I love the concept of ‘no message’ after a training moment like a transition - just to let things be and give them a little reward! I know I want to override sometimes, so that’s such a good reminder for me 😊
I have a question: why is it taught that it is correct to post on the outside diagonal where you rise as the inside hind is stepping foreward? To engage the Inside hind when on a circle you should ask for engagement while the Inside Hind is in the air (while you are rising) - so it can land engaged. I can't apply my leg Aid with much authority while rising. AND when asking a colt for a canter while posting on the Outside diagonally the horse can only pick up the correct Inside lead only when you are at the Top of your rise. If you post on the Inside (wrong) diagonal you will be sitting at that point and can apply your leg with Authority. It seems to me the horse's biomechanics was not considered when it was decided which Diagonal was correct! Your thoughts please! I am from the western discipline & have started Colts all my life - I'm 73 and trying to learn dressage. Changed from Qtr Horse's to Lusitanos a few years ago! I'm from Wyoming in US and am struggling with thru ness in my transitions so your explanations are MOST HELPFUL - THANK YOU!
Hi Peggy! Realistically the thing you need to think about is you don't need to influence how the horses hind legs land, especially not every stride.the horse shoulde always be travelling forward on its own and you should increase engagement in the horses hind legs through encouraging the horse to take more balance on its hind legs and make the shoulder lighter not by how much individual energy is coming from each specific hind leg. So your exercises around increasing hind leg engagement should be about the horses balance and that change the balance from the shoulder to the hind leg. In canter you need to think about that the horse when it makes canter it strikes off on the outside hind leg. So its not about the inside of the horse its about the first leg that takes the stide in canter is the outside hind leg.
Wow this is actually mind blowing. I love how you explain it so simply! A lot of people throw out buzz words and expect you to understand it. I'm a beginner rider so there's a lot of terminology I don't know yet. Thank you for this!! I can't wait to try it myself!
Thank you so much for reminding us to ask for details when a coach tells you something you don’t know or is not a “thing”. Thank you for explaining how rhythm affects suppleness affects connection. As a novice rider, this helps me understand so much better.
The do nothing reward...where the horse is able to identify "in this way of going we just go and it's easier" is such a treat! Smart horses learn quickly this makes the day shorter and better with massage and treats sooner. Soon they offer this earlier in the ride
“No message” is such a good tool - I’ve got it stuck in my head now when I’m riding - just thinking about it really helps not to overload my horse with too much information & instead give him a little reward for doing well 👍
I love how you explained the horse's head coming up, and that it's a symptom and not the direct problem. That its actually suppleness and connection. I never thought of that before.
I tend to get bracey in my arms and hands, so I’m really grateful for exercises to transition that aren’t just on a straight line where I’m inclined to pull or get tense. Thanks for these detailed explanations, it really helps me grasp the concepts!
This is such a great explanation. I’m so lucky I have a wonderful coach who has produced so many young horses and she helps me understand always why we are doing these things and what we’re aiming for but watching this video and going over it again helps tremendously as I only get my 45 min with her. So great to confirm these things and visualize it all! Thank you!
You give such a good explanation of WHY the counter bend on the circle will actually keep the horse on the circle rather than allowing him to drift out - and that it actually makes him feel that he’s getting a reward when he comes out of the circle and moves on a straight line.
From this video I learnt just how important it is to have eyes on the ground. What I'm feeling when riding is completely different to what is actually happening. I'm definitely going to film as much of my riding as possible! And then take the time to look back at it and analyse what is actually happening during the ride. I also learnt the importance of suppling to maintain connection during a transition! Now I know what to do if I lose connection during a transition --> think about rhythm and suppleness 🤯 What a fantastic video, thank you!
Wow, I was really feeling how hard Toby was working but how amazing the results were! I had always thought that half halts were in the hand and a way of “braking” the horse - the advice you gave was so easy to understand and makes so much sense. Thanks Alicia!
I love the idea of no message when they have achieved a moment of correctness or correct response to what you're asking. It makes so much sense to allow them to process and to not interfere!
It’s fun to see Toby ride-what a great rider! What I always notice about how Alicia and now how Toby rides is how the lower leg/ foot is so quiet and doesn’t push down in the trot, just stays put. That is one of the things I’ve been working on since I started watching these videos. From this video specifically, counter bend on the circle at trot to get the head straight is what I’ll be trying tomorrow!
I love how important it is to give your horse the no message to make signals more clear and to have eyes on the group as it can be different to what we feel. Love these videos.
