Improving Contact and Connection – Part 3
Rider Position and Aids
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16m
They move on to canter work from a forward trot. Jackie stresses that the rider should feel enough energy in the trot to ask for canter. That doesn’t mean rushing the horse in trot to then rush into canter. It should feel more like the horse is carrying the rider in trot so that when the rider asks for canter, it is easy for the horse to step into the higher gait. When that is successful, they try a walk-canter transition.
Up Next in Rider Position and Aids
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Finding Frame and Tempo Part 1
Steffen helps a rider find the frame and tempo where her horse is comfortable in the training. He wants the rider to isolate one rein and one leg at a time so the horse understands and starts to relax. Anytime the horse gets tense and out of balance in the trot, it best to come back to the walk a...
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Finding Frame and Tempo Part 2
They ride small circles to the left and right working on the horse bending, suppling and relaxing. Steffen stresses that horses need to let go both physically and mentally. And while the horse needs to learn how to carry himself, the rider needs to help the horse learn how to best do that.
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Finding Frame and Tempo Part 3
Steffen rides the horse to work on getting a better reaction to the leg as well as being even on both reins. He continues to work on getting the horse to bend, soften and use his topline. The horse uses himself better in the canter, and Steffen finishes his session with some nice, stretchy trot.
