Omg Alicia you're amazing! Such a wealth of knowledge! I'm not sure I've ever understood riding the way you have shown and explained to me over these videos! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! 😘
Fantastic explanation ! Can I just ask what the other leg is doing whilst the other is giving the “pop” behind the girth . Is it still , or is it also “popping” at the girth . Thanks !
Love, love, love watching you ride! You make it look so easy ( I know it's not) but breaking it down the way you do gives us a wonderful understanding unlike anyone I have ever watched. Thank you 💗
I always have trouble feeling where the hind legs are, is there any way to improve in that? I could figure it out by seeing what front leg is moving but actually feeling where the hind legs are is quite difficult for me.
Great question, when you say you struggle to feel the hindleg, do you mean where it is in loaction to the front legs or feeling the stride length or tempo?
@@YourRidingSuccess honestly both, like I often go into walk and ask myself, what are the hind legs doing, and I just have no clue. I do know the rhythm of the gate so I could figure it out by seeing the front legs but even that takes a while for me to figure out. It's like I can't tell because I can't see it. I don't know if that makes more sense haha.
One thing that might help you is to have someone from the ground call out when the footfalls are so you can "tune in". With anything "feeling" related it takes time to establish a good feeling and tune it is so it is correct xx
Love your videos, you explain things so well. Could you please do another video on the big/fancy/elevated trot? no one in my area knows how to teach this. thank you.
Thank you for also breaking down all the ways it WON"T work. Sometimes you can feel like you're only getting half the story when a tutorial says do x, y, z; riding has so much more nuance and feel to it that you capture very well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your lovely horse :)
Light bulb moment thank you it's all in the set up which is why mine were not consistent and why she isn't changing from behind. She is just learning her changes.
Hi 👋 new subscriber here, so I just wanted to comment on this video specifically as wow it has taught me so much!. I came across your videos a few days ago as really looking for some help and so far your video's (from what I've watched so far lol) have been an eye opener!. I absolutely love everything about dressage and just love to watch riders like yourself but don't have the confidence to do shows ect myself lol. My story is, I decided to finally loan a horse last year and been spending the last few months getting to know him and his quirks, being a new year i would love to try some at home dressage with him for some fun. He has won some low level dressage in his past so he knows his basics. His loaner before was all about jumping, which he loves!, and done no schooling with him whatsoever so in my eyes has lost the whole connection between him and the rider, although does try his best with some things, as his rider before just let him do his thing into the jumps ect, which as no expert on jumping he is bloody scary to jump as he rushes and does not listen lol. He used to be so on the forehand and my arms used to kill me after schooling but is so much better now, although he can go back to, would you say that habit? And do struggle with that. Anyway long story short, I was going to have some dressage lessons but since coming across your channel I have no need!!. I'm so excited to have this journey with him and looking forward to your amazing videos 🤗 😊 🧡
Im having trouble keeping my horses shoulders on the train track. He pops his shoulder through the reins and just overbends his neck. How to fix it? My reins are short enough to keep a steady contact 🤷🏼♀️
This is a super question, when you first make the "train tracks" you may find that one rein is heavier than the other or one shoulder is harder to keep in line than the other, this means the horse likes to use that side to balance and is less supple. What you can work on is the suppleness and do not worry if in the beginning that side is heavier in your hand. Also think of moving the bit in the horses mouth on that side or even taking some flexion that way to "yield" the shoulder back into the middle. Hope all of this helps 💕
Hi Alicia, maybe you can help us with how to feel the correct moment in the saddle? So how do I know exactly when the outside hind leg moves forward? And when it hits the ground? How is my outside hip moved at that moment? 🤔 Maybe you can help us feeling things from the saddle? ☺️
I hadnt watched for awhile then got back to watching you, I thought it was a different person!! I know this sounds stupid but are you the same gal?...love the vids!!
No silly question! This is Alicia, since Natasha has taken a step back from riding Alicia has been helping with the channel. You can see the episode here where Natasha talks about it th-cam.com/video/knoEf_zA0ns/w-d-xo.html
I don't ride anymore due to age and health issues but oh my goodness how i wish I'd had this info in my formative years. Soo...... good, eady too understand and beautifully explained for every ability from beginner to advanced. Sometimes it's good to go back to basics to correct bad habits and develop good practices. Thank you.🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you so much! Your videos are amazing. I only recently found your channel and have learnt so much in just a couple of videos. Particularly your work with Mowgli!! I'm currently restarting my OTTB and your hints and tips have been a game changer for us. Thank you!! :D Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you build your channel.
Thank you so much that is very kind of you! Glad the OTTB videos are helping you. Best way is to just subscribe and enter our million subscriber comp, have you seen this?
I tend to loose my aid stirrup. I guess it's because I lean in but even if I make effort not to, concentrating being straight, I lose it and continue without it. I do ride on school horses that are bit on a lazy side so sometimes giving the aid throws me off balance, cause I have to try so hard and many times in a row.