This video was super helpful - thank you! There was a lot to learn from it - I loved Alicia’s explanation of the half halt, and it was great to get 2 perspectives at once during Mowgli’s session - Alicia’s eyes on the ground and Toby’s perspective from the saddle. But I think my biggest learning was asking the horse for MORE! x
I cannot believe how beautiful Mowgli has developed. I have just watched the video about contact with the bridle and the change in him is amazing. I have an ex racer Shagya Arabian and right now he looks a lot like Mowgli in that video where his head is all over the place and his trot is a little but rushy especially when changing the rein. I hope i can achieve with him what you and Mowgli achieved.
This has been so helpful, I'm going to use the counter bend and "no message" at the wall for my mare as I struggle with the support in the circle due to my weak legs so I feel like this will really help her out!
Cheers from the USA. I ride in a Western saddle and smooth snaffle, but I have learned so much from these videos. My AQHA mare has a natural choppy trot and has trouble straightening out. Definitely trying the counter-bend on the circle, that sounds perfect for her. She gets much better as the ride goes on so I'd love to try the transitions too.
GAME changer! I so appreciate your frankness about the lack of clear coaching where words are used so cheaply. These exercises have made a huge difference with the horses I rode today. Thank you so much!!!
I love when you explained that “half halt” means moving your legs in. I wish you’d do a video of explaining what all the terms you guys use means, so that the beginners (me) understand what you mean by the “equine lengo” that you use in all these amazing videos
Love how the circle is used to balance the horse through a counter bend exercise and then no message when going straight along the wall! Reward and results all at the same time... EPIC!! 😍😍🤗🤩💗
Today wasn’t a riding day, but a groundwork, lunging day. So I employed the use of yielding the hind quarters to improve the trot. It was worth a shot since my horse also tends to get a short, choppy trot. It worked! Getting his hind legs underneath him and then pushing him forward made all the difference!!!
The "no message moment" is new to me, and I love it! I'm understanding it to be a "rider be still and let the horse be in his own moment" moment. Yes-no?
I feel like I could write a short novel on what I learned in this video! First, thank you for calling out BS responses. I've felt lost with those responses in the past, and I'm glad to know it wasn't just me that struggled with this. The next one I'm a bit embarrassed to admit too, but it's absolutely genius in my opinion and I'm so glad you pointed out as it never even occurred to me. Confession I'm a zookeeper so I train other species of animals as part of my job. Freedom of choice and control is a huge huge huge reinforcer in our world, and significantly increases training success. Your "no message" time is such a brilliant use of this on several levels. Yes, I think it did feel good to him, but it gave him the control to find it as well. So reinforcing, I love it!!! I've always heard set it up and let them find it, but really I wasn't doing that at all. Your "no message" right after the transition work just makes so much more sense to me. Thank you
I haven't really been taught the training scale until I started watching your videos and it is like a light bulb going off in my brain when you teach how to use the training scale to solve issues or how the exercise is using the training scale. I love making these connections and understand how it works together.
The part of using counterbend in the circle to straighten the horse up and to help him moving forward into the tramnsition was mindblowing to me! I'll definitely try this with my Thoroughbred! Thank you!
Alicia you inspired me to go and become the owner of a beautiful OTTB. I’m with a trainer now and while she is very good the minute I ask her for specifics it’s constantly like we can’t do that because we have to work on this and evading my questions and irritated because she knows I do all my own research. The minute I’m just on my own hacking putting to work your coaching it always work. Thank you for helping the adult amateurs of the world figure this out and not be intimidated by their coaches or trainers.
I’m only at 9.46, The Trainer……. You just said one of THE most important things…. Ask them how. I agree, great way to spot the “bsrs” of this industry I hope more riders will “hear” that message ! ❤️🐴
The explanation of why the head and neck come up in transitions makes so much sense! Thank you for explaining AND giving a solution and not just a wishy washy response like ‘more leg’ or ‘half halt’. It makes me feel like the equestrian world keeps this information shrouded in mystery and inaccessible to everyday riders. Thank you Alicia and Tash for so generously sharing your knowledge x
I’ve been playing with counterbend this week. It really doesn’t help with straightness, throughness, better outside hind leg engagement. As riders, we can get pretty stuck in an “inside bend ALL the time” mindset. This video is a helpful reminder to stay mindful of the interrelated aspects of the horse’s entire body.
This is SO helpful. I’ve honestly never seen counter bend used so much in a session. I’m very excited to try this in lesson today! I completely agree with Toby when he says that our natural inclination is to turn the horses head to the inside when asking for canter but what you usually end up getting is a rubber neck and an unbalanced horse. I think the thing I struggle with is feeling like I’m giving too many messages while I’m riding, especially with my legs. I have to remember that I can get more energy in a circle with just a faster post.
