How do I become a better horse rider?

How do you train a horse to be more supple?

A stiff horse will fall around turns and circles; teach him to bend instead, so he follows curved lines with an aligned spine. The more supple he is, the more he will be able to bring his hind legs under his body, which will assist and improve his balance. For a more in-depth look into suppleness, click here.

Why is suppleness important in horseback riding?

True suppleness allows your horse to bend without stiffness and work freely without excess tension or stiffness throughout his back and muscles. This enables him to perform smoother movements and transitions with greater balance which leads to building strength, development of muscles and growing confidence in both horse and rider.

What does it mean when a horse is supple?

When your horse is supple, he is able to bend easily, and he’ll work through his back and move fluidly without tension. If you feel your horse is lacking suppleness, the first thing I’d suggest is to make sure he is balanced, engaged and carrying himself.

What is suppleness for horse and rider?

Achieving Suppleness for Horse and Rider. Developing suppleness in your horse is the result of systematic training which enhances the elasticity and power of the natural paces. All horses have the potential to move in a beautiful supple way when training correctly.

How can I improve my horse’s suppleness?

If he does any of these things or just generally feels reluctant to soften and bend, then it’s likely he needs some work on his suppleness. One of the best things for creating suppleness in your horse is lateral work, and the most useful movements are shoulder-in, leg-yield and travers.

Why is balance so important in horseback riding?

This enables him to perform smoother movements and transitions with greater balance which leads to building strength, development of muscles and growing confidence in both horse and rider.

Does a horse’s suppleness come from the neck?

When a horse lacks suppleness, he usually lacks bend around his rider’s leg, however, many riders think that the lack of suppleness stems from the neck.

What is latitudinal suppling on a horse?

It helps to loosen out the back as well as the joints in the legs and can be done with stretching long and low, raising the back, and basic transitions up and down between the gaits. Latitudinal suppling is sideways movements. Asking your horse to cross one back leg, or one front leg, in front of the other and so on.

What is suppleness in horses?

Suppleness simply means the ability to bend without stiffness. We want the horse to have loose, pliable joints: his hocks, his hips, his knees, his shoulders, his poll and his jaw.

What is lateral suppleness in a horse?

Longitudinal suppleness is demonstrated by looseness in the horse’s haunches, back, neck, poll and jaw. Lateral suppleness refers to the horse’s ability to bend his body and neck and is reflective of the horse’s ability to balance. This is especially true when performing the circle.

What is suppleness in a horse?

Suppleness actually refers to the ability to bend without stiffness. It goes hand in hand in straightness, with most exercises designed to increase suppleness also improving straightness. Your horse should be flexible through his joints, and soft at the poll and jaw.

How do I get my horse to ride with suppleness?

Suppleness does not happen overnight, it takes time for your horse to soften, relax and become flexible Once you have mastered this in halt and your horse understands, you can begin to incorporate it into walk, trot and eventually, canter.

How to make your horse more comfortable in the saddle?

Always work evenly on both reins, but remember that you might have to make the exercise slightly easier on your horse’s difficult rein. It’s worth spending time working on suppleness, as not only will it be hugely beneficial to your horse and improve your dressage marks, but it will also make him more comfortable to ride.

How can I improve my horse’s balance and suppleness?

Pole work is fantastic for helping your horse’s suppleness and balance but irregular pole work will strengthen his muscles (and improve his concentration) at the same time. To do this properly your horse will need to think for himself (rather than pick up on cues from you) so it should only be done while lunging.

Why is posture so important when riding a horse?

As a rider, our posture is the bedrock of our influence on the horse, it is what sums up the difference between being a rider and simply a passenger.

Is every horse’s neck a strong drink?

Every Horse’s Neck is going to be a little different. You may choose a high-proof whiskey or use less soda and both of those changes will make the drink a little stronger. Yet, it is a relatively mild cocktail (perfect for happy hour) either way.

Why does my horse have a short neck?

When a horse carries his poll as the highest point but is short in the neck, it is indicative specifically of a lack of longitudinal suppleness. Horses like this must be taught to reach for the bit and unlock the back longitudinally. All horses can benefit from the following exercises for encouraging longitudinal suppleness.

What causes a ewe neck on a horse?

For many horses, a ewe neck isn’t permanent, it’s a conformation flaw caused by muscles that have been developed by bracing against a bit during riding. This strengthens the muscles on the underside of the neck causing the crest of the neck to have a slight “U” shape. Try these conditioning exercises

What is longitudinal suppling in horses?

Longitudinal suppling is from tail to head over the topline of your horse. It helps to loosen out the back as well as the joints in the legs and can be done with stretching long and low, raising the back, and basic transitions up and down between the gaits. Latitudinal suppling is sideways movements.

What is suppleness and how do you develop it?

Developing suppleness in your horse is the result of systematic training which enhances the elasticity and power of the natural paces. All horses have the potential to move in a beautiful supple way when training correctly.