It's all about the basicsWhile we were working with the canter last month, we knew that it is one part of the never ending development of the basics. I explained some easy step by step in how I prefer to build up the basics of canter. In this blog I will talk about the basics in general. How I see them as such important building blocks for everything else. The main topic of February are transitions, and I believe that our difficulties about transitions often is caused by the lack of certain elements in the basics.
To expect the horse to understand what we want him to do, "The Basics for the Horse" list, depends on certain qualities from the rider/trainer as well. I have therefore added a short list of "Basics for the Human", which is equally important to accept, and work with.
So, let's be honest, and ask: "Where am I, in our (the horse's and mine) education, right now?" We can divide us into two types of riders: 1 Novice (passanger) 2 Influencer As a Novice, I am most concerned of how to relax and how to do things correctly in my own body. Step 1 and 2 in The Basics of the Human. From the the horse I would not expect more than relaxation and that he listens and tries to understand what I try to communicate. Step 1 in The Basics for the Horse. As an Influencer, have more or less automated, when and how, to communicate my aids. I am most concerned of the balance and movement underneath me. Step 3 and 4 in The Basics of the Human. My goal is to improve the communication, skills, strength and the suppleness of the horse. Step 2, 3 and 4 in the Basics of the Horse. Transitions![]() The word "transition" can be used for any change in shape, gait or movement of the horse. This month we will focus on the change of gaits, and how it fits into the elements of the basics. The horse needs to be relaxed enough to be able to listen to his trainer. He also needs to understand the aids that are given, or be relaxed enough to be able to learn them. ![]() The rider needs to know how to give the aid. He/she also needs to feel the tact and balance of the horse, to be able to know when to give the aid. I think that is why it is so difficult to ride a transition from a higher to a lower gait. We, as riders, have a tendency to do the downward transition by using the reins and half-holts, more than riding the transition from the hindlegs and as a change of rhythm. In that way we loose the forward thinking and the roundness of the horse.
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The topic of january 2020The first topic we will work with this year is the canter. There are several reasons why. One reason is that the horses have had a lot of time off in December, and the canter is an amazing tool to build up fitness, strength and roundness for the horse, relatively fast. With an increased fitness and strength, you get a more forward thinking horse, and the work for better suppleness is more likely to succeed.
âThat is what I will focus on with bolcher this month. To build a strong foundation of the basics in canter, but also challenge them now and then to see if we can bring him up a step more.
The growth of education
Its fascinating how everything is connected, and how it all depends on each other.
If you think of the education as a growing tree. You can grow one branch at the time, but to get a well balanced, and beautiful tree, all branches needs to grow to the same length, before the tree can grow any taller. If it grows too much on one branch, it will be to heavy and the tree starts to lean, the growth tries to equalize that unbalance, and grows a crooked trunk. Then the task gets a lot more difficult for us to complete. Therefore I believe its important to always have the great picture in mind, while allowing every little twig to grow equally towards a strong branch before letting the tree grow taller.
Step 5
Play, educate and grow together with your horse. Use your imagination to give him new tasks and challenges, most horses love to use their body and mind. Then they grow strong, confident and proud. Remember that the stronger foundation (trunk) you have grown, the less likely it will break or bend if you do "something wrong". - only the sky is the limit. Feel free to join us
I hope you feel a little inspired, and maybe even join us in the canter work, this month. That would be super cool!
Feel free to add a comment or share a picture/movie, at our Facebook site of what you are working with these days. Questions? -Shoot- Lets inspire each other! New year-new beginningsWe have just entered 2020, and a new decade full of opportunities, lies ahead of us. Ronja and me are living our dream, a life full of horses and all the love that comes with them. When looking back at 2019, we can see that it was a year of changes in many ways. The company HorseClue-Jahnsen turned from a sole proprietorship into the corporation HorseClue AS, which was a huge step for us. For Ronja, the dream turned close to a nightmare, when she had to take one of the hardest decisions as a horse owner must do, to put two of her horses down. Pic. 1: Surfer, Ronjas first own horse. They grew a unique bond of deep friendship, respect and love. Surfer got to be 24 yrs old. R.I.P dear friend… Pic. 2: Ida, Ronjas P.R.E, she became lame due to some complex back and pelvis issues, and the decision of putting her down grew as the hope of recovery disappeared. R.I.P beautyful soul... In addition to this, Ronja had to return her new friend Soffen, a stallion she borrowed to train as her own, due to an accidential tooth problem. Ronja had now, no riding pony left, so we had to get her a new one! That was a hard investment for both the company and Ronja her self, but we thought it trough, and found the coolest Lusitano, Gladiador, in Portugal.
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Jannie B JahnsenHorseclue AS is a small family business, owned by mother (Jannie'73) and daughter (Ronja'94). ArchivesCategories |