Horses
Rudi
Building Confidence in a Horse
In their first lesson, Jane described the issues she was having with Rudi. He was tight and tense, unwilling to go forward. He curled his head to his chest at every aid, mouth open and grabbing, avoiding the bit. Jane was having to work hard to keep him going and it seemed the answer to every question asked of him was “no”. Neither she nor Rudi were enjoying their riding.
Jane had a good position but, in her efforts to keep Rudi moving, she was blocking him and was ending her ride exhausted having achieved very little. Further discussion revealed that prior to coming to her, Rudi had been ridden in rollkur and draw reins with an excessively tight noseband and he was completely shut down in the stable and field, unwilling or unable to interact with anyone or any other horse.
Together, we began the long, careful process of unravelling the physical and psychological problems that Rudi was showing. With an approach that was consistent and sensitive, we began rebuilding the basics correctly.
We started by changing the way Jane and Rudi interacted. In the first few sessions, the only expectation from Rudi was for him take a single step forward with a completely loose rein. Jane used a very light leg aid, releasing her body, with lots of vocal encouragement, and when Rudi began to make some tentative steps, he was immediately rewarded.
During this phase of work, we paid great attention to Jane’s influence on Rudi and how sensitive he was. She quickly began to feel how any minor change in her balance or tightness in her body blocked him.
We spent many sessions in this way - reworking circles and the lateral movements - completely ignoring Rudi’s head position. As the lessons continued, Rudi began to respond more willingly to Jane’s aids and curled his neck under less.
Over the months, horse and rider found a new, subtle way of communicating. Jane and Rudi’s confidence in each other rapidly increased; they listened to each other and adapted their responses.
We were then able to address the major issues with Rudi’s acceptance of the bit. He was already beginning to work with a more lengthened neck, and we encouraged him to keep this position when an aid was given. As the process continued, Rudi held his neck in a higher, longer position and began to move freely forward. The work has developed Rudi’s muscles correctly and changed the way he moves, not just under saddle but also in the field.
Rudi’s issues were so embedded that this retraining has taken 2 years to accomplish. With the patient consistent, approach and investment in time that Jane has given Rudi, she has created a more secure horse. We are currently developing the trot work, and both Rudi and Jane approach new movements with confidence, ease and enjoyment.
Jane had a good position but, in her efforts to keep Rudi moving, she was blocking him and was ending her ride exhausted having achieved very little. Further discussion revealed that prior to coming to her, Rudi had been ridden in rollkur and draw reins with an excessively tight noseband and he was completely shut down in the stable and field, unwilling or unable to interact with anyone or any other horse.
Together, we began the long, careful process of unravelling the physical and psychological problems that Rudi was showing. With an approach that was consistent and sensitive, we began rebuilding the basics correctly.
We started by changing the way Jane and Rudi interacted. In the first few sessions, the only expectation from Rudi was for him take a single step forward with a completely loose rein. Jane used a very light leg aid, releasing her body, with lots of vocal encouragement, and when Rudi began to make some tentative steps, he was immediately rewarded.
During this phase of work, we paid great attention to Jane’s influence on Rudi and how sensitive he was. She quickly began to feel how any minor change in her balance or tightness in her body blocked him.
We spent many sessions in this way - reworking circles and the lateral movements - completely ignoring Rudi’s head position. As the lessons continued, Rudi began to respond more willingly to Jane’s aids and curled his neck under less.
Over the months, horse and rider found a new, subtle way of communicating. Jane and Rudi’s confidence in each other rapidly increased; they listened to each other and adapted their responses.
We were then able to address the major issues with Rudi’s acceptance of the bit. He was already beginning to work with a more lengthened neck, and we encouraged him to keep this position when an aid was given. As the process continued, Rudi held his neck in a higher, longer position and began to move freely forward. The work has developed Rudi’s muscles correctly and changed the way he moves, not just under saddle but also in the field.
