How to slow your horse down and get steadier contact

[@jberard3752]

This is the type of instruction/correction videos we need on utube. Please consider doing more. They are very helpful to the rider and utube viewers that don't have access to instrution close to home. Thanks.

[@sheliaellison7226]

j berard I think a lot of us can relate to this pair.

[@tonibrannan358]

More of these Critiques...So helpful with what a Good Eye and Clear and Concise instruction can do!! Wish more instructors had this "Gift!!"

[@mjgardiner4117]

Thank you Amelia you’re education is much appreciated👍

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're so welcome MJ!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Also, here’s a link with all of my free courses! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/giving-back-now-and-always-black-friday-2022/

[@sharmanveger7930]

Incredibly helpful instructions

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Lisanisky]

Firstly To the Rider. Good for you sending the video and allowing yourself to be put out there. That shows a great attitude. Amelia that was so wonderfully done. It could be used as an example to any young Instructor on how to point out what's needed in a encouraging way.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thank you for your support of the rider for putting herself out there! I really appreciate this supportive community!

[@silkepsula7622]

Amelia I love your comments, such as taking a moment away from the initial purpose of this video and suggest a different/better way to handle when the horse goes from trot to canter when this was not asked. Because now I see how I "punished" my horse for these little things which was really him trying to figure it out - and thank you to the student for being vulnerable.

[@anuschkaarmstrong2831]

I really like a lesson on a rider in public. great stuff thank you

[@heathertempleton853]

Many thanks to the rider for sending in this video. I learned so much. Loved listening to Amelias excellent instructions for her.

[@heathertempleton853]

PS. Please wear a helmet.

[@kmiklaszewski]

I really enjoy watching videos like this with professional feedback. I search for and constantly watch full length lessons and clinics lower level riders because I am an adult rider and teacher that is not at your level and it helps to see rider and horse mistakes and corrections and gives great ideas for lessons. It is always very helpful to audit other people riding and training when you cannot get in as many professional lessons. There are a lot of us out there that are at lower levels that need a lot of help and I’m sure I’m not the only one that is grateful to see the not so perfect rider and the not so perfect horse so we can learn from that. Thank you and keep up the great videos.

[@benitascott3533]

Great analysis here Amelia! Very helpful! I have a forward, fast, Arab mare, often rushing, & hearing your tips helps reinforce my perceptions of all these issues: tempo control, my position, reign position & contact, & using the bend! Great video! 👍😘🐎🙏

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@UnicornCentaur]

This was incredibly helpful, thank you to you Amelia, and thank you to the horse and rider (they look great together)!!!! My Arab is a lot like this to ride, and I've been fighting him with my hands instead of turning him - looks like we need to do a LOT more circles! :) I can't afford weekly lessons, so videos like this are wonderful to brush up between sessions with my trainer, I would love more -- with horses and riders of all different levels! Thanks again!

[@lindav3747]

So many take aways even in first 6 minutes. - doing changes of directions [serpentines etc] , and I like how you said be willing to go with the horse like when she broke into a nice canter, just turning into a small circle rather than pulling on her mouth . "going with the horse". I like that. And your recommendation to have shoulders a bit more back and shorter reins with hands a little bit more forward. I can tend toward leaning forward when we speed up so this is great instruction!! I need this instruction too. Thanks, even almost 3 yrs after initial post of this video.

[@yellowrose9355]

What a terrific idea of the pyramid . I really appreciate your analysis if the horse's attitude/ability---idea of "forward", & the circle idea as a remedy. 3 cheers for rider position advice. this should be reviewed from time to time.

[@maggy1338]

Greetings from Kentucky. The alleged mistake transition to canter (around 3.35 ish) may have been perceived differently by the horse. Food for thought: This horse and rider both appear to be right handed. The horse has a moment of being more heavy on the right rein (maybe just leaning on it) and is then set up ( unintentionally) for the left lead canter depart which was pretty decent. Another way of handling this is rewarding (voice, pet on the left neck), carrying on with some canter (oppotunisticly) and then asking for trot making maybe 2 successes. There will come a time when what the horse felt is intentionally asked by the rider. It is often hard to stick to a plan, especially on an overachiever and/or young horse. They are such kind simple creatures with a heightened awareness of conditioned responses. I really liked this horse and rider! Loved the constructive critique! Lots of good going on here. Thank you to all involved.

