ASKHQ: DOWNWARD TRANSITIONS

Q: My horse makes very tense and sudden downward transitions into the walk. What can I do to make them a bit smoother? A: Tense transitions can occur for many reasons, but it is absolutely essential first to rule out any pain issues. You don’t want to be schooling your horse through discomfort, so make sure…

BylizzieFebruary 23, 20250Comments

Ask HQ

ASKHQ: STRUGGLING WITH MY HORSE’S TRAINING

Q: I’m really struggling with my horse’s training. I’m too embarrassed to admit to anyone that I’m having trouble, but I can tell the other liveries at our yard judge me when my horse plays up. I don’t know what to do and feel like giving up. Do you have any suggestions? A: We’re sorry to…

BylizzieFebruary 21, 20250Comments

TOP TIPS FOR INDOOR ARENA RIDING

Riding in an indoor arena for the first time can be both exciting and slightly intimidating. The enclosed space, different footing, and new environment can affect both you and your horse. To help you make the most of your first indoor arena experience, here are some top tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable ride. Step…

BylizzieOctober 15, 20240Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training

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

Ask HQ Horse Channel

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

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: THE SPOOKY HORSE

Q: My horse is really spooky about anything we encounter on around the outside of the arena, but he's absolutely fine jumping pretty much anything I put in front of him. Why is this? A: Horses spook for lots of different reasons, but fundamentally they are flight animals so their instinct is to run from something…

BylizzieAugust 3, 20190Comments

Ask HQ

HOW DO YOU STOP THE LOWER LEG SWINGING?

Asked by Nicky Venter Keeping the lower leg still needs some riding without stirrups! Practise riding with no stirrups in your flatwork and make sure that your stirrups are the right length when you take them back. Ideally, you want the bottom of the stirrup iron to be at your ankle when your leg is hanging…

BylizzieOctober 15, 20180Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT THAT A RECREATIONAL HORSE CAN CARRY?

Horses can carry between 12% and 20% of their body weight, but body weight is not the only factor that decides if it is justified to carry a certain amount of weight. You have to look at the muscles, build and breed of the horse in order to make a safe observation and conclusion. Is the…

BylizzieDecember 24, 20170Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF A RIDER HAS A HOT SEAT?

[dropcap]A [/dropcap]‘hot seat’ is a pushy seat where the rider sits ‘on top’ of the horse, instead of ‘around’ the horse and ‘in’ the saddle. The cause of this problem could be a number of things and most often it can be traced back to the centre of the body: the buttocks, lower abdomen, lower back,…

BylizzieDecember 23, 20170Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

ASKHQ: WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT A HORSE IS RESISTING THE CONTACT?

The most obvious sign that a horse has not accepted the contact is resistance. This can be displayed through snatching, falling behind, grabbing and hollowing. Snatching Horses usually snatch at the reins when you grip them too tightly. This can usually be fixed by gently sponging to encourage softness and suppleness. Don’t confuse this with sawing (pulling…

BylizzieDecember 21, 20170Comments

HQ Newsletter