Dressage training thoughts, the rein back, December 14, 2011

Before proceeding to the rein back one must consider the nature of the movement. The rein back is created by using a driving seat to a non-allowing rein aid. When the horse is given the driving aid from the seat and legs and begins to move forward you must close your hands, he meets the non-allowing rein and walks backwards instead of forwards.Start by doing a series of quick walk/halt transitions until you get a square halt and your horse is not only on the bit, but on the aids.Remember, the half halt & driving aid are the same seat/weight aids. The half halt/full halt/rein back is the driving seat with the non-allowing rein aids. The same seat/weight aids are the driving aids when given with an allowing rein aid.That said, I follow a simple set of instructions:* Lighten your seat slightly by shifting your shoulders slightly in front of your hips*Bend your knees & move your lower legs behind the girth* Apply driving aid by lifting your tailbone towards your belly button*KEEP YOUR EYES UP*At the moment you apply the driving aids close your hands on your reins*As soon as your horse begins to move backwards follow with your seat by swinging with your hips-don't block with a dead seat!* Praise the horse!!!!

Dressage training thoughts, December 13, 2011

"Rock On" by Rubaiyat, 4 year old gelding out for a walk:)) Riding the young horses out teaches them to think FORWARD!!!!

Dressage training thoughts, December 13, 2011

I was just going through some old pictures & found this one of Rocky's father.....

According to Willi Schultheis, "good breeding means less training." I can see Rubaiyat in Rocky every day in his work & beautiful conformation:)))

Dressage training thoughts, December 10, 2011

When you are bending your horse it is critical that you NEVER take back on the inside rein, since this will make it impossible for the horse to bring his inside hind leg forward & under his body. At the same time this will cause the horse to fall out over his outside shoulder.

Remember that you have to ride the front, back, right & left side of the horse simultaneously.

Training thoughts, December 9, 2011

There is not "one" perfect position for every horse's head & neck. The rider needs to find the position most appropriate for the horse's conformation.

The perfect carriage of the the head & neck in collection is when the neck rises from the wither (in relative elevation) well arched, with THE POLL THE HIGHEST POINT.

Training thoughts, December 8, 2011

Riders should try to ride a variety of horses. Every horse has different strengths & weaknesses, this teaches the rider how to work with different issues. In the end the horse is ALWAYS the best teacher!!!!

Training thoughts, December 7, 2011

“Only few people are aware of how much time, patience and effort is involved in giving a horse a complete training.”

(From ‘The Gymnasium of the Horse’ by Gustav Steinbrecht)

Training thoughts, December 6, 2011

Impulsion, Swing

Impulsion is the result of the energetic push-off of the hind legs into the swinging back, influencing the entire forward propulsion mechanism of the horse. It is therefore a direct result of the rider’s correct training. The only part of the horse that should swing is his back!!! If you have a horse with good natural gaits the development of impulsion is greatly helped. Impulsion is only found in trot and canter, since there is no moment of suspension in the walk.

Important factors for swinging movements are:

* The supple and closed seat of the rider
* The first three steps of the training system (Rhythm,Suppleness, Contact with the bit)
* The horse has to have a degree of straightness

It is very important that the rider is able to use the driving aids.
Swing is developed by:

* Riding the horse forward and straightening it (Gustav Steinbrecht)
* Increasing the driving aids quietly, without hurrying the horse
* Riding tempo changes in trot and canter
* The rider’s hands staying elastic to prevent blocking the forehand of the horse

Training thoughts, December 5, 2011

A loosened-up horse is recognized by:

* His swinging back
* His neck stretching deep and low with his mouth at least at a level of his point of chest or as deep as he can without losing balance and forward impulsion
* Normal, quiet breathing
* A closed, chewing mouth because of his relaxed jaw, a bit of foam forming around his lips
* His tail moving like a pendulum in continuation of his swinging back

Training thoughts, December 5, 2011

The definition of ‘throughness’ (Durchlaessigkeit) – willingness of the horse to accept the rider’s aids obediently and freely, reacting promptly to the driving aids and swinging through with his hind legs actively in order to develop impulsion. The rein aids should ‘flow’ from his mouth over his poll, neck and back into his haunches without being blocked somewhere along the line by tension. It is often said that if you can do all this, the movement will be your reward!

The half halt

Here you can see that the horse is accepting the half halt well. Here you see flexion in his back, stifles, & hocks. This is the way to developing collection.

Training thoughts, December 4, 2011

This is what "straight" should look like at the canter. The hind legs are stepping into the footprints of the front feet & the haunches are exactly behind the shoulders.

Developing harmony

Click here to visit Rhapsody Farm Riding Academy where our goal is create harmonious relationships between horses & their riders:)

Training thoughts, December 1, 2011

Straightness

Horses, like all other mammals, are crooked to one side. Most often this crookedness goes front right to hind right with front lift to hand left more the exception. This crookedness has to do with the way the horse was curled up in the womb and can be compared in people to right-handedness or left-handedness. Impulsion and self-carriage in a crooked horse are not directed at his center of balance and therefore ineffective. The horse is straight when his longitudinal axis (his spine) follows the track on straight and bent lines. In other words, when the inside hind legs follow the inside front leg. Since horses are naturally wider in their hips than their shoulders, and we aim to have the inside hind leg follow the inside front leg, we call this ‘relative straightness’.