Hi Carrie, perhaps your stirrups might be a little long and that is why you are losing your balance and stirrups? An ideal length would be if you stood up like a rising trot that you would still have bend in your knee 🤩
Tryed this today. Much to have in mind. My pelvis, massageing the bit, the banana, controlling the shoulders, but my oh my! Whatta good boy I have. It was once again such a nice ride. Got some nice canter with the pop! You are soo good at explaining. I wish I could afford to be a DMA member. So I could learn more. Can't wait for our next training. My instructor will be amazed of our progress, and it is thanks to you.
would this correct an ex racer that wants to pic up the wrong leg on the right rein? also i hope you can answer this. I have spinal damage and often struggle to feel the outside legs so have been using the forelegs to know where they are. can you say where the forelegs are when the hind leg is in the right place for us people with medical issues
Yes the correct position in the horse will help greatly with striking off on the correct lead. Also ensuring the horse is supple on both sides of the body. You could work out where the front legs are in the moment the outside hind leg strikes off, this would help you if you focus on the front leg and not the hind. Hope this helps
Hi Alicia, recently discovered you and LOVE your explanations and videos. I bought a horse a few months ago and it appears that he's been trained to canter off of my inside leg vs. outside. Should I redirect this and if so can you explain the best way to approach so that I don't leave him entirely confused. Thanks from California !
Hi Diana! Thanks so much for tuning in! So glad you are enjoying the videos!! We have passed your question along to Alicia and the team to give you some advice! Watch this space for an update x
Hi Diana! Great question! Even though you think he is cantering off an aid from your inside leg, he is not. If that was the case he would strike off on the incorrect leg. Probably what is happening is you are moving your seat in back to front motion which signals him to canter. What you want to do is practice on a circle, go bigger in the trot and go to the point where he is about to break rhythm and ask for canter using your outside leg. You want to ask when you are just about to sit. That way you use physics to get to canter.
Good question! Have you seen our shoulder in video th-cam.com/video/tieLZnu9hXQ/w-d-xo.html The difference is just the amount of angle, so shoulder in is 30% angle or 3 tracks and shoulder fore is anything less than that between straight and shoulder in.
Yet again another excellent explanation, you are addictive and your videos are really helping me with my goal to be the best passenger I can possibly be for my horses
Love it, thank you! But can I please request a canter to walk video??. I have perfect walk to canter but cannot do the opposite without a couple of trot strides. Suggestions would be sooo appreciated 🙏🤗
Great suggestion! I will ask Alicia about making a canter to walk suggestion for you to all vote on. In the meantime you can focus more on the horse shortening his steps and carrying more weight onto the hindleg and that will help to not have trot steps. The reason the horse does steps of trot is because the horse is not balanced enough to make the canter shorter and quicker. Some exercises that would help you are changing the tempo, so cantering smaller and bigger and changing between. Also better alignment in the canter so shoulder fore. Let me know if you have any questions!!
Thank you for such an informative video it has improved my walk to canter transitions already - however our canter to walk transitions are awful, would love some tips on how to nail them without any trot steps!
Hi Kat, so glad to hear! I will note your suggestion for video but in the meantime, think of a successful canter to walk transition as the horse having the ability to make the canter smaller and smaller until it matches a walk speed, watch this video for suggestions on how to start changing the tempo at canter and note we are already in the process of making a video showing the aids of collecting the canter th-cam.com/video/4StQrKsygkA/w-d-xo.html 🤩
Thank you Alicia, this must be the best way I've ever heard it described, absolutely love the way you break it down, so encouraging and inspiring for my next ride, love watching you x
Your videos are blowing my mind! Fantastic demonstrations! After watching this video and some of the others on canter transitions I am very disappointed that I've been taught exactly the opposite of what you are showing. No wonder I'm having issues! I've been taught to sit out and bend the horse in which is totally wrong and after this video I can see why it's wrong and how much more easier for the horse it is!! Thanks for your wonderful knowledge and teachings! Keep up the great work!!! A new FAN!!
My daughter is doing lessons. She’s on her 7th one and she did a walk to canter 4 times not knowing how she did it. Her trainer was blown away because she said it’s hard to do. This is perfect!
Alicia your amazing at explaining!! I'm working on changing my canter aid and preparation to what you show. Your troubleshooting parts were so helpful too!! and explains why my horse has a different feel canter left and right due to straightness flaws and can now solve it yeah!! Love your "abort mission" concept to correct preparation then try again :). Just also watched your shoulder-in video with Gee loved ideas on using renver as a shoulder correction. My question is my horse Jet is used to my leg back to mean move your quarters in like renvers or traver... Know how good your understanding of aids are and hoped you can explain how a horse understands leg back is a canter request vs a renver/traver request 😊 When I tried your shoulder-fore and canter button aid with Jet this week he immediately thought traver haha! Thank you so much I love love understanding these details to help me and my horse communicate well. 🤗
Hi Nancy! So sorry for the late reply! GREAT QUESTION!!!! Aid for renvers..... ride a shoulder in..... then change the bend to counter bend..... nothing to do with you leg position..... Thank you so so much for all your support! LMK if the above doesnt make sense! x
@@YourRidingSuccess Alicia firstly with all the comments & questions you receive now, my heart felt thank you to you and your team there for answering 3 days ago! ... I experimented last week with shoulder-in to renver and to traver, with the though in mind that it has nothing to do with my leg position.. and for sure I'm feeling a bit vulnerable to share here publicly that I don't understand. I study all your videos each a couple times. I drive 50 minutes each way to ride my horse 5x a week, so listen to them again as I drive to my horse and I practice in my mind what I'm going to work on with him & on my body when I ride that night.. For example: In your video The secret to a softer horse at around minute 9 th-cam.com/video/NpZ5K0_fap4/w-d-xo.html you discuss the banana on a circle and switching between leg-yield and working pirouette. When I think working pirouette in that context I think traver. So say tracking left on the circle, for both leg yield and working pirouette the bend and thus small part of banana is on the left side. Plus your valid point that in leg-yield the rider's inside leg must stay at the girth so your horse can bend around it. So what changes in your position to ask your horse to switch straight train tracks around the circle, to leg-yield, and then to working pirouette? There is no change in your leg position or outside leg to ask him to move his quarters into the circle for working piroutte? Is it only your hips moving to face inside vs outside the circle? You're so great at explaining and demos on horse and "wooden horse" too :) to help us understand. Thank you!! ...... and now especially as I'm re-teaching my horse to canter with the walk to canter quick leg touch aid you showed in the Walk Canter video .. preparing us someday for a flying change.. Before last week my leg aid for traver is to move it back to ask him to move his hind quarters in... After last week 3 days of retraining my horse to your walk canter button, my smart horse is thinking canter when my leg moves back to touch his leading hindleg!! good boy!! but now, what to give me & my horse a new button for traver, phew! ... dressage can be such a puzzle for an amateur riders... here's to being vulnerable in asking what may be a silly question!! thanks!
