Ride & Rise horsemanship

29/09/2025

We got some sunshine today 💛 🙌🙌

24/09/2025

Yes !!!!!! 👌

A great stop isn’t about yanking on the reins, it’s about forward motion, balance, and timing.

👉 Keep your horse driving forward into the stop.
👉 Let them find their feet behind.
👉 Don’t worry if they’re a little rude in the face at first, softness comes with consistency.

Every winning stop starts with the right foundation.
Learn more and sign up to today at https://rchtolive.com/freetrial/

24/09/2025

✨ Training isn’t just about teaching horses — it’s about shaping mindset.
Confidence, resilience, and positivity are what turn effort into progress.

23/09/2025

When we talk about straightness, it’s not about riding your horse like a ruler line. It’s about aligning the horse’s spine between your aids so energy flows freely from hindquarters to forehand.

🔹 Why Straightness Matters

Prevents uneven loading on joints, muscles, and tendons.

Allows power from the hind end to travel directly forward, building strength and collection.

Reduces risk of injury caused by crooked movement patterns.

Creates better balance, rhythm, and suppleness.

🔹 Biomechanics of Straightness
Every horse has a natural crookedness (a hollow side and a stiff side). If left unaddressed, this shows up as:

Drifting through the shoulders or hindquarters.

Uneven contact in the reins.

Difficulty bending evenly both directions.

🔹 Why This Matters for Cow Horses 🐄
A cow horse needs precision, balance, and quick reactions. Without straightness:

Stops become uneven, loading one leg more than the other.

Rollbacks lose power because the horse isn’t aligned to push evenly from behind.

Tracking a cow becomes harder—if shoulders or hips drift, the horse loses position.

Straightness means cleaner turns, quicker responses, and less wear on the body in demanding work.

🔹 How We Train Straightness

Use lateral work (shoulder-fore, leg yield, shoulder-in) to align shoulders and hips.

Ride curved lines to supple the stiff side and strengthen the hollow side.

Focus on rider balance and even aids—your seat, legs, and hands must give clear, consistent signals.

Reward small moments of alignment – straightness is built step by step.

✨ Straightness isn’t the end goal—it’s the bridge that connects rhythm, relaxation, contact, impulsion, and collection. For the cow horse, it’s the foundation of agility, accuracy, and longevity in the sport.

19/09/2025

Functional movement means using the body the way it was designed—where muscles, joints, and posture work together for efficiency, balance, and health.

🐎 For Horses:

Engages the correct muscle chains (hind end to topline).

Reduces strain on joints and ligaments.

Improves balance, coordination, and long-term soundness.

🧍 For Humans:

Builds core stability and mobility for clearer riding aids.

Improves posture and reduces the risk of injury.

Allows better feel, timing, and connection in the saddle.

🧠 For the Mind:
When the body moves efficiently, the nervous system is calmer. Both horse and rider experience:

Less stress and tension.

Better focus and learning capacity.

Increased confidence and relaxation.

💡 Why it Matters:
Functional biomechanics = healthier bodies, clearer communication, and a stronger partnership. When movement is efficient, energy is freed up for connection and performance.

17/09/2025

There are 3 levels of building connection✨️

🔹 Physical Connection
Through soft hands, balanced seat, clear aids, and the right release of pressure.

🔹 Mental Connection
By giving consistent cues, inviting problem-solving, and keeping the horse’s focus with you.

🔹 Emotional Connection
Through trust, patience, fairness, and mutual respect.

💡 True connection grows when we listen as much as we guide. It’s not about control, but about moving together as one.