Adam Murdin Dressage

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Adam Murdin Dressage

A trainer of riders all through the disciplines up to Grand Prix

11/02/2025

This week’s top tip Tuesday.

My tip for lunging is firstly, use plenty of the arena , including straight lines. Your body position will guide the horse straight, or onto a circle , depending on where you are in relation to the horse.

Secondly, if you are on the left rein , have the slack of the line in your right hand, and the contact to the horse in your left hand, thus helping you guide him toward the bit. I personally clip the line to the side of the bit closest to me. Vice versa for the other rein.

Make sure that you only ever step forward and never backward so that you are using your body as your leg aid.

I personally use a correctly fitted side rein for horses that find it difficult to connect to the reins, as this gives them something that is a steady contact and doesn’t pull back, or fidget.

For horses that are inclined to shorten their necks or come back at the contact, I use a German lunging rein, which allows them to stretch down and take their noses forward without any restrictions. If you don’t have one of these, a draw rein to you can undo in the middle works. Clip it to the girth between their front legs, through the bit and tie to the girth. It must not be too tight, they must be able to stretch forward.

Remember, whatever aid you choose to use, it must never pull the head in. The horse must always feel that there is an escape route.

04/02/2025

Top tip Tuesday.

It’s always good to remember that you don’t need the most extravagant mover to be up at the top of the board.

A consistent 7 throughout is 70 percent.

Accuracy and riding to the letter will always get you this providing that your horse has three correct paces.

Also remember, in a short arena the measurements are 6,14, 14,6. In the long arena 6,12,12,12,12,6. Make sure everything is the correct size.

28/01/2025

Top tip Tuesday.

This week is more about not losing sight of what you are wanting to achieve.

The weather is not great, and it’s easy just to not want to keep training, but now is the time to start making sure that you are ready for the season ahead!

In 6 weeks time things will be underway. Have you trained enough, are you ready?

Just put a big coat on and keep training.
Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

21/01/2025

This weeks rider fitness

Exercises that strengthen your lower back, core, and glutes can help improve your balance and stability in the saddle when riding a horse

This week we focus on glutes, legs and lower back exercises

Give it a go 🤩

21/01/2025

💥Tonight’s top tip 🐴

When in rising trot, remember to have a small degree of suspension as you go up, this is the equivalent of your half halt in the reins, ie the half halt through your back.

The same thing applies in sitting trot and canter. Push a step, wait a step. If you push every step you are driving too much, and thus risks pushing the shoulders and the forehand down.

14/01/2025

Top Tip Tuesday is to ensure that as riders we need to also ensure that we are fit and in the best possible position to support your horse and goals.

Bonus

For the next 4 weeks will be also looking at rider fitness and have a qualified personal trainer “LE Bienestar Fitness” on board to support these posts and provide weekly work outs for you to try.

This week we shall look at our core and the importance in the saddle

* A strong core allows you to sit in better alignment
* You will be able to better absorb the motion of the horse’s movement
* You will suffer less strain on joints and muscles (for example, if your lower abdominals are weak and you have to compensate by absorbing the sitting trot motion with only your lower back, this will cause strain and pain over time)
* You will develop the core fitness to ask for more collection and self-carriage due to improved endurance and the ability to engage your core more effectively
* You will be able to sit with better posture
* Your jumping position will become more stable and secure
* Your seat and weight aids will develop more finesse

07/01/2025

💥Top Tip Tuesday ‼️

We must always remember when riding in a contact not to pull against the reins as this is a backward connection and end up with the nose behind the vertical, the back down and the hindlegs out behind.

The half halt must always end up forward towards the horse’s mouth.

As a trainer when standing in the arena I shouldn’t be able to see the half halt.

22/12/2024

“Un buen jinete, necesita mucha paciencia. Debe tratar al caballo como a un niño, como a su propio hijo. Tienen que educarlos con amabilidad y comprensión. Debe tomarse el tiempo necesario, para mostrarle como hacer las cosas correctamente. Los caballos son muy dispuestos, cuando entienden exactamente lo que se espera de ellos. Si el jinete confunde al caballo con ayudas inexactas o descuidadas, nunca debe culparlo por no entender. El jinete que constantemente siente que debe corregir su caballo, debe concentrar más su atención, en sus propias ayudas; no están siendo claros. Un buen jinete, reconoce esto, y siempre trata de montar bien y no interferir en los aires naturales del caballo. Premia al caballo por cada nuevo progreso. De esta manera el jinete inculca una ética de trabajo y disciplina en el caballo sin utilizar la violencia.” George Theodorescu.

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