February 2012
4 posts
2 tags
Be kind →
4 tags
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First things First →
3 tags
January 2012
4 posts
3 tags
3 tags
4 tags
March 2011
4 posts
6 tags
4 tags
4 tags
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February 2011
1 post
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January 2011
5 posts
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December 2010
4 posts
6 tags
4 tags
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Building Bridges, a compendium of pictures and... →
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October 2010
2 posts
1 tag
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Leadership
It is impossible to overstate the importance of leadership by example. It is often a trick question that I ask my students. The question is “How do you lead a horse?” and the answer is “By example.”
I expect all my students to always keep that in mind. Unfortunately, many believe that leadership by example simply means walking in front of your horse. But leading by...
September 2010
2 posts
1 tag
Dressage continued
When I am first approached by a client about riding lessons, I have to remind them first and foremost that I am not an instructor who will help them in competitions. I do not have enough experience in that area and frankly, I have no interest in such things. Although I would encourage anyone who is interested in competing to seek out competent instruction, I firmly believe that the only judge...
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August 2010
2 posts
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July 2010
2 posts
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June 2010
8 posts
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Bullet and Taser update
This week has been a good week for Bullet and Taser. They have had their feet worked on several times per week now. Especially Bullet. I have also made an appointment with Jamie Jackson to come out and evaluate the facilities and make some recommendations regarding setting up a manner in which the horse’s feet can be maintained naturally. This will involve setting up pastures and chutes...
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Bullet and Taser Update
Today I worked on Bullet and Taser’s feet again. Now that I can catch them at will, I am still working on getting them friendlier and happier around people. This entails a lot of hanging out with them while they eat, just grooming and being with them. To date, they are still very wary of people and do not like to be approached. The time spent seems like a lot of time, but in the long run...
May 2010
10 posts
1 tag
Dressage lessons
When I give a dressage lesson, I start with a couple of fundamentals. First it is important that the student be able to sit quietly on a horse. One of the most difficult things to do on a horse is nothing. And so I place the student on the lunge so that they do not have to concern themselves with the horse’s direction. This exercise is best done without any tack. So the student sits on...
Next rant on Dressage
Approaching dressage without some kind of plan leaves me nothing to abandon after I begin. This will never do and so I begin by reminding myself of all the things I am looking for. For many, dressage consists of a variety of beautiful movements such as the haunches in, or the half pass. These are beautiful movements and a vital part of a dressage test. However, for me anyway, they are not the...
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Dressage continued
Dressage can be more easily accomplished if we think of the horse’s progression in phases. Some may break the phases down into:
Beginner
Campaign School
High School
These are the generally accepted phases of training for a horse in Classical Dressage. The Beginner will be introduced to the rider, and learn the basics of carrying the rider through the different gaits. At this stage, he...
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Starting Dressage
A good dressage session starts with self evaluation. When I start working with a horse, everything is dressage; not in the competitive sense but in the classical sense. I start by considering everything I like about myself, what it is, and why I like it, and then I formulate a plan to share that with the horse. Next I consider everything I like about the horse, and consider how he might share...
April 2010
18 posts
