Training Tips's Blog (6)

Question: I have a young green horse we're training in the jumpers. Going around a course he gets headstrong to combinations, but will collect up afterwards. During gymnastics he will rush and ignore cues, and will try to jump over as many of the jumps as he can in one stride and then will come back. Even when a line is spaced out he becomes unruly. If you attempt to pull him up to slow him he bolts and bucks until after the final jump. Any ideas on how to get him to stay cool and collect… Continue

A number of years ago there was a woman who loved to ride. She decided one day it would be a good idea to learn to jump. She pictured herself sailing over huge and difficult obstacles with ease and the ringside crowds going wild. She was lucky enough to find a coach who asked her what her goals in riding might be and she told him this idea. “In two years I would like to compete over fences and be able to jump a 3ft. course competently.”They set about work and slowly she acquired the skills to re… Continue

HEAD TILT IN HORSES I was speaking to a trainer friend of mine recently, and she suggested I write an article about head tilt in horses, since this is a problem trainers often encounter with their students. So, for Diane, here it is. Identifying Head Tilt The importance of understanding when the horse’s head is held in an improper position lies in the fact that this interferes with straightness, therefore function. Additionally, it can be indicative of a physical problem, or discomfort in the… Continue

Question: +I have a question for Dr. James Warson please. I'm 58yo and have recently started riding again after a 2 year break. I'm riding a 16hh anglo/arab gelding recently broken. He has a lovely uphill canter that I'm finding difficult to sit to after the flat, more down hill style of my previous horse. My lower back on the left side is getting progressively more painful and I suspect it has something to do with the way I'm riding the canter. I do yoga every morning and work out at a g… Continue

The Little Rider that Could By: Laura King “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .” said The Little Engine That Could as he chugged up the mountain. More than just a children’s story, this is a valuable lesson. What we tell ourselves can have a profound impact on our performance. I’ve been around horses and involved in showing for most of my life. For the past seven years, I have dedicated myself to helping riders improve their performance by using my professional skills as a sports… Continue

Make A Plan For Riding Success By: Laura King , CHt., NLP Author: Power To WIn Former Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey once said, “Luck is the residue of design.” In other words, a great way to increase the likelihood of success in your riding is to come up with a plan to make it happen. Putting this plan together is a lot simpler than you would imagine, and requires only 4 steps. Step 1 is to know why you ride. Perhaps you started out in equestrian sports because you loved horses… Continue