Q. What exercises can I do to get my harness horse driving from his hind end?
A. Let’s assume that your driving horse is going down the road and in the ring quietly and willingly. He’s nice and forward and...
Q. What is the difference between a side check and an overcheck? Do they make a huge difference in performance or purpose?A. There is a huge difference between an overcheck and a side check.The overcheck is a strap that...
Decorative markings brushed into the horse’s coat--quarter marks--enhance the conformation of a well-muscled hip and croup, and draw attention to the cleanliness and shine of a well-conditioned show horse. Quarter marks not only highlight a horse’s conformation and give...
Many saddle seat riders believe their sport is misunderstood by those unfamiliar with the discipline. Here, Carole Stohlmann, a United States Equestrian Federation "R” saddle seat equitation, Arabian, National Show Horse and Saddlebred judge from Oklahoma City, clears up...
Q. I currently ride my 10-year-old gelding in jumper classes. He is very smart and a beautiful jumper, but he is also very sensitive. When we come up to a fence, he gets kind of strong, so I tense...
There is more to dressage competition than the ability to create a good pattern. Correct basics, a proper seat and a display of good horsemanship can go far to impress a judge. However, you can also leave a bad...
Q. At a recent show, both the judge and my trainer said I didn't place well because my young, green horse swapped his leads in the lines and at the base of most of the jumps. Why would my...
Photo by Lesley WardPeople have different learning styles, some learn best by performing a task over and over, some with visual input (looking at an example), while others do well with spoken instruction.1. Notice what approach gives YOU the...
We spend much of our time in the saddle honing the walk, trot and canter, but there are two other speeds that are required in English disciplines: the hand gallop and the gallop. In the good old days of...
Of course you should always ride your horse in the bit that lets him perform at his best. And you must be in control of your horse for that to happen. But while pelhams are common in equitation and...
