Comments for Horse Riding Training http://www.horseridingtraining.net Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:36:57 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 Comment on How to frame up a horse while riding and lunging? by Emiboo http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/how-to-frame-up-a-horse-while-riding-and-lunging/comment-page-1#comment-751 Emiboo Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:36:57 +0000 http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/how-to-frame-up-a-horse-while-riding-and-lunging#comment-751 I would suggest a Pessoa for lunging as this engages their hindquarters and helps them stretch down into the contact, lifting their backs. For riding, I think a great deal of the work should be done before using training aids but after you have got past the basics and are starting to try and ride her in the correct frame, you can use a training aid. (preferably with an instructor present). The de gouge is a good one. Not harsh and forceful lime draw reins. Research it. I would suggest a Pessoa for lunging as this engages their hindquarters and helps them stretch down into the contact, lifting their backs. For riding, I think a great deal of the work should be done before using training aids but after you have got past the basics and are starting to try and ride her in the correct frame, you can use a training aid. (preferably with an instructor present). The de gouge is a good one. Not harsh and forceful lime draw reins. Research it.

]]> Comment on Is 18 too old to start horse riding lessons? by millie http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-riding-lessons/is-18-too-old-to-start-horse-riding-lessons/comment-page-2#comment-750 millie Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:39:22 +0000 http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-riding-lessons/is-18-too-old-to-start-horse-riding-lessons#comment-750 Nope. I went on ponys when i was 5/6 once or twice, but didnt start proper horse riding lessons till now (im 12) its not proper horse riding school but im a natural at it. if you like horses you should totally go for it! Who cares what other people think its about the love you have for horses! I didnt spend too much time around horses but i had wanted to go horse riding since i was like..1 or 2 no jokes(maybe 3) i never really got the chance till now when im twelve. I love horses so much. If you dont like horses then you can rather leave it or just grow to love them. some people are scared of them cus there so big but you could start on a pony abit smaller then you and work your way bigger. Hope this helps! :D Nope. I went on ponys when i was 5/6 once or twice, but didnt start proper horse riding lessons till now (im 12) its not proper horse riding school but im a natural at it. if you like horses you should totally go for it! Who cares what other people think its about the love you have for horses! I didnt spend too much time around horses but i had wanted to go horse riding since i was like..1 or 2 no jokes(maybe 3) i never really got the chance till now when im twelve. I love horses so much. If you dont like horses then you can rather leave it or just grow to love them. some people are scared of them cus there so big but you could start on a pony abit smaller then you and work your way bigger. Hope this helps! :D

]]> Comment on Hunter Horse Headset Training Tools? by Megan Hartley http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/hunter-horse-headset-training-tools/comment-page-1#comment-716 Megan Hartley Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:55:14 +0000 http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/hunter-horse-headset-training-tools#comment-716 While I agree with the post above me, I also understand the need to some additional training aids, and let's be honest. If there was not a "need" or "demand" for them, they woul dnot have been invented. Most 'R' judges in Hunter ring will tell you that longing or working in a large round pen using correctly applied training aids is MORE effective then poor riding, so if you are finding yourself to be an intermediate or out of tuned rider you may find a couple of these helpful. Keep in mind, no aid is effective without proper use and application. Neck Stretcher: Probably one of the more commonly used devices as once it is properly fitted, it works one on one with the horse. There is no rider interference. I prefer to use the neck stretcher if I have a less experienced rider aboard just hacking the horse lightly, or reccommend it for riders who are fresh off a riding "hiatus" and need to focus on their riding strength to "come back", but still allow for the horse's topline to be worked back into shape with minimal to no input from the rider. These are also the most affordable training aid you can use for headsets. Training Fork: More prominantly a western piece of tack. I have used a training fork when I had no other tack to utalize. The trick to a training fork is a rider with a really good feel for what it is they want. A harsh hand and a lot of contact will push a horse over the bit in this kind of rig. It must be used with plenty of leg moving the horse forward and keeping them in front where they belong. However, I do like the training fork because of the flexion it encourages from the neck and not so much the poll. Draw Reins: I saw someone mention this training aid. I personally LOVE mine and even though I ride Hunters, Jumpers, and some Eq I use Weaver's brand. I find the rope-like material runs through the pully system much quicker and with less resistance then that of leather draws through the bit. Everyone has their preference though. Draw reins must be handled with care! Like the training fork, the rider must know what they are feeling for and should only be used with the knowledge, or supervision of someone who has the knowledge, of how they work. You can easily over compensate with this training aid and again end up with a horse who has fallen over the bit. Chambeau: or shambo, or chambois. Its spelling (and pernounciation) has been argued time and time again. This is not my favorite tool. In fact I really wouldn't recommend it at all. I have had some students use it in "desperate times, call for desperate measures" type of situations, if you can find yourself excusing one. I had an advanced student who has been riding a good 17+ years, riding a horse that she had completely lost confidence on and had has some terrible accidents with. She needed to be able to ride and focus on just having a happy ending with no reason to pick a fight but to just enjoy herself while he worked. She had no other available training tool. The chambeau is like the neck stretcher but has NO give or elasticity to it. It hooks from the girth, runs up to a piece you attach to the corwn to the bridle, then down directly to the bit. I ALWAYS longe my horses in it when it is first fitted as to allow them to get a feel for their "range" of movement since it does allow for any movement outside of the given "slack". I have seen horses who could not handle the steady and unforgiving pressure and have gone up and ove rbecause of it, the main reason I do not recommend it and ALWAYS longe a horse in it before mounting up. I hope this gives you some ideas. While I agree with the post above me, I also understand the need to some additional training aids, and let’s be honest. If there was not a “need” or “demand” for them, they woul dnot have been invented. Most ‘R’ judges in Hunter ring will tell you that longing or working in a large round pen using correctly applied training aids is MORE effective then poor riding, so if you are finding yourself to be an intermediate or out of tuned rider you may find a couple of these helpful. Keep in mind, no aid is effective without proper use and application.