@YourRidingSuccess hoping you'd like a status update... after 3 weeks of changing my canter transition aids to leg always back & on; to electric aid leg back then put my leg back to normal position and canter on.. my horse is responding amazing and doing even walk-canter from shoulder-fore on long side as you show on Gee. He is no longer thinking travers when I use the electric leg aid. He is no longer thinking omg we're in the canter phase of our ride and I want to canter even when I'm not giving the cue. What a difference. So cool. !! Your troubleshooting to "abort mission" in the 1st weeks of training my horse to the new cue, if he swung his hunches in was so helpful to us. We'd abort mission, regroup our shoulder-fore and try the cue again. Also what helped me is watching Ash's lesson on Gee. I'm not trying so hard to help my horse respond to the cue... it's ok if he makes a mistake and doesn't canter... just ask again. Love you "start with the end in mind"... hope someday we can do flying changes :)
My horse is very good at walk to canter. The problem is that he gets way too excited. Then when we go back to walk he gets way too strong and fizzy because he’s anticipating it.
Hi there, if your horse gets a bit too excited between the transitions the goal is to teach the horse to stay relaxed, this might be changing the place you do the transitions or mixing it up between trot-canter and walk-canter or spending time using some lateral exercises between to encourage suppleness instead of tension. Hope this helps! x
Absolutely great ideas, love this and need this so much,afraid of cantering one of my horses due to the “ what if!” Thanks ❤so much! This stops so much progress, I will think what if It all goes well!❤
Hi Carole! I think you mean the double bridle, for dressage horses in most countries it is now legal to compete in a snaffle to Grand Prix at National level so unless you wish to compete FEI you do not have to use a double! An important factor is to ask yourself if you need to use it at all. If you do wish to use one, ensure in the snaffle you can ride the horse connected and correctly. Then the transition to double with be much easier. When you are ready tell us and we will give you access to one of our live sessions with FEI coaches and they can help you! Good luck!
Could you do another video based on canter, I just started cantering a few days ago and I really need a video that explains step by step how to canter. Thank you! Amazing videos you have ;3
Thanks for this awesome canter video because I make some mistakes and never really know what the problem is. Now I can do a checklist and try to figure it out!
Brilliant breakdown on getting the basics right to do this! I did notice that you were using your spurs whilst walking around, do you have to keep reminding him to keep on moving?
Hi Jenny, yes Alicia does use her spurs to remind him and at times even Alicia can fall into the habit of reminding him too much! She uses blunt type spurs so it does not hurt him and the best method is to use one quick aid and leave the aid off. Hope this helps x
Wonderful, I will definitely use some of these tips in my next lesson. I was trying to squeeze him without spurs on an 18hand sports horse and I'm not sure that aid was suitable for him 😂
This is amazing. No instructors of mine have ever explained it like you do. It makes sense now. Only wish i was still riding to be able to do all of this. Best i had was hug and pick up the horse into the canter. But even then i wasn't told there was a correct time for where its easier for the horse with outside hind leg. Thank you!
Thanks so much for this great video. My horse always gets a bit worked up and tense and anticipating the walk-canter transition, and she'd rather do the tippy toe trot instead of staying in the walk and wait for my aid. How can I help her with that? Also, how can I help her to stay engaged instead of throwing her head up during this transition? Thanks for your time!
Glad it was helpful! If your horse gets a bit too excited between the transitions the goal is to teach the horse to stay relaxed, this might be changing the place you do the transitions or mixing it up between trot-canter and walk-canter or spending time using some lateral exercises between to encourage suppleness instead of tension. The suppleness will also help with keeping the horse connected during the transition. Hope this helps! x
Thank you so much for this fantastic explanation and trouble-shooting, this is immensely helpful! I have also seen and experienced trouble getting the canter depart when not sitting up straight (too much weight on horse’s shoulders). I wonder if you happen to have an analogy or explanation that works for you, like your banana analogy, but for vertical alignment and weight placement???