Rudi’s issues were so embedded that this retraining has taken 2 years to accomplish. With the patient consistent, approach and investment in time that Jane has given Rudi, she has created a more secure horse. We are currently developing the trot work, and both Rudi and Jane approach new movements with confidence, ease and enjoyment.
Please click here to read Jane's thoughts
QQ (Cookie)
Retraining a retired Show Jumper
Retraining a retired Show Jumper
Cookie was 10 years old when Catherine bought him, he was a retired show jumper and had been competing at a high level. She brought him to me for some lessons so that she and Cookie could have a good start together, however Cookie was showing some physical problems which were diagnosed as
“..a strain in his lumber sacral junction which left the pelvis and hind quarters compromised. This restriction has resulted in reduced support from the hind quarters for the rest of the body leading to reduced spinal suspension and a shift in the centre of gravity forward and down increasing the loading of the fore quarters to a degree.”
Cookie was moving with a high neck and head carriage, a hollow back, and the movement of his hind legs was very disconnected and unsteady, resulting in a very disengaged walk, and trotting exacerbated the problems.
Catherine had a good position and her work as a Feldenkrais practitioner gave her a very good feel for Cookie's movement and responses. We began with work to strengthen Cookie’s haunches, establishing very correct circle work and remaining in walk until Cookie was better balanced and moving correctly in his hind legs. Over the first few weeks, Cookie's balance improved, and he was able to release his neck, softening the muscles underneath.
As his suppleness and strength improved, he began to connect his fore hand and haunches more. We worked him around smaller circles which improved the action in his hind legs and the strength over his quarters. We introduced trot work, keeping the trot steps small, starting with a single circle and gradually building up the time he stayed in the pace.
Following on from this work, we used serpentines, counter flexions and spirals on circles to develop suppleness, strength and balance, resulting in a more connected horse. As Cookie understood the different requirements of the work, both physically and mentally, he began to develop a good frame, releasing the tension in his neck and back and developing some self-carriage.
The ridden work was complemented with some in-hand work and lunging to help him with his self-carriage. This work has not been without problems as he was initially very tense. With Catherine's patient approach, he is now working quietly and easily from the ground, further developing the engagement in his haunches and reducing the effort in his fore hand.
Cookie is mentally calmer and is finding his own rhythm; he engages his hind legs and is not relying on Catherine to hold him up.
Cookie's previous owner had said that he had been one of the most difficult horses to back, and even now, training Cookie is not straight forward, but with a steady, consistent and patient approach from Catherine, he continues to make progress with his new career.
“..a strain in his lumber sacral junction which left the pelvis and hind quarters compromised. This restriction has resulted in reduced support from the hind quarters for the rest of the body leading to reduced spinal suspension and a shift in the centre of gravity forward and down increasing the loading of the fore quarters to a degree.”
Cookie was moving with a high neck and head carriage, a hollow back, and the movement of his hind legs was very disconnected and unsteady, resulting in a very disengaged walk, and trotting exacerbated the problems.
Catherine had a good position and her work as a Feldenkrais practitioner gave her a very good feel for Cookie's movement and responses. We began with work to strengthen Cookie’s haunches, establishing very correct circle work and remaining in walk until Cookie was better balanced and moving correctly in his hind legs. Over the first few weeks, Cookie's balance improved, and he was able to release his neck, softening the muscles underneath.
As his suppleness and strength improved, he began to connect his fore hand and haunches more. We worked him around smaller circles which improved the action in his hind legs and the strength over his quarters. We introduced trot work, keeping the trot steps small, starting with a single circle and gradually building up the time he stayed in the pace.
Following on from this work, we used serpentines, counter flexions and spirals on circles to develop suppleness, strength and balance, resulting in a more connected horse. As Cookie understood the different requirements of the work, both physically and mentally, he began to develop a good frame, releasing the tension in his neck and back and developing some self-carriage.
The ridden work was complemented with some in-hand work and lunging to help him with his self-carriage. This work has not been without problems as he was initially very tense. With Catherine's patient approach, he is now working quietly and easily from the ground, further developing the engagement in his haunches and reducing the effort in his fore hand.
