early Spring. All the great content of the 1st Edition will be kept in, but there will be two new sections that will make the book even more complete and useful! Keep an eye out...!

Don’t miss a single issue of Horse Listening! If you like what you are reading, become a subscriber and receive updates when new Horse Listening articles are published! Your email address will not be used on any other distribution list. Subscribe to Horse Listening by Email

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.

Happy 2020!

It's an amazing thing to come to the end of a year, but this time, we're heading into an entirely new DECADE!

Horse Listening has been around almost a whole decade (started in 2011), and we're thrilled to be moving on into 2020 with your readership.

No matter where you are tonight -

tucking the horses in
going out on a wild and crazy new year's celebration
sitting at home watching the celebrations on TV

... or none of the above, simply staying in routine, reading a good book, or spending time with family and friends -

wishing you a health, happiness and lots of horsin' around for 2020 and into a whole new decade!

Kathy

Merry Christmas!

It's the last Christmas Day of the DECADE and I simply want to send you my best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday and all my best as we head into a new whole decade of horsing around!
Although I spend most of my time here writing and posting pictures, I thought I'd get all "fancy" and send you my wishes on VIDEO! :-)
(pun! because the horse I'm riding is the beautiful "Fancy Pants"!)

Top 6 Essential Lessons From Horses

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

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

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

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

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

5) You really do have to listen.

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

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

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

4) Patience and perseverance is the key.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2) Maintaining balance is the key.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Riding gives us the place to just be.

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

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

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

This book is geared toward the rider:

- the rider's motivations

- the essential skills for the rider

- some specific strategies

- solutions to common problems

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

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

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

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Top 3 Reasons Why The TSF Stability Stirrup Leathers™ Are Still On My Saddle (A Product Review Follow-Up)

I wrote about the Stability Stirrup Leathers™ last April, when the cold weather was finally breaking and we were able to get back into the saddle regularly. At the time, I found the stirrup leathers exceedingly comfortable and supportive. So I thought I'd come back here and give you a short update about how they have fared through the heat of the summer and now into late fall.

If you'd like to read my first review, click here.

Turns out, I never took them off my saddle. They've been the only stirrup leathers I've used since, and I likely will never go back to traditional leathers again, as these ones have spoiled me and increased my expectations as to what I really want in stirrup leathers. Why? Here are the top three reasons.

3. They Feel Great

I know I mentioned this last time too, but there's no other way to explain it. EVERY time I get into the saddle and the leathers disappear under my calf, it simply feels great. There's no messing around with a twisted leather, no bulk, no pinch. They're there and my legs feel great but I don't feel anything. There's nothing in the way.

2. Quiet Legs

Well, they still work that way. While I rarely notice that they're really doing anything much for me, what I DO notice is what it feels like when I ride in other saddles with normal leathers! I notice the pressure of the narrower leathers on my calves, even underneath my winter boots. I notice their looseness and the ease of the swing in especially my left leg <ugh>. I notice how most of them are so much thicker and just not. as. nice. What can I say?

1. They Still Look New!

You wouldn't believe it, but the leather has hardly scuffed, scratched, or lost its original shine. I've done very little in terms of conditioning (always run out of time - shame!) but even with normal use and storage, the leather has maintained its pliability and fine-grained, black appearance. The only difference at this point is that the leathers now have settled onto the saddle, right behind the thigh roll. And for my saddle, this means that there's a lot less scuffing marks from the stirrup leathers because they sit in their own space.

The Only Catch

In my experience, they did stretch a bit from stirrup pressure. As with all leathers, you should probably switch sides every three months or so in order to keep them evenly stretched. And you might have to eventually add new holes if you're already using the top holes, like I am.

If you'd like more details, take a look at the Total Saddle Fit website here. And happy riding! 🙂

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

Available as an eBook or paperback.

If you liked this article, you might also like these ones:

Product Review: StretchTec Shoulder Relief Girth™

What Do Leg Aids Mean?

12 Riding Quick Tips – #1: Start At The Seat

6 Ways to Unleash the Power of Your Riding Seat

The Three Basic Rein Aids Explained

What Is A Balanced Seat?

Balanced Seat Horse Riding — Photo Credit: J. Boesveld

We often hear instructors and clinicians talking about the "balanced seat", and how important it is to effective horse riding. It stands to reason that without a balanced seat, the rider is UNbalanced! But what we don't hear often is what is actually balanced about the balanced seat, and how to achieve it! So here are a few thoughts.

