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Read below for a bit of what's in ... Topline Ink Equestrian Journal Magazine! Subscribe today! Collect every issue and read every article! |
Rider in Balance "All paces and movements require that both horse and rider learn to move together with a natural 'flow' and balance." (Master the Balance and Master the Horse) - Jenny Rolfe "The position of efficient balance, on or off the horse, is the position of good posture." (Tools for Riding in Balance) - Beth Glosten, M.D. |
Understanding "The movements and exercises we ride should never be considered to be ends in themselves, but they are a means to an end. They all have certain effects on the horse's gaits and can be used to improve the horse by suppling, straightening, balancing, connecting, and strengthening him." (Dressage Movements: A Means to an End) - Dr. Thomas Ritter |
The Biomechanics "Dr. Heuschmann thoroughly explained the muscles and structure of the horse's back, neck, and hind end to show how a horse is able to carry a rider." (Tug of War: Highlights of a Clinic with Dr. Gerd Heuschmann) - Dawn Fisher |
| Horse in Balance "It would be an over- simplification to say that correct balance is everything (it is really only the beginning), but it is safe to say that without it, nothing else can occur. (The Importance of the Lower Levels) - Arlene Rigdon |
Communication "Truly listening to your horse and looking for any barriers to effective communication is hard work. It is much more difficult than just giving more forceful aids a second time, but the rewards are great.....This more effective way of communicating with my horse led to a more "playful" approach to training." (Knowledge Speaks, but Wisdom Listens) - Gigi Nutter |
Education "The USDF "L" dressage judge training program was a fascinating experience for me. I encourage dressage enthusiasts to audit or participate in this highly educational program." (Trot Triangles) - Ivetta Harte |
The Rider "A productive training ride requires complete focus from the rider." This is not always an easy state of mind. Work stresses, family needs, and other responsibilities can conspire to divide attention and leave you thinking about many things during your ride. This lack of focus can be perceived by the horse as lack of clear leadership." (A Rider Training Scale) - Beth Glosten, M.D. |
The Sport Horse & Jumping "Equestrians are very busy and it's good to have a system. Plan and have structure to your riding program. Be organized from your show schedule to your daily riding routine. Start with getting the proper training and the proper horse. Then set your goals and make your plan around that." (Eventing Questions Answered) - Mike Huber |
Rhythm "If the rhythm is too fast to begin with, as is so often the case in misguided attempts to ride "forward", then the horse begins with the balance tipped to the forehand..." (Balance: The Bottom Line) Arlene Rigdon "The main cause of destroying rhythm is by the reins." (Questions on Rhythm Answered) - Jana Wagner |
Fitness "Riders must be able to balance these two to achieve the cadence and rhythm that dressage movements require. A weak rider is not able to produce that balance since a horse is typically ten times stronger than the rider." (Riding for All Ages) - Melonie Kessler |
Training Techniques & Training Exercises "An exercise that helps to increase engagement in the medium paces is transitions from lengthening trot on the long-side, or diagonal to the walk, or as that develops a medium trot to a halt with the additon of a rein-back...." (The Extended Gaits) - Rebecca Rigdon |
Relaxation "Tension in a horse may show up in a number of ways when he's ridden: shortened stride; balky or sluggish movement; poor swing of the hind legs (lack of engagement); resistence or inabliity to bend well; a hollow back; or high head carrage." (Tension Patterns in Performance Horses) - Carol O'Donnell Wilson |
How Things Work "When we first attempt to acquire a new motor skill, we have better success when we do things slowly and deliberately, with great focus and motivation." (Understanding Brain Function in Learning and Teaching Feel) -Lynne Sprinsky |
Harmony "Soft hands are a prerequisite to riding in harmony with your horse." (Encourage Harmony by Riding with Soft Hands) - Jane Savoie "The result is a more conscious rider who applies more subtle, empathetic aids, creating increased harmony with the horse..." -Sandra Hotz |
Suppleness "The suppling effect of the shoulder-in lies not only in the lateral bend, which means that the horse is bent from ears to tail in the same way as on a circle, but also the bending of all the three main joints of the hind legs, i.e. hip, stifle and hock. - Simon Battram |
The Fundamentals & Basics "We cannot train a horse if he is taught by instigating permanent fear. How can a horse perform fluid, forward movement with calm energy and joie-de-vivre, if he is highly charged with fear? " (Learning the Power of Our Breathing) - Jenny Rolfe "Levels training through second mark the period of the basic training of the horse. If this foundation is correct and complete, the progression into the medium levels of third and fourth is smooth and painless." (The Importance of the Lower Levels) Arlene Rigdon |
Solutions "When things go wrong and horses begin to misbehave, most riders search for the reason and the remedy outside themselves. The truth is that in most cases the solution lies within the rider and nowhere else." (Food for Thought) - Dr. Thomas Ritter |
Creativity & Art "The best made freestyles enable a horse and rider to perform with apparent ease of movement, precisely matching tempos, effortless transitions from one movement to another and harmonious unity between two vastly different beings." (Would you like to Ride a Musical Freestyle?) - Deborah K. Dougherty |
Connection "When we sit on the back of a horse and take up the reins, the contact is not only between our hands and his mouth but also 'mind to mind.' If the horse accepts your leadership and trusts you, he will be more relaxed in his mind to become submissive to a contact." (Master the Balsnce and Master the Horse) - Jenny Rolfe |
