K&S Elite Sport Horses

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The back - the bridge of the horse In my last Clinic somebody ask me: You always talk about the back. I can see, that this is what you are focus on with every ...horse. Why is it so important? I have to say every time I’m teaching and don’t see the back of the horses working properly, I try to help the horse and rider to be more in sync. The goal is to ride a horse which is supple and working through the back. What do I mean by this? The back of the horse has to move in the rhythm of the gait as well as carrying the weight of the rider. You can compare the horses back with a suspension bridge; it has to carry in a flexible manner. The back needs to be giving and supple at the same time to be able to carry the rider without loosing the suspension and rhythm of the gait. Often horses don’t have strong enough stomach muscles, but they are essential. They help to kind of pull the back legs underneath the point the gravity and to lift the back, so that the horse is able to us it. With correct gymnastic exercises you can keep the stomach muscles strong and the back working. A lot of times riders forget to warm up the back first or develop the back, before they ask to work for example in collection. The correct collection is not possible without having a flexible back. When the hind quarters need to push and be active the back has to be there to absorb the power. Sadly, many trainers, riders and even judges don’t have ever experienced a supple back or ridden a horse which is trough its back. They are not able to judge or train the horses back or have difficulties to achieve a supple back. Especially if you ride or train horses with short backs, it’s very important to have the experience of how a supple back feels or looks like. I remember when I first experienced a truly supple back, it felt like nothing I had ever felt before. Sitting inside the truly swinging back on a powerful horse is probably one of the most exciting, beautiful and unique feeling. After that you will strive for feeling it again, every time you sit on a horse, always. With young horses you need to strengthen them slowly and systematically before you back them. They tend to contract their backs with the rider’s weight and tense up. But if they are strong and prepared, the process of starting the horse will be smooth. Remember, build up the long back muscle otherwise it tires up soon and then begins to hurt. After a while, the horse can’t keep up the tension in his back the result is that his back sags. Then you can see uneven gaits, lack of impulsion, unsteady contact or even undesired behavior. The muscles of the horse are exhausted and he spends most of his live with a hollow back. It’s the result of not strengthening your horse’s back and the result of incorrect riding. This is why it’s so important to gymnastic your horse’s back and always make sure the back is functional. If not, the horse carries the rider’s weight more or less only with his skeleton, without muscular support. Ride your horse correctly through his back, in balance and with good gymnastic exercises. This will not only keep your horse sound and happier but also will make you smile each time you feel that power swinging with you, letting you dance with him. Pictures thanks to Google. See more

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#happybirthday @cassidybooth.eq #teamelite #betkerhorsepark

#2021 #newyear #newgoals #training #teamelite ... #betkerhorsepark See more

Jean Bemelmans talks about contract and lightness: Lightness sounds very good, if it is light, it is better. But not too light, because a horse that is too lig...ht in the hand is more difficult to ride than a horse that is a little bit heavy on the hand. Okay we always have to talk about finding the right balance, but in the end, contact is nothing more than the contact to the hind leg, the contact that the rider makes between the mouth and the hind leg. This is the duty of the rider, to put these two together. The moment the horse starts to move, and he moves behind, you have to feel it in your hand, then you have to let it out. https://www.horsemagazine.com//contact-and-lightness-with/ See more

#happynewyear #thisexcited! #2021 #teamelite #betkerhorsepark ... #warriorwoods See more

Important new COVID-19 rules at BHP in place effective immediately: (a) Masks are required in the barn, feed room and tack room. Masks are not required when out...side on the farm or riding; and (b) The viewing area off the indoor arena is closed to all boarders and visitors until further notice. We also ask that everyone remain vigilant about helping keep the common areas of the barn clean and remind everyone to please stay away from BHP if you are sick. Hopefully with adherence to these policies we can all remain safe and keep the barn otherwise operating as normal.

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Great Canadian Moments: In 1976, Michel Vaillancourt became the first Canadian to win an individual medal in Olympic show jumping. #Canada150 Watch Spruce Meadows this weekend on CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/sprucemeadows

French and Saunders - go horse riding....

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