Some things I’ve compiled about hand position: What Keep your hands in the correct english riding position. Why “When your hands get out of position, you’re much more likely to lose balance, and you end up reacting to what the horse does rather than directing his actions.” (John Lyons’s Perfect Horse) Gives you a more … Continue reading
Filed under Skills …
Skills List
The Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia has a great list of skills to teach riders through 3 levels posted on their website. The have created a Rider Achievement Certification program along with it. It’s a great resource! http://www.travinc.org/programs However, the links don’t all go to the right download, so I’ll link them here too: http://travinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/TRAC_1.pdf … Continue reading
Independent Seat
What is an independent seat? I’ve come up with this definition (feel free to add your own): An independent seat: rider is connected with and in balance with the horse’s movement, absorbs motion without bouncing, does not rely on the reins for balance, and is able to independently control each leg and hand. It takes … Continue reading
Teaching the Canter tips from Julie Goodnight
Julie Goodnight posted these pearls of wisdom on Facebook today: “Watch any horse canter and you’ll see his nose drop down on the third beat of every stride; this is especially true on the first stride, when he is launching his whole body off the ground. It is critical that the rider reaches forward and … Continue reading
Leading
It can be pretty tricky to incorporate Horsemanship and Groundwork Skills into a short half hour lesson. One easy quick way to do this is to have your student lead their horse for a lap around the arena before mounting, if they are able bodied enough. You can do one lap, several, or one in each … Continue reading
Hand Position and Independent Seat tips
2 quick reads to share: 1) Colleen Kelly’s “How the Horse Rider Holds Their Hands Can Put the Horse on the Forehand” – this is one good explanation for your hows and whys of hand position 2) Colleen Kelly’s “Independent Seat and Developing Coordination” – try this, you might be surprised…I’m going to be doing it all … Continue reading
Improving the Seat
This is a nifty little video about the classical seat, some common problems, and exercises to help fix them. Very basic, but good for the beginning instructor, and the visual learner! If that doesn’t work, use this URL: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-improve-your-classical-seat-in-horse-riding Enjoy! **************** Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for … Continue reading
Skills Articles
I recently discovered this list of articles about riding. It’s a great collection of short 1-2 page articles about many of the skills you teach your students. They come from the Meredith Manor equestrian college and their school of thought. I have found them very helpful and easy to understand. Click below or use the … Continue reading
Tips & Quips: for Basic Riding Skills
Last year I took some lessons at Cross Winds Farms, a hunter/jumper barn, and learned some great tips & quips from some of their teachers that I want to share. Keep them in your back pocket for when you need them! One teacher would quiz me on the first few basics while walking around the … Continue reading
Resources from the Special Olympics website
I love these resources, so I’m pointing them out in a post! (They are also listed on my Resources page). Equestrian Special Olympics Coaching Guide – explains how to train a student over several months for competing aka lesson planning, various skills and riding information the student needs to know, warm up exercises, stretching and strengthening, correct body … Continue reading