- Published on
With the heat we have been having this summer, I have been working a lot in walk so that the horse and rider don’t become over heated. I know that may riders feel that walk is not a beneficial pace and quickly move on to trot and canter work, so here is a plan you can use and adapt for a walk training session.
Begin with some circles on each rein.
This will start a warm-up and give you time to focus on how your horse feels today.
The size of the circle will depend on your horse’s level of training, novice horses need to be ridden on larger circles to help the maintain their balance, more advanced horse can be ridden on smaller circles.
As you ride the circle, focus on the quality of your horse’s balance, the release of their body around your inside leg, the connection in your outside rein and the softness on the inside rein.
Then begin some lateral work.
Ride movements that are within your horse’s current training level, novice horses may be yielding, advanced horses can do shoulder-in, travers, renvers or half pass.
Focus on the quality of each step in the movement. Check that your horse remains balanced and light, in a level of self-carriage according to the training level.
Add in some rein back steps.
Again, if you horse is working at a novice level, only ask a couple of steps, more advanced horses can do more steps.
Check that each step is made slowly, and that your horse moves straight. If the haunches swing the off the line, very gently pulse your hands in the same direction (haunches move left, move both your hands to the left) to nudge their shoulders back in front of the haunches, even if it takes them off the original line. If you try to put the haunches back behind the shoulders, they will become disengaged.
The make some transitions between lateral movements.
Shoulder-in to travers, half pass to renvers etc.
For novice horses you can yielding on and off the track, with 2 or 3 steps to the inside, then straight, change the bend and 2 make or 3 steps back to the track.
The ride down the centre line checking the quality of your straightness.
Add in a halt and rein back transition.
Rider shoulder in on the centre line or a yield off the centre line, stopping the yield at the ¾ line.
Ridden in a balanced quality walk, a programme like this will exercise your horse without over exerting them.
© Diane Followell - Training Riders, Transforming Horses
Begin with some circles on each rein.
This will start a warm-up and give you time to focus on how your horse feels today.
The size of the circle will depend on your horse’s level of training, novice horses need to be ridden on larger circles to help the maintain their balance, more advanced horse can be ridden on smaller circles.
As you ride the circle, focus on the quality of your horse’s balance, the release of their body around your inside leg, the connection in your outside rein and the softness on the inside rein.
Then begin some lateral work.
Ride movements that are within your horse’s current training level, novice horses may be yielding, advanced horses can do shoulder-in, travers, renvers or half pass.
Focus on the quality of each step in the movement. Check that your horse remains balanced and light, in a level of self-carriage according to the training level.
Add in some rein back steps.
Again, if you horse is working at a novice level, only ask a couple of steps, more advanced horses can do more steps.
Check that each step is made slowly, and that your horse moves straight. If the haunches swing the off the line, very gently pulse your hands in the same direction (haunches move left, move both your hands to the left) to nudge their shoulders back in front of the haunches, even if it takes them off the original line. If you try to put the haunches back behind the shoulders, they will become disengaged.
The make some transitions between lateral movements.
Shoulder-in to travers, half pass to renvers etc.
For novice horses you can yielding on and off the track, with 2 or 3 steps to the inside, then straight, change the bend and 2 make or 3 steps back to the track.
The ride down the centre line checking the quality of your straightness.
Add in a halt and rein back transition.
Rider shoulder in on the centre line or a yield off the centre line, stopping the yield at the ¾ line.
Ridden in a balanced quality walk, a programme like this will exercise your horse without over exerting them.
© Diane Followell - Training Riders, Transforming Horses
- Published on
Yielding is a very useful exercise when done well. It is the first stage in creating sideways steps with a horse and a precursor to riding shoulder-in. Although this is a simple exercise, it is not easy to ride and can create more problems than it solves when ridden poorly.
In a correct yield, the horse moves laterally from your inside leg, with a soft ribcage whilst maintaining his balance by crossing his inside legs over his outside legs.
One of the main problems with this exercise is that many horses push their weight to their outside shoulder. This can be caused by the rider sitting behind the movement, leaning away from the direction of travel, by the rider pulling the inside rein or by the horse being unbalanced.