Cookie is mentally calmer and is finding his own rhythm; he engages his hind legs and is not relying on Catherine to hold him up.
Cookie's previous owner had said that he had been one of the most difficult horses to back, and even now, training Cookie is not straight forward, but with a steady, consistent and patient approach from Catherine, he continues to make progress with his new career.
THOMAS
A horse with severe psycho-motor issues
A horse with severe psycho-motor issues
Jill has owned Thomas for several years and they first came to one of my clinics with an interest in doing some in-hand work. Having done some Parelli work together Jill wanted to expand her knowledge and develop new techniques of working horses from the ground.
We built on the knowledge they shared with the basic in-hand technique using the cavesson developing basic exercises to shoulder-in. With the understanding they already had we progressed quickly to shoulder-in on a circle to supple Thomas through his haunches and build his strength.
We changed to using the bridle and introduced more exercises to further develop Thomas’s suppleness and strength. Through this work Thomas developed a lovely light shoulder-in.
From there we introduced some more demanding exercises such as shoulder-in to renvers transitions, that were designed to continue to build Thomas’s strength and suppleness. As this improved we were able to ask for more impulsion in his trot, and carefully developed transitions through rein back to halt to walk, rein back to trot transitions and lengthening and collecting in trot to create a more athletic pace whilst keeping his confidence in the requests.
As Thomas’s collection and impulsion improved we worked through smaller trot circles, and trot to halt to trot transitions with attention to detail so he understood the requests and had time to process them. These exercises developed clarity and subtly and encouraged Thomas to engage his haunches as preparation for more advanced movements.
Through this work, Thomas lowers and engages his haunches well, maintaining his self-carriage. Jill is able to release and regain the contact in trot in "descente de mains" and we can now ask for a some small piaffe steps.
The focus was to create a strong supple horse whilst maintaining clarity and subtly with the aids. We continue to develop greater collection in his trot towards more piaffe steps and use the lateral work to develop better self-carriage and cadence in the school walk.
There have been times, particularly in the early days where Thomas found the work difficult and it required a lot of patience from Jill to bring Thomas through those phases without creating problems. Through consistent, careful work Thomas is now a strong, confident horse and we are continuing to develop his more advanced work.
We built on the knowledge they shared with the basic in-hand technique using the cavesson developing basic exercises to shoulder-in. With the understanding they already had we progressed quickly to shoulder-in on a circle to supple Thomas through his haunches and build his strength.
We changed to using the bridle and introduced more exercises to further develop Thomas’s suppleness and strength. Through this work Thomas developed a lovely light shoulder-in.
From there we introduced some more demanding exercises such as shoulder-in to renvers transitions, that were designed to continue to build Thomas’s strength and suppleness. As this improved we were able to ask for more impulsion in his trot, and carefully developed transitions through rein back to halt to walk, rein back to trot transitions and lengthening and collecting in trot to create a more athletic pace whilst keeping his confidence in the requests.
As Thomas’s collection and impulsion improved we worked through smaller trot circles, and trot to halt to trot transitions with attention to detail so he understood the requests and had time to process them. These exercises developed clarity and subtly and encouraged Thomas to engage his haunches as preparation for more advanced movements.
Through this work, Thomas lowers and engages his haunches well, maintaining his self-carriage. Jill is able to release and regain the contact in trot in "descente de mains" and we can now ask for a some small piaffe steps.
The focus was to create a strong supple horse whilst maintaining clarity and subtly with the aids. We continue to develop greater collection in his trot towards more piaffe steps and use the lateral work to develop better self-carriage and cadence in the school walk.
There have been times, particularly in the early days where Thomas found the work difficult and it required a lot of patience from Jill to bring Thomas through those phases without creating problems. Through consistent, careful work Thomas is now a strong, confident horse and we are continuing to develop his more advanced work.
BLUE
Retraining a nervous, over bent horse
Retraining a nervous, over bent horse
Blue is a very athletic horse and he has a very quick but anxious mind. In his first lesson, his trot was as fast as possible with his neck contracted back and his head curled in with a hollow back. Mentally he was unable to respond calmly to an aid, reacting sharply to every change.