Stay With The Horse

In order to stay with the horse's movement, the seat has to at once move but also not move too much. If the horse moves, the seat HAS to follow along, and dance the dance that it is receiving from the horse's back. But if it moves TOO much - far beyond the horse's movement - then, it's a flopping seat and it can actually unbalance the horse! So the difficult trick is to teach your body to stay with the horse but to also stay toned and strong, especially through the core, where most of the horse's movement is received and absorbed.

Stay On Top Of The Horse

We've all probably gotten either too far ahead of the horse's movement, or alternately, fallen behind the horse's movement. It's very easy to do! If the horse lurches forward, our vertical upper bodies have the tendency to get left behind, and suddenly, we find ourselves leaning back and doing our best to not fall off even as the horse continues to move off. Then, when the horse suddenly slows down or stops, we get thrown forward, sometimes toward or on the horse's neck.

First off, we need to have the strength in our core muscles to be able to keep our shoulders above our hips no matter what the horse does. So as the horse goes to lurch forward, we have to counter that movement by keeping our shoulders vertical and not allowing our upper bodies to give in to the pull backward. The same thing goes for the fall forward - knowing when to stay strong in the lower back to prevent the lean forward is very helpful when the horse suddenly stops moving.

But it also helps to keep the horse "ahead of the leg", and to create smooth, flowing transitions. It's probably fairly obvious that if you can help your horse stay better balanced, that you'll be able to stay vertical through the movements that much better, and with a lot less effort.

No Leaning!

Aside from the backward and forward falling, there's also the side-to-side component of the seat.

Many of us might lean or turn or collapse to one side. It might have to do with our bodies, or with our muscle memory from times past, or just from long ago habits that were never corrected in the first place. The only thing to do here is to stay even on top of both seat bones. Your shoulders should be parallel to your horse's shoulders (and pointing into a circle if that's where you're going. Your hips should also be parallel to the horse's hips (and be straight if you are travelling on a straight line).

And then, stay that way! Try to feel your sides and avoid collapses. Try to notice if you turn your upper body too far going one direction. And counteract that lean through the turn, so that you can be as tall and straight on your horse as you can (even while you're turned just enough into that direction). This way, you will be able to help your horse stay as "straight on the turn" as he can.

Be Independent

When all the above imbalances are corrected, we can achieve something that I'm sure you've heard of many times: the "independent seat". Once the seat is balanced enough, it can become independent of the hands, and even of the legs to some degree, so that the rider can control each part of the body as needed. In this manner, for example, if the horse does move quickly in one direction, the seat (and torso) can counteract the movement by staying in balance, and thereby NOT causing the hands to hold onto the reins just for the sake of staying on the horse. Instead, they can support the horse through the movement, giving and taking as needed to help the horse maintain his balance.

Be Effective

Finally, there is one last result of the balanced seat. The balance translates into effectiveness.

If you can do all the above, you can also improve your horse's way of going - which is what it's all about, really. We all want to keep our horses sound and safe and injury-free even while we ride them and enjoy the various disciplines with them. Good balance is one of the fundamental components of keeping a healthy and happy horse.

It's Simple, Really

At least, the concept is simple.

A balanced seat allows you to stay with your horse. Your upper body moves little and doesn't fall forward or backward. It doesn't lean or collapse left or right. It also allows you to use your aids more effectively, with less "noise" (so there's less to confuse the horse), and with more clarity.

The hard part is putting in the work to get there! But surely, with practice and feedback, it can be done. Have fun!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

Stop wandering round and round aimlessly!

Horse Listening Book 4 is a compilation of the best patterns that have been shared on the Horse Listening Blog. The book is divided into five sections: Warm-Ups, Left and Right, Straightness, Suppleness and Collection. Each section has specific exercises and theory based on its topic.

But there's more!

There is a Special Center Section dedicated to only Transitions - something that we can all work on throughout our riding careers. And finally, scattered throughout the book are chapters that clearly explain theory, technique and skills that can help improve the featured exercises of teach Section.

Use these 20-minute exercises!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Top 5 Reasons To Warm-Up and Cool-Down On The Trail – At The Walk!

