Jul 15 2020
Around the Octagon The leg-yield is essentially no bend suppling exercise. It makes the horse loose and free in its lateral and longitudinal movement and provides the basis for future lateral work. Leg-yielding teaches the horse to be more responsive to the rider’s leg aids, and helps to develop the rider’s ‘feel’ and coordination. In …
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Jul 14 2020
Going to the Gym The word gymnastics derives from the common Greek adjective γυμνός (gymnos), meaning is to “train naked”. The verb had this meaning, because athletes in ancient times exercised and competed without clothing. Gymnastics is a sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and endurance. The movements involved in …
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Jul 13 2020
La Garrocha: The magic schtick! “The Garrocha pole is a spanish tradition of the Doma Vaqueros. The long pole was used to both tend cattle and then to perform in the bull fights. The handy vaquero horses had to be able to turn and spin around that pole while the rider intimidated the bull into …
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Jul 11 2020
Ride Them UP! The Horse’s Head and Neck in Relation to Balance “The horse’s weight is distributed over its haunches and forehand. Because of the heavy head and neck, the horse carries a greater amount of weight on its forehand. When in motion, the horse uses its head and neck to influence its balance. One …
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Jul 10 2020
“Going Sideway”. The leg yield should be introduced before advancing toward collection and lateral movements. The leg yield is a movement in which the horse is kept almost straight, except for slight flexion of the poll away from the direction in which he moves, and the inside legs pass and cross in front of the …
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Jul 09 2020
Shoulder-Fore is a baby Shoulder-In Shoulder-fore is a lateral movement which encourages your horse to take more weight onto his hind legs and step actively underneath his body. Although it’s not a required movement in any Cowboy Dressage tests it’s a really useful flat work exercise to do with your horse. It’s great for developing …
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Jul 07 2020
Transitions – Transitions – Transitions Transitions are not just about HOW. Transitions are more about WHEN. Right Lead departure from the walk. The horse’s walk is a four-beat gait. 1st beat RH, 2nd beat RF, 3rd beat LH. 4th beat, LF. I cue my horse for the RIGHT LEAD when his inside RIGHT front leg …
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Jul 07 2020
‘V’ – for Victory When my horse’s inside front leg is under my stirrup, I cue the horse’s outside hind leg for gait transition (jog & lope). The horse’s walk is a four-beat gait. The sequence of a correct walk should be: right hind right front left hind left front Each leg should …
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Jun 25 2020
Skeletal Maturation “What we know about the rate of skeletal maturity is that the growth plates in the equine body slowly fuse between one-and-a-half and six years—across the board. There is no truth to the myth that some breeds of horses mature faster than others. All horses reach skeletal maturity at about five-and-a-half to six …
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Jun 25 2020
I just added a new Category named “Silent Rider” to Eitan’s “88” Brand Online Educational Membership Program. “I do not have much patience with a thing of beauty that must be explained to be understood. If it does need additional interpretation by someone other than the creator, then I question whether it has fulfilled its …
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