A basic yield begins on a straight line on the inner track. The horse should have a soft rib cage around the riders inside leg. The horse then moves on a diagonal from line towards the track, moving both forehand and haunches at the same rate, ideally crossing the inside foreleg over the outside foreleg and the inside hind crossing the outside hind.
Keep your hips and shoulder facing forward and move your waist slightly towards your elbow in the direction you want to go, keeping your seat balanced.
Within the exercise, your inside leg has several functions; it creates softness in the rib cage of the horse, maintains impulsion if required and directs the quarters to step sideways.
Stepping sideways needs a touch with the inside leg to create the sidestep. The outside leg releases to allow the horse to step over and then gathers the outside of the horse. All aids are given only as necessary. If the horse is performing the movement in balance, sit quietly and don’t disrupt them.
Throughout the exercise the horse should remain in balance, stepping across as a whole horse, not dropping into his outside shoulder.
If you feel your horse move weight into their shoulder, ride out of the movement by lightly closing you outside rein towards their neck (not pulling backwards) and touching lightly with you outside leg. Check that your position remains balanced and straight.
© Diane Followell - Training Riders, Transforming Horses
In a correct yield, the horse moves laterally from your inside leg, with a soft ribcage whilst maintaining his balance by crossing his inside legs over his outside legs.
One of the main problems with this exercise is that many horses push their weight to their outside shoulder. This can be caused by the rider sitting behind the movement, leaning away from the direction of travel, by the rider pulling the inside rein or by the horse being unbalanced.
A basic yield begins on a straight line on the inner track. The horse should have a soft rib cage around the riders inside leg. The horse then moves on a diagonal from line towards the track, moving both forehand and haunches at the same rate, ideally crossing the inside foreleg over the outside foreleg and the inside hind crossing the outside hind.
Keep your hips and shoulder facing forward and move your waist slightly towards your elbow in the direction you want to go, keeping your seat balanced.
Within the exercise, your inside leg has several functions; it creates softness in the rib cage of the horse, maintains impulsion if required and directs the quarters to step sideways.
Stepping sideways needs a touch with the inside leg to create the sidestep. The outside leg releases to allow the horse to step over and then gathers the outside of the horse. All aids are given only as necessary. If the horse is performing the movement in balance, sit quietly and don’t disrupt them.
Throughout the exercise the horse should remain in balance, stepping across as a whole horse, not dropping into his outside shoulder.
If you feel your horse move weight into their shoulder, ride out of the movement by lightly closing you outside rein towards their neck (not pulling backwards) and touching lightly with you outside leg. Check that your position remains balanced and straight.
© Diane Followell - Training Riders, Transforming Horses
- Published on
,Circles and turns should be easy, we ride them all the time, but they are among the most difficult movements to produce consistently well. Often only part of the circle creates a balanced horse before the movement deteriorates and the horse loses balance. Riding a corner well creates a balanced horse on the straight side of the school, not riding the corner means that your horse is unbalanced on the next side making following movements more difficult.
When the horse loses their balance, they place weight into their shoulder usually more to one side than the other. This can take the rider off balance as well. Equally, if the rider loses their balance, it has a negative impact on the horse. The more that the rider is able to maintain a stable position, the easier it is for the horse to retain their balance.
Riding circles and corners are the same, you just have fewer steps around the corner. One of the most common issues with riding these movements, is that riders try to turn the horse with the reins, forgetting the impact that their position has on the horse. Moving a horse through a corner or around a circle is done by influencing the horse’s posture through your own position.
Slightly advance your outside shoulder to align with your horse’s shoulders. Allow your hands to follow the rotation of your shoulders. Your hips need to be in line with your horse’s hips, seat balanced, weight even across both seat bones. You may need to bring your inside seat bone and hip slightly forward to maintain the alignment of your hips with your horse’s hips.
