A spooky horse is a challenge for every rider – especially when you are so busy calming down your horse at a show that you don’t actually get to ride and show your skills. This calls for good nerves, the ability to understand your horse ... and a well thought-out approach. Raphael Netz rides many different horses every day. The…
A training unit is generally divided into a warm-up phase, a working phase and a relaxation phase at the end. The warm-up is crucial and determines the course of the actual training. “We use the warm-up to really listen to our horses and find out how they feel on that particular day,” Jessica explains. “Is he in a good mood?…
Every horse is different. There are the hot, explosive types while other horses are very laid back and sometimes not very motivated to work. Generally, you can’t fundamentally change your horse’s basic personality. However, you can certainly find the best way for you and your horse to work together and to create a positive training experience for both you and…
The sitting trot can be quite a challenge, especially if your horse has a lot of movement or does not quite use its back correctly yet. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem: If your horse does not use its back correctly, it will be a lot harder for the rider to sit quietly. And if the rider…
As a dressage rider, we want our horse to move with energy and power. At the same time, the horse must stay balanced and relaxed – everything should appear light and effortless. The rider must have a good level of fitness so that they are able to absorb, control and shape the horse through their own movements. To achieve this,…
“Positive body tension and core stability in the saddle are essential – I need both so that I can steer the horse without needing to use my hands,” Jessica explains. A strong core gives you stability in the saddle and enables you to react to the horse’s every movement, even if the horse suddenly stops or shies away from something.…
Strictly speaking, your training already begins in the stable before you even get on your horse. You as the rider, should have a plan in mind and know what you would like to work on and what you would like your horse to get out of today’s training. The two key questions are: What would I like to achieve with…
Having control when riding has nothing to do with forcing your horse to do something or forcing it into a particular shape. Being in control when riding a horse involves two things: on the one hand, that the rider is able to determine and guide the horse’s pace, direction and sequence of movements, and on the other hand, that the…
From the very moment we sit in the saddle, we are challenged to sit upright, not to round our shoulders, and to balance on our seat bones. Dressage is a demanding discipline as it requires a correct body position and alignment. Our spine must be in the neutral position – neither creating a hollow nor a rounded back. “The ability…
