Horse Training

TRAINING THE YOUNG EVENT HORSE

Text: Hayley Parker Introducing a horse to the cross-country phase of eventing should be a process that is unhurried and kept fun in order to create a solid foundation of trust between the horse and rider. It is often in the very first few outings to a cross-country venue with a young or inexperienced horse that…

BylizzieAugust 28, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

BRIDLES, BITS AND BIOMECHANICS

Rethinking what’s ‘normal’ The sight of a horse moving in a bridle, poll flexed, lips gently closed, has long been seen as the mark of advanced schooling and correct work. However, new research into bridle and bit pressure, nerve pathways, and facial anatomy is challenging that assumption, suggesting that many horses perform despite discomfort, rather…

BylizzieAugust 13, 20250Comments

Horse Training

DRESSAGE DOUBLE BRIDLES

Tradition, technique, and ethics Few pieces of tack divide the dressage world like the double bridle. On one side are classical purists who see it as the pinnacle of lightness, a symbol of refinement that allows precise communication between skilled rider and trained horse. On the other, growing numbers of welfare-conscious riders and professionals question…

BylizzieAugust 8, 20250Comments

Horse Training

GIRTH FITTING GUIDE

Follow these steps: Step 1: Choose the right girth shape Start with your horse’s conformation and saddle placement. Horse type Best girth style Forward girth groove Anatomical or contoured girth Narrow ribcage/prominent sternum Wider girth to distribute pressure Very active/jumping Stud guard or anatomical for stability Sensitive/girthy Soft-lined or elasticised girth with shape relief Step 2: Correct fit Length Girth should sit two to four fingers…

BylizzieAugust 6, 20250Comments

Horse Health Horse Training

UNDERNEATH THE GIRTH

Does shape, material, or elasticity matter? The girth is one of the most fundamental pieces of tack in your horse’s wardrobe, but it’s also one of the most underestimated. For many of us, choosing a girth is often an afterthought: leather or synthetic, shaped or straight, perhaps with elastic on one end, and then we're…

BylizzieAugust 6, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF COACHES THAT ENSURE ATHLETE SUCCESS

Text: Ryan Tehini Having the right coach is an integral part of achieving athletic success; proper coaching ensures that the correct aspects of the sport are trained, and also instils confidence in the athlete – enhancing their overall performance. While the importance of coaching has never been in debate, it is an aspect of psychological research…

BylizzieAugust 5, 20250Comments

Horse Training

DENMARK BANS DOUBLE BRIDES AT LOWER DRESSAGE LEVELS IN WELFARE OVERHAUL

In a significant move aimed at aligning competitive progress with equine welfare, the Danish Equestrian Federation (DRF) has announced a ban on the use of double bridles in dressage below Level 4, effective from 1 September 2025. The decision is part of a broader set of welfare reforms designed to ensure that horses’ mental and physical…

BylizzieAugust 2, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

MINDSET COACHING – BUILDING THE RIDER’S COMPETITIVE EDGE

Text: Lara Ellwood Horses have given us some of life’s most joyful moments—freedom, partnership, connection, and the friendships forged along the way. But for many riders, those highs can be tempered by the creeping nerves that come before a class, in the warm-up arena, or even while thinking about the next show. These overwhelming emotions can…

BylizzieJuly 21, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

HORE WELFARE IN EQUESTRIAN EDUCATION – WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Text: Amelia Campbell-Horne Last year (2024), fifty carefully selected ‘expert equestrian educators’ from 14 European countries were invited to attend a three-day workshop at the French National Riding School in Samur by the Institut Français du Cheval de l’Équitation (IFCE). The ‘experts’ were mostly members of the Equestrian Education Network (EEN), and several were also IGEQ…

BylizzieJuly 17, 20250Comments

Horse Breed Horse Training

TRAINING THE EYE – HOW TO ASSESS CONFORMATION AND MOVEMENT

Whether you’re shopping for a youngster, evaluating your current mount, or simply seeking to better understand your horse’s strengths and challenges, developing an ‘educated eye’ for conformation and movement is one of the most valuable skills a rider or owner can cultivate. It’s more than just assessing beauty or elegance — it’s about predicting performance…

BylizzieJune 17, 20250Comments

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