Neck Stretcher: Probably one of the more commonly used devices as once it is properly fitted, it works one on one with the horse. There is no rider interference. I prefer to use the neck stretcher if I have a less experienced rider aboard just hacking the horse lightly, or reccommend it for riders who are fresh off a riding “hiatus” and need to focus on their riding strength to “come back”, but still allow for the horse’s topline to be worked back into shape with minimal to no input from the rider. These are also the most affordable training aid you can use for headsets.

Training Fork: More prominantly a western piece of tack. I have used a training fork when I had no other tack to utalize. The trick to a training fork is a rider with a really good feel for what it is they want. A harsh hand and a lot of contact will push a horse over the bit in this kind of rig. It must be used with plenty of leg moving the horse forward and keeping them in front where they belong. However, I do like the training fork because of the flexion it encourages from the neck and not so much the poll.

Draw Reins: I saw someone mention this training aid. I personally LOVE mine and even though I ride Hunters, Jumpers, and some Eq I use Weaver’s brand. I find the rope-like material runs through the pully system much quicker and with less resistance then that of leather draws through the bit. Everyone has their preference though. Draw reins must be handled with care! Like the training fork, the rider must know what they are feeling for and should only be used with the knowledge, or supervision of someone who has the knowledge, of how they work. You can easily over compensate with this training aid and again end up with a horse who has fallen over the bit.

Chambeau: or shambo, or chambois. Its spelling (and pernounciation) has been argued time and time again. This is not my favorite tool. In fact I really wouldn’t recommend it at all. I have had some students use it in “desperate times, call for desperate measures” type of situations, if you can find yourself excusing one. I had an advanced student who has been riding a good 17+ years, riding a horse that she had completely lost confidence on and had has some terrible accidents with. She needed to be able to ride and focus on just having a happy ending with no reason to pick a fight but to just enjoy herself while he worked. She had no other available training tool. The chambeau is like the neck stretcher but has NO give or elasticity to it. It hooks from the girth, runs up to a piece you attach to the corwn to the bridle, then down directly to the bit. I ALWAYS longe my horses in it when it is first fitted as to allow them to get a feel for their “range” of movement since it does allow for any movement outside of the given “slack”. I have seen horses who could not handle the steady and unforgiving pressure and have gone up and ove rbecause of it, the main reason I do not recommend it and ALWAYS longe a horse in it before mounting up.

I hope this gives you some ideas.

]]> Comment on Good stretches for leg sore-ness after horse riding lessons? by SLA http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-riding-lessons/good-stretches-for-leg-sore-ness-after-horse-riding-lessons/comment-page-1#comment-616 SLA Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:18:59 +0000 http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-riding-lessons/good-stretches-for-leg-sore-ness-after-horse-riding-lessons#comment-616 You'll build the muscle, but until then . . . . Stand on the edge of a step with the ball of your foot on the edge. Stretch your heals down below your toes. Sit on the floor and stretch both legs out forward. Then put one foot on the knee of the other leg and lay it out to the side to make a triangle. Swap and stretch until you've got some mobility back. And, best advice I ever got, fill a bath tub full of HOT water, add two cups of epsom salts, grab a book and soak.<br><b>References : </b><br> You’ll build the muscle, but until then . . . . Stand on the edge of a step with the ball of your foot on the edge. Stretch your heals down below your toes.

