Anyone who rides horses knows there are times during our horseback training sessions where we find ourselves dealing with “rider’s block,” and while we don’t always know why it’s happening, we definitely know when we’re having one! It doesn’t seem to matter what the new movement might be, whether it’s moving from inside flexion to shoulder-in, or as simple as just moving into a trot, we just can’t seem to learn it.

This is when a horse riding video becomes a valuable tool for helping you get beyond that sticking point.

A horse riding video can be used in 3 different ways to improve your riding skills.

1. Use As A Home Video

Ask your instructor, or a friend, to videotape you as you’re riding, especially getting footage of when you’re attempting to perform whatever that elusive movement is. Make sure they know to record the entire session, not just the part that’s not working for you.

What this will do is enable to watch yourself for bad habits that may have developed with your style of riding. Do you see yourself being balanced when you’re in the saddle? Are either of your heels coming up, and in turn making your legs go back which makes you lean forward? Or do you have your legs too far forward and are making yourself lean back too much.

If you don’t see any major basic riding errors continue to watch the video to see if there is anything you could do differently to help make that move.

2. Professional Horse Riding Videos

Many riding professionals have sets of training videos that you can invest in.

For beginners there is a wonderful eBook, Horse Riding Lessons: Teaching Yourself to Ride, that will give you everything you need to get started. This eBook includes a horse riding video which features professional riders demonstrating the basics of horseback riding.

For those of you who are ready to advance to higher levels of dressage, you’ll find training videos online. A good horse riding video to watch is On the Levels produced by the United States Dressage Federation (https://usdf.org) with a judge’s commentary giving you excellent insight into what’s expected when you advance through the levels.

Watch the rider’s overall style in your chosen video. See how supple the horse is and how easy he finds the movements as a result. Observe the quietness of the rider’s aids and how effective they are. These are things to aim for when you ride.

Pay special attention to exactly how the rider asks their horse for the movements you’re having trouble with. To make sure you understanding how the rider is applying those aids, play that section more than once till you feel like you get it.

3. Be Sure To Compare The Two

After you’ve watched the pro’s video several times, then go back to your own riding video. Watch for the differences between the way you ride and how the advanced rider applies those aids.

This will show where you can improve your riding. Jot the differences down on a piece of paper before you forget what they are, then go back to the professional video and reinforce the correct way of doing things.

When you ride again apply the changes and see how the move works when you approach it differently. Many issues you will face as a horseback rider can be worked through using horse riding videos. Your riding will improve and you will move right past your “riders block”.

Check Jim’s horses riding lessons website for a complete horse riding instructions along with horse riding videos.

Prior to the first horseback riding lesson, new riders frequently worry about their horse making a break for it and running off. However, the more typical issue during horseback riding for beginners is just the reverse: it is difficult to get the horse moving.

This is particularly demoralizing for the raw beginner, who hasn’t developed enough leg power to deal effectively with a sluggish animal. He doesn’t know what else to but kick and hope for the best.

While horseback riding lessons are not designed to teach you specifically to nag your horse with your legs, there are steps that you can learn to help you cure your horse of his laziness.

Possible Reasons for Laziness

Before you can motivate your horse you should try to figure out why he is feeling so lazy. If your horse is accustomed to spending hours each day with unbalanced and inexperienced riders on his back, he may have learned to “switch off” or block out the commands of student riders.

Some other reasons why a horse may be lazy is if he is overweight, has a feed or digestion problem, or a medical reason for not wanting to move. If the horse in question is yours track the source of the problem and see what you can do to correct it, and make him a little more lively.

How to Wake Up a Lazy Horse

Bring a short whip with you to the horseback riding lessons, but make certain that you do not accidentally hit the horse with it.

Ask your horse to start off at a walk with quiet legs and should he fail to do so, emphasize your request with a sharp jab of your heels. If that prompts him to move on, rub his neck and say “good boy.”

If he doesn’t move, tap him on the shoulder with the crop while tightening your legs. Your horse should begin moving without you having to swat him on the rear with the crop. But if he resists use one swift reinforcement along with your legs.

Have him walk about one-half the length of the ring and then stop. Request that he walk again, going through the just-mentioned process again until he actively walks on. Repeat this drill until it just takes a brush of his sides with your legs to make him start a lively walk. When he reacts instantly, give him a good deal of praise.

Now ask him to transition into trot from walk, using the same methods as from halt to walk. By now the horse should be listening to you and respecting your aids. If at any time he ‘forgets,’ reinforce your aids with a swift tap of the whip.

Consistency is very important in teaching your horse to do as you bid the first time you ask. After this relationship is established you and the horse will build a partnership based on trust and respect that will be fun and exciting for both of you.

Horse riding beginners, visit Jim Milton’s learn horseback riding website to learn how to horse ride and benefit from Milton’s horseback riding lessons.

