Andrew McLean on the Crucial First Training Principle

November 26th, 2021
Andrew McLean and the First Principle - This is the principle of negative reinforcement. I think what we need to recognize, is that when we train horses we are duty bound to perform negative reinforcement correctly... Read Article Comments Off on Andrew McLean on the Crucial First Training Principle
 

From the Cavalry Manual: what is Throughness?

November 3rd, 2021
“As the straightness improves, the throughness of the horse will improve as well. The pushing capacity of the hindquarters can now go its way through the horse up to the mouth and makes the horse give to the pressure of the bit, bend the neck and chew on the bit.” “This is the natural way […] Read Article Comments Off on From the Cavalry Manual: what is Throughness?
 

How to Take a Riding Lesson and Get Your Money’s Worth

October 21st, 2021
Paul Belasik is one of the modern world's great defenders of the classical principles of dressage and civilised riding, in this new article he points the way for you to get the most out of your dressage lesson... Read Article 1 Comment »
 

Jean Bemelmans – Understanding your horse

October 19th, 2021
Jean Bemelmans, Master Trainer, tells us: As a trainer you cannot look at the technique ONLY, first you have to look in the eyes of your horse, you have to ask, what does this horse want? Does he want more training? Does he want less training? Is he happy? Read Article Comments Off on Jean Bemelmans – Understanding your horse
 

Putting the horse on the bit – Gently

October 16th, 2021
  Nuno Oliveira, Portuguese Riding Master told us: “Normally speaking, a horse should be trained to remain well balanced first, concentrating on rounding his paces, and augmenting his hind legs’ action to compliment the forelegs’ paces. Any extension should not be achieved through the reins’ force, but rather by lowering and empowering the haunches. This […] Read Article Comments Off on Putting the horse on the bit – Gently
 

Choose yourself a champion…

October 13th, 2021
Choose yourself a rising three-year-old colt from these three colts at the KWPN Colt Selection. The first is by the same sire as Jessica von Bredow Werndl’s Olympic and European Champion, Dalera! Here’s Easy Game, the sire of this colt and Dalera among other successful competitors Easy Game And his dam sire, Flemmingh, who also […] Read Article Comments Off on Choose yourself a champion…
 

Contact – What is good contact?

October 12th, 2021
What is contact? Light? Heavy? How do we establish good contact? We turn to some of the great equestrian authorities of all time - and some modern luminaries - to help shed light on this vexing concept.... Read Article Comments Off on Contact – What is good contact?
 

Holsteiner Elite Riding Horses’ Presentation

October 9th, 2021
Don’t miss the Holsteiner elite riding horses’ presentation on this Sunday The riding horses have moved into their box stalls at the Elmshorn Verband facility and completed their first trainings: the Holsteiner elite riding horses to come under the hammer in the Neumünster Holstenhalls on 30 October are ready to be met and tried out. […] Read Article Comments Off on Holsteiner Elite Riding Horses’ Presentation
 

Self carriage is essential for all riders and horses

September 29th, 2021
Self Carriage is for horses and riders – Dr Andrew McLean tells us: “The horse must travel in-hand and under saddle free of any constant rein or leg pressure, otherwise he will switch off to them. The concept of self-carriage seems simple enough. It means that the horse self-maintains his own rhythm, tempo, stride length, […] Read Article Comments Off on Self carriage is essential for all riders and horses
 

Christopher Bartle, Eventing Coach

September 26th, 2021
Christopher Bartle – Genius! Christopher Bartle turned the German eventing team from a group who won the dressage and fell apart on the cross country, to a medal winning machine, strong in all three phases. The question when he was lured back home to mentor the Brits, was, could Christopher do it again? The successes […] Read Article Comments Off on Christopher Bartle, Eventing Coach