[@flawlessfluidity7771]

Thank you Amelia! Your videos are always detailed, informative and so helpful 🙄

[@noorazahariahzainon9276]

Thank you Amelia for a great analysis video. I’m a beginner at late 50’s and always panic when cantering. ❤ from Malaysia

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're so welcome!

[@teresastanley4581]

Great video! I too am not certain what to do when my horse breaks into canter. Thanks to the guest rider and Amelia! This is a great instructional video!

[@ginnypalmer8752]

Very helpful

[@savvywillow]

This is exactly what I needed to see. Thank you so much!

[@briarspillane2868]

Lots of valuable advice in this video. It helps me as this is where many of us will be with our riding. Thankyou👌

[@treenzcar7691]

What a lovely enthusiastic horse🐴

[@meretesrheim4867]

Loved this and your positive attitude and useful Feedback for her! I have been working a lot with my horse to listen to the rhythm I want rather than allowing him to set the rhythm and this has helped to have him stay with me rather than running - a lot of halhalts.... really good comments you gave there. The use of circles and serpentine 👍 I currently work on contact where we need to improve- inside rein outside leg... l think she also should use more inside leg 😅

[@danihworld]

Thank you so much for the feedback!! Your tips help so much! I will work on these things and send another video. During riding my horse I feel like when I asked for the bend she tries to evade and breaks into the canter. Also she ignores inside rein to outside leg at times. In hand work she understands lateral movements. I would love a video on what to do when horses evade.

[@violeteventing7013]

My pony used to do this all the time the way I got her to slow down was through poles. I put poles about a hoof gap between them out in my arena and made her go over them over and over until she slowed to a good steady speed then I asked her to trot around the arena large ( not over poles) and only rised and kicked at the beat I wanted too this corrected her after about five half hour sessions :)

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yay! Great and thanks again for submitting this... So if she is evading the bend, I would just turn her on a very small circle (like 10 meters) and release the inside rein only when she bends and turns. She is "evading" because she doesn't understand that the inside rein means to bend and turn. You must be very consistent to re-train her and release the bending and turning aide only when she bends and turns. Make sure you don't release the bending aide when she canters or you will be unintentionally training her to canter. Also definitely work on the groundwork bending and turn on the forehand with her. Good luck! You two seem like a super pair with lots of potential!!!

[@annieoakley5075]

This could be my mare. I have been working with her and much of the advise you give here is what I am trying to do. I guess I am on the right track.

[@Dylan-ez5qx]

I agree with everything you are saying and I also think that the rider position is making the horse’s issues worse. She’s pitched forward stiff and not looking around her turns. I think it this rider relaxed and let her arms come a little more forward, leaned back and looked around her turn her horse would start relaxing more.

[@SusannMarieDye]

Great critique! It will help this rider a lot. My horse is similar, it is too easy to post with him, so we are too quick. I had to shorten my stirrups a hole also. His head is steadier, but too high and it is really hard to get him to give me his jaw and flex at the pole. When I have him there I have to ask him down over and over again, squeeze release. Squeeze don’t bring your head up and release good boy you head is down. However he tends to meet the contact for a stride and then duck behind it and immediately come back up. So over and over we go with this. Some improvement happens after cantering. He is more connected trotting then, but feels like he is pulling some, but at least he isn’t trying to go hollow any more and his strides are longer rather that quick. The suggestion what to do if they break into canter is wonderful, I don’t want my horse to feel punished because he cantered. I am going to try your snowman exercise, because I seem to get the head position after the canter and the small circle could help slow his trot down. I also need to practice an obedient smooth depart and get him to adjust his speed down to working trot rather than the lovely but too speedy lengthening and yes he is cantering too fast too, so I am hoping anticipating trotting and the smaller circle will help me with that too. My hands at least are more forward. My upper body will go back if my head is up and I think of the eyes in the back of the head and go for a soft focus instead of a hard stare like focus. Just tried this on the trail and I could not believe how effortless it was to be more upright without reminding myself and feeling too far back. Thanks for the tips!