Many riders who have a gelding (or stallion) will have heard a disconcerting sound from the sheath area while riding, especially during trotting exercises. A quick look at the horse riding online discussions groups show that this is a common occurrence.

What is the Sheath?

The sheath is the tube of skin protecting a gelding or stallion’s penis and depending on how far the latter has been retracted dictates how much air is trapped inside.

So What Causes That Noise To Come Out Of The Sheath?

The simple answer is ‘tension,’ which comes in different forms.

One cause of sheath noises is when the hind end is stiff. Back in the days of keeping horses tied in stalls this was one of the more common reasons for stiff hindquarters as these horses were basically immobile for hours at a time.

Today’s horses are usually not kept tied in stalls for such long periods, but they may still experience a sense of either physical or mental restriction. You’re more likely to hear the sounds when the horse is feeling anxious, since this usually results in more air being trapped within the sheath.

What’s the Best Way to Reduce or End the Sounds?

The first thing the gelding has to do, before the noise goes away, is relax.

He may be feeling nervous because you are at a show: he senses your tension in addition to any extra anxiety he may be feeling because of the new environment and strange horses.

The way you’re riding him could be the cause of his tension. This is particularly likely in horseback riding for beginners. Perhaps you’re applying your aids too strongly or asking for more difficult work before your horse is ready?

One of the best ways to get him to relax is send him forward freely, on light contact, and asking for energy from the hind end. Then ride some serpentines, circles, and large loops, including frequent transitioning between the walk, trot, or canter. Another exercise would be to post to the trot and then sit out of the saddle during the canter to allow him to relax his back and be able to carry you without his spine being stiff.

If you’re advanced enough in your riding, ask for lengthening and shortening within the gaits, always creating engagement of the hind quarters with your driving leg aids pushing him (but not hurrying him) into a steady rein contact.

Once your horse has relaxed and is feeling more comfortable, the noises should disappear. You’ll be able to tell the other members of your favorite website or horse riding online discussion group how you were able to solve your horse’s problems!

With the help of Jim Milton’s horse riding online website, you will be comfortable around horses and you will learn horse riding online easily and very fast. Complete with horseback riding video instructions.

When learning how to ride a horse it is important the animal remains attentive, be it your own horse of one you are simply borrowing from a riding school. If you fail to keep the horses attention during horseback riding lessons, you will find little benefit from one lesson to the next.

When using a school horse you will find it may often doze during a lesson, this is because they have done the routine so many times and it is simply bored. When first taking horseback riding lessons, as a beginner it can be difficult to change a sequence of movements because your full attention is on steering the horse and producing the correct aids.

However if you want to keep your horse interested while learning to ride a horse you need to vary the routine a bit. There are a number of easy things you can do to keep your horse awake and interested during these lessons.

Select the tactics that you are capable of undertaking and put them to work in making the horseback riding experience more enjoyable.

Those involved in horseback riding lessons may wish to inquire with the teacher to see if they might put the techniques to work prior to starting the session. Perhaps you might suggest that the entire class give them a try.

1. Walk Exercises

Walk your horse on a light contact once around the arena on both reins. Then walk a 20 meter circle – starting with his easier side – taking up a stronger contact. Ask for longer strides, then shorter strides, then longer ones again.

Slow down and then turn in the other direction and circle that way. Before you turn the horse around walk it for at least one horse length in a straight line. Swap between long and short strides again.

Your horse should now be alert to your aids because you’re switching movements and he has to pay attention.

Now ride the horse in figure eights, try to keep the changes between right and left as smooth as possible. Always walk one horse length before you change directions.

2. Trot

The preceding techniques may also be used while trotting and can be very helpful in keeping the horse from becoming accustomed to a particular direction and from leaning on a particular single rein.

Add transitions between trot to walk and back to trot again. Work on making smooth transitions, so your horse listens willingly to your aids and begins to accept your contact.

More advanced riders can ride trot serpentines across the arena in three even loops. As you ride from one long side to the other, ask your horse for a few strides of walk before transitioning up to trot again. Your horse will start to wait for your aids – which you want – but use your legs to ensure forwards movement at all times. You don’t want him to become hesitant as he anticipates a downward transition. For that reason, don’t always ask for walk in the same place.

3. Canter Techniques

Request lengthening as you reach the long side, and gain control of the horse prior to reaching the short side. Consistent switching from canter to trot and then a resumption of canter, incorporating cantering changing to walking, will help your horse remain at attention, as lengthening and shortening the horse’s stride on the circular 20 meter paths.

All the above exercises help your horse become attentive because you’re varying the routine and suppling his body, making it easier for him to do as you ask. If you make your horse’s task more pleasant for him, he’ll make your horseback riding lessons more pleasant for you.

Through his horse riding lessons website, Milton provides simple and comprehensive lessons including video instructions. Learn how to ride a horse the safe and the comfortable way.