If your horse has ever received bodywork, chances are good that you have learned how much the region of his lower lumbar spine and sacral joint either impedes or improves his ability to perform well. Similarly to humans, this...
Hunter and jumper courses can be tricky. Learning to ride them well can be even harder. Whether it’s a hunter round needing rhythm and cadence or a jumper round that presents unrelated distances to test your mount, understanding the...
It’s the kind of exercise that we never leave behind, no matter how simple it seems until you break down its parts, or aim for total accuracy in execution. For one thing, riding a good turn on the forehand...
Although jumping comes naturally to most horses, to a great extent, correct jumping style must be learned. Even if you have an older horse that is more set in his ways, grids are an efficient way to improve his...
Starting a green horse over jumps is much like teaching a child to read. Both require a step-by-step approach, where the student becomes proficient in one lesson before moving on to the next challenge.If you’re working with a...
Many riders find that no matter how many lessons they take and how much they practice, their jumping form still leaves something to be desired. When you see a photo of yourself, you realize that your leg is swinging...
No horse is born able to understand and perfectly respond to a rider’s aids. Whether through bad habits, physical make-up or a lack of training, horses can end up with less-than-ideal habits under saddle. Here, Grand Prix dressage rider...
Jasen Shelley, a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) hunter and jumper course designer, encourages riders at all levels to try a hunter derby, whether at a USEF-rated or local horse show.
"Course designers and judges are often looking for...
In the last few years, hunter horses have been overshadowed by their flashier, speedier counterparts in the jumper ring. With an easily understood judging system—the horse and rider who jump fastest without knocking anything down or refusing win—show jumping...
Breaking in tall boots can be a pain—literally. The backs of rider’s knees and ankles are especially susceptible to blisters and abrasions until the leather "drops” and breaks in, conforming to the leg.Keep in mind that not all...