Sit on the floor and stretch both legs out forward. Then put one foot on the knee of the other leg and lay it out to the side to make a triangle. Swap and stretch until you’ve got some mobility back.

And, best advice I ever got, fill a bath tub full of HOT water, add two cups of epsom salts, grab a book and soak.
References :

]]> Comment on What is the best way to get a horse to frame? by zakiit http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/what-is-the-best-way-to-get-a-horse-to-frame/comment-page-1#comment-613 zakiit Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:36:59 +0000 http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/what-is-the-best-way-to-get-a-horse-to-frame#comment-613 Do not use draw reins. Use trotting poles dotted around the arena in places where you can safely go over them or round them, ie on the diagonal, on the inside track, at so you can use them on a 20 meter circle. Sit up tall and deep in the saddle. Hold the horse between leg, seat and rein. Use the poles to get him to stretch a bit in his stride and then ride in order that when you next get over the poles he does not have to stretch so, if you were blindfolded you would not be able to feel the extra elevation. It is all about having a good rhythm and getting the horse to step under himself, tracking into or just behind the tracks of the four feet. Circles and leg yielding will also help to get the horse tracking up. Read my answer about the Rollkur debate. I have written more there and I am getting tired now.<br><b>References : </b><br>Riding instructor Do not use draw reins. Use trotting poles dotted around the arena in places where you can safely go over them or round them, ie on the diagonal, on the inside track, at so you can use them on a 20 meter circle.

Sit up tall and deep in the saddle.

Hold the horse between leg, seat and rein. Use the poles to get him to stretch a bit in his stride and then ride in order that when you next get over the poles he does not have to stretch so, if you were blindfolded you would not be able to feel the extra elevation. It is all about having a good rhythm and getting the horse to step under himself, tracking into or just behind the tracks of the four feet.

Circles and leg yielding will also help to get the horse tracking up.

Read my answer about the Rollkur debate. I have written more there and I am getting tired now.
References :
Riding instructor

]]> Comment on What is the best way to get a horse to frame? by charm http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/what-is-the-best-way-to-get-a-horse-to-frame/comment-page-1#comment-612 charm Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:00:59 +0000 http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/what-is-the-best-way-to-get-a-horse-to-frame#comment-612 There is one huge advantage to the existence of draw reins. They help me eliminate potential trainers. ANY trainer who believes that a set of draw reins are the solution to a framing problem are automatically off my list of possible employees or associates. It would be like saying, "Oh, Sarah just isn't keeping her legs in the right position, so we are going to tie her hands behind her back!" The head isn't the key to a frame, the back and stomach and legs are the key to a frame. If your horse is framing sometimes, but not holding it, then she just needs muscled up and strengthened in that position. Work her five minutes in frame, let her stretch and relax. Add another five minutes, stretch and relax. No beginning horse should be 'forced' to carry itself in a dressage frame. In fact, most lower level dressage horses are marked down if they are flexed in front and hollow behind.<br><b>References : </b><br> There is one huge advantage to the existence of draw reins. They help me eliminate potential trainers. ANY trainer who believes that a set of draw reins are the solution to a framing problem are automatically off my list of possible employees or associates.

It would be like saying, "Oh, Sarah just isn’t keeping her legs in the right position, so we are going to tie her hands behind her back!"

The head isn’t the key to a frame, the back and stomach and legs are the key to a frame. If your horse is framing sometimes, but not holding it, then she just needs muscled up and strengthened in that position. Work her five minutes in frame, let her stretch and relax. Add another five minutes, stretch and relax. No beginning horse should be ‘forced’ to carry itself in a dressage frame. In fact, most lower level dressage horses are marked down if they are flexed in front and hollow behind.
References :

]]> Comment on horse back riding and proper clothing? by Olive http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-riding-clothing/horse-back-riding-and-proper-clothing/comment-page-1#comment-604 Olive Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:27:59 +0000 http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-riding-clothing/horse-back-riding-and-proper-clothing#comment-604 Wear jeans and some kind of shoe with a heal, hiking boots work really well. You can wear a T- shirt if it is warm outside but you don't want to wear a tank top because you don't want to be showing your shoulders (they will get sunburned). Just bring like a water bottle, remember you will be on a horse so you don't have room to put stuff. Don't bring a purse or cell phone because there will be no room to put those types of things, if you need to bring a cell phone leave it in the car.<br><b>References : </b><br> Wear jeans and some kind of shoe with a heal, hiking boots work really well. You can wear a T- shirt if it is warm outside but you don’t want to wear a tank top because you don’t want to be showing your shoulders (they will get sunburned). Just bring like a water bottle, remember you will be on a horse so you don’t have room to put stuff. Don’t bring a purse or cell phone because there will be no room to put those types of things, if you need to bring a cell phone leave it in the car.
References :

