Horse Training

FLATWORK FEBRUARY #8: THE WALK TO CANTER

The walk to canter is more challenging to teach your horse than the trot to canter, but once learnt, it is easier for your horse to execute. This is due to the sequence in which your horse's legs move. The walk is a four-beat gait where all legs move individually. In the trot, the legs…

BylizzieFebruary 13, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

FLATWORK FEBRUARY #7: THE COUNTDOWN

'The Countdown' is excellent for improving your horse's reaction to your aids, ensuring they are in front of your leg, and getting them to engage with their hind end before you start to attempt more complex exercises. How to ride the countdown Like many of the exercises we have spoken about, the countdown is centred around…

BylizzieFebruary 7, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

FLATWORK FEBRUARY #6: THE THREE-LOOP SERPENTINE

A three-loop serpentine is a series of three, equal-sized half circles which form an ‘S’ shape across the arena. Start this exercise in walk, to allow you more time to perfect your aids and your horse's flexion (and build their muscles) before riding a three-loop serpentine in a working trot, and finally in canter. Begin riding the…

BylizzieFebruary 7, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

FLATWORK FEBRUARY #5: PUSH AND COLLECT

In essence, this exercise asks that you 'push' forward on the long side of the arena and 'collect' on the short side of the arena i.e. on the long side of the arena, you extend the gait and on the short side, you collect it. This exercise is excellent for developing strength, balance, and reactivity to…

BylizzieFebruary 6, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

FLATWORK FEBRUARY #4: THE SPIRAL

You can complete this exercise in either walk, trot, or canter. But like with most of these exercises, starting at the walk or trot is best. One would usually begin with a 20m circle and spiral into a 10m circle, but you can adjust this as needed. If spiralling to a 10m circle is too…

BylizzieFebruary 6, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

FLATWORK FEBRUARY #3: THE FIGURE EIGHT

The Figure 8 is typically done with 20m circles with a change of direction where the two circles join over 'X.' However, as with most of these exercises, you can accommodate your horse's level of schooling. If you have a younger horse and the space, you can do bigger circles or with a more schooled horse,…

BylizzieFebruary 3, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

FLATWORK FEBRUARY #2: THE STATION

To begin this exercise, you need four transition markers. Place a pole parallel to the arena edge and complete a transition at each of these transition markers. There is no rule regarding the transition; you can do an upward, downward, or transition within the current gait. Having a visual marker allows you, as the rider, time to…

BylizzieFebruary 3, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

FLATWORK FEBRUARY #1: THE BONE COLLECTOR

The Bone Collector is a simple yet effective tool to improve straightness off the arena's edge. The exercise is easily changed to suit you and your horse's level; you can make it more 'advanced' by adding various transitions and altering the sizes of your circles. There is no set gait to start or end, although it is…

BylizzieFebruary 3, 20240Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training Q&A

ASKHQ: WATER-PHOBIA

Q: My horse hates water, even tiny puddles. If we encounter water on an outride, I have to find a way to go a long way around it, or sometimes even turn back. What can I do to make him more confident? A: Many horses are wary of putting their feet into a puddle because they…

BylizzieJanuary 24, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training News Updates

KATIE FRANCK – EQUITATION SUPERSTAR

Text: Amelia Campbell-Horne Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography This year has been exciting for Equitation in South Africa, with the sport growing nationally and some exceptional riders rising to the top across South Africa. One such rider who has had a flawless year in the Open classes is young Katie Franck, who for possibly the first time in…

BylizzieJanuary 18, 20240Comments

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