I received these videos from a student, showing the difference she made in her horse. My student, Marissa, practiced a combination of simple exercises in dressage, clicker training, and Loving Presence for a few months, and her horse Gemma surprised us with offering this lovely balance. From This: (Before Video) To This: (After Video) Yes,…
Which one of these is you? Your horse walks off as soon as you start to mount. Your horse waits for you to get on and settle in the saddle before he moves. Someone holds your horse while you get on. Each one of these scenarios is a big shift in how you sense each…
As soon as you saw this picture, did you start thinking what was good or bad about it? I often judge my horse when I ride. I find myself asking, is this a good walk? Is his neck and back rounded enough? Is this the right canter? I judge myself, too. Am I sitting correctly?…
Do you hate carrying a whip? What if you could do your horse a favor by carrying one? Many dressage riders carry a whip. Most instructors tell you to use it to enforce your aids. Used in this way, it is a threat to your horse. If he doesn’t trot when you close your legs…
Dressage turns and corners How to teach yourself to keep your outside hand in the right place This is for you if: Your horse cuts his corners. You have trouble riding your horse through corners. Your circles are not round. When you ride a circle, your horse makes the circle get smaller. The next time…
This exercise is so simple that you may wonder how in the world it has anything to do with riding and training horses. If you care about your horse, it does! Here’s what you do: 1. While you are grooming your horse, stop your brush and look closely at each individual hair for 30 seconds.…
Trinket is a miniature therapy horse. She and I are tested every two years by Pet Partners, a national therapy organization. We visit elementary schools and offer animal assisted learning activities for students with disabilities. Each and every time Trinket and I are tested, I am very nervous. She, on the other hand, is calm!…