The horse must be relaxed and accepting seat and leg aids in order to create connection. Attempting to pull a horse into connection with the reins, a martingale, a chambon or any other gear creates tension somewhere in the horse's body. Even if the rider manages to fiddle the reins to position the horse's head lower, the horse still travels with a hollow back. You see a telltale bulge on the underside of the neck no matter where the head is positioned. A horse that is not pushing with his hindquarters often hollows his back and carries his head above the bit.
HORSE JUMPING COURSE FULL
Instead of feeling for this full connection circling from back to front, many riders become fixated on the horse's head carriage alone. The connection should feel firm, solid, with a slight sense of weight in the rider's hands. This rounds the neck and drops the head into a relaxed, natural position that can connect with the rider's hands and seat. As this circle of energy flows and connects, the horse naturally lifts its neck from the base. You must develop 'connection' and this is different from the true collection that comes at the upper levels of the horse's training.Ĭonnection is a circle of energy flowing from the horse's contracted abdominal muscles, through thrusting hind limbs, over a lifted back, into the bit and, finally, connecting to the rider's hands. Whatever equestrian sport you enjoy, you need rhythm, relaxation, and a following seat before you can direct the horse's circle of energy. Only then can you coordinate your aids in a meaningful way to influence what the horse is doing - such as jumping.
HORSE JUMPING COURSE HOW TO
You must understand how to set the rhythm of the horse's gait with your seat, sit balanced over the horse's center of gravity with relaxed muscles, and follow the horse's motion at every gait without balancing on the horse's mouth. Whether you love flying over jumps, running reining patterns or enjoy dancing through dressage movements with your horse, the basics are the same. The Riding Tree's progressive skill levels apply to any equestrian sport. In their eagerness to get over jumps and around courses, they lack an understanding of why they are doing whatever it is they are doing. Lacking good balance and a secure, educated seat, they hang on their horse's mouth for balance or they lean all their weight on their horse's neck as they grab with their knees and brace their ankles to stay with their horse. However, some riders jump the gun when they jump their horses. Jumping riders are among the most gung ho, enthusiastic equestrians out there. Head of Dressage Department, Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre