AskHQ

YOUR EQUESTRIAN QUESTIONS ANSWERED

My horse makes very tense and sudden downward transitions into the walk. What can I do to make them a bit smoother?

Tense transitions can occur for many reasons, but it is absolutely essential first to rule out any pain issues. You don’t want to be schooling your horse through discomfort, so make sure you chat with your vet, dentist, physio and saddle fitter as you see necessary. Once your horse has the all clear and you are confident he is comfortable, you can work on your transitions using ‘half transitions’.

Half transitions are when you do all of the preparation for your downward transition, see how close you can get to walk without actually walking, and then trot again. These are a great way to freshen up your schooling sessions and can be a bit of a game if you think of them as a test of both of your reactions. Once you can do these half-transitions without any sudden changes of pace, try riding a full transition, but still with the option to ride forwards again like in your half transition. If you don’t like the preparation for your transition, don’t do it and return to the trot. If you do like the preparation, then go ahead with the full transition. If you continue to always ride your transitions with the opportunity to change your mind, you’ll quickly find they become more gradual, controlled and less tense.

I’m really struggling with my horse’s training. I’m too embarrassed to admit to anyone that I’m having trouble, but I can tell the other liveries at our yard judge me when my horse plays up. I don’t know what to do and feel like giving up. Do you have any suggestions?

We’re sorry to hear you are struggling at the moment! We all go through this at points in our riding careers, and admitting you need help is really nothing to be ashamed of. Here are a few tips for getting you back on track: 1.Get your horse checked out by a professional – To rule out pain as the cause, the first ports of call should be your vet, physiotherapist, dentist and saddle fitter. Having a professional support team behind you will help you feel confident that you’re being fair to your horse and, hopefully, also provide you with a clear set of steps that you can take to move forwards. 2. Book some lessons – Once your horse has been given the all-clear from a pain and health perspective, enlist a qualified riding instructor to help you. Being supported by someone knowledgeable and experienced will help you feel more confident. You can either take some lessons or have the instructor ride your horse for a while to iron out some of the schooling issues. 3. Talk about it – It can be very tempting to put on a brave face at the yard and pretend everything is fine, but this doesn’t help you to get the issue resolved. It can be really beneficial to talk to a horsey friend, whether at your yard or elsewhere, who has gone through something similar. You might be surprised to find out how many others feel the same way as you!

We hope these tips help you to start enjoying your riding again. This is a common problem; you shouldn’t judge yourself for feeling this way. We believe that when you start reaching out to others about your difficulties, you’ll find that many of them have had or are having similar experiences that can help you get through this patch and return to the sport you love!

How do I use mirrors to improve my flatwork?

Mirrors are handy and can act like your eyes on the ground to not only see what your horse is doing but also to correct yourself. You can use them in so many different ways, and they can help you to see what you are feeling in the saddle.

One of the best uses for mirrors in the flatwork context is for straightness or riding lateral movements. To practice, try riding towards the mirror to help you see your horse’s frame, your angles and your position in the saddle. You can then make any corrections necessary! This will also help you get a visual of what you feel when you ride these movements so that you know how to correct them even without the mirrors.

Mirrors are also great for practising those allimportant halts and learning to feel if a halt is square. Practise in front of the mirror until you can feel (without looking) if your horse is standing square or not.

Another great exercise is to draw or tape a line across your collarbones. This can allow you to see if your shoulders are level and correct them when they are not. There are obviously many variations you can try with this technique, and all of them will help you develop much better body awareness in the saddle.

Essentially, mirrors have many uses and are an excellent schooling tool. Enjoy using them!

CLICK HERE TO READ