Lessons are a regular part of the lives of most equestrians, and because of this, we as riders grow accustomed to following directions given by our instructors as we travel around the arena doing schooling exercises with our horse....
Last winter, the International Modern Pentathlon Union (Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne, or UIPM) decided to remove equestrian show jumping from its slate of five sports. Without directly referring to the controversy that occurred during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic...
Riders transitioning to the double bridle for dressage or saddle seat classes can find it intimidating at first to handle two reins and two bits and to understand the reins’ actions on both the snaffle and curb.In this article,...
If you’re like me, you are probably wondering how you could get one step closer to having a responsive horse on the aids, just like the top riders. To test your connection and communication with your horse, try the...
Courses for jumper and equitation riders include tests that are more difficult than those found on the average hunter course. One of the most challenging is the rollback turn.Immediately after your horse lands from a jump, you must...
Success in the arena with your horseback riding starts with the right mindset. Riders can learn from athletes how to prepare for competition.Professional boxer Muhammad Ali was once quoted as saying, “In the big leagues everyone has the ability....
Maybe you’ve seen dressage in person or in photos and video. Perhaps you’ve even dabbled in it yourself with some lessons or a bit of experimentation guided by an online tutorial or a magazine article. Either way, you’re drawn...
Side reins can be extremely beneficial, when used correctly, to improve a horse’s understanding of rein contact, as well as help him to correctly develop his topline. Of course, the key phrase here is “used correctly.”Why side reins? The...
Many equestrian disciplines require the horse to go on a loose rein, at least part of the time. But in dressage, there is a constant connection between the horse’s mouth and the rider’s hand, called contact.Developing and maintaining correct...
Horse shows are filled with excitement. You eagerly await a weekend show day or an even more exciting overnight horse show with your pony. You agonize over your jumping rounds—breaking down every takeoff, landing, and turn. However, there’s still...