In this position, your weight will be correctly balanced, and your outside rein will come lightly against your horse’s neck. Your inside rein will move away from your horse’s neck. As your horse finds his balance, you will feel him offer a connection into your outside rein which is perfectly positioned to accept the contact offered. Your inside rein should remain soft, if you pull this rein backwards, you will block your horse’s inside hind leg from coming through and he will be unable to maintain his balance. Avoid purposely putting your weight into one or other stirrup as this will make you unbalanced in relation to your horse. If your body is correctly aligned with your horse, your weight will be in the right place.
When you want to ride out of the circle or turn, all you need to do it sit straight. Avoid trying to straighten your horse as this often results in the rider unbalancing the horse and putting weight back to their shoulder.
Practicing very correct circles and corners consistently will greatly improve your horse’s strength and suppleness, they will start to engage their inside hind leg and this develops better straightness.
In the photos below, the first shows an unbalanced horse and the second shows a balanced horse.
© Diane Followell - Training Riders, Transforming Horses
When the horse loses their balance, they place weight into their shoulder usually more to one side than the other. This can take the rider off balance as well. Equally, if the rider loses their balance, it has a negative impact on the horse. The more that the rider is able to maintain a stable position, the easier it is for the horse to retain their balance.
Riding circles and corners are the same, you just have fewer steps around the corner. One of the most common issues with riding these movements, is that riders try to turn the horse with the reins, forgetting the impact that their position has on the horse. Moving a horse through a corner or around a circle is done by influencing the horse’s posture through your own position.
Slightly advance your outside shoulder to align with your horse’s shoulders. Allow your hands to follow the rotation of your shoulders. Your hips need to be in line with your horse’s hips, seat balanced, weight even across both seat bones. You may need to bring your inside seat bone and hip slightly forward to maintain the alignment of your hips with your horse’s hips.
In this position, your weight will be correctly balanced, and your outside rein will come lightly against your horse’s neck. Your inside rein will move away from your horse’s neck. As your horse finds his balance, you will feel him offer a connection into your outside rein which is perfectly positioned to accept the contact offered. Your inside rein should remain soft, if you pull this rein backwards, you will block your horse’s inside hind leg from coming through and he will be unable to maintain his balance. Avoid purposely putting your weight into one or other stirrup as this will make you unbalanced in relation to your horse. If your body is correctly aligned with your horse, your weight will be in the right place.
When you want to ride out of the circle or turn, all you need to do it sit straight. Avoid trying to straighten your horse as this often results in the rider unbalancing the horse and putting weight back to their shoulder.
Practicing very correct circles and corners consistently will greatly improve your horse’s strength and suppleness, they will start to engage their inside hind leg and this develops better straightness.
In the photos below, the first shows an unbalanced horse and the second shows a balanced horse.
© Diane Followell - Training Riders, Transforming Horses
- Published on
This month I am reviewing a half 10 metre circle performed by Kimberly Pap and Sonnenburg’s Jersey competing at the VHO Trophy 2023 starting at 3 minutes 40 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cvqPdPVOsI
The half circle should give the horse and rider an opportunity to prepare for the next movement, a few strides to help the horse rebalance itself, and for the rider to check the engagement of the haunches. However, this chance is missed by the rider. The half pass preceding this turn is made with very extravagant strides and speed. The horse has disengaged his haunches and become unbalanced through the movement. (Picture A).
The half circle should give the horse and rider an opportunity to prepare for the next movement, a few strides to help the horse rebalance itself, and for the rider to check the engagement of the haunches. However, this chance is missed by the rider. The half pass preceding this turn is made with very extravagant strides and speed. The horse has disengaged his haunches and become unbalanced through the movement. (Picture A).
To bring the horse back in time to make the half circle, the rider pulls the reins, blocking the horse. The horse has no engagement of the hind leg and is unable to balance itself correctly, and drops his weight towards his right foreleg to balance. (Picture B).
As they begin the turn, the disengagement of the haunchesand weight towards the shoulder means that the impulsion, instead of balancing the horse, causes him to lean to the inside. The rider is unbalanced and using the reins for support and overbending the horse's neck. (Picture C and D).
