3 SIMPLE EXERCISES TO MAKE YOUR HORSE MORE SUPPLE | PART 1 | DMA TV EP 345| Dressage Mastery

[@Lexikon6]

What I’m gonna say is 100% true: since you guys are doing these new videos, my ride became so much different and therefore my horse. She is so relaxed, she follows the bit, she can stretch her neck on long rein even on trail rides. She listens to me, she is in harmony with me. Of course we have always had a wonderful relationship but i noticed that it still can improve, and with these videos i learn so much.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Wow this is such a lovely comment to read!! Thank you for sharing! This is what makes it all worthwhile 💕

[@kippen64]

This deserves multiple views to make sure I soak in the information.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Love this!! It is soooo good to be able to keep going back to the videos until it really sinks in 🤩

[@luciemarinov129]

This is about your leg yield video! Just finished riding both my mares after watching ur video. The changing the weight to the direction ur going was the tip that made it successful on my already trained mare , but I still couldn’t do it! My greener mare( her daughter) moved over more, I still have to work on my hands (inside) but we made some progress and I’m really happy with that! Thanks so very much!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Great to hear!

[@emma_and_a_horse]

Holy Dooly.... so simple! I cannot thank you enough for providing these videos! My whole understanding of riding is completely changed!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Wow!! This is amazing, Em! So glad this video has helped in making a difference in your riding x

[@ne0nZchr0me]

I truly love this woman's voice and energy ❤

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Aww thank you so much! :)

[@joannesimpson1490]

Can you please do an episode on you riding a more wooden, heavy/downhill built horse like a cob? And then show us some things you would do to get the horse more lighter in front, as well as supple and forwards.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi Joanne, are you a member of DMA? We have some great videos on there of horses that are built more like that. x

[@deborahclark1291]

Thank you for showing how to ride serpentine! I never thought to connect 2 opposite 10 meter circles. Thank you ALICIA! Now I understand it in my mind

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Glad it was helpful! Love to help!! xx

[@emmab4323]

You are an amazing teacher, stern, but kind. Great combination

[@ebonynewell639]

Love! I was doing the straight line in middle, this makes so much more sense . Also love the no message on wall!

[@prfctangel]

I'm so happy to have found this channel! 💓

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Thank you!! 💕

[@YouGrowFlower]

Love the lessons ❤

[@Ullibullizz]

I will try the s serpentine tomorrow. Since your videos have helped us so much, this far. Today we did 10 m circles in canter with better balance than ever. This past weekend we did our best traning ever. Our intructor said it was so nice to see the progress.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Wow this is sooooo cool! Go you!!

[@pipmuser9619]

I love all the explanation of how and why to use this. I will be adding this exercise when I ride next. #harlow

[@YourRidingSuccess]

So glad you are enjoying the videos! x

[@charsparks3513]

Would love to see Mowgley do an exercise like that - would help represent a lot of horses we all have at home! X

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Thanks for tuning in! Super suggestion! xx

[@wendyrockwell719]

I played with the s shaped serpentine and what a great response I got! We started at the walk and then moved to the trot! She really responded well until I decided to continue on the circle. She started to change her bend and suddenly realized we weren’t doing that. It made me laugh. Love, love, love this new content! ❤️❤️

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Love this Wendy! So glad it worked for you and you could notice a positive difference! 🤩

[@braewoodequestrian3511]

I tried this exercise on my OTT and I felt a major difference in the contact and our overall ride. I also feel like I actually finally understand what the feel of "the contact" should feel like. We even tried counter canter for the first time and just using your words and putting them into action our ride was fantastic! I wished I'd filmed it 😢❤❤

[@YourRidingSuccess]

This is amazing!! Keep it up :) And don't forget to film it next time x

[@kellysf130]

I tried this tonight and wow what a difference 🥰 thank you.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Yay!! So glad this technique worked well for you! Can't wait to hear more about your progress x

[@mariananagy-reis7465]

This video was incredibly helpful! I did this exercise a couple of times and it already helped my young mare with connection issues. It also helps so much in getting her to focus when she is distracted on wanting to spook. I can’t thank you enough for making this video and for explaining that rhythm + suppleness = connection. I never realized I had to fix suppleness to get a proper connection with my mare! 🤯💜

[@YourRidingSuccess]

So glad to help! :)

[@jennibowles7802]

Ohh this is another ripper video!! Can't wait to try this one! 😍 Thanks Alicia! 👏❤

[@YourRidingSuccess]

You're so welcome!

[@samanthabohlman9100]

What is the difference between your horse taking the bit out and down versus leaning on the bit? How do you tell the difference?

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi Samantha, super question! The only difference is the balance of the horse! So "leaning" or getting very heavy is not a bad thing, it just means the horse is accepting the contact but also taking more weight to the forehand and/or getting long in the body. Try to think about exercises that help re balance the horse.

