A strong yet supple position is a stable foundation from which to communicate with precision to your equine partner. With less motion in the saddle, your legs and reins can deliver just the right timing and intensity of aids.
English, western and dressage riders share most of the equitation essentials with minor variations in position between riding styles. More of Lindsay’s rider equitation tips – head to toe.
English, western and dressage riders share most of the equitation essentials with minor variations in position between riding styles. Lindsay’s rider equitation tips – head to toe.
I learned the fundamentals of equitation to the repetitive tune of Heads up! Heels down! trotting around and around the riding school arena. I acquired the hows of riding in those early years, but my whys were typically answered with tradition – that’s just the way it’s done. Thinking back, if I’d grasped the reasoning behind the technical skills of riding, I’d have been more motivated to persevere in those drills without stirrups!
The equitation essentials of a balanced rider position cross all riding disciplines – western, hunter seat or dressage. Why is the classic riding position worth perfecting? There’s logic behind every essential!
Unsteady hands in riding interfere with the clarity of your message to your horse, like radio static. Here are some tips to ride with quiet hands
“Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.” I describe suppleness in training horses as lack of “brace” – longitudinally or laterally.
What are the keys to a light mouthed horse? Before heading to the tack store for a different bit, ask yourself these questions…
“Should I try another bit?”
In watching hundreds of horse and rider conversations, I’m convinced that the bit operator- the hands at the other end of the reins have the most dramatic effect in achieving the light mouthed horse. Here are my 5 most common bit operator errors and suggestions to improve communication with the hands at the other end of the reins:
“Should I try another bit?”
In some cases, a bit change for your horse is the magic bullet. But rarely. Often, there’s something else overshadowing a bit issue. In watching hundreds of horse and rider conversations, I’m convinced that the hands at the other end of the reins have the most dramatic effect in achieving the light-mouthed horse.