]]> Comment on What is the best way to get a horse to frame? by sunshinegirl http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/what-is-the-best-way-to-get-a-horse-to-frame/comment-page-1#comment-611 sunshinegirl Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:11:59 +0000 http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/what-is-the-best-way-to-get-a-horse-to-frame#comment-611 get a new trainer and throw away the draw reins!!!!<br><b>References : </b><br> get a new trainer and throw away the draw reins!!!!
References :

]]> Comment on horse back riding and proper clothing? by iluvboochi@yahoo.com http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-riding-clothing/horse-back-riding-and-proper-clothing/comment-page-1#comment-603 iluvboochi@yahoo.com Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:57:59 +0000 http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-riding-clothing/horse-back-riding-and-proper-clothing#comment-603 Boots, and not the fancy kind. Hiking boots work well and of course cowboy boots are made for this. If you have none and can't borrow any, sneakers work, but make sure that they will stay on as you will use your feet to help guide the horse. Jeans are a must, and again, a pair you didn't spend alot of money on, as they will stretch and it could get dirty. As for the tops, I usually wear a nice tank top that will not leave a funky tan, and use sunscreen liberally- even if it doesn't seem that hot. The best thing to wear on top is flannel. A button up shirt is good. This will be light and airy, but try not to take it off as hot as it may be - sleeves are a must outdoors and any good cowboy would agree. A hat is good too, one that ties around the neck is best but not a must, especially if you don't want to look dorky. I wear a fisherman's hat because it's more comfortable but I don't know what a cowboy would say about that. Bring water, sunblock, bug repellent and maybe a snack for yourself. Don't forget to bring your fun and have a blast!<br><b>References : </b><br> Boots, and not the fancy kind. Hiking boots work well and of course cowboy boots are made for this. If you have none and can’t borrow any, sneakers work, but make sure that they will stay on as you will use your feet to help guide the horse. Jeans are a must, and again, a pair you didn’t spend alot of money on, as they will stretch and it could get dirty. As for the tops, I usually wear a nice tank top that will not leave a funky tan, and use sunscreen liberally- even if it doesn’t seem that hot. The best thing to wear on top is flannel. A button up shirt is good. This will be light and airy, but try not to take it off as hot as it may be – sleeves are a must outdoors and any good cowboy would agree. A hat is good too, one that ties around the neck is best but not a must, especially if you don’t want to look dorky. I wear a fisherman’s hat because it’s more comfortable but I don’t know what a cowboy would say about that. Bring water, sunblock, bug repellent and maybe a snack for yourself. Don’t forget to bring your fun and have a blast!
References :

]]> Comment on What is the best way to get a horse to frame? by sazzy http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/what-is-the-best-way-to-get-a-horse-to-frame/comment-page-1#comment-610 sazzy Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:43:59 +0000 http://www.horseridingtraining.net/horse-training-aids/what-is-the-best-way-to-get-a-horse-to-frame#comment-610 Time and patience. Correct training does not need gadgets, and I stick by my opinion that draw reins do not help a horse at all. I ride a horse at my yard, who has been trained to go into an outline using draw reins, he goes so easily on the forehand and the use of draw reins haven't helped him use himself properly, he tends to move very bunched up - because the draw reins never allowed him to move freely and now he finds it hard to. If he'd not been trained with draw reins, chances are he would have become far more free moving. Going into an outline takes time, it's not achieved in five minutes. In order for a horse to go into a consistent outline, then they need to have built the muscles to do it - which can't be achieved by gadgets. Also if this horse is in training, chances are she's not balanced enough to stay in the frame and move correctly all the time. Top dressage horses take years and years to achieve their ability, it does not happen over night.<br><b>References : </b><br> Time and patience.
Correct training does not need gadgets, and I stick by my opinion that draw reins do not help a horse at all.
I ride a horse at my yard, who has been trained to go into an outline using draw reins, he goes so easily on the forehand and the use of draw reins haven’t helped him use himself properly, he tends to move very bunched up – because the draw reins never allowed him to move freely and now he finds it hard to. If he’d not been trained with draw reins, chances are he would have become far more free moving.
Going into an outline takes time, it’s not achieved in five minutes. In order for a horse to go into a consistent outline, then they need to have built the muscles to do it – which can’t be achieved by gadgets. Also if this horse is in training, chances are she’s not balanced enough to stay in the frame and move correctly all the time.
Top dressage horses take years and years to achieve their ability, it does not happen over night.
References :

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