[@amberblock6934]

I just stumbled across your channel a few days ago and I’ve been watching your videos non stop. You have changed my entire outlook. THANK YOU X 1,000,000. My OTTB thanks you, my trainer thanks you, my friends thank you, my husband thanks you. I am excited and happy about my horse again!! I finally have a game plan to follow that is yielding AMAZING results in just a few rides. I’m an eventer and this is totally helping all three phases. I’m so excited!!!!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

I'm so glad! Thanks so much! We are loving the support! :)

[@re-ridersuzanne]

I love these videos! You are a fantastic teacher!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Thank you!! Glad to help!

[@PurifiedKisses]

I can't wait to try this later! I love having something new to try so my riding doesn't get stale and boring.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Go for it! x

[@dashintolearning4071]

Such a good clear video. Thank you!!

[@laurenschenck5355]

Happy Thursday hope you have amazing beautiful day xoxo 😘 ✨🦋✨💕❤️

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Same to you

[@janehorseridingdiver]

Looking forward to giving this a try.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Go for it! x

[@samanthahardman7459]

This video is making such a massive difference for me and my horse at the moment! Loving it!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Yay!!! So glad it has been so helpful for you!

[@betho1899]

Tried this on my horse today and worked absolutely beautifully! Thanks Alicia!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Love that it worked! :)

[@jomo252]

Brilliant video, never thought about doing this in a serpentine. Would love some videos on wooden older horses, what to work on and prioritise

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi Johanna, great question! The tip with horses that are not very supple is to approach it like Alicia works with Mowgley and that is to work each time on some more suppleness through exercises like circles with leg yield and remember like our bodies it takes time to make a horse that is not supple, to be supple! Good luck and let me know how you go! x

[@cottoncandy4486]

Agree, use this all the time, think its the best one.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Thank you :)

[@trousseau_ideal487]

This exercise works. I always used serpentines but straight ones and now I could elevate them further! Thanks for the idea 👍

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Super glad this works for you!! xx

[@wanderinggirl2024]

Your videos are fantastic. I've just started riding again after a bad fall. Thank you for your videos, I'm so excited to try this with my horse soon

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Glad you like them! We can't wait to hear how it goes for you when you apply the tips you learned in the videos on your next ride x

[@MissRowanTree]

These videos are brilliant. Struggle for ideas on what to do in the school to help my boy but these videos are great. Love the explanations and that it's step by step and simple! More more more of these please 💕

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Glad you like them! 🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@laurastott940]

Thanks again for more training advice! I will be trying this today as my horse definitely needs suppling exercises 🥰🥰

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Go for it!

[@marcytaylor8462]

Did this today, circles, serpentines and even a couple figure 8’s. Not great but getting there.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

YAY!! Thanks for sharing your progress with us! We can't wait to hear more about it x

[@NachrufRuediger]

I'm going to put this to the test tomorrow! thank you for sparking my interest in dressage!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Have fun!

[@perennials118]

Thank you for this! I am getting bored of going around the outside fence of the arena but my horse is bored of doing constant 20m circles so will try this one out during our next ride!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

You're welcome! Go for it! x

[@jackierickman4411]

Can’t wait for more videos ,you are brilliant x

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Thank you!! x

[@naunettemartin7450]

I did so good with my horse and my did good today and keep up your videos and it is helping me with my horse and thank you Nannette

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Thank you Nannette! Well done! x

[@naunettemartin7450]

@@YourRidingSuccess you are welcome and I ride my horse and she did so good and your ride ing success is helping my and my horse so thank your so much

[@naunettemartin7450]

You are welcome

[@teresaedwards1591]

Thank you 😊 that helps me

[@YourRidingSuccess]

You're welcome 😊

[@emilywhitehead5336]

I love this exercise ❤️ I find it so useful for any Type of horse I recently tried it on a really hot pony and got great results x

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Yayyyy glad to read this!! x

[@DesmondDeMers7038]

Thank you so much for the advice it has helped me so much with my fear confidence and riding your so good at what you do keeping going and don’t stop 😃😃😃😃😃

[@YourRidingSuccess]

LOVE it! So glad the videos helped a lot with your riding!! We can't wait to hear more about your progress!!

[@laurenschenck5355]

You two are so wonderful together ✨🌈🦋

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Thank you x

[@reets4813]

I love this exercise, can’t wait to try it.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Wonderful!

[@3Grays]

Love! this is great!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Thank you! xx

[@3Grays]

@@YourRidingSuccess Thank you Natasha. She is dynamite with how she breaks everything down. I just read she's your bestie as I was searching for info on her. Thansk you for including her in your program.

