Ruth Hogan Poulsen's Blog – August 2009 Archive (7)

Does your horse come above the bit when you make a canter transition?

Does your horse come above the bit, toss his head or climb with his head and neck into every canter transition? If your answer is yes, you should ask yourself the following questions.

Picking up the canter on the bit is a big issue for a lot of riders. In this article, I'll give you some questions you should try to answer. You MAY find the ROOT of the problem!

There is a reason that your horse displays this behavior. Don’t look at the symptom. Get to the root of the problem. The… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 31, 2009 at 1:59pm — 2 Comments

Trouble in you canter transitions- Part 2- questions about physical issues.

Yesterday I posted a blog about rider and training issues concerning your horses canter departs. Today i will be addressing a second list of questions you should ask your self and your veterinarian to help rule out physical issues that could be preventing your horse from cantering comfortably. Many times the bad behavior of your horse is directly related to pain and discomfort.

This second list should prompt you to ask about physical and external issues. An examination or two from your… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 31, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Can't get your heels down when you ride?

I have been asked a lot recently about why riders have such a hard time keeping their heels down. A heel that is not "down" may not have anything to do with the heel its self, but rather the knee and the calf muscle.

Many times the heel is not down because the calf needs to be stretched. A soft calf allows for the heel to drop below the toe when the foot is resting on the stirrup bar. When the heel is "down" in a rider, it drops just below the stirrup bar. The more important thing,… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 25, 2009 at 6:54pm — 2 Comments

4 more tips for picking out great music for your horse.

I have been getting so may questions about picking out great riding music, i though i would give you a few more pointers!! For more information, sign up for my free newsletter! Its easy, FREE and private!

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1. Choose music that has dynamic changes. Dynamic changes are audible changes within the music (either volume or intensity) where you can make transitions. (for example, the music should FEEL or SOUND like there is a transition to an… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 24, 2009 at 7:07am — No Comments

Ride your HORSE to MUSIC and solve training issues!!

Ride your HORSE to MUSIC and solve training issues! Whether you are riding a dressage musical freestyle, or just riding your horse to music, there are TIPS you should know before you start. Over the years, you have told me that the most important thing to you is that you want the RIGHT MUSIC for your HORSE and you WANT TO HAVE FUN!!

You've also told me that:

You want help recognizing the rhythm of your horse's gaits.

You can't maintain a rhythm.

You… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 17, 2009 at 8:30pm — 2 Comments

Rhythm and Tempo... Understand the difference before you pick MUSIC!!

Before you can pick the perfect music for your horse, you need to understand the difference between rhythm and tempo.

Many people use the words rhythm and tempo interchangeable, but they do not mean the same thing. I will talk about the meaning of each, both in musical terminology and in riding reference.

Rhythm - When riding, regularity of the rhythm refers to the even spacing between each step in a stride of walk, trot or canter. In music, rhythm is made up of sounds and… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 13, 2009 at 9:12pm — No Comments

Understanding why RIDING TO MUSIC works!!

I am amazed at how perfect music can improve and enhance a horse's movement and the rider's rhythm! When music fits the horse and rider, both the quality of the gaits and movements improve. The music enhances both the artistic aspect and the technical side of the ride. Because rhythm is maintained!

After years of studying the effects of music I learned a few things.

Studies show that music affects our physiology. Slow music slows the heartbeat and the breathing rate as… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 9, 2009 at 9:44pm — No Comments