The Equestrian

Archive for August, 2006

dressage horse trainers

Does anyone know any simple level 1 Dressage patterns?

I am wanting to give Dressage a try with my horse because she has great movement and listens to me so well, other dressage trainers asked if we showed in higher levels. So I was just wondering if anyone knew any simple dressage patterns that we can work on together. She is a little Arab, can pirouette and collected trot and canter, we are working on flying lead changes... she can do them at half circles but not like the higher horses who can do them every other stride. She can half pass, do a shoulder in, and can get in to the canter at a stop.

1st level patterns or intro and training level patterns?
You can buy the test booklets at most tack stores for pretty cheap, somewhere you can download them, but I don't know where it is. There are 4 set patterns for each level of dressage if you want to show, and a good way to practice is incorporate the movements.

It is really hard to explain how to do them, and takes a lot of time to do so, and aids depend on how a horse responds, so here is just a list.
intro and training- work on developing suppleness, roundness, and steady working trot and canter, good stretches at the free walk, and also a trot stretch circle (feel the stretch in the back and neck, not rushing)

1st level- leg yields, half circles and serpentines at the trot, lengthenings as well

2nd level- counter canter serpentines, simple changes of lead (through 3-4 trot steps) Extended trot (higher front end and more power than a lengthening).

3rd level- you see a lot more of the higher collection with lead changes, shoulder ins, haunches in, and half passes. Canter-walk transitions as well.

Sounds like you have a talented horse that likes dressage- I would seek out an instructor to help you fine tune it and start showing! Definately start at level 1 and work your way up, or watch competitions to see the good riders at each level and how their horses look to know where to place your horse.
The biggest thing is a good forward easy striding trot. Arabs usually do not have a problem with this, but sometimes collection makes them get stiff in the shoulder or neck.

Dressage training before and after

horse breaking equipment

Long Reining Your Horse Part 2

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In part one 1 I suggest some equipment you could use to long rein safely. The next step is to accustom the horse to the line around its quarters.  Stop your horse, and with a handler holding it by a lead attached to the halter, you can pass the opposite line around the horse's quarters.  Keep the line slack; you do not want to be pulling against its quarters or providing pressure there.

Stand well away from your horse's hind legs, out of reach if it should kick out.  The handler should quickly move the horse off into a walk, so that it can move away from the rein; this prevents bolting.  Move yourself gradually around to behind the horse, again staying well back out of reach of a kick.

Your handler should walk the horse around, making frequent changes of direction.  You should gradually take up a contact, and start to take over the direction changes with the long reins.  If the horse stops, you encourage it forward first, with your voice or your aid, and your handler takes up the lead only if the horse continues to resist.

When you horse is relaxed, your handler can unclip the lead and move away.  Now you are long reining your horse!

Most problems in long reining occur because the horse isn't ready, the long reins have been introduced too fast, or the handler becomes too aggressive.  If your horse is unhappy on the long reins, don't try to force it.  Go back to the round pen or the lunge line another day, start again, and take your time.

Only when your horse is long reining happily with the halter should you consider moving to the bit rings, and then only ever long rein with a gentle snaffle. Never get into a fight with your horse on the long reins; if your horse panics, or tries to turn towards you, step in the direction of its quarters, try to stay behind your horse, and straighten it up by gently holding or tugging on the outside line while relaxing the rein to the inside of your horse's turn.

Try to avoid ending up alongside - or even in front of - your horse.  Use the sides of your pen or your school to calm down and slow a rushing or nervous horse by turning it toward the arena rail.

Once a horse has been broken and is being ridden happily, many trainers never return to ground work. Yet ground work has the potential to reinforce the basics for your horse and allows it to explore new movements without the weight of a rider.

It's a useful tool throughout your training, so even after your horse has been broken, return to long reining when you feel you need to reestablish the fundamentals, or you are going to introduce a new or complex movement.  With a calm and correct introduction, long reining can become a fun and effective tool in your training.

About the Author

Hi my name is Anita and people are always asking me for tips on equestrian training and what they should do to for the best. Visit me at http://www.horsetrainingwiz.com or http://www.horsetraining.blogspot.com

Horse Question Folks!?

I am geting ready to train a 5 yr old horse. Advice on equipment. I be using him for some jumping ( down the road sometime ) Sidesaddle, and everyday riding. He's already ground broke well. Now working undersaddle.
By the way I've been riding since I was 3! I've trained my own horse who is 14 now. I got her when She was 10 and wild! She had never seen a saddle in her life! I broke her! I just wanted more advice on jump training. Heck I know how I just want to teach the horse! Please don't call me green! Could a green rider jump a 3 1/2 foot fence bareback? I think not! Thanks!

Since the horse is a baby you'll probably need a waterferd bit, it's real soft on the mouth. At the canter(when asking for it) don't rush him into it. Also keep your reins lose so he can learn to gain balance and after that you can gather your reins to have contact on his mouth. You'll not want to work him to hard, and make sure to walk him around a good 15-20min. before turning him out or he'll get a bit wild on you the next time you ride. You also don't want to be to aggressive with him, you don't want him to have a bad experience. Give him time to learn his transitions and try to be easy on him..again he's just a baby.

How to Western Saddle a Horse

horse lease

You know where I can rent a horse in Georgia?

I need to rent a horse in Georgia. I do not want to be the horse the most expensive around.

I can not tell you at the top of my head. No doubt there are horses that can be rented for a reasonable price. Try stables near you. But another great idea would be to visit websites, and do an advanced search and look for horses that are "for rent" and you give some suggestions for horses near you. Some sites I recommend: www www.dreamhorse.com www.equine.com www.horseclicks.com. www.horsetopia.com equinenow.com:) Good luck

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