[@3Grays]

@@YourRidingSuccess some of us need more help than others. Lol.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

💯

[@cherylkingkoi6521]

Hi Alesha, your counter canter is amazing! I have tried working on counter canter by doing loops and also a figure of 8 with one circle being counter canter. My mare speeds up so much in CC. I think she loses her balance and rushes to keep the canter. How can I help her maintain her balance n this movement? Thank you for making dressage so much fun!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi Cheryl! This is a super question! You are right that when the horse speeds up in the counter canter it is balance. The point of counter canter is to help the horse become more straight and balanced so the act of counter canter should improve the horses balance. If this is not the case this means that you need to work on the horses balance in general. This could be in trot or canter. Try to work with transitions between trot and true canter using for instance a small circle with leg yield to balance the horse in trot before canter and in canter work on an improved alignment i.e shoulder fore and horse even in between your two hands and two legs to improve the balance in the canter. It would be good to see some video to help more- are you able to email us at [e-mail]?

[@jessicamcdonald3471]

You should show us all these things with mogley after you've shown us on a fully trained horse. I really like the new improved videos. The old one were too short

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi Jessica, great idea! If you watch this video of Mowgley you will see Alicia using the serpentine to change direction!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2mUp3dtbbaNmdE

[@JoanWright-k1n]

Really useful got my young horse

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Great to hear!

[@gottasay4766]

I love your videos!!!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Thank you!

[@pippajack1992]

Love this! I need to know where those pink breeches are from?! 😍 I’m in love with them

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Haha thank you!!! These are from Spooks riding wear xx

[@annebangpedersen3566]

Thank you guys for reminding me to do the right excises to keep both me and my horses brain engaged and not just puttering along. I have question that I have wondered a lot about when watching your videos, how come you guys nearly always ride with a dubbed bridle? and not just an "ordinary" snaffle bid (or something like that takes up less space) I'm only asking because in the riding community I learned/grew up in, we where taught there isn't that much space in the horses mouths and needed to ride with as small and soft bits as possible. (of cause the bit isn't stronger then the hand holding it) And we (my horse and I) have been struggling to find the right bit for both of us, flash forward 20 different bits, tried for an longer period. We ended with a Portuguese kandar, ridding with the two sets of rains and a patted chin chain really moved mountain! I know it's little more classical than most do, yet still with only one slim mouth peace. but something about the pressure makes my barock frisian take his head down instead of up when walking forward. What I gues I'm asking is how do you guys choose the right bit and and why?

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi Anne, great question! In our videos we have some FEI level horses and some younger or less experienced horse, the FEI horses are ridden in a double bridle as at International competitions you are required to wear the double so it is important the horses are well used to it in the regular riding. The younger horses or horses never competing FEI are often in a snaffle bridle and all start with a simple double join loose ring snaffle and then go from there. A good thing to think about is often as riders we look to the bit but actually most issues come from the horse not being properly connected 🤩

[@tinker.dakota]

How to turn? Outside rein/leg or open inside rein and leg to bend?

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi Melanie! Have a look at this video and it will help kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJqxp2d9rdR9i6s

[@martinalewis6010]

Thank you 👊🏻

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Any time!

[@KurokyuuketsukiD59]

Thank you so much ! :o

[@YourRidingSuccess]

You're welcome! x

[@laurenschenck5355]

These are amazing! 🥰🥰

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Thank you x

[@alisalarson4196]

Hello pretty lady…Are you worrying about changing your diagonal when you do this? Also can you explain which leg and rein you’re using when you’re turning? Thx!!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi there, yes Alicia does change her diagonal as she changes direction! When riding the movement think of keeping your horse on the train tracks and remember to 'push' the shoulders not pull x

[@hannahbalfour6394]

I love these videos, but I’m riding/training a pony who is very green and really not at all advanced - could you go through how to improve 20 meter circles? Also she’s a recovering laminitic and often goes lame in trot, so what can I do in walk to help continue her education?

[@audreye7078]

If she goes lame in trot at some point in most rides, then perhaps she is not sufficiently recovered for riding. Horses are generally very stoic about pain..

[@hannahbalfour6394]

Thanks for your concern - she’s been seen by a vet numerous times and has been given the ok, so long as we go with her cues (which we always do)

[@audreye7078]

@@hannahbalfour6394 if she's happy with the work, then the exercise is good for her..

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi Hannah, as mentioned below always stay within the horses soundness but yes start with 20m circles and you can use 4 points to help you go around the circle accurately. The 4 points if you started at A would be - A then 4 metres past F then 2 metres other side of L then 4 metres before K then back to A. If you look up dressage tests you will see on a diagram where each circle needs to be placed in the arena ✨

[@zannaerickson]

I watched this and thought oh that will be super easy. Nope, my mare goes to the left beautifully but the right is a challenge. So we will be practicing this for awhile. I have a question about contact, you say it is number 3 in the training scale, but even when you are riding your TB colt you do have some contact on the bit. How much do you use and how do you decide how much to use? I am trying to switch from western riding to dressage so when someone says no contact I think swinging reins, but you have more contact on the bit then that. So I’m trying to add more contact to my reins but we are not past suppling on the training scale. So I’m at a loss. Any advice?

