FIRC Spring Out of Mothballs Riding Clinic Goals: What do I want to do with my horse?

Balance Why does it matter? For everyday? For advanced skills and competition?

Balance

The Unbalanced Horse Leans on the bit Rushes Can be tense No light, even, elastic and living contact with rein because horse leans on the bit Forging because horses toe hits ground before heal stumbling

On the Forehand Embedded deeply in the horses psyche and muscles.

Exercises and Gaits Trot Cavaletti or Poles Correct Canter Depart Riding Uphill Jumping

Putting forward & down into practice: stretching the topline Warm-up and Cool Down Alternating collection and stretching

What goes wrong?

The Bridge to Balance

From this To This

Engagement, Mission A ______________|______ B A ________|_____________B

Building the Back of the Bridge Riding Curved Lines 3 tracks 4 tracks not shoulder-in

Riding Curved Lines Shoulder-foreShoulder-in three tracks

What Can go Wrong? Natural Crookedness of the Horse Hollow Short Stiff Strong Contracted concave Hollow Short Stiff Strong Contracted concave Round Long Soft Weak Elongated Convex Naturally crooked to left Naturally crooked to right

So What? Natural Crookedness of the Horse Easy to the left Difficult to the right Stiff, resistant to right Too much bend to left Tend to fall out of left circle Tend to fall into right circle Rider and saddle shift right Left stirrup feels shorter Easy to the right Difficult to the left Stiff, resistant to left Too much bend to right Tend to fall out of right circle Tend to fall into left circle Rider and saddle shift left right stirrup feels shorter Irregular rhythm Short strided Leaning Stiff Lazy Defective gaits Back problems Tongue over bit Crooked in neck Nervousness Disunited canter Rushing Panic bolting Naturally crooked to leftNaturally crooked to right

Riding Curved Lines

Exercises for straightness and to strengthen the carrying ability behind. Serpentines Circles Lateral Exercises Crossing over exercises (Magnus)