Yvette and I began to painstakingly unravel Blue’s issues starting with encouraging him to walk on a circle and lengthen his neck. It took a few weeks for him to understand that the rider's hand would not restrict his head but if there was any change, even just changing the circle, he would immediately contract back again. He was very susceptible to external noises and for a long time, if something happened outside the arena it would take the rest of the lesson to settle him again.
Yvette was totally patient with him, not reacting to his tension but remaining calm and encouraging. Over time Blue began to relax mentally into the work and we could introduce some shoulder-in. At this stage with anything new Blue would curl his neck and contract back again, but as his confidence grew this has become less pronounced. His natural athleticism began to work in his favour and now all his lateral movements have a supple flow.
We are now developing his trot work towards more collection and extension with a view to creating a few piaffe steps.
Yvette and I began to painstakingly unravel Blue’s issues starting with encouraging him to walk on a circle and lengthen his neck. It took a few weeks for him to understand that the rider's hand would not restrict his head but if there was any change, even just changing the circle, he would immediately contract back again. He was very susceptible to external noises and for a long time, if something happened outside the arena it would take the rest of the lesson to settle him again.
Yvette was totally patient with him, not reacting to his tension but remaining calm and encouraging. Over time Blue began to relax mentally into the work and we could introduce some shoulder-in. At this stage with anything new Blue would curl his neck and contract back again, but as his confidence grew this has become less pronounced. His natural athleticism began to work in his favour and now all his lateral movements have a supple flow.
We are now developing his trot work towards more collection and extension with a view to creating a few piaffe steps.
BUDDY
Giving a horse a change of career
Giving a horse a change of career
Buddy at the start of his training (left) and developing his trot work (right)
Buddy spent his first 2 years of work in Ireland pulling logs! This meant that he was a blank canvas for dressage riding, but he needed a lot of help bring him out of his shoulders and engage his very powerful haunches to balance himself and elevate his forehand. A very sensitive horse, both physically and emotionally, we worked Buddy quietly using in hand exercises to supplement his ridden work, teaching him to balance and collect himself, and we found he is a very willing pupil.
Dee was very sensitive to Buddy's needs, constantly reviewing her approach as Buddy's training progressed. The improved trot has followed through into the canter where Buddy gives a well-balanced, cadenced canter.
As we start to ask for more collection in trot we can see the beginnings of piaffe and passage developing, with Buddy now offering a step or two of piaffe in hand.
Dee was very sensitive to Buddy's needs, constantly reviewing her approach as Buddy's training progressed. The improved trot has followed through into the canter where Buddy gives a well-balanced, cadenced canter.
As we start to ask for more collection in trot we can see the beginnings of piaffe and passage developing, with Buddy now offering a step or two of piaffe in hand.
ANDARINO
Giving a horse a new start
Andarino at his first lesson (left and after correct correct suppling and strengthening work (right)
Helen came to me with Andarino soon after she had bought him. We don’t know anything about Andarino’s early years, as he came to this country when he was seven years old and was bought by Helen four months later. He was very stiff, on the forehand, unbalanced, and had an anxious nature.
We began his work with basic circles and some in hand exercises to help build suppleness and strength. Through these exercises, Andarino developed correct muscles and is now is supple and balanced. We have progressed his training slowly so he remains confident in what he is doing, and are now working towards more advanced movements.
It took many months of patient riding from Helen but Andarino is now a completely different horse; he is supple with correct muscle development and has total confidence in his rider.
We began his work with basic circles and some in hand exercises to help build suppleness and strength. Through these exercises, Andarino developed correct muscles and is now is supple and balanced. We have progressed his training slowly so he remains confident in what he is doing, and are now working towards more advanced movements.
It took many months of patient riding from Helen but Andarino is now a completely different horse; he is supple with correct muscle development and has total confidence in his rider.
