EQUESTRIAN
Training horses
with Robert Booth BHSI
Equine trainer
Rodgebrook Horses
Tel: 01983 521870
www.rodgebrookhorses.co.uk
Training on your own
T
wo great training aids to help when
you’re training on your own are
arena mirrors and a video camera.
If you are lucky enough to have them,
arena mirrors can help to correct your
riding, work on your horse’s development
and help with an overall feel of what you
are doing as you are working.
The video camera can be used to record
your session so you can go back and see
your progress.
Often clients show me their last round of
jumps or dressage test and this gives me
an insight as to how they are progressing
and what needs working on. It helps to
clarify when things are right or wrong.
Keeping a record of your work and
progress is not only helpful, it is also
very satisfying to see your progress over
time and a chance to keep those special
moments.
Useful tips on training your horse: Square halt
M
arks are so easily thrown away in
a dressage test by not making a
good halt. To make a square halt the
horse has to be in self carriage and
balance, so as he comes to a stop his
weight is placed evenly on all four legs.
To avoid making a square halt the
horse often swings his quarters to the
side so he doesn’t have to take the
weight on his hind legs.
Shoulder-in and half halts help to
improve engagement of the hind legs,
making the horse step under his body
and placing his hind legs closer to his
centre of gravity for better balance.
Avoid halting next to the arena fence
as this can encourage him to move in
from the fence, use two poles to help
keep him straight.
Make sure that when you ask for halt
that your rein and leg aids are of even
pressure and the horse is straight in his
body and neck.
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