Training Exercises

[theprancingpony]

i absolutely love little games and exercises that help the horse in general, whether it be for suppleness or roundedness or whatever... i don't really know a whole lot of exercises, or perhaps i forgot some, but i created this thread for people to share exercises and games and tips and stuff. i don't know about anyone else out there, but i love just "messing" with my horse with these kinds of things.

[Cobaltlover]

One exercise that is good for balance is posting the trot without stirrups. It is a real killer, but it helps your balance even more. ;)

[Lizard]

yeah...i agree

another one that i love is jumping with a dollar or a glove under your calf, and trying to keep it there as you jump a course! Its fun!

[Nat n' Matt]

I would agree with riding with out stirrups.My trainers make me do it all the time and I have 2 VERY strong legs.

If you want to help your horse to get a stronger hind end, walk up and down at first not a very steep hill without getting off the horses back, and as the horse gets stronger go up steeper hills(just make sure they arent too steep).

[leftycowgirl23]

i know a good one to make shure that your horse is ready to ride befor you get on. when you lung your horse do it with the saddle on and while lunging him make him go over small jumps that so if tha sinch is pinching him at all he will buck and and you will know before you get on and save yourself from landinng on the ground.

[jumper_268]

do everything without stirups, walk, sit the trot, post the trot (even though its hard but if u have a good steady lower leg it shouldnt be a problem) and canter, what we do alot is set up canter polls and do them without stirups and then we make the polls longer to start with to get them stretching out and extending and then put them closer together to get them collected, i have the problem when i was at my first barn i was taught to be like in a permanent half seat becuase i showed hunters and thats what ur suposed to do but now i came to this new barn and they make me sit sit sit sit sit and its hard, cantering and everything without stirups really helps!

[horsywonder6594]

i aggree with riding without stirrups and jumping with something under your calf it really helps also riding bareback is great and riding with you reins in your left or right hand only can help also if on side of your body is higher than the other riding with the lower sides stirrup only can really help

[ThreeHorseNight]

My husband,daughter, and I have started riding bareback sometimes. It really helps you learn to move with the horse, I think.