Riding Tips!!!

I have to go with sdellin. RELAX! If you are tense, then the horse will be tense but if you relax, they will feel it an relax too.

Feel the reins with your fingertips, never hold them in your fist.

Keep your weight off your feet and on your butt. You will be more comfortable and have a steadier, deeper seat too.

In addition to being relaxed...BREATHE DANGIT! So many riders don't breathe! There was a young girl I used to ride with who loved jumping. Had a great little jumping pony too. Little bugger had some air under him! He started refusing fences and she just couldn't understand why. Her trainer watched her one day and figured it out. Right as she was approaching the fence she would take a deep breath in and hold it. Like she was going under water. The little pony thought she was bracing for something and threw on the brakes...hard! She had to relearn breathing while riding and took a breath a few strides from the fence and always exhaled at the break of the fence. He stopped refusing.

It sounds so basic...yet we all do it. I've ran a barrel pattern and gotten to the gate and realized I never took a breath. Not one.

That is awesome. Hahaha I do stop brething for a while sometimes if i'm trying to concerntrate really hard ;p

Now that youve bout that u`ive just thought.. yesterday in my lesson we were jumping and I remember holding my breathe just at take off and breathing out on landing lmao

My trainer always sees me running a pattern or jumping and yells "ARE YOU BREATHING?" I usually take a breath and say "I am NOW..." and keep going.
So yes, BREATHE!!!

When you are working on something with your horse, when he does it right , stop there and let him think on it for the day.
Less is More.

If you improve ONE thing in any given day you should put your horse away with a big smile on your face, pat yourself on the back and thank you horse. It's ENOUGH for one day. Be satisfied.