Great comment, yes there is, use the "standing on the ground" analogy, which means think of this - if you cut the horse out from underneath you, you should land standing on the ground. Have a look at this video and Alicia talks about it th-cam.com/video/qL8swhRKY5s/w-d-xo.html ✨
@@YourRidingSuccess Right, thank you for your reply and for the link - I did see that video before but obviously needed a reminder! So for me I’m going to put the two ideas together, where it’s like standing on the ground balanced on your own two feet, and then moving your pelvis over to one side just a little bit, as if you’re preparing to stand on one leg, the one that happens to be on the inside of the banana. Maybe it’s more complicated but I like to combine things haha. Thanks again! :)
when I go on hacks with my horse, he easily does the walk canter transition, but in the arena he's really lazy and i can barely get him to trot😕 is it because he's more excited to be outside?
ENI, I have one like that as well. I always need to build her energy to do anything productive. She works best after spooking at something 🤣 ( she's not really spooky) or after a hack.
Yes that is right! If you can get the transition outside but not inside, the only difference is that outside the horse is "in front of your leg" or more responsive. In the arena you could work on getting a better response from your horse to help with the transition.
Omg Alicia you're amazing! Such a wealth of knowledge! I'm not sure I've ever understood riding the way you have shown and explained to me over these videos! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! 😘
Wow this is such a lovely comment to read, thank you
Fantastic explanation ! Can I just ask what the other leg is doing whilst the other is giving the “pop” behind the girth . Is it still , or is it also “popping” at the girth . Thanks !
Hi Victoria, Its just passive. Doesnt move just behaves as it would in cantering normally. GREAT question
Your teaching is extremely engaging and clearly explained. I love that you demonstrate what can go wrong and how to fix it. Thank you!
You're very welcome! x
This was so nice! The instruction was clear and step by step. Can’t wait to use this information during my next ride. Thank you so much.
Our pleasure! Let us know how you go!
Love, love, love watching you ride! You make it look so easy ( I know it's not) but breaking it down the way you do gives us a wonderful understanding unlike anyone I have ever watched. Thank you 💗
She is the best fill in for the channel, I love how easy she makes everything and I love her smokey voice haha
Thank you! The aim is to make videos that you can understand and have success in your own riding!! ✨
Haha never thought of it as smokey but you make it sound good!!!!
I always have trouble feeling where the hind legs are, is there any way to improve in that? I could figure it out by seeing what front leg is moving but actually feeling where the hind legs are is quite difficult for me.
Great question, when you say you struggle to feel the hindleg, do you mean where it is in loaction to the front legs or feeling the stride length or tempo?
@@YourRidingSuccess honestly both, like I often go into walk and ask myself, what are the hind legs doing, and I just have no clue. I do know the rhythm of the gate so I could figure it out by seeing the front legs but even that takes a while for me to figure out. It's like I can't tell because I can't see it. I don't know if that makes more sense haha.
One thing that might help you is to have someone from the ground call out when the footfalls are so you can "tune in". With anything "feeling" related it takes time to establish a good feeling and tune it is so it is correct xx
@@YourRidingSuccess thank you!
"it's a quick aid it's electric" I love that
Great "ah ha" moment!
Excellent Video. Please can we have one now on Canter to Walk X
Glad you loved it! Great suggestion - stay tuned!
Love your videos, you explain things so well. Could you please do another video on the big/fancy/elevated trot? no one in my area knows how to teach this. thank you.
Great suggestion! I will add this to the list for sure - stay tuned!
Thank you for also breaking down all the ways it WON"T work. Sometimes you can feel like you're only getting half the story when a tutorial says do x, y, z; riding has so much more nuance and feel to it that you capture very well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your lovely horse :)
Great feedback, thank you! Yes it is important to also show what common mistakes can be made x
This was a very informative, well done vid! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Could you please do a trot to canter transition video? That would be nice!😊
I would also like that.
Great suggestion! Stay tuned!!!
Light bulb moment thank you it's all in the set up which is why mine were not consistent and why she isn't changing from behind. She is just learning her changes.
Lovely to hear this!! Thanks for sharing!
This was such a clear instructive video! Really understand when the right moment to go is. Gee is an absolute sweetheart!
Thank you! We agree, he is super lovely x
You r literally reading my mind and solve the problems before I even ask the right questions 💝 Thank You so much
Love this!!!!
Hi 👋 new subscriber here, so I just wanted to comment on this video specifically as wow it has taught me so much!. I came across your videos a few days ago as really looking for some help and so far your video's (from what I've watched so far lol) have been an eye opener!. I absolutely love everything about dressage and just love to watch riders like yourself but don't have the confidence to do shows ect myself lol. My story is, I decided to finally loan a horse last year and been spending the last few months getting to know him and his quirks, being a new year i would love to try some at home dressage with him for some fun. He has won some low level dressage in his past so he knows his basics. His loaner before was all about jumping, which he loves!, and done no schooling with him whatsoever so in my eyes has lost the whole connection between him and the rider, although does try his best with some things, as his rider before just let him do his thing into the jumps ect, which as no expert on jumping he is bloody scary to jump as he rushes and does not listen lol. He used to be so on the forehand and my arms used to kill me after schooling but is so much better now, although he can go back to, would you say that habit? And do struggle with that. Anyway long story short, I was going to have some dressage lessons but since coming across your channel I have no need!!. I'm so excited to have this journey with him and looking forward to your amazing videos 🤗 😊 🧡
Hi Claire! Thank you SOO much for the lovely comment and sharing a bit of your journey with us!! So happy the videos are helping you so much!