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi there! This is a really good question and it is great that you reach out to help your understanding! You are right that connection is 3 on the training scale and it is good to note that when the horse is connected the horse will be taking positive contact from you as the rider - not the rider taking the contact. A good test is if the horse is connected when you offer the hand forward the horse will take the contact forward and down. Leading up to the horse being connected you need to have your reins so you can still steer the horses shoulders and communicate with the horse, and be ready for when the horse is supple enough to take the contact - if your reins are loopy the horse can never connect into the bridle. Think of always having a straight line from the bit to your elbow even when the horse is not yet connected. Hope this helps! 🤩

[@zannaerickson]

@@YourRidingSuccess Thank you that helps me out a lot, and my mare will thank you for helping me. I think she sometimes reaches for contact in the canter, never at the trot, and rarely at the walk. Which if my understanding is correct, is backwards to how it normally progresses.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Glad to help! Actually what you are experiencing is VERY normal, walk is actually the hardest pace as it has no natural forward tendency. Canter has the most forward tendency and also the horse is less balanced so the rider can influence the horse positively more easily. So it is totally normal thay she finds canter easiest!

[@susansoderman1854]

Do you provide a half halt to give your horse a warning when you are changing directions? My horse is anxious and when I’ve done serpentines in the past he tends to get more anxious instead of relaxed. I was thinking it might be because I’m overwhelming him with the direction change and I should give a half halt as a heads up something is about to happen.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi Susan, you do not need to give the horse extra commands except for moving the bridle to keep the horse even on the train tracks and taking the train tracks on the line you want. Then of course you use your position to help balance the horse as per normal. If the horse is getting worried try to take it back a step to a less steep line as Alicia shows and then gradually build the amount of turning,

[@susansoderman1854]

@@YourRidingSuccess I will try this. Thank you!!!

[@christelruttens5225]

Great video! I use the exercise a lot with my young horse (saddle broke for 5 months). The shoulder control is our biggest 'thing' at the moment. In a serpentine he sometimes doesn't want to go to the right, so tries to turn left instead of right and if I can 'forse' him to go right, the next time to turn right he extremely falls over his left shoulder and bents his head extremely to the right... I try to keep the rhythm and to steer with the outside rein (with a bit of help from the inside) and sit in the 'banana', but I must do something wrong because he keeps on doing it, most of all in small circles but also in a 20 meter circle or a big serpentine. What do you thing I can do to solve this?

[@audreye7078]

Why are you forcing him? That creates a lot of resistance. Somewhere in there, you've gotten ahead of what he's capable of .. perhaps you've not given his body time to incrementally adapt?

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Hi there! With young horses, some of them progress at different rates to others, it is important to take it one step at a time and always check in the Training Scale, so the minute the horse loses rhythm or basic steering you need to go back a step. Some simple figures are - riding on the wall, riding across a long diagonal, half 20m circle, loop off wall to quarter line or X and back again. Try using a little counter flexion and you can move the bridle but do not use force as this will result in a an over correction or holding the horse constantly. Let us know how you go 💕

[@christelruttens5225]

@@audreye7078 otherwise I can never turn to the right, he really takes the snaffle and turns left.

[@christelruttens5225]

@@YourRidingSuccess thank you for your answer. It's true when I take a step back and try the more simple figures I've a lot more control over shoulders, rhythm, etc. I think it's difficult for me to know when I can try the next step, I don't want to force him or go to fast, but I even don't want to go too slow ... Is it as simple as this: when I feel resistance and he doesn't make progress I've gone too fast and better go back a step? I try the counter flexion tomorrow, thanks for that advice as well.

[@audreye7078]

@@christelruttens5225 Does he do the same from the ground? That seems rather an excessive response to the one side only.

[@kimberlymaggi7365]

I thought it was a straight line. Doh!

[@YourRidingSuccess]

This is what it is all about - now you will know how to ride it in the test and training xx

[@tamaraannabellethehorse381]

# Harlow

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Nice!!

[@lookingforsalehorses]

Perhaps the video is mislabeling as relaxation? It sounds like you’re saying this should be the “connection” stage in the dressage training scale.

[@YourRidingSuccess]

Nicole! You need to watch this video… it will explain a lot! Suppleness/relaxation = connection. So when Alicia is referring to that second point in the training scale, no mistake. Check out the below and get back to us! Xx SCALES OF TRAINING - 6 WAYS TO SUCCEED IN DRESSAGE - (PART 1) | DMA TV EP 341 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXupgWhvfb-thaM

[@laurenschenck5355]

You are so Beautiful 😍

[@YourRidingSuccess]

🤩