dressage horse trotting with rider
All Articles Arena Exercises Biomechanics Training

3 Position Warm Up Exercises to Start Your Ride Right

When you’re riding on your own, sometimes it can be hard to get a ride off to the right start. Getting yourself focused and able to use your body to get your horse to use his body gets you both in the best position (literally!) to progress towards your more challenging work as your ride …

Bugsy the one-eyed thoroughbred competing at Grand Prix
All Articles Case Studies

A One-Eyed Thoroughbred Takes His Ammy to Grand Prix

Here’s a story to make you wonder “What’s my excuse?”, and inspire you to go ride the horse you have.  A reminder of the simple things that are so important, and encouragement to keep trying through the challenges. It is a bumpy road and there will be set backs, but above all else, enjoy each moment …

All Articles Psychology

How to Overcome Blaming Yourself or Your Horse to Improve Your Riding Today

Riding is, by definition, an activity that involves a partnership between horse and rider.  Is it then the horse or the rider that deserves the credit for the good rides, and the blame for the bad ones? Examining your answer to that critical question can lead you towards consistently better rides. It can be nearly impossible to …

leg yield
All Articles Arena Exercises Training

Getting Control of Your Horse’s Shoulders with the Leg Yield Hexagon

Leg yielding can be such a useful exercise, but one of the most common things that goes wrong is the horse falling over his outside shoulder instead of stepping across his body with his inside hind leg. Here’s a simple exercise to help improve the quality of the leg yield you are getting and give …