LUCY
Using In Hand work to create balance and lightness
Using In Hand work to create balance and lightness
Lucy showing a well-balanced and light shoulder in
Lucy showing crossing behind in shoulder in on a circle.
When I first started working with Lucy and her owner, Jane, Lucy was in her early teens and had spent several years hacking. During this time, she did very little schooling and had learned to fix her neck against her rider.
We began a programme of in hand work to help improve Lucy's suppleness and introduced riding with basic circle work to give her and Jane an opportunity to work without Lucy fixing her neck and jaw. Through Jane’s dedication, the in hand work has been very beneficial and Lucy is now showing self carriage, softness and lightness on the bit that is delightful to find in any horse.
We began a programme of in hand work to help improve Lucy's suppleness and introduced riding with basic circle work to give her and Jane an opportunity to work without Lucy fixing her neck and jaw. Through Jane’s dedication, the in hand work has been very beneficial and Lucy is now showing self carriage, softness and lightness on the bit that is delightful to find in any horse.
BADSHAH
Rejected polo pony taught not to be fearful
Rejected polo pony taught not to be fearful
Badshah during his first lesson (left) and after 6 months classical dressage training (right).
Badshah was trained as a polo pony, but rejected as nobody could stop or turn him. He was incorrectly muscled and terrified of his mouth after being ridden in a tight grackle noseband and martingale. Fortunately, he had a very committed rider in Mandy, who gave him the time and patience he needed.
We took Badshah back to basics, starting with teaching him not to be afraid of the whip and then moved on to some in-hand work. He is now calm and happy working in a loose cavesson noseband and turns and stops from his rider’s seat. Neither force nor gadgets have brought about this change, just sensible horsemanship from a dedicated rider using the right exercises to develop the correct muscles and way of going.
We took Badshah back to basics, starting with teaching him not to be afraid of the whip and then moved on to some in-hand work. He is now calm and happy working in a loose cavesson noseband and turns and stops from his rider’s seat. Neither force nor gadgets have brought about this change, just sensible horsemanship from a dedicated rider using the right exercises to develop the correct muscles and way of going.
CONTIGO (TIGS)
Transformed after going back to basics
Transformed after going back to basics
Showing a correctly muscled horse
Tigs during training
When I started working with Debra and Tigs they were having problems with flying changes; Tigs would buck or run off when asked to make a change. The root cause was that the basic work was incorrect and Tigs was working with a resistant jaw, poll and neck, and his back was braced and hollow.
Our focus was to help reduce the physical and mental tension in Tigs and to teach him to balance himself. We started by going back to correct circles and redeveloping the shoulder in, enabling Debra to ride in a light soft way. We worked methodically through the movements, developing suppleness whilst allowing Tigs to maintain his self carriage. Eventually we were able to ask Tigs for a flying change, which he preformed without any stress.
This work took a year but Debra’s total commitment has transformed Tigs both physically and mentally. His trot, which was heavy and on the forehand, is now light and up through the shoulder.
The physical changes are very evident in Tigs muscle development, but the most important change is in his mental approach. He is now confident in his schooling and works completely with Debra, not against her.
Our focus was to help reduce the physical and mental tension in Tigs and to teach him to balance himself. We started by going back to correct circles and redeveloping the shoulder in, enabling Debra to ride in a light soft way. We worked methodically through the movements, developing suppleness whilst allowing Tigs to maintain his self carriage. Eventually we were able to ask Tigs for a flying change, which he preformed without any stress.
This work took a year but Debra’s total commitment has transformed Tigs both physically and mentally. His trot, which was heavy and on the forehand, is now light and up through the shoulder.
The physical changes are very evident in Tigs muscle development, but the most important change is in his mental approach. He is now confident in his schooling and works completely with Debra, not against her.
VITALIS (ALFIE)
New freedom & confidence with a new owner
New freedom & confidence with a new owner
Alfie, soon after he arrived with his new owner
Alfie a few weeks into his training
It was clear that Alfie had a lot of potential and an excellent temperament but he was very reluctant to accept his rider’s hand, holding himself in a fixed, tight outline. To boost Alfie’s confidence in his new owner, Brenda and I took him back to basics, beginning with lunging and in-hand work.
