As a rider, good balance and evenness on the horse are important for various reasons. Our ability to properly influence the horse, keep our position and help to develop the horse evenly comes from having good balance and the ability to sit as equally as possible. One of the exercises I like to use for myself and my students ... Read More »

Having a good quality canter is important for every discipline, perhaps most for jumping. Therefore, having exercises to improve the strength, quality and adjustability of the canter is important for overall success. While there are many flat exercises that can help to improve your horses canter in this week’s lessons ... Read More »

I’ve been coaching an Intercollegiate (IHSA) Team for a while now but this year I’m looking into beginning a high school team. The way that the two associations run horse shows are fairly similar but I’m sure there are some differences. The biggest difference from a coach’s point of view I would ... Read More »

It takes a lot of practice to become comfortable in the show ring. Inevitably, when you step into the show ring with people watching and critiquing you, the pressure will affect your riding in some way. The way this pressure affects people is different for each person but usually results in nervousness of some degree. To ... Read More »

At a horse show this weekend I was coaching one of my students in the warm up ring and couldn’t help but overhear an older man discussing with one of his many students some  of his theories about successful jumping. I paid attention to what he was saying because I’m always interested in theories and always ... Read More »