Thank you for re-iterating that we can ask our trainers 'how' rather than accepting what they are asking! I have learnt from this to give 'no message' after asking something - I never thought of doing that, thank you :)
Hi Alicia, I have really struggled with my sewing machine trot. Having watched this, it has explained how much we need to push our own boundaries to find the right solution. I would never have kept pushing my mare forward because it would of felt , like she was running. I think unless you, have a fantastic instructor who explains these things correctly. At lot of us ,just think we stumped , because we just believe we cnt do. But really it’s because it’s not explained. Thank god for Alicia xx
I like the concept of "no message" to reward your horse after doing the harder work of counte rbending and adding a gear on the circle. The result is straightness and more self carriage and I can't wait to try it with my OTTB
Total and epic brain explosion 🤯when it comes to the counter-bend to help the horse with the balance and forwardness in the transition!! The part where Toby said how he has seen horses do it in the field totally made the light bulb go off in my head! Awesome knowledge/tool to have for the future!
omg I cannot tell you how much of a light bulb moment this video gave me! This is going to make a huge difference to the horse I ride. I can tell already without even riding because he has a similar way of going to mowgley and I have been struggling with him running through the bridle and not pushing through from behind. He loses balance through transitions and I hadn't thought about working on a circle and counter bend before, this is not only going to help with getting him to push but also to make him straighter and stop him from falling through the shoulder. I have been doing transitions and circles with him but this is just brilliant and so well explained that I totally get it now and I am excited to work with my horse through these exercises! Thank you 🙏
The school horse that I ride always goes above the bit in the first few walk trot transitions. What I learned here today is that I will ride these thru a suppleing movement like a circle or leg yield to get the transition without the giraffe. 😊
"Transitions within the training scale" - amazing. I love how you explain the mechanics of counter bend being used to put the horse on it's hind end instead of hand brake reins.
I absolutely love love love all your videos especially mowgleys. I have a ottb who is very much like mowgs in a lot of ways. Even looks like him. I've had him since he was 9 and is now 16. I've always been a happy hacker. Since getting Avanos I've learnt so much more with my instructor and all your videos. It's been a totally different experience of riding. I am now 63 and not bothered about competing to high levels. I just love the feeling of me and the horse connecting. It's a feel I can't explain. Thankyou so so much Riding Success
Since I last commented I have been using counter flexion so much & with great effect. I realised that my mare was falling in on the long sides, because she was not supple taking the corner into the long side. Doing a small circle in counter flexion before making the turn, set us up for a better start. And yesterday I used counter flexion on the double lunge to again help her be more supple & prevent falling in when she finds it hard. Was surprised I could do it on the double lunge but it was quite effective. This has been one of the most useful videos. I want to see more of Mowgley please
"Half halt is not that [closing and opening of fingers]"! Thank you for putting it that simple 👌 And indeed it's important to ask what the instructor means. I've asked what I 'm supposed to do with the "control the canter!", the answer was "close your hands". 🤔Glad I have your videos!! Kisses from Portugal😘
Super video and super inclusion of a DMA question, but what stood out is how the 'exercise' did the work to change the horse and the rider just took advantage of that and enjoyed it - the discussion on half halt and instructors was gold .... eager to hear more on this topic
Actually after watching that again, I think my favorite part was the trot canter transition and counterbending mowgley so weight on outside hind. This is what I am struggling with my horse! His transition to canter is terrible and I then override them and make them worse, by running almost into canter instead of popping into it! Thanks again guys! :) x
I have a 19 year old gelding and we still struggle with the canter. In all of the lessons and clinics I have done, not one taught the counter bend in the canter transition 😫 It has always been the inside bend. I can’t wait to implement these exercises in my next ride! ❤️🐴🥕 THANK YOU 🙏
I learnt Counter bend helps balance the horse to transition from trot to canter as it puts more weight into the outside hind leg !! I have been using this for my OTTB 🙌🏻
Biggest take away from this video this time is definitely the counter bend on the circle, especially when you picked up the canter! That was really cool! The ✂️ trot analogy was also a big thing for me. I know a horse at the barn I ride at who has a very scissory, almost stompy trot. When you showed toby taking the trot from the "scissor trot" to the "swan" 🦢 doing the circles with counter bend it was really awesome to see the effect it had on how mowgly moved after that with no message. Loved this video alot. Toby is a freaking riding superstar! He did great! ⭐
SOooooo many good things! Loved the DMA part about half halt. So many things are getting clearer. Every time I listen I wish that I was on my horse to try what I just learned.