[@hossammosbah5295]

Very useful remarks. Thank you very much dear Amelia. 🎩

[@jennibowring7348]

I wish she was wearing a helmet! So brave to put herself out there, and very helpful for the rest of us. But protect that noggin, sister! :-)

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi Jenn, While I do not condone riding without a helmet, and no longer accept videos for review or participation in any of my courses without a helmet, I did leave this video up because I felt the educational content was still valid. Thanks for your input!

[@bingusbang]

It was interesting some of the best relaxation and flexation was the canter

[@sabinelloyd8532]

That was very interesting to watch.

[@cp2105]

very interesting video and well explained. You are such a good riding instructor!

[@emilia8431]

Great video. Very helpful ! Thanks Amelia

[@CavaliaGirl]

Such a lovely pair and with some tweaking they will be a powerhouse! My thought was WHY the rushing - to me it looked more than "forward". Does the saddle fit well? Does anyone else see that?

[@imba.hjaltalin]

I think a dressage saddel you know with bigger pads in front might help this rider stay put in the saddle more. That being said I think she is very well balanced in this saddle even if its not the most expensive one. Better rein contact is probably enough for her. I dont think she needs to shorten the stirrups, she just needs to shorten the reins and then the horse will have better form and her legs move less.

[@joan9569]

Same two comments. Good job! Yup...those cow ponies are scary to ride. Lots of lateral motion & low heads.

[@jillymet]

She was great that young lady. Un update in 6 months would be an idea???

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

That would be a great idea, I don't have one for this rider, but that's a great idea!

[@lazydaisyshowapparel]

Would warming up this type of horse up in a lope be better then trying to keeping her at a trot? I know other dressage trainers have stated that they warm up in a lope with forward moving horses. It seems to help some horses relax quicker. Also, I really like your suggestions for this rider. I will do some self checks tomorrow when I ride:->

[@dianeowen491]

Great video!

[@marismaris7359]

Nice video! But where is the riders helmet? This isnt a good example for younger riders 🙁

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thanks for your input! As I mentioned, this is a video of a student that was submitted. While I do not condone riding without a helmet, and no longer accept videos for review or participation in any of my courses without a helmet, I did leave this video up because I felt the educational content was still valid. thanks for your input!

[@lauradewitt158]

This is really helpful

[@RedRedux]

Perfect timing thank you :)

[@pammys57]

Amelia- when the horse does break to canter, the small circle is to slow the horse down until it trots? This is preferred to yanking back on the reins, correct.. a nicer way of saying "please return to trot"

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

yes, correct!

[@mikolein1]

Excellent!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad you liked it!

[@phyllisbowden4338]

p bowden This video is so helpful. Thank you

[@tamekaellard8171]

How do you initially teach your horse (ie a green horse) the aids for them to bend and flex?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi!! Usually I start from the ground with bending using one rein at a time. I have a groundwork video on this. Once the horse understands the bending to the side, then start taking up on both reins and getting them to flex at the poll.

[@tamekaellard8171]

Dressage TV Thanks for the reply!! (By the way - watching from Australia and really enjoying your videos - Gatsby is gorgeous!)

[@N2Dressage001]

Another help would be a slower posting rhythm.

[@lauriebohanan2761]

How to slow the horse down to contact. Is it of skills to be good rider

[@lauriebohanan2761]

How to stay contact on the the horse

[@abuckingbay1328]

Rider needs to put her shoulders back & have her heels down more x

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

:) Little bits at a time, it's all a process

[@LauraCoffey12390]

HELMET

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

As I mentioned, this is a video of a student. While I do not condone riding without a helmet, and no longer accept videos for review or participation in any of my courses without a helmet, I did leave this video up because I felt the educational content was still valid.