Because he is disengaged, the horse moves his inside hind foot towards the outside, crossing his left hindleg. With his balance totally compromised, the horse uses his inside foreleg to stay upright. (Picture E and F)
At the end of the half circle, the horse is still completely out of balance as he enters the centre line with his weight towards his forehand, and disengaged haunches. (Picture G)
Below is a photo of a horse and rider correctly balanced on a circle.
Training Riders, Transforming Horses
© Diane Followell
© Diane Followell
- Published on
With the Olympic games in Paris this summer, I am taking a look at some of the advanced movements that will be shown in the dressage competitions, how they should look and the problems that can occur.
In my last blog I reviewed tempi flying changes, “A View of Tempi Flying Changes" (click here to read) and this month I am taking a look at piaffe. The piaffe is on Jessica von Bredow-Werndl’s Facebook page, showing a few steps of piaffe in a warmup arena, and can be found here; https://www.facebook.com/reel/389800653416534
Although this is only a few steps of piaffe, it is a good example of the movement. The horse is light and well engaged in his haunches. The joints of the hind legs are flexing and the feet are raised to the same height and move up and down without deviation.
The rider sits softly with relaxed legs and the weight of the reins in her hands. The horse is able to place its head and neck where it feels most comfortable without the rider dictating the position.
As the rider makes a turn in the piaffe, the steps remain the same. At the end of the movement, the horse moves calmly forward.
Training Riders, Transforming Horses
© Diane Followell
In my last blog I reviewed tempi flying changes, “A View of Tempi Flying Changes" (click here to read) and this month I am taking a look at piaffe. The piaffe is on Jessica von Bredow-Werndl’s Facebook page, showing a few steps of piaffe in a warmup arena, and can be found here; https://www.facebook.com/reel/389800653416534
Although this is only a few steps of piaffe, it is a good example of the movement. The horse is light and well engaged in his haunches. The joints of the hind legs are flexing and the feet are raised to the same height and move up and down without deviation.
The rider sits softly with relaxed legs and the weight of the reins in her hands. The horse is able to place its head and neck where it feels most comfortable without the rider dictating the position.
As the rider makes a turn in the piaffe, the steps remain the same. At the end of the movement, the horse moves calmly forward.
Training Riders, Transforming Horses
© Diane Followell
- Published on
For my blogs this year I am looking at some of the movements that we see at higher levels of competition and reviewing what is desired from the movement, and some of the problems that can occur.
This month I am looking at the sequence of flying changes at every stride performed by Edward Gal at the Dutch Dressage Championships in 2021. The full video of the test can be seen here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzwxmnhGWvA&t=274s. The particular section I am discussing in this blog is a sequence of flying changes made at every stride which start at 4 minutes 15 seconds. For reference, below is the definition of a flying change from the FEI rules.
4.8 Flying Change of leg. The flying change is performed in one (1) stride with the front and hind legs changing at the same moment. The change of the leading front and hind leg takes place during the moment of suspension. The aids should be precise and unobtrusive.
Flying Changes of leg can also be executed at every 4th, 3rd 2nd or at every stride. The Horse, even in the series, remains light, calm and straight with lively impulsion, maintaining the same rhythm and balance throughout the series concerned. In order not to restrict or restrain the lightness, fluency and ground cover of the flying changes in series, enough impulsion must be maintained.
The main issue that can be seen with these flying changes is the impulsion being blocked by the rider’s hands. Impulsion has become the main force that dressage focuses on to the detriment of other qualities. Many horses now perform a flying change with weight in their forehand, disengaged haunches and a lack of lightness. This forces the horse to make the flying change by pushing up from their fore hand and swinging their haunches from side to side, not straight and effortlessly flowing as they should be. In a flying change the rhythm and tempo of the canter should not change and the horse’s legs should appear to switch effortlessly under their body with no upward bounce.
The issues with this sequence of flying changes begins with the turn on to the diagonal. At this point there is a backwards action on the inside rein, and the horse swings it’s head to the right (4 minutes 18 seconds). This is immediately followed by a heavy action on the left rein causing the horse to twist its nose to the left. These aids take the horse off balance immediately prior to the flying change sequence.
