More in-depth skeletal riding and obtaining flexion With Catherine Haddad 

Catherine, your influence over the years (thanks to applications like RU-vid and online training) has influenced my riding and philosophy in so many great ways. This video is just one of the thousands of minutes you have dedicated to teaching people. Thank you for those minutes and thank you in advance for more.

...reading everyone elses comments really makes me want to meet Ms Haddad more..Since I already know that her thumbs show her professionalism...and that she is working with a green horse...his trot is phantasmic😇

I've watched this particular video four times now. Such a wealth of knowledge. Thank you so much for your generosity sharing some of your wonderful secrets.

I love this video. It motivated me to ride my Grand Prix horse with the Fillis method of holding the reins and he was soft as butter. Catherine's riding is superb I love watching her excellent equitation soft and effective.

I have learnt so much in this small video!! I luv listening to her, i'll be watchin this over an over, thank you so much!! ❤❤❤

I've been struggling with my position and relaxation for so long. This video and explanations helped me so much! Had a fantastic ride tonight! Thank you!!

This was actually very helpful!

Riding relaxed allows your horse to be relaxed. Just sink your weight into the horse. Every time you shift your weight, it affects how your horse moves. Any shift in your gravity on the horse's back changes how the horse moves. Lean your weight forward or backward, and the horse changes its gait. Try doing everything your doing bareback and with no halter or bridle. You can still do all the same things without any artificial contact with the horse. As you say, horses just seem to have a beautiful language, a wonderful interaction with us, and a BEAUTIFUL interpretation of what we ask of them. Who could ever ask for a better friend?

"Take the static out of the telephone line before you try to have a conversation." Yes! That is the best!

FANTASTIC thank you, spoken so I can understand, remember and feeling inspired!!!!

Awesome awesome explanation! thank you so much!

This is fabulous! I'm a great proponent of using relaxation, balance and things like the importance of"rein vector" when communicating w/ the horse.

Fantastic video, thanks so much!

I love this explanation of riding with your skeleton, and not your muscles.

Things I like about this video is that it is a different style to what Ms. Haddad usually does. Things like the Fillis Hold with the reins (French) and the fact that she understands the way to use the riders body by positioning it rather than using the "Strength" muscles or the "Push and Pull" riding of de Jour!. This Classically trained dancers understand. The section about the hip joints and the positioning of the knees is good, BUT, not necessarily good for riders with a conformation whereby they ALREADY have an "Open seat" at the hip joints. (as I do having a natural turn out due to years of dance training where I have to consciously think about Turning it when jumping and doing X Country fast work. Basically the rider is literally Balanced on the horse without any gripping or "holding on " with the legs at any point. This is good for Menage Riding as there is no restrictions placed by the rider on the horses shoulders, therefore allowing freedom of movement to the front end and base of the neck for elevation, but not such a good idea when the horse spooks of one is at a full on Gallop up a grass hill or as Ms. Haddad says....Jumping!!!

Hello! I was wondering what the warm up is done at sitting and not rising trot? Especially as you mention that this horse is tense on his back. Thank you!

Very interesting, thank you! Can you explain why you are holding your double reins with the snaffle rein coming under your thumbs? Also, I have always liked to get the thigh and leg back more under my seat, to get the weight onto the seat bones...I had thought that sitting with the knee more forward would put you more onto your tail bone/butt (and perhaps in an exaggerated position this would be so) but it seems to be working great for you. I will try some of your suggestions for sure and see how it goes! :-)

Wonderful video!!!

It is certainly more challenging physically for a rider, to ride a carriage horse with big movements (Warmbloods) rather than a riding horse bred to be a comfortable ride ( Iberin Breeds) Pilatis and Ballet and such exercises to increase rider flexibility and core strength helps to ride these Warmbloods, especially in the sitting trot. If the horse goes tense in its back it can be due to the rider which then starts a vicious circle whereby the horse is uncomfortable being "bounced" on, which makes the rider also uncomfortable. Rising Trot was developed for this reason when Carriage horses were starting to be used for riding!

that horse is magnificent!

Sally Swift called this "ride with your bones" :)

Love the way holding double reins, "Fillis method".

How can his back be supple during the warm up with a sitting trot? I am confused!

Credits to your student!

I hate those knee rolls!! Reminds me of a childs car seat!!! Looked like you did have more weight on left seat bone! IMO you are a very good trainer.

Lovely.

Can't hear what's being said :/

Where are all these nice comments coming from? The horse is hollow! You call that dressage?

Why aren't you wearing a helmet?

I love how she explained "skeletal riding" and really keeping your joints loose and moving freely with the horse. However, it's sickening to see such a talented rider letting their horse go around with a hollow back. Overflexion, hollow backs and leggy movers - what is becoming of dressage? Bet her horses will be retired well before 20.

Io vado a cavallo

Shoulder hip heel should be vertical. Lateral and longitudinal straightness of hips over horse and foot light on stirrup, heel down is very advanced but not by virtue of pushing heel down but seat being stable and deep, thigh muscle should support torso and allows hands and upper body to be independent of hips/seat, stomach to hands allows hands to move with neck if necessary this is correct rider bio-mechanics. Not anything else.

What happened to leg aids ? Seat to spur, really ?

Borse is appol

I cannot bear to watch riders that don’t wear hats, no matter how good a rider they are!