You're are the best instructor, you explain in such simple terms, everything you show works on my horse! I wish I saw your videos years ago. x
Sweet! Thank you xx
Love this breakdown 💕 thank you Alicia and Gee!
Glad we could help!!!!
Please do a "Meet all the horses" video!!! Would love to see all of them ♥
Good suggestion!!! You can see the horses in this video th-cam.com/video/_aPecez6Amc/w-d-xo.html 💕
Im having trouble keeping my horses shoulders on the train track. He pops his shoulder through the reins and just overbends his neck. How to fix it? My reins are short enough to keep a steady contact 🤷🏼♀️
This is a super question, when you first make the "train tracks" you may find that one rein is heavier than the other or one shoulder is harder to keep in line than the other, this means the horse likes to use that side to balance and is less supple. What you can work on is the suppleness and do not worry if in the beginning that side is heavier in your hand. Also think of moving the bit in the horses mouth on that side or even taking some flexion that way to "yield" the shoulder back into the middle. Hope all of this helps 💕
Thanks Alicia, I’ve been watching him in walk to see when I outside hind comes up. I need to learn the feeling of this when I’m riding 🤗
I hope this technique works for you! Tell us about it! x
Hi Alicia, maybe you can help us with how to feel the correct moment in the saddle? So how do I know exactly when the outside hind leg moves forward? And when it hits the ground? How is my outside hip moved at that moment? 🤔 Maybe you can help us feeling things from the saddle? ☺️
I hadnt watched for awhile then got back to watching you, I thought it was a different person!! I know this sounds stupid but are you the same gal?...love the vids!!
No silly question! This is Alicia, since Natasha has taken a step back from riding Alicia has been helping with the channel. You can see the episode here where Natasha talks about it th-cam.com/video/knoEf_zA0ns/w-d-xo.html
I don't ride anymore due to age and health issues but oh my goodness how i wish I'd had this info in my formative years. Soo...... good, eady too understand and beautifully explained for every ability from beginner to advanced. Sometimes it's good to go back to basics to correct bad habits and develop good practices. Thank you.🙏🙏🙏🙏
Wow this is such a lovely comment to read and makes it all worthwhile x
Thankyou Alicia!! This is awesome. I have been teaching my boy walk to canter but he gets stuck. this was sooo helpful!
So glad the videos are helping you x
Thanks Alicia! Could you explain how you start this with a Young horse?😍
Hi Linda! Thank you for your question. We will get back to you on this one x
Can You make a video about canter to walk? Would be great ☺️. This is a place where a lot of riders struggle :/
Yes! Great suggestion x
Thanks for this explanation, não I understand it perfectly 💖
So glad it helped!!
Thank you so much! Your videos are amazing. I only recently found your channel and have learnt so much in just a couple of videos. Particularly your work with Mowgli!! I'm currently restarting my OTTB and your hints and tips have been a game changer for us. Thank you!! :D Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you build your channel.
Thank you so much that is very kind of you! Glad the OTTB videos are helping you. Best way is to just subscribe and enter our million subscriber comp, have you seen this?
I tend to loose my aid stirrup. I guess it's because I lean in but even if I make effort not to, concentrating being straight, I lose it and continue without it. I do ride on school horses that are bit on a lazy side so sometimes giving the aid throws me off balance, cause I have to try so hard and many times in a row.
Hi Carrie, perhaps your stirrups might be a little long and that is why you are losing your balance and stirrups? An ideal length would be if you stood up like a rising trot that you would still have bend in your knee 🤩
I so feel that I learn new ways every day. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. Such an inspiration for the next ride.
Tryed this today. Much to have in mind. My pelvis, massageing the bit, the banana, controlling the shoulders, but my oh my! Whatta good boy I have. It was once again such a nice ride. Got some nice canter with the pop! You are soo good at explaining. I wish I could afford to be a DMA member. So I could learn more. Can't wait for our next training. My instructor will be amazed of our progress, and it is thanks to you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is soo soo great! good job!
I like the way you explain in details. Thank you for posting.
So glad you enjoyed this video - thanks for watching x
Really enjoying your videos Alicia! explained so easy my riding has improved out of sight since watching you!
This is wonderful to read! x
would this correct an ex racer that wants to pic up the wrong leg on the right rein? also i hope you can answer this. I have spinal damage and often struggle to feel the outside legs so have been using the forelegs to know where they are. can you say where the forelegs are when the hind leg is in the right place for us people with medical issues
Yes the correct position in the horse will help greatly with striking off on the correct lead. Also ensuring the horse is supple on both sides of the body. You could work out where the front legs are in the moment the outside hind leg strikes off, this would help you if you focus on the front leg and not the hind. Hope this helps
Thank you soooo much! It really works. My issues with walk canter transitions on a new horse have gone
AMAZING!! So glad the tips in the video helped you so much!
Very well explained and broken down into manageable bite-sized pieces. Thank you Alicia! That was wonderful!
