REFINING YOUR LEG AIDS: Warming Up And Riding Without Stirrups In The Walk And Trot

In this video, Philly and I will demonstrate how you can refine your leg aids by doing some key stretches and warm-up exercises before riding without stirrups in the walk and in the trot. You will see how to address your horse’s natural response system (‘buttons’) with more clarity and kindness and how to build an overall more harmonious communication system with your riding companion.
Watch and find answers to the following questions:
1. How can I warm myself up in the saddle before practicing my refined leg aids in the walk and trot?
2. Why and how will my awareness of my psoas-muscles and my seat bones help me refine my leg aids?
3. Why do my toes point outwards and what can I do to help correct that?
You may also find the videos in these playlists helpful:
Dressage Seat & Aids - • Dressage Seat & Aids
The Half-halt - • The Half-halt
Riding On The Bit / Yielding to Aids - • Riding On The Bit / Yi...
Plus, if you’d like to learn more about how to feel, apply and strengthen your psoas muscles, this is a great book for you to read:
‘Zen & Horseback Riding: Applying the Principles of Posture, Breath and Awareness to Riding Horses’ by Tom Nagel - www.amazon.com...
Happy riding! :)
PS: Get your free Arena Pattern Guide at www.katjaelk.c....
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Horse: Philly, 17 year-old mare, Andalusian; Background: After initially training in Dressage, Philly was also ridden as a Western pleasure horse. Current training: Dressage and ground training while taking into consideration former Western training (hesitant to make contact with the bit); Temperament (0 being extremely calm/laid-back, 10 being highly excitable/hot): 7. Personality: Kind, sensitive Alpha mare.
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Note: Viewers should consult a professional before adopting any of the training techniques shown in this video. Any activity you do with your horse is at your own risk and may produce varied results.
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California-based Dressage trainer, instructor, clinician and life coach, Katja Elk, provides gentle training solutions for riders and horses of all backgrounds.
“Over the course of my life, I have been fortunate enough to learn from many amazing human and equine teachers. In my videos, I share tips and pointers with people interested in expanding their knowledge about foundational Dressage and different types of groundwork. You will see me work with my clients’ horses of various breeds, levels and backgrounds, highlighting parts of the journey we call work/play-in-progress with our equine partners. None of the shown clips are flawless. In fact, they all show the many imperfections an active, aging rider faces who entered the professional field as an instructor/trainer later in life and who keeps on striving to show that Dressage can be an activity we all can enjoy with our horses at most stages of our lives and at varying levels of expertise. The videos are honest, heartfelt attempts to show you ways to nurture a kind, joyful and productive relationship with your horses as you are exploring and expanding on the many facets of Dressage and groundwork.”
Katja applies the concept of a friendly, trust-based, two-way communication system to riding Dressage, work-in-hand as well as groundwork such as halter-work, longeing/lungeing and longlining.
Additionally, Katja, a Martha Beck certified master life coach, works with people who are looking for relief from anxiety, depression and/or other challenges in their lives.
www.katjaelk.com
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Music by Ivymusic from Pixabay