This month I am looking at the sequence of flying changes at every stride performed by Edward Gal at the Dutch Dressage Championships in 2021. The full video of the test can be seen here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzwxmnhGWvA&t=274s. The particular section I am discussing in this blog is a sequence of flying changes made at every stride which start at 4 minutes 15 seconds. For reference, below is the definition of a flying change from the FEI rules.
4.8 Flying Change of leg. The flying change is performed in one (1) stride with the front and hind legs changing at the same moment. The change of the leading front and hind leg takes place during the moment of suspension. The aids should be precise and unobtrusive.
Flying Changes of leg can also be executed at every 4th, 3rd 2nd or at every stride. The Horse, even in the series, remains light, calm and straight with lively impulsion, maintaining the same rhythm and balance throughout the series concerned. In order not to restrict or restrain the lightness, fluency and ground cover of the flying changes in series, enough impulsion must be maintained.
The main issue that can be seen with these flying changes is the impulsion being blocked by the rider’s hands. Impulsion has become the main force that dressage focuses on to the detriment of other qualities. Many horses now perform a flying change with weight in their forehand, disengaged haunches and a lack of lightness. This forces the horse to make the flying change by pushing up from their fore hand and swinging their haunches from side to side, not straight and effortlessly flowing as they should be. In a flying change the rhythm and tempo of the canter should not change and the horse’s legs should appear to switch effortlessly under their body with no upward bounce.
The issues with this sequence of flying changes begins with the turn on to the diagonal. At this point there is a backwards action on the inside rein, and the horse swings it’s head to the right (4 minutes 18 seconds). This is immediately followed by a heavy action on the left rein causing the horse to twist its nose to the left. These aids take the horse off balance immediately prior to the flying change sequence.
Throughout the sequence of changes, the rider maintains a backward pressure on the reins. This blocks the horse from coming through correctly with its hind legs, placing weight into the forehand and causing the horse to make the transition from one lead to the other by swing its haunches from side to side. (A) (B) (C) (D)
The rider continues to contract the horse through its head, neck and shoulders with a restrictive hand through the sequence of steps. This prevents the horse from flowing through with its hind legs and after a few strides, the 3-beat canter breaks down into a 4-beat canter. The horse makes more exaggerated movement in each stride, bouncing up from its front legs rather than swinging smoothly through. (E) (4 minutes 25 seconds).
Correct flying changes should be straight and flow through the horse’s body from the hind legs. This gives a smooth transition between the strides where the leg sequence changes effortlessly under the horse without the forehand leaping off the ground and preserves the 3-beat rhythm.
Training Riders, Transforming Horses
© Diane Followell
Training Riders, Transforming Horses
© Diane Followell
- Published on
Within dressage training there is a great emphasis on developing a straight horse, and riders work carefully to create this quality. However, without balance a horse will never be straight. Imagine walking along a narrow wooden beam. When your balance is perfect, walking along the beam is easy, but when you are unbalanced, you wobble from side to side, arms waving to regain your balance and prevent you falling off.
When a rider is unbalanced, they make it hard for their horse to move freely in any movement. Unbalanced horses use their shoulders and neck to support themselves making it difficult for the rider to turn or move them on a straight line as the horse continually falls to one side.
By regularly riding some simple exercises, such as correct circles and serpentines, it is possible to develop a horse who is supple to both sides. Accurately ridden, these exercises improve the horse’s balance, freeing the forehand, and allowing them to release and lengthen their neck. As the horse’s shoulder becomes free from supporting the horse’s weight, the horse is more balanced, and the impulsion from their haunches starts to elevate the forehand.
Compare the two pictures of half pass below. Both horses are in the same phase of half pass steps, the red lines show where the rider’s balance is on each horse. The horse on the left is balanced and stepping freely into the half pass. The horse on the right has been taken off balance by the rider’s position behind the movement, and the horse is blocked though his right shoulder and foreleg.
When a rider is unbalanced, they make it hard for their horse to move freely in any movement. Unbalanced horses use their shoulders and neck to support themselves making it difficult for the rider to turn or move them on a straight line as the horse continually falls to one side.