You're welcome, Mimi! Glad you enjoyed the video x
Hi Alicia, recently discovered you and LOVE your explanations and videos. I bought a horse a few months ago and it appears that he's been trained to canter off of my inside leg vs. outside. Should I redirect this and if so can you explain the best way to approach so that I don't leave him entirely confused. Thanks from California !
Hi Diana! Thanks so much for tuning in! So glad you are enjoying the videos!! We have passed your question along to Alicia and the team to give you some advice! Watch this space for an update x
Hi Diana! Great question! Even though you think he is cantering off an aid from your inside leg, he is not. If that was the case he would strike off on the incorrect leg. Probably what is happening is you are moving your seat in back to front motion which signals him to canter. What you want to do is practice on a circle, go bigger in the trot and go to the point where he is about to break rhythm and ask for canter using your outside leg. You want to ask when you are just about to sit. That way you use physics to get to canter.
Could you please do video on the difference of shoulder fore and shoulder in x
Good question! Have you seen our shoulder in video th-cam.com/video/tieLZnu9hXQ/w-d-xo.html The difference is just the amount of angle, so shoulder in is 30% angle or 3 tracks and shoulder fore is anything less than that between straight and shoulder in.
This was SO clearly explained and showed. I loved this! Thank you!
You're so welcome! Glad you loved it!
Yet again another excellent explanation, you are addictive and your videos are really helping me with my goal to be the best passenger I can possibly be for my horses
Great to hear! Thank you so much x
Love it, thank you! But can I please request a canter to walk video??. I have perfect walk to canter but cannot do the opposite without a couple of trot strides. Suggestions would be sooo appreciated 🙏🤗
Great suggestion! I will ask Alicia about making a canter to walk suggestion for you to all vote on. In the meantime you can focus more on the horse shortening his steps and carrying more weight onto the hindleg and that will help to not have trot steps. The reason the horse does steps of trot is because the horse is not balanced enough to make the canter shorter and quicker. Some exercises that would help you are changing the tempo, so cantering smaller and bigger and changing between. Also better alignment in the canter so shoulder fore. Let me know if you have any questions!!
@@YourRidingSuccess thank you so much!!. Really appreciate the tips 😊
Thank you for such an informative video it has improved my walk to canter transitions already - however our canter to walk transitions are awful, would love some tips on how to nail them without any trot steps!
Hi Kat, so glad to hear! I will note your suggestion for video but in the meantime, think of a successful canter to walk transition as the horse having the ability to make the canter smaller and smaller until it matches a walk speed, watch this video for suggestions on how to start changing the tempo at canter and note we are already in the process of making a video showing the aids of collecting the canter th-cam.com/video/4StQrKsygkA/w-d-xo.html 🤩
So useful!! You make it all seem achievable 😃 Thank you
Thank you so much 💕
You give such clear instruction that I love what I am learning and aspire to be a better and more effective rider.
Great to hear! 🤩
Thank you Alicia, this must be the best way I've ever heard it described, absolutely love the way you break it down, so encouraging and inspiring for my next ride, love watching you x
So lovely to read comments like this! Glad you are loving it x
Love the way you explain things Alicia. You make it look so easy.
Great feedback, thank you x
Your videos are blowing my mind! Fantastic demonstrations! After watching this video and some of the others on canter transitions I am very disappointed that I've been taught exactly the opposite of what you are showing. No wonder I'm having issues! I've been taught to sit out and bend the horse in which is totally wrong and after this video I can see why it's wrong and how much more easier for the horse it is!! Thanks for your wonderful knowledge and teachings! Keep up the great work!!! A new FAN!!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for sharing! We are loving the support! :)
Exactly what I needed. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Such a great break down, love trouble shooting. Thanks 😊
Glad it helped x
You are perfect in teaching the details. 🥰
Glad you think so! xx
Alicia what are you doing with your reins while you are using your leg aid? Are you halfhalting or keeping them still?
Hi Sylwia! Do you mean during the transition from walk to canter?
@@YourRidingSuccess yes and trot to canter as well 😊
3:51 reminded me of a train somehow 😂 Love the clear instruction and will definitely use this soon!
Glad it was helpful! We would love to hear how you get on trying it out!
I can now do walk to canter #harlow thank you so much! 👍👍
wooohooo!! That's awesome!
Would like to see video on simple lead changes.
Thanks for the suggestion Wayne! x
It is amazing how much I don’t know.
I hope you learned a lot!! What was your biggest takeaway from this video?
Greatly appreciate the demonstrations along with the explanations. Thank you!
YAY!! I'm glad you liked it!! xx
Love your videos! You explain so well ❤️
Thank you x
That is such a good video thank you
So glad you liked it! What resonated with you the most?
My daughter is doing lessons. She’s on her 7th one and she did a walk to canter 4 times not knowing how she did it. Her trainer was blown away because she said it’s hard to do. This is perfect!
Brilliant thank you! 😊
You're welcome xx
Love the advice thank-you for making it understandable. 👍
Our pleasure, glad you are loving it x
Alicia your amazing at explaining!! I'm working on changing my canter aid and preparation to what you show. Your troubleshooting parts were so helpful too!! and explains why my horse has a different feel canter left and right due to straightness flaws and can now solve it yeah!! Love your "abort mission" concept to correct preparation then try again :). Just also watched your shoulder-in video with Gee loved ideas on using renver as a shoulder correction. My question is my horse Jet is used to my leg back to mean move your quarters in like renvers or traver... Know how good your understanding of aids are and hoped you can explain how a horse understands leg back is a canter request vs a renver/traver request 😊 When I tried your shoulder-fore and canter button aid with Jet this week he immediately thought traver haha! Thank you so much I love love understanding these details to help me and my horse communicate well. 🤗
Hi Nancy!
