Learning a new sport or hobby is something that takes time and effort, especially from a young age. If it’s something that you want your kids to get involved in, or if it’s something that they saw on TV or in a film that they want to do straight away, you can either refuse to…
December 18, 2012 – If you only use your hands when putting your horse on the bit, you’re making one of the biggest mistakes you can make. By focusing on the head and “getting the head down”, you’ll just be creating an artificial “head-set”. Putting your horse on the bit has nothing to do with…
October 8, 2012 – No matter where I travel, the most frequently asked questions I get are, “How do I put my dressage horse on the bit… and how do I keep him there consistently?” This concept baffles many riders. My hope here is to simplify the process for you by explaining how to give…
Motivation is an interesting topic. I’m very motivated when food is involved. Just shake a can of pellets, and I’ll sing and dance for you! Okay, okay. I nicker and stomp. But you know what I mean. If Jane corrects me, she always follows up by “retesting” me with the same question. The retest gives…
Many riders have a hard time getting their horses to pick up the correct lead in one direction. There can be many reasons for your horse picking up the wrong lead. Here are two exercises that can help you with this problem. The first exercise increases bend. The second exercise engages the strike-off leg. Exercise…
Many riders don’t realize that the reason they have trouble sitting the trot is because their horses aren’t on the bit. No matter how good a rider you are, it’s nearly impossible to sit on a back that is stiff and hollow. The key to making both you and your horse more comfortable in sitting…
Many riders are confused about how to tell if their horses are honestly on the bit. Below is a description of what it looks and feels like when your horse is honestly connected. What Does It Look Like? Hindquarters: You want to see active hindquarters and your horse stepping well under himself. Back: Just behind…
“You are really smart. You are very talented. You are a good rider.” All those things make you feel good right? I used to think so. I used to compliment all the other horses in the barn, thinking I would be helping their self-esteem by reminding them how great they are. But, new studies indicate…
This month I’ll explain how to use the “Connecting Aids” with a lazy horse to put him on the bit. Next month, I’ll talk about connecting the hot horse. Here’s a review of the connecting aids: (1) Close both calves to generate power from behind. (2) Close your outside hand in a fist to capture,…
I’m a people whisperer. A Moshi Level Five People Whisperer, to be exact. Fellow horses come to me when they are confused by their people and ask what their person really meant by their crazy people language. These poor confused horses say things like, “my person says she’s the boss when on my back by…
