You can feel it when your horse 'hollows', right?  And I bet you can also feel it when your horse 'grows a hand' and begins to carry himself. There is either a feeling of contraction or expansion.  Okay, so because we agree on that, it makes sense that your horse can probably feel the same thing... Right?

And yet, so many riders fail to consider the knock on effects that collapsing in the saddle cause.  How, just like when your horse hollows, your collapsing affects the whole ride. 

When No-One is Watching

What I have noticed after working with thousands of riders is that how most ride when alone and how they ride when being watched or judged, are different.  And yet, study any truly successful* rider and you will only see consistency.  What they do in the ring before the crowd is the same as what they do back home in the arena on a bog-standard Tuesday.

*I personally believe success can mean something different to every rider.  To me, success as a rider is to have a deep relationship with a horse built on trust, respect, quality-focused time, and intention. 

So back to you... How do you ride when no one is watching?  What do you do when you notice someone is paying attention.  Or when you pay someone to judge, coach, train, or instruct you.  Still not sure?  Okay, imagine I'm going to stand in the arena with you on your next ride.  What's the first thought that goes through your head?  That is usually a good indicator of how you will 'change' based on who is watching.

Read More...

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  Additional Resources:-

• 3 Steps to Better Canter Transitions
• 3 Ways You Are Ruining Your Transitions from Trot to Canter
• 3 Undeniable Effects of Bad Posture when You Ride
• Are You Working on Your Self Carriage When You Ride?
• Returning to Riding - Focusing on the Basics