So sorry for the late reply!
GREAT QUESTION!!!!
Aid for renvers..... ride a shoulder in..... then change the bend to counter bend..... nothing to do with you leg position.....
Thank you so so much for all your support! LMK if the above doesnt make sense! x
@@YourRidingSuccess Alicia firstly with all the comments & questions you receive now, my heart felt thank you to you and your team there for answering 3 days ago! ... I experimented last week with shoulder-in to renver and to traver, with the though in mind that it has nothing to do with my leg position.. and for sure I'm feeling a bit vulnerable to share here publicly that I don't understand. I study all your videos each a couple times. I drive 50 minutes each way to ride my horse 5x a week, so listen to them again as I drive to my horse and I practice in my mind what I'm going to work on with him & on my body when I ride that night.. For example: In your video The secret to a softer horse at around minute 9 th-cam.com/video/NpZ5K0_fap4/w-d-xo.html you discuss the banana on a circle and switching between leg-yield and working pirouette. When I think working pirouette in that context I think traver. So say tracking left on the circle, for both leg yield and working pirouette the bend and thus small part of banana is on the left side. Plus your valid point that in leg-yield the rider's inside leg must stay at the girth so your horse can bend around it. So what changes in your position to ask your horse to switch straight train tracks around the circle, to leg-yield, and then to working pirouette? There is no change in your leg position or outside leg to ask him to move his quarters into the circle for working piroutte? Is it only your hips moving to face inside vs outside the circle? You're so great at explaining and demos on horse and "wooden horse" too :) to help us understand. Thank you!! ...... and now especially as I'm re-teaching my horse to canter with the walk to canter quick leg touch aid you showed in the Walk Canter video .. preparing us someday for a flying change.. Before last week my leg aid for traver is to move it back to ask him to move his hind quarters in... After last week 3 days of retraining my horse to your walk canter button, my smart horse is thinking canter when my leg moves back to touch his leading hindleg!! good boy!! but now, what to give me & my horse a new button for traver, phew! ... dressage can be such a puzzle for an amateur riders... here's to being vulnerable in asking what may be a silly question!! thanks!
@YourRidingSuccess hoping you'd like a status update... after 3 weeks of changing my canter transition aids to leg always back & on; to electric aid leg back then put my leg back to normal position and canter on.. my horse is responding amazing and doing even walk-canter from shoulder-fore on long side as you show on Gee. He is no longer thinking travers when I use the electric leg aid. He is no longer thinking omg we're in the canter phase of our ride and I want to canter even when I'm not giving the cue. What a difference. So cool. !! Your troubleshooting to "abort mission" in the 1st weeks of training my horse to the new cue, if he swung his hunches in was so helpful to us. We'd abort mission, regroup our shoulder-fore and try the cue again. Also what helped me is watching Ash's lesson on Gee. I'm not trying so hard to help my horse respond to the cue... it's ok if he makes a mistake and doesn't canter... just ask again. Love you "start with the end in mind"... hope someday we can do flying changes :)
Would like to see a drawing showing transition to illustrate both leg positions
i cant thank you enough
❤️
My horse is very good at walk to canter. The problem is that he gets way too excited. Then when we go back to walk he gets way too strong and fizzy because he’s anticipating it.
Hi there, if your horse gets a bit too excited between the transitions the goal is to teach the horse to stay relaxed, this might be changing the place you do the transitions or mixing it up between trot-canter and walk-canter or spending time using some lateral exercises between to encourage suppleness instead of tension. Hope this helps! x
@@YourRidingSuccess Thank you! xx
#harlow i was already watching this video to get better at my canter! thank you for this well explained video
Great!!
Absolutely great ideas, love this and need this so much,afraid of cantering one of my horses due to the “ what if!” Thanks ❤so much! This stops so much progress, I will think what if It all goes well!❤
You are so welcome!
That mak esemce
Perfect!
When do you introduce the full bridle
Good question! I will get back to you on this!
Hi Carole! I think you mean the double bridle, for dressage horses in most countries it is now legal to compete in a snaffle to Grand Prix at National level so unless you wish to compete FEI you do not have to use a double! An important factor is to ask yourself if you need to use it at all. If you do wish to use one, ensure in the snaffle you can ride the horse connected and correctly. Then the transition to double with be much easier. When you are ready tell us and we will give you access to one of our live sessions with FEI coaches and they can help you! Good luck!
Thank you for breaking the steps down. I learned so much! Everything makes so much sense after seeing the correct and the incorrect way.
So glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching x
#Harlow
nice!!
Could you do another video based on canter, I just started cantering a few days ago and I really need a video that explains step by step how to canter. Thank you! Amazing videos you have ;3
Hi there! Would you like to know about the canter aid or how to canter as a rider? Let me know what you are struggling with and we can help you ✨
Just great! All the explanation like in scientific way, that's coooool, thank you!!
Very glad you are loving it!!