Goals & Motivation "I think that it's important for not just every child but every person to have a dream at some point in their life. It's a life experience to have a dream that you are chasing and doing your best to make it come true." (Pursuing Your Dreams) - Philesha Chandler |
Dressage "Learn to separate your aids, then learn to coordinate them, then learn to time them - this is the work of the true Masters in Dressage!" (Lateral Movements: Their Use and Development Though the Levels) - Sarah Martin |
Impulsion, Energy, Forward & (Schwung) "...The concept of riding the horse correctly forward is as follow: The thrust of the horse's hind leg moves along the supple body through the back, neck and into the bit - "connecting" the horse through the entire body from the back to the front ..." (Developing Forward Movement) - Arlene Rigdon |
Feel "Feel, for the rider, is the ability to predict and interact with the horse's movements and behaviors as if able to read the horse's mind and body." (Ride in Balance:The Element of Feel)- Beth Glosten, M.D. "Feel in the rider depends on her ability to isolate muscle groups and be aware of the sensation of muscles relaxing and contracting." (Developing Feel in Dressage Riding)- Sandra Hotz |
Learning from History "What makes Xenophon's work so remarkable is his concern for the horse's well-being. He is the first author who insists that the rider has to win his horse's friendship and willing co-operation, because otherwise the training will have very little value, aesthetic or otherwise." (History of Dressage: Series) - Dr. Thomas Ritter
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Straightness "Only the straight horse can move forward, for deviations sideways are trips of the horse's leg away from the forward, straight track. To simplify - the horse cannot move forward if he is falling in or drifting out." (Lateral Balance) - Arlene Rigdon "With gymnastic dressage exercises, horses can develop their symmetry, becoming straight" (Correct Dressage Training) - Ivette Harte
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| Classical Dressage "In the big scheme of things, it is not so important that the classically trained horse/rider combination always wins. It is far more important for the classically educated rider to represent his teachers and the classical heritage with dignity and integrity by riding well and placing the horse's well-being above all other considerations." (Classical Dressage and Competitions) - Dr. Thomas Ritter |
The Journey "The best riders always remain students, no matter how far they advance in their own riding..." (Goals) - Dr. Thomas Ritter "The Horse can be both teacher and pupil and on our journey of horsemanship we can seek to learn how to bring about better responses, awakening a deeper connection between man and horse..." (Breathing Life Into Training) Jenny Rolfe |
Collection "Try replacing the term 'Collection' with 'Elevation'. Understand that you and your horse are on an ascending scale." (Second Level) - Sarah Martin "You only can have extension when you have collection. To improve your extension it is necessary to work on and improve your collection." (Dressage Theory Lessons) - Jana Wagner |
Longe and Ground Work "Theoretically you know that every little thing you do on your horse affects him. But how often do you give yourself uninterrupted time to work on your seat, without worrying about what your horse is doing?" (Applying the Alexander Technique to working on your seat on the longe.) - Constance Clare - Newman "The correct work at the longe line helps the trainer to lead his horse into a state of mental collection, physical and psychological balance, and relaxation..." (Longeing) -Dr. Thomas Ritter |
| The Dressage Movements "The quality of the gait (regularity of rhythm, tempo and stride length, lightness, evenness and steadiness of the rein contact, balance, alignment of the horse's hips and shoulders, bend, suppleness, impulsion, and collection) as well as the accuracy of the arena pattern must never be sacrificed when riding lateral movements." (Lateral Movements) - Dr. Thomas Ritter "In order to introduce your horse to the half-pass, he must be confirmed at all of the second level movements and is gaining the strength needed for collection and self-carriage." (Introduction to the Half-pass) - Angel Ozer |
| Horsemanship & Horse Management "It makes sense, then, that we should also want to work in a beautiful environment." (Beauty and the Barn) - Elaine Cornell "Athletes generally perform the same, similar movements over and over again. Repetitive motion can cause the muscles to get stuck. The muscles can be developed to perform only in a certain restricted motion, and this causes limits outside of the range of motion. massage works to keep those muscles flexible and a full range of motion." (Equine Massage for the Performance Horse) - Jim Masterson |
The Horse "To retain this athleticism, stallions are not only inspected for conformation and gaits, they must also complete a performance test, mandated by the Goverment of Germany, required to maintain approval in North America." (The Trakehner) - Helen K. Gibble "The Lipizzan breed is named after the original stud farm near the village of Lipica in modern day Slovenia." (The Lipizzan Horse) - Dr. Thomas Ritter "The Lusitano has been selected for millennia as a riding horse and has marked the history of Horsemanship with his superb talent for the exercises of High School (now called "Dressage")..." (The Lusitano) - Jean - Philippe Giaconmini |
Horse Showing "This rider is right in thinking that relaxation is her priority. When you're tense, your work can't be of as high a quality as when you're relaxed." (Conquer Horse Show Nerves) - Jane Savoie "You'll notice that each level builds on the previous levels requirements. Starting with good basics and the requirements for each level will help ensure that you are ready for each level." - Christine Rivlin "Think of your test as a series of questions you will be asking your horse in front of a judge.: (Tips for the Dressage Show) - Sarah Martin |
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