Alfie had been ridden in a very tight noseband, which we loosened to allow him to relax his mouth and softly accept the rider’s hand. In ridden work we focused on maintaining balance through correct circles to improve his self-carriage. Initially, Alfie kept his head and neck contracted, but slowly he understood that he had the freedom to release his neck forward and down. As he did this, his back became softer, his stride lengthened and we began to see his wonderful paces.
Brenda worked consistently over many months to gain Alfie’s confidence and was rewarded by a correctly engaged, beautifully moving horse. Together they have built a strong bond, rooted in knowledge and mutual trust.
Alfie had been ridden in a very tight noseband, which we loosened to allow him to relax his mouth and softly accept the rider’s hand. In ridden work we focused on maintaining balance through correct circles to improve his self-carriage. Initially, Alfie kept his head and neck contracted, but slowly he understood that he had the freedom to release his neck forward and down. As he did this, his back became softer, his stride lengthened and we began to see his wonderful paces.
Brenda worked consistently over many months to gain Alfie’s confidence and was rewarded by a correctly engaged, beautifully moving horse. Together they have built a strong bond, rooted in knowledge and mutual trust.
CASPER
Encouraging trust in a mature but anxious horse
Encouraging trust in a mature but anxious horse
Casper’s initial reaction to his rider
Giving Casper the trust and freedom to stretch
A relaxed and happy Casper
At the age of 10, Casper had spent his life racing in one form or another and had no connection to his new rider, Anna. His head was either tucked into his chest or thrown up high, his walk was quick and choppy, and his trot got quicker and quicker until he cantered. Any interaction from his rider resulted in him throwing his head around.
The key to developing Casper was to understand his mental attitude, encouraging him to trust Anna, giving him the opportunity to do something we wanted, and then waiting for the moment when he offered something.
Anna rode softly from the seat, back and legs, and completely ignored his head position. After several sessions of dedicated and patient riding, Casper began to work with a balanced, rhythmic walk and trot. His head carriage became more stable and his anxiety reduced. The moments when it all came together showed Casper’s great ability.
The key to developing Casper was to understand his mental attitude, encouraging him to trust Anna, giving him the opportunity to do something we wanted, and then waiting for the moment when he offered something.
Anna rode softly from the seat, back and legs, and completely ignored his head position. After several sessions of dedicated and patient riding, Casper began to work with a balanced, rhythmic walk and trot. His head carriage became more stable and his anxiety reduced. The moments when it all came together showed Casper’s great ability.
SIRI
Overcoming resistance and improving balance
Overcoming resistance and improving balance
Siri at the beginning of her training, with a high neck and braced back and trailing hind legs
Improving Siri’s suppleness with shoulder in
Siri showing more engagement of the quarters and beginning to lighten the forehand
Siri is a Friesian/TB cross who was evented until she was 11. She then spent a year in a riding school before being bought by her current owners, Charlotte and her son, Andrew. Siri had a difficult mouth and it was clear that she had learnt to use her strength against the rider by fixing her neck and shoulder, and leaning on the rider’s hands. In the canter transition she would throw her weight on to the shoulder and would dash, unbalanced, around the school.
We returned to basics, starting with correct circles, horse and rider learning to stay contained within the rider’s aids. We then introduced some in-hand work to make Siri supple through the back, shoulders and hind legs.
Siri now responds to half halts, moves off the leg and seat enabling her rider to keep a light hand – preventing resistance in the mouth. We are now developing the ridden lateral work and continue to progress the in-hand and lunge work to improve her canter.
We returned to basics, starting with correct circles, horse and rider learning to stay contained within the rider’s aids. We then introduced some in-hand work to make Siri supple through the back, shoulders and hind legs.
Siri now responds to half halts, moves off the leg and seat enabling her rider to keep a light hand – preventing resistance in the mouth. We are now developing the ridden lateral work and continue to progress the in-hand and lunge work to improve her canter.