Thanks for such a clear explanation. I am off to practice now, I can see that I have been making all the mistakes you described !
You can do it! We can't wait to hear about it soon x
I found it useful to see the correct timing explained. Thanks for making the video.
This is great! Thanks for watching! xx
Fearsomely fantastic ….. a billion thank yous 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Love this comment! Thank you x
Thanks for this awesome canter video because I make some mistakes and never really know what the problem is. Now I can do a checklist and try to figure it out!
Glad to help!xxx
it seems so logical now fabulous video i've learnt more watching and understood things better than when having lessons thank yiu
Glad it was helpful! 🤩
Actually... Hands down imo way the best video I've seen on walk to canter!
Yay! Thank you!
the banana has become my favourite fruit :) I love your explanations !
😂😂😂😂 I love this!!!
Brilliant breakdown on getting the basics right to do this! I did notice that you were using your spurs whilst walking around, do you have to keep reminding him to keep on moving?
Hi Jenny, yes Alicia does use her spurs to remind him and at times even Alicia can fall into the habit of reminding him too much! She uses blunt type spurs so it does not hurt him and the best method is to use one quick aid and leave the aid off. Hope this helps x
Thank you so much for this good explanation. Can’t wait to try this
Super excited for you to try it!! xx
Wonderful, I will definitely use some of these tips in my next lesson. I was trying to squeeze him without spurs on an 18hand sports horse and I'm not sure that aid was suitable for him 😂
Hopefully now you have some tips and let us know how you get on!
Really great to see how to give the correct canter aid. I am a beginner and this really helped. Beautiful!!
Super! So glad you enjoyed it x
This is amazing. No instructors of mine have ever explained it like you do. It makes sense now. Only wish i was still riding to be able to do all of this. Best i had was hug and pick up the horse into the canter. But even then i wasn't told there was a correct time for where its easier for the horse with outside hind leg. Thank you!
Glad this made more sense to you and now you can use it in your riding! Good luck with let us know how you go practicing ✨
Soooooooooo clear! Have to say I’m loving your instruction. On Mowgley too! I’m learning so much Alicia
Awesome! Thank you so much x
You are inspirational. Thank you. Love that you show the real stuff.
You are so welcome!
Omg early! Love your chanel!
Thank you so much x
Excellent teaching/explaining, thank you👍🏼
So glad you are loving the content x
Wonderful teaching! Thank you so much ☺️
You are so welcome!
I did this for the first time in my last lesson. This is SO helpful! Thank you.
Wonderful! You are amazing! x
Brilliant explained 🤗😊
Amazing loving your teaching love this channel send it to all my horsey friends ❤
Love this!!! Thank you for sharing around so more can learn!
Super thanks
Love it. Suddenly it so clear. Can't
wait to try it.
You can do it! Go for it!
The shoulder control for me was the light bulb moment for me.
Yes!!!! So important, glad you have had light bulb moment
Thanks so much for this great video. My horse always gets a bit worked up and tense and anticipating the walk-canter transition, and she'd rather do the tippy toe trot instead of staying in the walk and wait for my aid. How can I help her with that? Also, how can I help her to stay engaged instead of throwing her head up during this transition? Thanks for your time!
Glad it was helpful! If your horse gets a bit too excited between the transitions the goal is to teach the horse to stay relaxed, this might be changing the place you do the transitions or mixing it up between trot-canter and walk-canter or spending time using some lateral exercises between to encourage suppleness instead of tension. The suppleness will also help with keeping the horse connected during the transition. Hope this helps! x
@@YourRidingSuccess yes it does, makes sense, will keep it in mind next time. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my question!
Such a great video 🥰
Thank you
i like how your horse is like,´should i do something or not? hmmm nooooowww this is not it, let wait '
He is a very cool horse isn't he?
Thank you so much for this fantastic explanation and trouble-shooting, this is immensely helpful! I have also seen and experienced trouble getting the canter depart when not sitting up straight (too much weight on horse’s shoulders). I wonder if you happen to have an analogy or explanation that works for you, like your banana analogy, but for vertical alignment and weight placement???
Great comment, yes there is, use the "standing on the ground" analogy, which means think of this - if you cut the horse out from underneath you, you should land standing on the ground. Have a look at this video and Alicia talks about it th-cam.com/video/qL8swhRKY5s/w-d-xo.html ✨
@@YourRidingSuccess Right, thank you for your reply and for the link - I did see that video before but obviously needed a reminder! So for me I’m going to put the two ideas together, where it’s like standing on the ground balanced on your own two feet, and then moving your pelvis over to one side just a little bit, as if you’re preparing to stand on one leg, the one that happens to be on the inside of the banana. Maybe it’s more complicated but I like to combine things haha. Thanks again! :)
Awesome! Rather than thinking of one leg, think of rotating your hips and shoulders to match where the horses spine should be x
when I go on hacks with my horse, he easily does the walk canter transition, but in the arena he's really lazy and i can barely get him to trot😕 is it because he's more excited to be outside?
ENI, I have one like that as well. I always need to build her energy to do anything productive. She works best after spooking at something 🤣 ( she's not really spooky) or after a hack.
Yes that is right! If you can get the transition outside but not inside, the only difference is that outside the horse is "in front of your leg" or more responsive. In the arena you could work on getting a better response from your horse to help with the transition.