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Education Articles
GENERAL
Supple Your Stiff Horse
There are lots of exercises you can do to supple a stiff horse. But one of my favorites is one I call “+7/+1″. Here are the aids to supple your horse with that exercise. THE ACTIVE AIDS The Inside Rein The action of the …
Read ArticleWhat’s the Difference Between Jaw and Poll Flexion?
A lot of riders aren’t clear on the difference between flexion at the jaw and flexion at the poll, and how to ask for each of these positions. Keep in mind that a horse can flex three ways–to the left, to the right, and …
Read ArticleCan You Pat Your Head and Rub Your Stomach? Putting Your Horse on the Bit
Putting your dressage horse on the bit is really as simple as patting your head and rubbing your stomach. As long as you know the ingredients that make up the aid that puts your horse on the bit, you can connect him. And the great news is that …
Read ArticleTips For Riding in Balance With Your Horse
Many riders lean behind the vertical (especially in trot extensions!) because they think they’re driving their horses more forward. The problem with leaning back, however, is that you’ll end up pushing your horse’s back down. …
Read ArticleBetter Free Walks and Trot and Canter Lengthenings
If your horse doesn’t march with good energy in your free walk or fades too early in your trot and canter lengthenings, try “breathing” your legs during the movement. To “breathe” your legs: Take …
Read ArticleTips to Help You Feel Your Horse's Hind Legs
Can you feel when your horse's hind legs are on the ground? This is an important skill to develop because you want to time your leg aids so that you give them when your horse's hind leg is on the ground ...specifically just as it's …
Read ArticleAre You Making This Deadly Mistake To Get Your Dressage Horse On the Bit?
Do you saw left and right on your dressage horse’s mouth to get him “on the bit”? If you “saw” on your horse’s mouth by alternating squeezing and releasing with your hands, you’re riding …
Read ArticleDoes Your Dressage Horse Cross His Legs Enough In Leg Yields?
When you do leg yields from the centerline to the long side as you do in the First Level dressage tests, it’s not always easy to make sure that your horse is crossing his legs enough. That’s because as long as you manage to get from …
Read ArticleTips To Supple Your Dressage Horse’s Poll
If your dressage horse is supple at his poll, you should be able to flex him laterally to the left and right. If you’re not sure if he’s locked at the poll, ask yourself some questions: Will he easily flex to the left or right …
Read ArticlePick Up the Correct Canter Lead
PICK UP THE CORRECT CANTER LEAD EVERY TIME! I asked readers to send me their training questions and was deluged with questions about people who have trouble picking up one of their canter leads... Here are some tips and exercises to help you …
Read ArticlePut Your Horse On the Bit
No matter where I travel, the most frequently asked questions I get are, "How do I put my horse on the bit...and how do I keep him there consistently?" This concept baffles many riders. My hope here is to simplify the process for you …
Read ArticleCorrect Aid for Canter Depart
Jane Savoie is asked questions about riding all the time and this reader wanted to know where to place her leg for the canter depart, and when to release the aide. Swing your outside leg back ONCE, and then bring it back to it's …
Read ArticleEDUCATIONAL ARTICLES
Eventers Educational & Informative Links
Click the link below for information on Eventing
Read ArticleProtecting Water Quality
Good water quality is important for humans, wildlife, agriculture, and the environment. In order to perform for us and more importantly, to be healthy, horses require good water quality. Stream bank fencing and riparian …
Read ArticleArena Etiquette
For Competition Warm-Up and “Just at Home” 1. Pass left shoulder (hand) to left shoulder. 2. When walking, stay well to the inside of the track, so that those who are working may make use of it. Also, if you are going to halt, …
Read ArticleJim Woffard on Safe Cross Country Riding
Why are event horses falling and, sometimes, dying? Olympian Jim Wofford suggests some answers in this Practical Horseman online exclusive. By Jim Wofford May 14, 2008 -- Jackson Browne says "I've been …
Read ArticleDress for Dressage
Whether you are going to a rally, headed to Championship or going to a dressage competition outside of Pony Club knowing what is the correct clothes to wear is important. Knowing what the correct dress code for pony club is important for a few …
Read ArticleHORSE MANAGEMENT ARTICLES
Horse Management and the Real World
“Everything we do with horses, every rule we follow, is ultimately for the good of the horse.Mucking out a stall, picking out the feet, body clipping, keeping our heels down doing a shoulder-in, trotting a crossrail, or jumping a bending …
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