You don't even need "real" trails. Walking around the perimeter of a beautiful grassy field would be just as useful - and enjoyable! If you don't have a field, then pretending that you're in a field while walking the edge of your ring can help achieve many of the following goals as well. 🙂

While I also use the trails to develop my trot and canter, I want to focus on just the walk for this article - and for the warm-up and cool-down portion of your rides. Many experts discuss the importance of walking before and after a riding workout/lesson. There is good reason for it, as the horse's joints, ligaments and tendons need to warm up before the real work, and what better way than through the low-impact, but highly effective walk?

But there's so much more to be gained by walking on the trails! Here are the top five reasons to add that walk before, after, or both before and after the "lesson" part of your rides:

5. Develop a great free walk

There's no better way to develop a truly "free" walk than heading on the trails and letting the excitement of open space and the great outdoors do the work for you - all without it feeling like work at all. Most horses walk better out on the trails, even when leaving the barn (!) than they do in a ring.

Then that walk that happens on the way home - that's the one that we aspire toward in the ring! Practice it out in the fields and bring that feeling to your walks later on during your ring rides.

4. Bonding time

Bonding takes time, and getting out on the trails gives you the time you need to really get to know your horse. What's he like if you go on the trails before your workout? How is he different after the workout? What does he look at? Can he leave the barn as well as he comes back to the barn? Can you join other horses, and then leave them?

A simple walk on the trail will give you adventures to go through and opportunities for improved communication. You'll learn things about your horse (and yourself) that you might not otherwise. See how this can improve your ring rides as well!

3. Practice spooking

This might sound a little funny but if your horse happens to be a little more spooky outside, use it as an opportunity! Go where you know your horse will feel most comfortable, and start there. If possible, go with a friend who has a "babysitter horse" who will help your horse be more comfortable. Work on going forward, walking (not trotting or running off), stopping and actually relaxing at the halt at random points along the trail (including on the way home).

If your horse spooks, find strategies to use to teach him that he can spook all he wants, as long as he doesn't rear/buck/bolt/spin or even stop responding to you because of a distraction. In fact, teach him all about how he can look around, see things, and still walk on the path, maintain his tempo, and be safe to ride.

When he gets better in his comfortable area, then go just a little further out and practice all over again!

2. The physical benefits

There's a lot to be said about muscle memory. The physiological improvements take time to develop but might be noticeable even after a few regular outings. The tendons and ligaments strengthen and limber up over time and combined with muscles relaxation (especially if you've figured out #3!), walking "well" will become a habit.

I learned to walk "well" when I first started to train for competitive trail. The experienced riders that I was fortunate to meet taught me so much about how great a walk can be. At first, you might have to encourage your horse to step out, but over time, he will easily pick up the pace himself.

What can a walk do for your horse (and you too, of course)? Done properly, it can be an awesome way to condition - and yes, it does condition, if you have a brisk pace and a long stride. Longer reins (as opposed to shorter reins that you'd need for trot/canter) can allow the horse freedom of movement. The variable footing and the slopes of the trail teach the horse to step carefully, maintain balance and even use the hind end!

1. The joy of it.

And this is the clincher. Never mind all the good things that happen physically, and all the fantastic training moments! It almost goes without saying that riding in the great outdoors is just a joy in itself. Your horse gets to see new sights and go places (exactly what he was bred to do). For us, the smell of the foliage, the critters scurrying about, the amazing oxygen... it all adds up to providing an experience that most of us who live in suburbia simply don't get anymore. Add to that the time spent with your favorite equine friend... and it really is what life is all about!

But it doesn't stop there!

If you do take the time to do the walk before your ride, you might be pleasantly surprised about how nicely your horse moves once you get back into the ring. And to top it off, you can then go straight into an active trot/canter warm-up, or into the workout section of your ride.

If you do the walk at the end of your ride, your horse will be nicely cooled down - pulse and respiration back to normal - and relaxed by the time you head into the barn.

It's a win-win any way you look at it!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

Stop wandering round and round aimlessly!

But there's more!

Use these 20-minute exercises!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Horses. Riding. Life.

Articles

Skip Into A Straight Canter Transition (Exercise)

30,000 Likes Celebration!

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Happy 2020!

Merry Christmas!

Top 6 Essential Lessons From Horses

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

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

Top 3 Reasons Why The TSF Stability Stirrup Leathers™ Are Still On My Saddle (A Product Review Follow-Up)

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

What Is A Balanced Seat?

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

Top 5 Reasons To Warm-Up and Cool-Down On The Trail – At The Walk!

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine