Ridden (Training and Exercises)

This video gives you a taste of the time I decided to enter Pie and myself into a TREC competition! Easy, right? 😉

You’ll see a session where I’m getting more than a few pointers on my technique for the tricky ‘low branches’ obstacle, followed by some exciting TREC competition footage and a bit of get-up-and-go inspiration!

This video captures my (very!) early experiences with Western riding – I think it was only my second time ever in public! So, you get to see me learning the ropes, which is always fun. We start with a bit of instruction on how to mount a Western saddle properly. There’s a specific way to hold the reins and place your hands, using the saddle horn for support. Then, we move on to using leg cues to get the horse moving, and the all-important “Whoa” command to stop.

This episode of “Top Marks on the Road” focuses on a nappy horse ‘crash course’ where Kelly works with horses exhibiting reluctance to move forward or leave other horses. The programme documents the assessment and training interventions used to address this challenging behaviour.

This document, “Ground to Saddle,” by IH Trainer Jim Goddard, guides horse owners on transitioning IH principles from groundwork to ridden exercises. Goddard emphasises a thoughtful and intentional approach to horse training, highlighting the importance of pressure and release, and encourages riders to think like educators, breaking down exercises into smaller parts. The guide focuses on building the horse’s understanding, balance, suppleness, and confidence through a series of specific exercises.

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