One more thing! I love this counter bend idea and I've used it a long time. Sometimes my difficulty is that I kind of hang on to it too much and end up using it too much.. like it is hard to find the outer 'line' or side of me and the horse without the counter bend. After this video I'll focus the no message -part more and more.it is so important and gives the horse the room and opportunities to use their bodies more and better and easier.
I am new to your channel and only watched a few videos so far. I just want to say from those couple I have watched, what a huge difference they have made to my schooling sessions. I have got so much more out of them already. I work full time , I have 3 horses and a short person to look after. I find I am always rushing and rushing my riding sessions yet come away feeling like I have not achieved anything. I lost my core strength after having my son 5 years ago and with that as well as a new job as a mother I lost my confidence too. I am working my young homebred Arabian mare and she struggles in her schooling, she is very strong willed being a chestnut mare but also she is very short in the back and she has a huge engine to contend with also. For starters I need to improve her walk, she doesn’t have the best walk, so I used your technique above of circling with counter bend and adding a bit of a gear and it honestly improved her walk, and her consistency. I then added this to her trot and again she found it hard but she improved loads. I only did a 15 minute session as she worked hard and I got so much more out of it then I usually do. She can be very spooky but she was more focused with me doing this exercise and I found her easier to work with. Don’t get me wrong, she is an Arab, so she still looked at the leaf that was in a different place to yesterday but she quickly forgot about that and listened to me. Another thing I am working hard on is our downward transitions, she falls into trot from canter and walk from trot, i again tried your technique above of circling small or doing leg yield and honesty again she was so much more freer and forward in that down ward transition, her head did still come up slightly but only for a stride or 2 rather than loosing her balance and rhythm completely like she usually does. I am excited to keep watching more of your videos and improve my riding even more so, to help my little mare. Thank you 💗
Such an amazing exercise, have been doing this alot lately as my horse is struggling with connection and stops her from falling in. Doing nothing at the wall as a treat, love that thanks Alicia!
Alicia I love the way your brain works 😁. Understanding the training scale on a whole new level. With the adding or subtracting the pieces of information the scale will solve the answer as the why your horse is having issues. Love the micro circles (10m) to make the changes, where it will be harder (the pressure) but it in small doses then (the release) is on the long side with lots of reward being your horse going so much better. Funny story I had a trainer telling me I was too forward so I kept correcting my body position lol. This happened about 10 times in the same ride until i said I can't go any further forward. She finally said your horse is too forward not you 🙄🤭 lol. This is when I first started and had no idea.
Counter bend when asking for canter so weight goes onto outside hind... must remember this... learn something new every time I rewatch your videos Alicia!! :) Sewing machine to a swan
I learnt that it's not just me that drops the whip when the horse is feeling a bit sassy 😂 but lesson wise as always I learnt so much to take into my next ride. Especially the push them into the trott if not listening in the walk. As I've said many times to you and Tash on your Instagram and socials you both have really explained things in way for riders like myself learning everyday how simple it can be with hard work and in terms we understand ❤️
The circle on the counter bend then no message reminded me of using a resistance band. It's like when you use a resistance band to do a squat then you take the band off and it becomes easier! Loved this! It was a whole new way to look at transitions! As always, thank you Your Riding Success team for putting out so much awesome content!
Oh my gosh I need you to dig even more into the half halt discussion. Hahaha. I’m always nervous to push my horse into something as uncomfortable and saying “no” the way Mowgs was in the counter bend at trot, but then the release and difference afterward just blew me away! So helpful.
Using the horses body to make him to do the transition and stay connected at the same time was amazing! Cutting the half halt to smaller bits and more concrete was great too! It is also important to have a video or someone to look one go, because often it happens as it did with Toby that you think that you do something but actually you don't yet do it enough and your senses fool you. Thanks again so much! This was a great episode once again. I'd love to hear more about the half halts
Using transitions to improve the pace on a circle is going to be a game changer for me. I always ask for more of a pace on a straight line and have never challenged River to try it on a circle. I also regularly do a counter bend on a circle, but not while asking for more trot and also not to a point where she finds the counter bend a challenge. I will be trying this exercise tonight for sure. The explanation of Half halt is just keeping your horse on the train tracks is genius. So easy to remember. I also use my handbrake way too much, so my horse is going to thank you for the exercises to complete downward transitions without the handbrake too. I'm super motivated for tonights ride now. 😍
This went better than I expected in that asking for a bigger trot or canter on a circle felt pretty good for River. What I then struggled with was getting a good turn in the corner afterwards, so clearly something we need to practice. She was more than happy to do this with outside flexion. Fab exercise and one that I will definitely use regularly. Also, concentrating on the train tracks meant that she didn't put her tongue over the bit, so maybe she does that as a result of not being straight? We had a fab session, thank you so much for sharing 😍
that coaching session was so clear in how to keep the balance and suppleness whilst going through transitions thank you I could actually feel it through the watching and keen now to carry it through in my riding and coaching...love it
BS explanations yessss!!! Love your break downs of what it means and how to do it Alicia. Great explanation of a half halt and how to improve a downward transition thank you.
