Posts Tagged ‘show’
Managing expectations when showing horses
‘Managing expectations’ is not the most appealing phrase to lead with. Yet, after videotaping for a virtual horse show, it is the phrase that most frequently comes to mind. During the last 10 days while I’ve been recording rides for the Western Dressage World Show I’ve also been reflecting on all the lessons it provides.…
Read MoreEp 75: Ranch Riding Troubles and Electric Fence Issues
Q&A: Ranch riding, ranch trail…the horror! How to better prepare for the transition from home to show. Preparing a horse for rider nerves. Practice the pattern or don’t practice the pattern? The battle with anticipation. Q&A: While I was riding through a gate on horseback, my horse reached over with his nose and TOUCHED the…
Read MoreEpisode 65: The tipping point in horse training.
What is a tipping point in horse training? Why does it matter? How would it help with spooking? In today’s episode, I discuss the idea of tipping points and how they impact my outlook on training. I see smaller tipping points where the small day after day lessons finally result in a bigger change. I…
Read MoreEpisode 41: True Forward Motion in a Horse
When we become very familiar with a term, it can sometimes lose meaning. When I talk about a horse having a lack of forward motion or needing more forward motion what I’m actually talking about is the horses first response without resistance. Symptoms of not having forward motion would be a sluggish walk and a…
Read MoreEpisode 33: Listener Question: How Do I Peak My Horses Performance for a Show?
Subscribe For Free! In this episode, I’m answering a listener question about peaking a horse for a show. The question is how do you keep your horse from peaking before you go to the show? The listener is a week away from a cowboy obstacle racing show. She exercised her mare yesterday, and the mare…
Read MoreShow to your horses strengths, specialize or generalize? Episode 11-The Trail to the World Show
What are your horses strengths? How much influence can training have on movement? What is the judge looking for in the event? How to they consider the movement, the training and the degree of difficulty? How much can you influence these as a rider/trainer? I have established that I can show my horses and achieve…
Read MoreMistakes during simple and flying lead changes: Episode 10-The trail to the World Show
Lead changes are simply lead departures to a new lead. Simple idea. Complex execution. Lead changes are often considered simple, ‘because the horses do them in the pasture’ but in reality, cueing them in a precise spot, with a rider changes the equation substantially. In this video, I show good and not-so-good transitions with Willow.…
Read MoreBuddy sour horses, western dressage & why I show: Episode 8- The Trail to the World Show
What do you do if the horses are pawing when tied up? What do you do if they whinny and call for each other? This is the first time I’ve hauled Willow and Gabby together. Willow is always a bit insecure at horse shows and Gabby hasn’t been hauled very much (less than five times).…
Read MoreWhen horses get sore or lame: Episode 7-The Trail to the World Show
Unfortunately, training horses comes with setbacks. Sometimes horses get sore or go lame. While I was at a show with Willow, I decided to turn Gabby out. Three things happened to converge; her feet had been recently trimmed, the ground was frozen in the morning, and she decided to run hard and play. During turnout,…
Read MoreFeeling nervous or having doubts at horse shows. Episode 5-The Trail to the World Show
The rider’s mind has a huge impact on training and showing a horse. I teach what I have learned from over twenty years of training and showing horses…and one of those things is the constant need to evaluate what you are thinking. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes at a dressage show.…
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