“For the green Thoroughbred, turning this way allows them to forgo speed and antics. It allows them to be ridden forward in front of your leg and complete the circles, squares, figure-eights, whatever is asked without changing their pace.” (more…)
“A primary consequence of the inside rein is that it tips a horse onto their forelimbs and off of the hind. A knock-on set of results are that it speeds a horse up and becomes harder for the horse to come over their back, create a powerful push from behind and correct… frame.” (more…)
“I am proud of them for their quiet strolls around the facility, their eager walk (but willingness to stay at a walk) as we carouse through the woods. But I’m not surprised. They are Thoroughbreds, after all.” (more…)
Horses will teach you many things … but these past two months, the learning has been this: you’ll always need a backup plan (or like 47 of them). (more…)
“With support, the trot that will develop from that too-speedy, too-big forward jumble is often a pushing, powerful, balanced, over-the back masterpiece.” (more…)
“Deciding what to do with a horse is about appropriateness and fit. And that applies for both the horse and the human. It’s a bit of the square peg-round hole thing.”
“Balance means the ability to flow with what the horse tosses at you and the capacity to retain that quiet control through transitions or comical behavior. Ultimately, a balanced rider can be a soft rider.”
“The more practiced the language of ask and confirm, the more ‘normal paced’ things can go and the better the trust and overall communication gets.” (more…)
“99.99% of the Thoroughbreds I have swung a leg over respond with utter enthusiasm and a golden-retriever-like sense of ‘sweet!’ and ‘did I get it right?'” (more…)
“The cart idea not only keeps people from pulling, riding backwards or balancing off the bit, but also it actually helps improve equitation and sets up riders to be subtle.”
“So go ride, folks. And if your horse scoots out from under your aids, relax, weight your aids, take a deep breath and wait. Count backwards slowly from 100 and see how your horse softens into the soft pressure. Reward, rest, and try again.” (more…)
“I have to remind myself that if I’m not on top of my competition game for a couple months … they don’t care. They are safe, and fed and cared for.” (more…)
“Reward the try, and as the situation arises again, ask again. The half-halt through a full-body hold, allows them to learn. Pulling takes that opportunity off the table.” (more…)
“Each day, we change it up a bit … While I fully believe that keeping it interesting and challenging their brain is a huge plus, these smart but sometimes-anxious horses also need to know how to get the answer right.” (more…)
“It is often the slow repetitive progression through without rider interference that helps them think and slow their brain and thus, their feet…” (more…)
“I imagine that, like people, there are no horses who feel no discomfort when asked to work. They will have sore joints, eventually tired muscles, sometimes a tweak of pain here or there. Sure. And for some, there will be acute pain.” (more…)
We all know that horses get ulcers. The causes are wide and varied. There’s no silver bullet when it comes to eliminating ulcer triggers, but there are ways to effectively address them. Read on for more: (more…)
“Letting it be hard is hard in this industry. There is no good ability to stop. The chores need to be done, the other horses’ care doesn’t get to waiver.” (more…)
“If you’re at an impasse, if you’re stuck… there are always other[s]… to talk to… Aim for folks who know and love Thoroughbreds and understand both the track and off track lives.” (more…)
“I spend an inordinate amount of my life thinking about what ‘works’ when riding and training Thoroughbreds … they all share keeping the rider effective but out of the way of the horse.” (more…)
“Allowing them to sort it out and to have that support … creates a space for trust to start to knit itself together. They already know they can rely on themselves, but with regular rides of soft, confident ‘ask and allow,’ that genetic courage can bind into trust.” (more…)
“By not being in charge, I gained the perspective on how to follow — a little insight on how to horse in the game of riding. I learned that setting and maintaining rhythm meant being able to acknowledge and match the existing one.” (more…)