I love knowing *why* counter-bend works in that situation and love the way you drill down to the training scale to both define and solve an issue. Tools are good. Tools you understand when and why to use them? Amazing
Cannot wait to try the counter bend into canter to help with the strike off. My horse tends to get a bit strung out in the transition and doesn’t get the jump that he needs. Now if it would quit raining I can try this!!!
Another light bulb moment or two! My takeaway today is to ask the horse to "go up a gear" in her trot on a circle for suppling and to get improvement in the trot off the circle. The counter bending and keeping the trot going up a gear will be a challenge! The DMA q&a was also really helpful - understanding that lack of suppleness causes the horse to lose connection on the downward transition and therefore to ask the horse to perform a movement that he finds more difficult due to lack of suppleness will get the downward transition without applying a handbrake - my "half halt" has always been squeeze release squeeze release on the outside rein!. Just wow 💥. I need to get my head around these takeaways!
LOVE it!! So many takeaways - thank you so much for sharing! And it's great to know you're enjoying the DMA q & a sessions. Tell us how you go trying out this technique on your next ride x
@@YourRidingSuccess Wow💥 So, just back from my ride on Poppy - she is hard work at the best of times to get going forward. I put in to practice the "go up a gear" in trot on a 10m (ish 😀) circle and then go forward on long side with no message - just wow, she was very forward so much so she then went forward into canter - which she never willingly offers - and kept it going. I struggled with counter bend but the "going up a gear" certainly worked. Amazing!
This was epic for me with my 13 year old freisian cross who eats his chest and wiggles around to avoid contact. His rythm and contact improved so much ,after using this method
thankyou so much for all your wonderful easy to understand advice.You have transformed my training sessions .I wish id had it years ago. life would have been much nicer for me and my long suffering horses x
I LOVE THIS FORMAT!!! MORE LIKE THIS!!! Toby demonstrating and Alicia coaching/explaining! The two of you make such a good team! This is better than Alicia trying to ride/talk at the same time and much more engaging to be able to see the improvement in Mogs while Alicia talks us through it. LOVE IT!!!
You did it again Felicia! I took this to my ride today and results! I used my seat and legs more. And when heavy or not round, I turned on a circle and also shoulder in. This helped much more rather than see sawing on her mouth. Now I just need a dressage arena!!
From this video I learnt to use a forward momenum and also to ask clarification from your trainer! Thank you, I’m going to try that in my lesson tonight!
Counter bend?circling whilst doing travers? What is this strange magic?its YOUR RIDING SUCCESS!!!! I love this Alicia you communicate beautifully and you’ve dispelled the mystery around the half halt!!!! Thankyou once again. My goal is to be the best horsewoman I can possibly be... so happy I found yr videos!😁🦋
Thank you for clarifying half halts! Love the counter bend on the circle and more gas. It makes so much more sense to do that and then reward by doing nothing on the long side.
What a great game plan for working with a young horse and/or getting comfortable with training your own horse! Love Toby’s contributions on feel and thinking about what to do next. It’s a really empowering video!
This video taught me to use counterbend in an upward transition to canter. I'm going to try this with my mare that has balance issues in canter 5ransitions. Thanks so much!
I have been watching your videos and am amazed at how much I have learned about position. This is exactly what I have been searching for. I have always thought of a half halt as what do I need to do with my body to rebalance my horse.
Can't wait to try the counter bend in trot 2morrow when I school. Have problems in trying to improve open up my horse's trot. Great advice as always, thanks guys.
I learnt today what a half halt isn't! I love these videos and been talked through while a horse/rider show it. I'm going to try the counter bend on a circle asking for canter take off. Thank you 🐎💞
I found it really helpful to learn about how to do down transitions by challenging your horse with a suppling exercise. I think this can really improve my riding but also my horse’s way of going! Thanks!