By regularly riding some simple exercises, such as correct circles and serpentines, it is possible to develop a horse who is supple to both sides. Accurately ridden, these exercises improve the horse’s balance, freeing the forehand, and allowing them to release and lengthen their neck. As the horse’s shoulder becomes free from supporting the horse’s weight, the horse is more balanced, and the impulsion from their haunches starts to elevate the forehand.
Compare the two pictures of half pass below. Both horses are in the same phase of half pass steps, the red lines show where the rider’s balance is on each horse. The horse on the left is balanced and stepping freely into the half pass. The horse on the right has been taken off balance by the rider’s position behind the movement, and the horse is blocked though his right shoulder and foreleg.
For more information on exercises to help balance your horse please see my blogs on circles - Foundations-circles-and-corners, spiralling exercises and serpentines and also a blog about the rider’s influence on balance.
Training Riders, Transforming Horses
© Diane Followell
© Diane Followell
- Published on
Have you ever wondered why it’s worth perfecting a circle? It may feel as though a circle is a basic movement, useful for young horses and in a warmup, but after that the benefits of a simple movement can often be forgotten as we move onto more interesting things.
Circles provide a foundation for all the other work and they are extremely useful throughout a training session. For a novice horse or rider, a circle teaches the basics of balance and engagement. For a more advanced horse, a circle rebalances and reengages them, that is, if they are ridden correctly.
A correct circle is very hard to ride for both horse and rider. Many horses fall in or out of the shape without the rider even being aware of it. The major benefits of the exercise are wasted, and poorly executed circles can leave your horse more out of balance before.
To quote Nuno Oliveira, “a circle is a correct geometric shape, not a potato or an egg.”
Whilst different trainers use different aids for a circle, the qualities that come from the movement should be:
To ride a circle, the rider’s hips should match the position of the horse’s hips, and the rider’s shoulder should match the position of the horse’s shoulders. This means that they rider needs to rotate at their waist, advancing their outside shoulder without allowing their inside seat bone to follow the movement, which would bring their hips out of position.
Simply trying to make a circle by use of the inside rein only achieves a twisted and resistant position in the horse’s head and neck. The difference can be felt by the rider and can be clearly seen in the pictures below.
Circles provide a foundation for all the other work and they are extremely useful throughout a training session. For a novice horse or rider, a circle teaches the basics of balance and engagement. For a more advanced horse, a circle rebalances and reengages them, that is, if they are ridden correctly.
A correct circle is very hard to ride for both horse and rider. Many horses fall in or out of the shape without the rider even being aware of it. The major benefits of the exercise are wasted, and poorly executed circles can leave your horse more out of balance before.
To quote Nuno Oliveira, “a circle is a correct geometric shape, not a potato or an egg.”
Whilst different trainers use different aids for a circle, the qualities that come from the movement should be:
- Suppling and strengthening the horse on both sides to create a more even and straighter horse.
- Engaging their inside hind leg to build collection and impulsion.
- Placing (or replacing) the horse round the rider’s inside leg and creating the connection to the outside rein.
- Creating a horse that is balanced, both left and right and from back to front, in preparation for another movement.
To ride a circle, the rider’s hips should match the position of the horse’s hips, and the rider’s shoulder should match the position of the horse’s shoulders. This means that they rider needs to rotate at their waist, advancing their outside shoulder without allowing their inside seat bone to follow the movement, which would bring their hips out of position.
Simply trying to make a circle by use of the inside rein only achieves a twisted and resistant position in the horse’s head and neck. The difference can be felt by the rider and can be clearly seen in the pictures below.
©Training Riders, Transforming Horses
- Published on
Whilst a lot of time is spent thinking about which bit to use, nose bands tend to be used solely to keep a horse’s mouth shut. Mostly riders use a flash or a cavesson, done up tightly to prevent the horse from opening its mouth. Apart from the obvious physical pain and harm that this inflicts on a horse, it masks a very important communication channel between a horse and their rider.
