Counter cantering is different from merely cantering on the wrong lead. The counter canter can be used as a body control exercise that will teach the horse to better listen to your aids. Here I will give you a few exercises to improve collection, suppleness, and responsiveness in your horse. Continue reading Counter Canter Lessons
Riding correct transitions allows you to learn feel, control, and timing. Moving between gaits only when you ask gives you control of his feet, which is necessary in any riding discipline. Transitions are also a great opportunity to learn how to feel what your horse is doing underneath you, and will help you learn timing of the aids. Continue reading Precise Transitions
Does your horse tense up when he sees something scary on the trail? Or does he jump and run when faced with a scary object in the arena? If your horse does either of these behaviors often he may need some training to get him through these frightening experiences, and help him to become calmer and think about a situation before reacting. Continue reading Solutions For A Spooky Horse
Does your horse run the other way when you enter the pasture? Or hide in the far corner of his stall when you come near? Horses will tell you how they feel about your relationship by the way they react to you entering the pasture or stall. If your horse is less than perfect and can be a pain to catch, don’t worry as there are some easy solutions to this common problem. Continue reading Solutions For The Hard To Catch Horse
It is a beautiful day, perfect for a trail ride. But before you unload your horse at a nearby trail head or venture off into the open space around your home or barn, there are a few things to keep in mind that will keep you and your horse safe and make your ride more enjoyable. Continue reading Happy Trails
Having your horse consistently pick up the lead you want and maintain it when you ask improves your performance in flat classes, helps get you to the right spot over fences and ground poles, and makes your horse more balanced overall. Continue reading Correct Canter Leads
Backing up correctly can become confusing for a horse when unclear or clashing aids are given to him. Also, the fact that moving away from pressure is unnatural for horses as they are programmed to press into pressure to escape from predators. However, with consistent cues and training your horse will be backing up as fast and as far as you want him to. Continue reading A Better Back Up
Teaching a horse to be light in your hands and listening to your aids isn’t a hard thing to do if you do it correctly. Here I will describe the basics on how to get the horse to become comfortable in the bridle and responsive to bit pressure. Continue reading Accepting the Bridle
A few holes in your horse’s training can turn an easy stroll from the barn into a fight when your horse decides he doesn’t want to go and plants his feet. Despite all of your pulling and coaxing he still won’t budge. You may also have the opposite problem, when your pony morphs into a race horse charging ahead and dragging you around instead of you leading him. Regardless, any leading problem can be solved by going back to the basics. Continue reading Leading
A water jump may seem daunting but it is actually simply made up of a sunken road filled with water. Before attempting the water fence, be sure you and your horse are both comfortable jumping up and down banks and riding through sunken roads that don’t have any water in them. All of these tips will boost your confidence and prepare you for the water. Continue reading Jumping In and Out of Water