As a beginner, there are few basic groundwork exercises that you should consistently work on until you have mastered them with your horse. I've also made a FREE printable .PDF Training Log!

At the end I'll talk about the "young horse training plan" I put together for Rudy and some important notes when building training plans that I've learnt for young horses from Rudy.

Lunging is an excellent way to train and exercise your horse. With the right technique and equipment, you can teach your horse to lunge safely and effectively.

Positive reinforcement for horses: does reward training make horses pushy and spoiled? Is it bribery? Does it even work for horses? The truth about R+ for horses.

Bombproof is a term used in the horse world to describe a horse that isn’t afraid of anything; the idea is that a bomb could go off a few feet away from the horse and it wouldn’t even flinch. The way to make your horse bombproof is by putting them through desensitizing training. Desensitizing is […]

Trust building exercises to do with your horse that is all on the ground. Builds confidence and trust in horse and handler.

A guest post by Reese of Horses of the Ozark Hills. There he is right across from you, your horse. His feet beat the ground in a rhythmic pulse, his nostrils flare with his deep…

Do you want to establish a deeper connection between you and your horse? Then try out these six ways to strengthen your bond with your horse.

3 Rules to Maximize Time Off - Periods of downtime come as realistic parts of horse ownership, although how a rider uses these stretches of poor weather or busy schedules contributes profoundly to a horse’s long-term soundness and performance. Recent data from biomechanics researchers and veterinary schools shows that large vacillations in fitness can be detrimental to overall health, particularly for horses past their mid-teen years. Most notably, periods of lesser activity lasting over a month can weaken deep postural muscles and supporting soft tissue.

Learn how to apply basic training methods to teach your horse to respond to a cue from reins placed on their neck rather than direct rein contact with the bit

I still struggle at times getting a smooth canter transition. How to ask for the canter can be tough, especially with a new horse.

"What should a horse know by the end of 30 days?" Print out this helpful, FREE printable: 30, 60, 90 day horse -the training starting point.

Groundwork is an important part of training for every horse. Mastering these groundwork exercises should be a goal for every horse and rider.

In this article, we're outlining what you can do in the pre-riding stages of training, as well as the ideal age to start training your horse under saddle.

What is horsemanship? 4 ways you can be great at horsemanship. It is essential to know about herd mentality, count out discomfort, and have lots of patience

Have you ever had trouble trying to slow down a horse? I have four approaches, from least firm to emergency brake that you can try out!

A horse which has little or no manners when being handled on the ground can be problematic and present challenges. Depending on what bad ground…

I want to paint a picture for you. Bear with me as I do, as I hope it will help...

Cooperation between horse and rider relys on two-way communication, give and take. Both the rider and the horse have to learn the others' language.

As a beginner, there are few basic groundwork exercises that you should consistently work on until you have mastered them with your horse. I've also made a FREE printable .PDF Training Log!

Grooming is an essential and very important element of a horse’s overall health. A regular grooming routine ensures that your horse is able to maintain…

Teaching a horse to lay down is an extremely difficult trick that will require patience, practice, and a horse with the right temperament.

In this article, we describe barrel horse training exercises - several drills that you can use to practice cues, straight lines and turns.

5 Tips for control your horse's speed and pace at any gait

This diagram shows how, in true bending, the rider flexes the horse's body into alignment with the bend, so that the action of the hindlegs follows the direction of the horse's body.

Lunging by well-known german coach Babette Teschen ♛ Top Rated Online Courses ♥ A good way of moving is an essential precondition for the horse to develop the necessary strength for carrying a rider.