The art of dressage riding is to finesse the communication between the horse and rider so that, to an observer, the rider appears to be doing nothing. Part of achieving this is having the horse soft and mobile throughout their work, and the horse’s mouth is a very good reflection the level of that relationship between horse and rider.
For example, if a horse is finding an exercise difficult or feels too much pressure from the rider’s hands, this will show first through the horse’s mouth with blocks such as fixing the jaw, opening the mouth or putting their tongue over the bit.
The art of dressage riding is to finesse the communication between the horse and rider so that, to an observer, the rider appears to be doing nothing. Part of achieving this is having the horse soft and mobile throughout their work, and the horse’s mouth is a very good reflection the level of that relationship between horse and rider.
For example, if a horse is finding an exercise difficult or feels too much pressure from the rider’s hands, this will show first through the horse’s mouth with blocks such as fixing the jaw, opening the mouth or putting their tongue over the bit.
Tightening the nose band to prevent this behaviour does not solve the problem. Unable to express himself via his mouth, horses often become harder in the jaw and the tension occurs elsewhere in his body. As the stress ripples throughout the horse’s body, blocks can often be seen in the horses neck, back and hind legs.
The solution is to change what you are doing, rather than increasingly tightening the nose band. It may be as simple as modifying an exercise slightly, or you may need to look a bit deeper at how you are asking. Riding with a softer hand and working more tactfully from your seat and back or with your leg.
The connection between bit and rider’s hands should always be the weight of the reins. For very skilled riders, the slightest tension in the horse’s mouth is felt in their hands, and they make appropriate adjustments to make the horse comfortable. With a nose band that is done up tightly, the horse is unable to speak to the rider and training becomes an exercise in force.
The solution is to change what you are doing, rather than increasingly tightening the nose band. It may be as simple as modifying an exercise slightly, or you may need to look a bit deeper at how you are asking. Riding with a softer hand and working more tactfully from your seat and back or with your leg.
The connection between bit and rider’s hands should always be the weight of the reins. For very skilled riders, the slightest tension in the horse’s mouth is felt in their hands, and they make appropriate adjustments to make the horse comfortable. With a nose band that is done up tightly, the horse is unable to speak to the rider and training becomes an exercise in force.
©Training Riders, Transforming Horses
- Published on
Half pass is a movement across the diagonal of the arena, where the horse’s body remains roughly parallel to the side of the school and they step forward and then sideways. It follows on from shoulder-in and develops greater flexibility and strength in the horse. Half pass can be ridden in walk, trot and canter.
It needs to be developed with care so that the horse remains in his haunches, leading the movement with his inside hind, not his inside shoulder.
Go back to shoulder in and circles if the horse has difficulty in half pass.
Common faults are;
Look at the pictures below and see which half pass you think is most correct.
It needs to be developed with care so that the horse remains in his haunches, leading the movement with his inside hind, not his inside shoulder.
- The horse should step forward and sideways, with a slight bend in the direction of the movement. Different horses will have a degree of bend that is correct for them and the rider must know this and choose the correct bend for the horse.
- The half pass should finish with more inside leg and outside rein than inside rein and outside leg.
- The horse should maintain an even bend throughout their body.
- The rhythm should remain consistent.
Go back to shoulder in and circles if the horse has difficulty in half pass.
Common faults are;
- The horse put weight into their inside shoulder.
- This horse twists his head and does not bend through his body.
- The haunches precede the forehand.
- The forehand is too far ahead of the haunches, haunches trailing.
- The rider sits to the outside unbalancing the horse.
- The rider creates half pass by using the inside rein and outside leg, twisting the horse.
- The horse loses the rhythm and speeds up or slows down.
Look at the pictures below and see which half pass you think is most correct.
For more information on correcting problems in half pass please see
Half pass – Correcting Problems – Horse twists the head.
Half Pass – Correcting problems 2 – Changes to the rhythm.
Half pass – Correcting problems 3 Quarters or forehand lead too much.
Half pass – Correcting problems 4 – Horse confuses aids for canter.
©Training Riders, Transforming Horses
