Randi Thompson. Trot/canter transitions. Adding the rainbow. The Steps ...

"The Rainbow... An easy way for you to know if your horse is connecting the way you want it to do. Check out this easy to use technique to see if your horse has a "Rainbow" in your trot/canter transitions."

For most of us, keeping our horses balanced and in connection is important. We like the way it feels when our horses connect with us at that level. An easy way to be able to "see" (yes, sometimes we do look down) is by keeping a "Rainbow" in your horse's neck. Of course, it is much more than that... However, this is an easy technique that will let you know when your horse is really on the aids/in front of the legs/on the bit, round, packaged, the beginning of self-carriage.

The next time you ride, check to see if you have a "Rainbow" in your horse's neck. Let us know how it works for you!

https://youtu.be/MNb2OWTCiqU

Randi Thompson. Riders Test. Walk trot transitions. Riding position

When you ask your horse to change gaits, are the transitions rough or smooth? Would you like to see how you can use your riding position to make them smoother?"

In this blast from the past, Trudy focused on what she is doing with her riding position at the walk/trot transitions. Like many riders, she had a tendency to disconnect from her riding position with her lower legs as she practices them. Now you can watch what I did with Trudy that made a difference in the quality and smoothness of the changes of gait with Ani.

What changes can you see in Trudy's riding position as she focuses more on it? What about Ani? Did her changes or gait improve?

https://youtu.be/EkgZfeewgI8

Randi Thompson. Contact at the trot. What does "on the bit" really mean?...

What if... you really do not understand what contact or "on the bit" really means? You are not alone. Many other riders are also confused with the concept"

Now you can watch this blast from the past as Susan rides Beau to a new level of "on the bit" In the past, Beau had often looked like he is on contact, yet the reins were often slack and a little loopy. That is where he felt comfortable. This was the first time we have focused on asking Beau to keep the rein connection "alive" as Susan asked him to step up into the contact fro Are you ready to see if your reins are alive when you take up the contact?

Our newest Mover and Shaker of the Horse World. Pam Stone. Currently, Pam is a blogger for the Dressage Today Magazine. Pam is also an award-winning comedian and TV star. Many of us remember Pam from the TV series, "Coach." She has also been a guest star on the Tonight Show and Oprah. Now you can listen is as we chat about what she has done, what she is doing, the horse business, "Tall Whites", the Big Oaks Rescue Farm and so much more.

Check out the interview here.  Watch the interview by clicking this link


   

   

Randi Thompson. Riders Test. Half Halts. What should you be feeling? Dr...

dressage, dressage training, equestrian, equitation, Horse and Rider Awareness, horse showing, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Randi Thompson, riding instruction, Tryon NC dressage

In this blast from the past, Trudy asked me to isolate what she was doing with her riding position for her half halts and to improve how she is connecting (The Steps to Connection) with Ani. For the first time, we started the connection process in the warm-up. Now you can see the steps that we used.

Are you ready to try this on your horse? We would love to hear how these techniques are working for you.

Randi Thompson.The Magic of the Lunge Line. Perfect circles/in front of ...

Would you like to be able to ride that perfect circle?  How about being able to really feel (or teach a rider) how to use their riding position and be able to feel when their horse is falling in and out of the circle or keeping a horse in front of the aids? Check out this easy to use yet amazing technique using a lunge line.


Are you ready to try this?  Let us know how it works for you!

Randi Thompson. Riders Test. How is the balance of your rising trot posi...

dressage, dressage training, equestrian, equitation, Horse and Rider Awareness, horse showing, horse training, horsemanship, horses, Randi Thompson, riding instruction, Tryon NC dressage

To improve your riding position all you need to do is try these exercises for 30 days. 5 minutes a day. You will be amazed at the difference in your riding position.

Let me know how these exercises work for you. Please tell us what you experience (whining is allowed...) and how different your riding position and lower leg feel after you try them.