| Main Menu
Online
Languages
|
|
 Topic: Lesson of the MonthThe new items published under this topic are as follows.
Posted by: admin on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 10:54 AM
lesson
|
By Nancy Wesolek-Sterrett
Dressage Department Head, Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre
Aggravation is just one word that comes to mind when a horse roots and yanks at the reins, tosses his head up and down, or opens his mouth to evade the bit. Raising the head to get above the bit, cranking it to the chest to get behind the bit, locking the jaw muscles or locking the neck muscles are other bit evasions that exasperate many riders. They just want to scream, "Horse, you are not listening to me!" From the other end of the reins, the aggravated horse is screaming back, "Get out of my face!"
In most cases, we should listen to the horse. A rider's unsteady hands are usually behind that long list of bit evasions. While we should always consider that dental pain, back pain, poor saddle fit or other physical issues might be creating or contributing to the horse's discomfort, it is more often the rider who is a 'pain' from the horse's viewpoint.
|
Read full article: 'Achieving Steady Hands' (7126 bytes more) 
|
|
Posted by: admin on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 04:24 PM
lesson
|
By Nancy Wesolek-Sterrett
Dressage Department Head, Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre
We use corridors of aid pressures to create a feel in the horse of a shape we want his body to take. Refinements in the positioning, intensity, timing and release of our basic seat, leg, and rein aids convey information about gait, speed, direction and the degree of collection we want. We aspire to the clear, precise coordination of aids that allows us to flow from one movement into the next then the next as we ride. In our daily riding sessions, however, "aspire" is more often the operative word than our actual experience.
|
|
Read full article: 'Coordinating Aids' (8028 bytes more)
|
|
Posted by: admin on Monday, December 28, 2009 - 09:44 AM
lesson
|
By Nancy Wesolek-Sterrett
Dressage Department Head, Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre
WAVERLY, WV: you hope to give your horse clear requests with your leg aids, there is no wiggling out of some basic work on your seat. Before you can apply leg aids correctly, you must be able to follow the motion of the horse's gaits with your seat, using strong core muscles to hold you in balance so that your lower body can relax and move in rhythm with the horse. It can take months, even years, of riding to achieve this.
|
|
Read full article: 'Leg Aids: Thigh Bone Connected to the Hip Bone' (7845 bytes more)
|
|
Posted by: admin on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - 01:25 PM
lesson
|
By Nancy Wesolek-Sterrett
Dressage Department Head, Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre
WAVERLY, WV: Until you can follow your horse's motion at the walk, trot, and canter (the subject of our last three articles), the feel of your seat aids on his back does not convey a clear request to your horse. You also must be able to follow the horse's motion before you can quietly apply rein and leg aids in coordination with your seat. You need strong core muscles to hold your upper body erect and flexible hips to follow the rhythm of the horse's back as it lifts and rolls in a different motion at each gait. When you can follow the motion, you are ready to apply your seat aids without 'noise' in a way that is meaningful to the horse.
|
|
Read full article: 'Talking with Your Seat' (6175 bytes more)
|
|
Posted by: admin on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 01:14 PM
lesson
|
By Nancy Wesolek-Sterrett
Dressage Department Head, Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre
WAVERLY, WV- Most riders easily learn how to sit equally on their seat bones and follow the motion of their horse's hips with their own hips at the walk. Successfully following your horse's motion at the walk, however, does not mean that you will automatically be able to follow the motion at the trot.
|
|
Read full article: 'Following the Horse's Motion at the Trot' (6453 bytes more)
|
|
Posted by: admin on Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 11:13 AM
lesson
|
By Nancy Wesolek-Sterrett
Dressage Department Head, Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre
WAVERLY, WV--Your body position influences the way your horse stands and moves. If you sit crooked or off balance, your horse's compensations will reflect those position faults. Understanding and mastering a good position is part theory, part practice. Your mental image of correct position must match the reality of how that position feels when you are in the saddle. Correct position is the starting point for anyone who aspires to achieve the independent seat that allows you to influence every move your horse makes.
|
|
Read full article: 'Correct Rider Position - Lower Body' (7242 bytes more)
|
|
|
|
Login
|
