Good riders not only have soft, quiet hands, they also have soft, quiet legs. These qualities come from an independent seat – the foundation of balance.
Training
In today’s fast paced world, many equestrians are being drawn back to the concept of developing an all-around horse – one that is willing and able to participate in anything from local horse shows to team penning events, trail rides, …
In autumn, the trails are often muddy and the schooling ring ground frozen. This leaves people looking for an off-season, poor-footing training idea to keep them motivated and develop their horses’ skills. In cases like this, I often suggest riders …
As a judge, I hate to be the “off course” whistle-blower. As a competitor, I hate to hear it. Because I was the “off course queen” as a young rider, I know well that lost-in-the-jungle feeling when you don’t know …
Control of a horse’s feet without having to handle them will come in handy for vet work, photos or even stepping your horse off the hose during bath time.
When you are in the correct jumping position, you will go with the motion of your horse over a fence, instead of jumping ahead or being behind his movement.
If your horse is difficult to steer, it not only ruins your enjoyment of riding, but can also be dangerous. You can have a horse who steers easily and willingly without pulling into the bridle or running through your leg. …
In dressage terms, impulsion usually refers to the forward driving power of the hindquarters. Reiners know impulsion is about responsive forwardness.
The further they get from home, the less secure they feel, and spooking on the trail is a great example of how a prey animal acts when he feels in danger.
You’ve been there…you can’t hold your horse back any more. He’s prancing, he’s pushing like a freight train against the bit, and he’s lunging and plunging. But you hold on with incredible determination because you know if you let go …
There is really no way to make this uneventful unless you have pair-bonded the new horse first and you have a large area for all the horses to run in.
Natural horsemanship methods are not necessarily harmful when applied with the timing, experience and skill of an experienced trainer.
Remember, the Seven Games are progressive and you need to have the other six in place before being able to successfully play the Squeeze Game.
Backwards and sideways have everything to do with your horse’s impulsion and emotional fitness - which influences almost everything else your horse does.
The Circling Game in Parelli Natural Horse-Man-Ship (PNH) is used to help your horse understand that it is his job to maintain gait, maintain direction, watch where he is going and all the while stay tuned into you as his …
