Words by Wiola Grabowska Photography: Christine Dunnington Photography The atmosphere, the effort and the fabulous training spirit: The Riders There is so much planning and thoughts that lead to Academy’s Intensive Training Camps that it’s hard to believe when one is done and dusted! Our host for The Spring Camp 2017 was Oldefields Equestrian Centre in Seer…
There are many different reasons why leg-yielding is beneficial in any horse’s training programme and here is one of them: creating more even use of each hindleg. I like to start it in-hand because the biggest benefit is when the rider can ask for leg-yield from the saddle with minimal aids. Strong use of legs…
By Wiola Grabowska Rider: Sasha Eastabrook Horse: Boo Videos available on our Instagram, details at the bottom of the post Set up a jump on centre line of your arena and start with poles on the ground. I prefer to keep all jumps small, cavaletti style so if the rider makes mistakes, the exercise can…
by Mairi Mackay Teaching your horse shoulder in can have loads of benefits. All horses are ‘sided’ ( i.e. in very basic terms they have a rein that they find it easier to bend/balance on.) and shoulder in is a basic lateral exercise that can help your horse improve straightness. This has a myriad of…
By Wiola Grabowska Polework is becoming increasingly popular probably because it brings together elements of directed focus and fun. Here is one of my favourite exercises that helps horse and rider develop better bend and suppleness. Set up: you’ll need minimum of 6 poles set them up in a shape of an “S” letter the…
The idea of involving a creative photographer was to add value to what we do within the Academy, spread the happy training vibes and create some interesting, inspirational projects (more on this soon! :-D). Here’s a first little action Chris is running at the moment…:) Wiola has kindly invited me to write another guest blog…
Here’s one fun idea for a groundwork exercise that works very well for horses that are: easily distracted and unfocused when ridden spooky and generally either too much in front of the leg or behind the leg uninterested in the rider uninterested in communication with the rider You will need: a lot of random things…
A friend who works in the fashion industry once told me that there is rarely a focus on the present in her job, there is always next season to forecast and new patterns, colours and cuts to be chosen many months ahead. You plan summer stock in the winter and winter one in the summer. When…
A question of this character makes a frequent appearance in Aspire blog’s “search terms” so I feel I should share at least a few thoughts on the subject from time to time 🙂 BLANK CANVAS The most appealing quality of youngsters is their so called “unspoilt” nature. Older horses come with their baggage and here is a…
Average rein tension is 34-45% greater in a rider’s dominant vs nondominant hand. -Jenni Douglas #ISES2015 — Alexandra Beckstett (@TH_ABeckstett) August 6, 2015 McLean’s 1st new training principle: avoid and dissociate flight responses! #ISES #ISES2015 #ISES2015Vancouver, #equitationscience — Equitation Science (@equitationscien) August 6, 2015 McLean’s 2nd new training principle: demonstrate minimum levels of arousal…
