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 #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 Know How Lifestyle

RESISTANCE TRAINING FOR HORSE RIDERS

Text: Christie Wolhuter Many people are confused by the need for resistance training for equestrians. To me, it is the most important work you can do to keep up with your horse. First of all, we need to remember that horse riding is a sport, and riders should consider themselves athletes. Few top-level equestrians are not…

BylizzieApril 20, 20220Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training Q&A

ASKHQ: FILLER FEAR

Q: My horse is generally very forward-going and happy to jump. However, the second you introduce any type of filler she is a nervous wreck. How can I help her with this? A: With these kinds of issues, the best advice is to go back to basics. The first thing to do is revisit simple poles on…

BylizzieFebruary 12, 20220Comments

Horse Training Know How

WINTER WARMING UP AND COOLING DOWN

A proper warm-up and cool-down are especially important over the winter period. Low temperatures mean your horse’s body needs longer than usual to warm up to a working temperature. Warming up and cooling down should be gradual. Intensive training, when a horse is not properly warmed up could cause severe stiffness, spasms in the muscles,…

BylizzieMay 3, 20210Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training

SHOULDER-IN

Shoulder-in is the mother of all lateral movements. It was described in detail by the Grand Master François Robichon de la Guérinière along with its enormous gymnastic benefits for the horse. He is said to have described the exercise as the ‘cure of equitation’ and ‘the first and last movement to teach the horse in…

BylizzieFebruary 22, 20210Comments

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