Best advice ever?

[MrVelvet]

Ooh I like this thread mine are:
Sit on your bottom!!
Don't worry about the front end until you have the back end moving!
Then when you have the back end moving don't let all the energy escape through the front door!

 

[EimerR]

Not the best piece of advice but sure is handy

When you're washing your horse or dog and you dont and to get drowned when they shake, hold their ear when the about to shake (like dont grab most of the time if you just put your hand on it it works perfectly) haven't got soaked since I learned it

 

[npage123]

Once you've done your riding and have jumped off - loosten the girth by quite a few holes so that your horse can breathe more easily. Also, once you've taken the saddle off, give him a good rub/message on the saddle area.

 

[mirage]

That ponies are the work of the devil.

 

[POLLDARK]

This one was so simple & so true. 'The art of riding is keeping the horse between you & the ground'

 

[TrasaM]

This one was so simple & so true. 'The art of riding is keeping the horse between you & the ground'

Oh yes! my ultimate ambition.

 

[D66]

Look up and open your shoulders was the best thing ever said to me.

Similar effect, I was told
"Fill your bra."

 

[Marydoll]

Dressage, Practice makes perfect ....... Repetition, repetition, repetition.
First xc .. Look up, sit up and kick on, and it worked, we got placed
Sj, look where you want to go, get your turn and your line right then allow the horse to do his job.

 

[Penumbra]

Remembering to breath is always a good one, especially if the horse is worried, as it makes you more tense.

Also to look at the horizon when going over fences (outdoors, obviously).

 

[TrasaM]

Today's lesson..Every time you ride a horse you train it..never leave it less well trained than how you found it.

 

[dafthoss]

For jumping, the canter is your responsibility the jump is his, when I'm having a wobble about not being good enough for him I remind my self the jump is his job I just have to stay with him over it and get him there in a way that he can jump it. On a similar note, let him own the fence, give him the confidence to take it on.

Flat work hasnt really got any stand out advice

 

[LittleMouse]

Remember to smile...or grit your teeth...it looks the same from a distance!

 

[LittleGinger]

For jumping, the canter is your responsibility the jump is his

Very similar to this - you get them to the jump, they get you over it. In theory .

 

[Saucisson]

'

And the other little gem from kung fu, also applicable with horses is:

'And breathe.'

I agree! I did martial arts and had the same problem/advice I tend to hold my breathe when I'm learning something but it just makes you tense up!

My horse will do a fab halt if I just sit up and breathe out. (I'm lucky to have a good boy).

 

[TrasaM]

I agree! I did martial arts and had the same problem/advice I tend to hold my breathe when I'm learning something but it just makes you tense up!

My horse will do a fab halt if I just sit up and breathe out. (I'm lucky to have a good boy).

Same here..also a firm believer in the breath out method.

 

[nosenseofdirection]

Buy one that's **** colour to start with, you'll spend less time washing it!

 

[TrasaM]

Remember to smile...or grit your teeth...it looks the same from a distance!

No no Littlemouse..gritting teeth may fool the judges but it won't fool the horse.

 

[TrasaM]

Dressage, Practice makes perfect ....... Repetition, repetition, repetition.
.

Or another version of this. Practice makes permanent ..perfect practice makes perfect.

 

[Kellys Heroes]

Never think you've learnt all there is to know

K x

 

[tallyho!]

Look at your belly button for a rein back.... I will never forget that pearl! I have now got it so that I just use the muscles so it doesn't look like I am looking down but that was a cracker for me!

 

[Fidgety]

Or another version of this. Practice makes permanent ..perfect practice makes perfect.

Today's lesson..Every time you ride a horse you train it..never leave it less well trained than how you found it.

TrasaM, from your location, it sounds like we may have had the same instructor at one time! Very familiar mantras

 

[el_Snowflakes]

'preperation is the key to success'.........

in regards to setting your horse up before a jump

 

[TrasaM]

TrasaM, from your location, it sounds like we may have had the same instructor at one time! Very familiar mantras

the one about training every time you ride is really important but sometimes I give way to little whims like recently teaching my friend's cob that gallop is ok. She's not happy with me:

 

[Achinghips]

Imagine you are holding a tennis ball behind each knee

Your reins are train tracks

 

[TrasaM]

Look at your belly button for a rein back.... I will never forget that pearl! I have now got it so that I just use the muscles so it doesn't look like I am looking down but that was a cracker for me!

Does this work? My best rein backs were all done by accident and I couldn't figure out what it was I did to get the response but I've a funny feeling that I was checking reins and saddle position and therefore looking down .. You may have solved a problem for me. .??

 

[TJP]

Breathe out, your body will breathe in automatically &
if in doubt KICK ON

 

[Achinghips]

Look at your belly button for a rein back.... I will never forget that pearl! I have now got it so that I just use the muscles so it doesn't look like I am looking down but that was a cracker for me!

LIGHTBULB moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is why he does it when I don't ask for it sometimes - that is exactly what I've been inadvertently doing, - massive thanks!!!!!!!!!

 

[TrasaM]

LIGHTBULB moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is why he does it when I don't ask for it sometimes - that is exactly what I've been inadvertently doing, - massive thanks!!!!!!!!!

Hurray ..I'm not alone in the mystery recurring unsolicited rein back !!!! Prize for Tallyho..

 

[Achinghips]

Hurray ..I'm not alone in the mystery recurring unsolicited rein back !!!! Prize for Tallyho..

You certainly aren't. It's usually accompanied by a confused voice saying "I'm not asking for this" and a perturbed shrug as your surroundings whiz past you backwards on either side

 

[Natch]

Find the softness in you to discover the softness in your horse, and 'just pretend he's a grand prix dressage horse who already knows how to do it' (walk/canter trans, it worked so very well!)