Riding Advice Overheard At The Ring
Michelle DrumA few weeks ago we asked our followers to share some of the best pieces of advice they've heard directly or indirectly while at the ring. We were not disappointed! We've put together a collection of the most popular response to share with you.
Ann L.
Just last week, for hunters, overheard this: "ride like you already see the distance" (don't look for one).
Amy W.
I’ve compiled my favorites in the insta account @mytrainersaidtoday. Not necessarily *helpful* nuggets, but nuggets nonetheless you gotta be able to laugh at yourself if you are going to make it on this sport!!
Marie N.
When training halts, do not pull. Set your hands, close your seat and leg, and let the horse battle itself.
Lindsay S.
“keep the horse between you and the ground…” -My Dad
Melissa Murphy R.
My best trainer ever, taught me to ride big ass jumps. “Ride uphill to the base”. Key to hunter/jumpers, and life.
Rene L.
"Ride the shoulder (of the horse)" really helped me think uphill and find my balance through turns
Lauren H.
"Where there's a long, there's a short," when it comes to distances
Kavita S.
“The horse was built on a circle” made me realize inside leg to outside rein
Liz F.
The outside rein turns the body, the inside rein tickles the nose. Stick your butt back over the fence! (Somehow, that worked better than sit up)
Sahne J.
(When your horse feels sassy and silly fresh)“Focus on your Equitation and your horse will come back to you “
Maren B.
"I tell this to my barn mates when they need a pep talk before showing… “ride like you’ve already won the class” For me, it helps me to let thing stresses go about trying to make it perfect and instead I just ride and have fun!"
Tammy C.
"Look with your hips where you want to go."
Nichole R.
"Ears behind your shoulders and toes to knees. Has helped my EQ so much"
Sarah E.
“chest up, chin up, smile!”
Grace M.
"I had the pleasure of showing with a big fancy equitation trainer in Florida last year. I’m hyper critical of myself and joked that I’d panic and chip the single oxer on the first day we met and she said “well we gotta fix that, you need to believe you…you’re going to nail it” - I did end up nailing it that weekend eventually and she told me “that’s the video you need to buy, and I want you to watch it every time you play a mistake in your head, play that one until that’s what you go to”
I think it was the first time I ever had a trainer tell me I should think that I was good. Not only should I think that, I should spend time working on thinking that. Like I spend all this time making sure my horses have consistent positive experiences to build their confidence and I have never thought to do that to myself even one time.
Bethany E.
“Wait for the jump to come to you”
What are some of your favorite "truth nuggets" that you've heard while riding, or watching at the ring? Share in comments!
4 comments
“Ride like a hockey puck” (I think my trainer meant a hockey stick when doing bending lines, but I still laugh today)
Ride the horse you are on, not the one you wish you were on.
Instead of “Sit up straighter, or shoulders back.” use “Lift your collar bone up, point the ends of your shoulder blades down and towards your waist.” This allows the rider to relax their shoulders and allow the upper arm and elbow to move independently from their body, plus use their spine and hips to follow the horse’s movement.
So often I see riders who think that they are holding their reins steady for the horse but they are holding them stiff and to their own body instead of with an elastic connection to the horse’s mouth. If a rider uses the back of the upper arm to pull back in order to apply pressure on the reins they are able to adjust more easily and smoothly with more power with the collar bone lifted because, the arms are not out in the “Chicken Wing” position nor are they inclined to be in the water skiing position and using the reins to keep them on the horse because the weight of the rider is more balanced and they have more control with being able to adjust their seat position correctly. If one pulls their shoulders back they stiffen their spine and cannot follow the movement of the horse as well.
When riding make sure you sit deep in the saddle. Make sure your hands are gentle on the reins when riding. In the ring, make sure the judges have a side view of you and your horse.