Do you lose your balance over fences? Do you pull on your horse’s mouth? Would you like to develop independent hands? Here’s a quick tip to free up your contact and start the process of developing an automatic release over fences. Are you dependant on your hands for balance over trot over poles and jumps? […]
Better Hand Postition
Your Wrist Connection
Do you have trouble keeping you shoulders back or staying in balance when working on the flat? Have you had trouble keeping your position when you jump? Do you use a crest release (hands on the horse’s neck) and yet still pitch forward on landing? Here’s a quick tip to improve your hand position and overall balance which you can practice while working in the arena or over fences.
Murdoch Minute No. 02: Elbows By Your Sides
Do you have trouble stopping your horse? Do you brace against your stirrups while pulling back on the reins? Does your horse fall forward when you move off? You may be doing too much with your arms and not enough with your seat. Stabilizing your elbows by your sides may be the answer.
Murdoch Minute No. 17 Shorten your reins without pulling on your horse’s mouth
Do you ever find yourself scrambling to shorten your reins? Does your horse throw his head up as a result? Do you pitch forward when you shorten the reins? Or maybe the only way you know how to shorten them is what I call the ‘creepy crawly’ method. Here is a three-step process to shortening your reins quickly, efficiently and without pulling on your horse’s mouth.
Better Hand Postition
Do you wish you had better hands? Is your instructor always telling you to make your hands quiet? Does your horse get resistant when you ask for a turn? Here’s a quick tip to improve your hand position and contact with the horse’s mouth for both western and English riding.