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

SHOULDER-FORE FOR SUPPLING

The suppling abilities of lateral work are essential for horses in any discipline and therefore should play a major role in your horse’s training programme. Introducing lateral work early gives you time to establish it in the horse’s repertoire and allows you to move onto more advanced work with more confidence. A really useful exercise for…

BylizzieOctober 10, 20210Comments

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ASKHQ: ARENA ETIQUETTE

Q: What is the etiquette when several of you are schooling flatwork in the arena at once? A: When riding at the same time as others in the arena, you need to make sure you are aware of other riders and what they are doing to avoid crashes or other incidents. This is made easier if…

BylizzieNovember 24, 20200Comments

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ASKHQ: SHOULD I USE A STRONGER BIT?

Q: I have a problem with a horse who is in a snaffle bit. He works great in it for flatwork but he tends to get strong and ignore my hand aids during jumping. I don’t want to ‘bit him up’ but I feel like he has no respect for the bit and just takes…

BylizzieAugust 15, 20200Comments

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ASKHQ: STIRRUP LENGTH

Q: What is a good guideline for jumping stirrup length for heights between 70cm and 1.20m? Asked by Laura Paschini A: As a rule of thumb, your flatwork stirrups should hand slightly above your ankle when your legs are hanging loosely around your horse's barrel. Some riders are quite happy to jump smaller heights (50cm to 80cm)…

BylizzieJanuary 20, 20200Comments

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ASKHQ: RIDING A CIRCLE

Q: How can you keep a horse straight and balanced on a circle? A: Oddly enough a circle is actually a very good tool for assessing the straightness of your horse. It highlights if a rider has the horse between the outside rein and inside leg aids. In order to be 'straight', and therefore balanced,…

BylizzieOctober 2, 20190Comments

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