How Rider Balance Affects the Horse’s Movement More Than You Think
Every rider wants their horse to move better. More balanced. More forward. More through. But what many riders don’t realise is just how m...
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Training insights, rider education and thoughtful resources to help you improve in the saddle.
The Independent Seat Demystified: What It Is and How to Train It
A truly independent seat gives you balance, feel and influence in the saddle. Learn what it is, how it works and what’s stopping you from...
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What Is Throughness (Really)? And Why It Starts With the Rider
Understand throughness in dressage: how rider balance, seat, and subtle tension impact connection, energy flow, and horse softness in eve...
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Mastering Body Control: The Key to Clearer Aids in Dressage
Why body control is the foundation of clear communication in dressage and how improving balance, timing, and awareness transforms your ri...
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Beyond the Saddle: Why Riders Need to Prioritise Their Own Fitness
For many equestrians, the allure of riding lies in the incredible partnership between horse and rider. Dressage, in particular, requires ...
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Fun Dressage Exercises for Showjumpers to Sharpen Their Skills
Five fun dressage exercises every showjumper can use to improve balance, responsiveness, and precision, without sacrificing excitement in...
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The Pelvis Puzzle: How Hip Function Is the Hidden Key to Effective Riding
Your hips and pelvis are the true foundation of the rider’s seat. Learn how mobility, alignment, and awareness here transform balance and...
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Great Ways to Keep Your Dressage Horse Having Fun with Their Training
Dressage doesn’t have to feel repetitive. Discover six fun, practical ways to keep your dressage horse mentally engaged, motivated, and h...
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Why You Actually Have to Move Your Joints and Be Supple to Be Still as a Rider
True stillness in dressage comes from supple movement, not rigidity. Learn how micro-movements, balance, and body awareness create harmon...
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The Art of Warming Up: Preparing Your Horse for Dressage Work
A correct dressage warm-up sets the foundation for balance, suppleness, and clear communication. Learn how to prepare both horse and ride...
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Training Beyond The Test: Why You Should Ride One Level Above Your Competition
Why riders should train at least one level above their competition test and how this approach builds confidence, consistency, and better ...
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Why We Need to Learn to Do Less With Our Hands
Many riders rely too much on their hands. Learn why quieter hands improve balance, connection, and self-carriage and how to retrain your ...
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Not a naturally talented rider? Don't despair!
Riding doesn’t come naturally to everyone and that’s okay. Learn why hard work, persistence, and smart training can matter more than talent.
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How to deal with a bad ride
For many of us, riding and caring for our horses can be the best parts of our day, and the feeling of finally getting an amazing transiti...
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Your hand position matters (a lot) and here's why
When we think about contact, we're often thinking about what the horse is doing - is there too much weight in the reins? Too little? Is t...
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Three powerful ridden exercises to help you keep your heels down
Keeping your heels consistently down as a rider is a huge challenge for many, not only as a beginner, but even for very experienced rider...
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4 Effective Pole Exercises Using Just 4 Poles
Here are 4 great pole exercises you can do with just 4 poles, so it’s a quick set-up and take-down (because let’s face it, some of the el...
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Top 5 Books That Every Rider Should Read
These are our Top 5 Must-Reads for all horse riders, so next time the weather is keeping you at home, cozy up with one of these great boo...
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Common Contact Mistakes To Avoid
Here are the three most common contact mistakes we see amongst many riders, and an explanation as to why they must be avoided. Contact is...
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Equisk x Train Your Seat Masterclass - How To Improve Your Rein Contact Through Your Seat
In the first of our masterclass series, international coach Yolanda Delport (Train Your Seat) shows us how to improve rein contact. Hint:...
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3 things beginner riders can do to improve their hand position
As a horse riding beginner, there is a lot to think about - balancing yourself on the horse all while going in the right direction, at th...
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How to avoid these common hand faults
Across all disciplines, age brackets and experience levels, there are some common undesirable hand position habits that many riders can f...
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10 Ways Rider Resistance Bands Can Make You A Better Rider
Here are 10 ways rider resistance bands can help you to come a better rider: 1. They give you immediate feedback if one side of your bo...
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How SteadyHands can transform your brain
Proprioception is an essential component of riding skill. Your coach may not mention it but even if you've never heard this word, rest as...
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How to stay more focused during your rides with 5 easy tips
There are so many things to think about as riders - whether we are learning to ride, or progressing up the levels as competition riders. ...
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Achieve a more balanced and symmetrical position with these tips
Why is it important to be balanced and symmetrical? Horse riding requires both physical and mental coordination, especially as you train ...
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How to go from free walk to medium walk without losing contact
Why is this transition so important? In many dressage tests, the free walk carries a double coefficient, which can make a big difference ...
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Using reward to build a stronger relationship with your horse
There are many reasons why we love to ride and train our horses: for fun, to achieve the personal goals we set ourselves, for the social ...
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7 Quick tips for keeping your horse cool in hotter weather
1. Provide ample shade: Make sure your horse has access to a shaded area, such as a barn or a tree, to escape the sun's rays during the...
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Achieving a steady hand contact with 3 fun exercises
Riders need to develop a steady, following hand in order to be able to give independent rein aids that won't interfere with the horse's m...
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The importance of a correct hand position for dressage riders
It is amazing how many riders complain about their rein contact without giving a second thought to their hand position. This would be lik...
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