Read our articles on biomechanics and correct riding technique. Here at Adaptive Development EQ, we teach all aspects of hosemanship in order to maximize success between you and your equine partner.
The following is an excerpt taken from my private writings to clients. These discussions will cover everything from theoretical or technical discussions, to rider/trainer mindset and beyond. They will range from beginner through to advanced levels of material and are meant to complement our work inside the arena. Enjoy! When exploring the utility of the snaffle and curb bits as they pertain to collection, a brief version of the development process over some years is called for: while still only…
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Though this post is dedicated to development of the hand, I often pull this photo of Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify when teaching. It is a brilliant example of the effect of correct weight aid and a beautiful hand made more clear to the eye due to the extreme of the rider’s seat, the type of request, and the horse’s speed. Weight The first thing that catches my eye is that Mike wishes…
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Canter Aids: Driving Forward or Striking-off? It is possible to achieve an organic canter strike off (left-lead exampled below) with either the weight to the inside OR the outside hip. To learn more about the seat aids, see my two-part article, Fundamentals: On the Seat. The following explanation outlines what happens in each scenario: Method A – Imbalance and Drive Forward Our first example is through the weight to the inside hip. This is a strike off that achieves its aim…
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This article is part 2 of 2, of Adaptive Development EQ’s Fundamentals Series, Fundamentals: On The Seat. To read Part 1, see: Fundamentals: On The Seat (Part 1 of 2). EXECUTION OF THE SEAT AIDS In Part 1 of this article, we have discovered the horse’s center of gravity, aligned with it, and disturb it as little as possible. Let us now move on to how we use our seat through manipulation of our weight in order to communicate our desires.…
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This article is part 1 of 2, of Adaptive Development EQ’s Fundamentals Series, Fundamentals: On The Seat. To read Part 2, see: Fundamentals: On The Seat (Part 2 of 2). THE SEAT It is with the seat and legs that we obtain the greatest influence in communicating with our horses. Of primary importance, we use our seat to anchor ourselves, and remain in balance with (and aligned to) the horse’s center of gravity. We also use the seat as an aid…
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This article is part 2 of 2, of Adaptive Development EQ’s Fundamentals Series, Fundamentals: On The Leg. Here’s the first part if you missed it: Fundamentals: On The Leg (Part 1 of 2). BUILDING STRENGTH If you have a very good leg but still struggle to be quiet and supportive, it is likely that you are simply not yet strong enough. We see this most often in riders who have had some years away from the saddle, infrequent riders, young…
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This article is part 1 of 2, of Adaptive Development EQ’s Fundamentals Series, Fundamentals: On The Leg. To read Part 2, see: Fundamentals: On The Leg (Part 2 of 2). THE LEG At its most basic, the leg is one of the fundamental aids of riding (along with the rider’s weight, seat and hands) and their function is to queue forward and lateral movement. As the rider advances in skill, so too does the rider’s repertoire in the number of…
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