These articles give advice and information on various training techniques and exercises. Some articles dive into training theories and explanations of different training techniques while other articles are How-To Guides designed to help you implement a new training exercise at home.
None of the advice on this page is meant as a substitute for professional help. Please consult a trainer or riding instructor when you have any doubt about what you are doing.
As equestrians I think it is common to anticipate certain outcomes. You might expect your horse to be spooky on the trails or you might worry about him loading on the trailer. You brace yourself for the worst as if being prepared for a bad result is the only way Read more
I’ve had several people ask me when they need to do groundwork before they ride and when they can just get on and I’ve found myself having a lot of difficulty answering this question. Although to most people’s eyes I often “just get on”, in my opinion that isn’t possible Read more
When looking at horse ads and iso’s, I constantly see the term “bombproof”. It’s what everyone is looking for and what every kid-safe horse’s ad declares. It seems that for most people “bombproof” is the ultimate sign that the horse is indeed good. However, when I think of the word Read more
It seems to me that we spend way too much time focused on riding and not enough time on anything else. Time spent at the barn is categorized as before riding, riding, and after riding. Instead of spending quality time getting ready to ride, we rush to mount and deal Read more
I think that there is a lot of pressure in the horse world to learn everything. There is this concept that horsemanship is finite; there is a set amount of information, knowledge, and skills that can be learned. I see this most from beginners who ask, “how long will it Read more
One of the most common complaints I get from owners is that they cannot get their horse to stand still at the mounting block. Either the horse walks right past it, walks off as they put their foot in the stirrup, or doesn’t wait for them to get fully positioned Read more
Recently a lot of my students have been struggling with the concepts of collection, thoroughness, and roundness. To me, this is the foundation of riding. These classical dressage principles allow us to improve the horse’s way of going, which in turn will improve their longevity and overall health. Recently a Read more
It seems to me in this whole world of horses everyone is always rushing. We hurry to tack up, to get on, to finish our ride, to get to the show, to get home, to… What’s the point? Why do we even bother riding if that’s how we really feel? Read more
Lowering your horse’s head is a great way to help your horse relax, give to pressure, and focus on you. It is one of the most basic elements of horsemanship that anyone can learn, but many people have never been taught. I use this exercise any time I am first Read more