8 MOST COMMON HORSE RIDING MISTAKES Horse riding is one of the most difficult and dangerous sports even though many non-equestrians think it is just sitting in the saddle and letting the horse do everything. In fact, starting from the moment you sit in the saddle, you have a lot to do and think to ride safely and correctly. These are some of the most common mistakes equestrians do: Holding your breath Another common mistake is holding your breath when you concentrate too hard and feel tense. Even many professional riders make this mistake when they face something new or when they are stressed a lot. If you have the same problem, try to smile and relax. You can also try to inhale and exhale in rhythm with the horse’s strides. Wearing baggy clothes You must have seen horse riders wearing firm-fitting and trim clothes while riding. Both English and Western riders avoid wearing baggy clothes because, in case a fall, baggy pants, loose waists, bulky sweaters may get caught on the saddle or the other pieces of horse’s tack. This can cause a much more dangerous fall or even getting dragged. Try to define the best riding wear for riding safety. Looking down or looking at the horse We all agree that horses are gorgeous creatures and you may get distracted by their beauty or just feel insecure and feel like looking at it. But when you gaze on the horse you ride, your spine will be in the wrong position and, the worse, you can’t see where you are going. Try to look forward and think about where you are going. You may enjoy looking at the horse later. Hands in the air It is an instinct to use hands and arms to balance when you feel insecure. When you raise your hands instinctually, you lose the reins and then the control of the horse. If you are feeling insecure in the saddle, try to work on the movement of the horse with your seat instead of moving your hands and arms. To make sure you won’t lose the control, keep a slight tension on the reins and keep your hands at hip level. Letting the reins slide As everyone knows, reins help the rider to control the horse, but if you don’t accommodate the head movement of the horse when it walks, trots or canters, reins can slip through your hands. This will make you lose contact on the bit and you may have problems with recollecting the reins. Even at a walk, the horse moves its head up and down. You should get used to using your hands and arms to let the horse move its head while keeping the contact on the bit. Leaning forward/backward With a horse constantly moving and making your move, you can find yourself in a different position leaned forward. You can even feel more comfortable in this position but it is completely wrong to ride a horse in that position. If the horse stops suddenly while you are leaned forward, you may tip further forward or come off over the horse’s shoulder. Ramming your feet into the stirrups It generally is difficult to learn the correct feet position in the stirrups. Therefore, new riders tend to ram their feet into the stirrups but it can be quite dangerous if you are not using safety stirrups. Before you start riding, make sure the length of both stirrups are correct and only put the widest part of your feet on the stirrups. Also, don’t forget to choose the correct footwear. Carrying your ego with you in the saddle Horse riding is a really cool and marvelous sport but every rider has to learn how to be humble. When going to ride a horse, try not to be an egoist and demanding person. Be positive and thankful, enjoy the time you spend with your horse. Everyone can make a mistake, never get angry or grumpy. Learn to appreciate feeling the progress you make every day with your horse and avoid making other riders jealous of you and being jealous of them. Always remember that today’s professionals were once beginners and they all made mistakes at some points before they became perfect riders. If you like this article you will probably like our exclusive breeches as well ;) Just in! You can now download our Equestroom App in App Store and Play Store. Yey! 🦄❤

With so many options available for purchase, choosing the correct round pen size can be a challenge. Is there an “ideal” average round pen size, or does it depend on your situation?

The Refined Rider - Dressage - Try this EASY exercise to improve your dressage horse's responsiveness and hind end engagement!

When tying my horses, there are two general knots I use: one for a horizontal bar or tie rail, and another for a vertical bar or in a ring. Neither pulls loose if a horse sets back on it, which I personally prefer, because I don’t want my horses to know that they can get […]

How to guide on choosing the right sized horse to fit the rider. Several different measurements given including using horse weight and rider height as a guide.

Horses are amazing communicators, we must learn to read their sometimes subtle indications, so let’s learn signs that a horse trusts you.

The Refined Rider - What should you do when your horse starts bucking? Learn what you need to do to prevent your horse's bucking from becoming a habit!

Understanding How Horses Communicate Learning to interpret a horse’s body language is key to successful horse-human connection. Without a thorough understanding of how your horse communicates, you will find it difficult to train, care for, or enjoy your equine companion. How do horses communicate? Horses communicate through a combination of vocal cues and body language. […]