Posts Tagged ‘heels’

Practice makes perfect. That statement is very true for Dressage. Of course, if you only practice by yourself, you may not get any better, but a good coach can help you improve your riding skills. If you have ever had to re-train a horse, you know it. The same counts for re-training a student, or even yourself. Bad habits are habits too, and changing habits has never been easy. Still, it is do-able.

When I started taking dressage lessons, the first lesson was almost all talk. Not much riding. It surprised me, but later on I really appreciated it and was able to go back to what I learned during my rides without my instructor.

Today we are explaining the basis of it all: Rhythm.

Rhythm is the result of a defined beat pattern of the hoof fall. A relaxed horse can step into a natural rhythm in all four of the natural gaits:

1. Walk – this should be and clear regular 4-beat gait.

2. Trot – a clear and regular 2-beat gait.

3. Canter – a clear and regular 3-beat gait.

The walk is 4-beat gait; when either one of the horse’s front legs leaves the ground, it is followed next by an opposite hind leg that reaches forward underneath the belly, creating a diagonal balance point. So the horse doesn’t step on the heels of his own front feet with the rear hooves, he moves each foreleg forward out of the way before a hind hoof on the same side of his body hits the ground.

The trot is a 2-beat gait; in Dressage we need the legs to move in diagonal pairs and hit the ground at the exact same time. When posting we move with the inside hind leg, sitting when it is on the ground and rising when it comes off, to help the horse balance itself.

The canter is a 3-beat gait. On a circle to the right his left hind leg pushes him forward onto his left front/right hind diagonal pair of legs which he’ll use for momentary balance before rolling onto his right front, or leading, leg; thus creating a 3-beat gait. There should be a clear moment of suspension.

To teach a horse rhythm you will ride the majority of your lessons in the trot. The trot is the easiest to control since you only work with a 2-beat rhythm. You also will not have to follow his head and neck, as in the trot, it is relatively still. It is easy to feel, easy to count, and easy to feel if it gets too quick. Once you and your horse have mastered the rhythm in the trot, you will notice that the rhythm in the canter is much easier to maintain.

There is good rhythm and bad rhythm. Good rhythm is when the horse’s canter is a true 3-beat, bad or incorrect rhythm is when it becomes a lazy 4-beat. Rhythm faults in the walk are when it comes close to 2-beat (lateral gait – like gaited horses), and in the trot when it resembles a lame, hopping horse.

I the next couple of days, we will discuss the next level of the training scale: Relaxation with Elasticity & Suppleness.

And now I would like to give you our Free eBook: “What to Do In Time of Emergency – A Guide & Workbook for Families with Horses”.

All I ask is that you sign up for our weekly newsletter with lots of good information for the Dressage and Horse Enthusiast. Just go here to our blog at http://www.PerformingHorse.com.

You will get instructions of how to download your copy and will receive “Tips & TidBits from our Barn” our newsletter.

Now Go Out And Ride

From Monique Myers @ http://www.performinghorse.com/AboutMe.html

Author: Monique Myers
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Beading Necklace

Dansko is a relative newcomer to the shoe industry.  Accept it or not, the company was founded by a husband-and-wife team of former horse breeders from Denmark.  Although one might not believe they were suited to making breakthroughs in the shoes business, the past twenty years have shown them to be true innovators, definitely deserving of your consideration as you consider which brand of boots to buy.  Who, you could well ask, buys Dansko womens boots?  Here is just a small sampling:

1.  People facing the prospect of a cold, wet winter purchase Dansko boots.  They’re gorgeous, warm, and hard enough to square up to even the most cold Jan onslaught. 

2.  Children love Dansko boots.  Even the most discriminating, fashion-conscious tween will not shudder in horror when she opens the box and finds her new pair of Dansko boots.  Instead, she will probably be the envy of the school-bus.  When all of her friends have to accept shabby, low end models, she’ll, pardon the joke, be several steps ahead. 

3.  Folks who’ve got a lot of hard work to do also look to Dansko boots to fill their needs .  The company features a complete line of very robust and durable work boots, including a tall, lace-up variety perfect for people who spend a heap of time in inclement outside conditions. 

4.  Let’s say you have a hobby which is relatively rare in our urban culture.  You like to ride horses and consider yourself to be quite a talented equestrian.  Thanks to the Dansko roots in this very field, there’s a complete line of riding boots that will enable you to protect your feet beautifully. 

5.  Folks on a budget select Dansko boots because they know that their gainfully acquired cash will go a good distance.  When funds are meager, it makes sense to spend them on products that you’ll be ready to rely on for both beauty and functionality for years to come.  Dansko’s comfort footwear deliver on both counts. 

Also:  discount Dansko shoes

Hopefully, this snapshot of just a small cross-section of Dansko boot-lovers will motivate you to go to your local retailer and give them a try.  We guarantee that you are going to be impressed by the quality of the workmanship, the functionality they provide, and the reasonable price.  Dansko could be a little bit of a upstart, but this brilliant company and its big variety of shoes and boots is here for good.

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