Randi Thompson. Is your horse in front of the aids? Walk/trot. The begin...

"Did you know... that when a horse is in "front of the riders aids (connected from the back to the front) that the base of the horse's neck gets thick?" Now you can watch this blast from the past to see how this concept brought Trudy and Ani to a new level of connection"

In this session, we continue with Trudy teaching Ani how to keep an even feel on both sides of the bit, the beginnings of "contact". Before this session, Ani was ridden like a green horse and on a loose rein. Contact is new to her and so is stepping up for Trudy's leg into the connection of the reins. In this session, you will see how Trudy and Ani connect better when Ani is “thick in the base of her neck. (I was thrilled to be able to film this part of the training process as many riders have never seen what happens with a horse and rider going to the next level)

The next time you ride try this on your horse. Can you feel the difference in the connection when they are thick in the base of their necks?

Randi Thompson. Straightness. How your lower leg matters. Walk. Steps t...

"Are you ready to finally... ask your horse to stay connected from your seat and legs at the walk? What does that mean?"

There comes a time when a rider and horse are ready to go to a new level of balance and communication. Melody had some serious issues in the past. It has taken us several years to bring her to this point and now it it is time to ask her to connect between Trudy's rein and leg aids. In this blast from the past we asked her to "round up, connect, get packaged" (there are so many words for this). This was still new to Melody and is the perfect opportunity for you to watch what happens when a rider first begins to ask a horse to connect between the reins and the legs of the riders.

https://youtu.be/zGqHX6q-lgY

Randi Thompson. Walk/trot. Connecting a training level horse (8th time)...

"Do you shake your head and maybe get a little dizzy just trying to understand how you can connect your horse?  What does it really mean? How can you tell if your horse is connecting?"



In this blast from the past, Trudy brought Ani to another barn and had to focus on keeping Ani's attention.   Ani was moving up the training scale is and is going from a "green horse" balance and connection to "training level" where she is being asked to stay more connected. We started with the Steps to Connection where Trudy checked to make sure that Ani is soft in her jaw, in her poll and loose in her neck. at the same time as Trudy is using her leg aid, (when the hind foot is leaving the  ground on that side)  During that process Trudy focused on feeling when Ani was pulling on the rein contact (which is still new to Ani)  This is a sign that Trudy was really holding the rein to long and is something that happens to all riders.  Once we knew what was happening I started to ask Trudy to connect Ani on one side of her body, than the other.  It was a great way to break up Trudy's old habits and to build a foundation for her to feel that she can connect Ani for a few steps.  I started calling this the "2 Steps"  It is a form of a half halt on one side of the horse and teaches the rider how to feel when the horse is "against the outside rein and leg"



Are you ready to take your horse to the next level of connection?  Try the Two Step Connection process and see how it works for you.

Randi Thompson.Connecting for the 7th time. Steps to Connection.Two Step...

Are you riding your horse in connection?  If so, then this blast from the past is for you.  In this video, we focus on Trudy keeping Ani connected for the 7th time at the trot. You will see how a horse learning how to stay connected (on the aids) is going to be inconsistent.  Watch the changes as we use the "Two Steps" to keep Ani stepping up into the rein and taking up and contact from one side of her body to the other.  The "Two steps" is a technique I use to help riders become aware when they get "locked up" on the reins or holding their aids to long.  It is also an excellent technique that teaches riders how to keep a horse on the outside or inside leg and rein. When something stressful happens, like a horse not wanting to pay attention, this helps a rider focus on asking their horse to connect on one side than the other.  Once the rider can do this for two steps that can move up to 3 and so on.



 In this session, Ani decides she would rather look at something outside the ring (this is not her barn..)   Trudy told me that her arms were hurting. This told me that she was locking up in her hands and holding the reins too tight for too long.  This is typical for most riders, especially those riding greener horses. To help Trudy get back in control I asked her to focus on something different.  It worked!  This is a great video as you can see that sometimes we simply need to try something different to get to where we wanted to go.



Are you ready to try the "Two Step" with your horse to check if you are really connected?  Let us know how it works for you.

Randi Thompson. Canter Trot transitions. Timing of the Riders Aids. #2 D...

"Would you like to improve the way your horse changes its gait from a trot to a canter? Then it's time to think about the timing of your aids. Watch what Susan does with Beau"

In this session, Susan is riding the transition from the trot to the canter, and the canter to to the trot.She is focusing on the timing of her rein and leg aids and how Beau is responding to them. Lucky you as you will get to see a horse as it is learning how to rebalance at a new level. (Susan and Beau will be competing in 2nd Level dressage this upcoming year and need to have more of an uphill balance)

Can you see the difference in how Beau is moving as he works through these exercises?

Saddle Slip Quick Fix With Randi Thompson

Saddle Slip Quick Fix with Randi Thompson featured by Dressage Hub


This is an amazing awareness exercise that will change your balance in the saddle. All you need is a calm safe horse. The Saddle Slipping Quick Fix will improve your riding position and influence in ways that will take you (or your students) to a new level of success in their riding. Expect to be shocked when you realized that you are not keeping your riding position as balanced as you thought it would be. Remember as you practice this, or use it in coaching your riders, that the changes you feel are going to challenge you as more likely than not, your riding position has been out of balance for a long time. I teach this technique to professionals and they are all surprised at how far out of balance they had become. I would love to hear what happens when you try this Horse and Rider Awareness exercise. What did you discover?

How to Apply the Half Halt In Transitions

How are you using your riding position to prepare your horse for a half halt or transition? 



This is from Dressage Hub "From training level to Grand Prix the half halt is one of the most essential tools for the dressage rider or any rider for that matter. To be able to communicate effectively with your horse to prepare them for transitions, prepare them for the next movement, collect the gait and rebalance them there are very few movements in dressage that do not engage the half halt." In this video submission from dressage trainer Randi Thompson we look at the beginning steps of the half halt and how to teach your horse what it means. Taking the time to lay the foundation of the half halt will pay off immensely as you move up the levels with your dressage horse. You can watch more of Randi Thompson's videos in our Training Level and First Level Playlists at: Dressage Hub.com