St Georges Equestrian Center

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

#ApplyTheMethod

Day 1 Carl Hester notes: -to get the walk to cover more ground (bigger over track) use the arm forward out. Do lots of turns like sharks teeth turns on a long ...rein with the hand in front of the saddle to loosen the back. -use a lot of trot canter transitions to get horses to go more out to the contact. With horses who don't want to go to the contact start with the canter and keep the hands nearly touching. -lack of impulsion makes the neck come up. -horses have a swing speed. Play until you find it. -for downward transitions collect then ride forward to it don't "stop" it. -judges need to see preparation. -ride with your hips through your hands. -if you can't ride down the centerline in a straight line and stand in a square halt then you're no good to anyone. -accuracy? Focus on riding a really good shape. -in the French school you balance first and then add power. -many riders sit to the right. It's often that the horses middle stays too far to the right they need to be straighter. -if the frame gets sticky open the rein and show him the way in the stretch. -for hot horses keep the leg on for cold horses get the legs off. -The lower leg needs to breathe. -The bigger the walk the slower it is. You need quick for Grand Prix. -when you ride forward take the upper body a little forward. -in the half pass be able to see the letter between the horses ears. -you have to be able to add impulsion to the speed you are already in. -for the medium let them stay in it and alternate between sitting and Rising to help them build confidence. Keep going until they take you in it. You can slowly flex in or out so they don't block. -if you want to bend the neck use the leg yield instead. -don't ride forward when they're pulling down they will just run more on the forehand. -The ability to ride forward is what improves the flying changes. -The rider must take a risk for 8/9/10. -working with a sports psychologist can make a big difference for riders. -you have to be able to improve things at home. -A good pirouette requires canter on the spot first so you can start with the steps small. The golden rule is start small get bigger. Canter on the spot shoulder fore, make it small just by turning. -if you do something really difficult make it then easy and then go out. -when they want to think Spanish walk you think extended walk with the head up. -use the shoulder in developing to get the horse on the outside rein. -when you think of riding a lot of transitions think of riding at least 200. -Think of the inside shoulder up in the half pass. -working with someone else is inspiring. -if you want to ride well you have to also want to go to the gym. Ride on Christmas. Take lessons at six in the morning. Seize opportunities. -being a dressage rider is about being criticized. -you can take somebody with talent on a trained horse and teach them the Grand Prix quickly but you can't teach them to be a horseman. -A better connection comes from counter work. -ride a lot of shoulder in on the circle. -for better collection in the canter half steps to collected canter to half steps. -after break it can help to push the horse side to side in leg yield to wake him back up. -if they tilt their head they are not stretching the outside of the body. -all the problems that develop in the flying changes come from lack of straightness. -The most important thing above all is the will to work. -when you always do the same things you always get the same mistakes. See more

The incredible true story behind War Horse - the horses who fought and died in World War One.