Becky Holden
Riding from the ground...Up!
Training for the horse
Following the principles of légèreté we begin with full respect to the horse. We need to treat each horse as an individual and give them full control over any progression.
We have a very systematic approach, teaching the horse correct aids with clever exercises to suit their individual needs.
We isolate the aids for a clear understanding, building a very detailed language with many combinations.
Here are the scales of training that we follow. We begin with the triangle at the top. Balance, Relaxation and Impulsion. We can not split the importance of these three things. When a horse feels out of balance they won’t be relaxed which will then affect their impulsion. Depending on their nature they will either speed up or be too slow. It is important we consider these three things at all times. Balance and relaxation is the job of our hands and to have good impulsion simply means a clear understanding of our legs.
Respect of the horse
The first principle of training is respect so any force or restricting gadgets need to be banished. We need to take our time to teach the horse the language of the aids, beginning with words and building to complex sentences. We focus on relaxation, balance and impulsion in equal measures. We can not split the importance of these three things.
We also need to allow the horse control of how quickly they progress and we need to be their teachers not their oppressor.
“To plan a good sequence of learning is the art of good riding…” Philippe Karl
Every horse is unique and learns at its own pace. By allowing the horse to be in control of their progress, you can tailor the training to their individual needs and abilities. This helps promote their learning and development.
This also allows them to have a voice in their training. This holistic approach ensures that their physical and mental well-being is considered, reducing the risk of physical or emotional stress.
When horses feel in control over their progress, they become more engaged and motivated. This can lead to increased focus, willingness to learn, and overall enjoyment.
We need to prevent situations where the horse feels overwhelmed or forced to perform tasks they are not ready for.
Horses are intelligent and sensitive creatures. This ability to make decisions within boundaries can contribute to the horse's overall development as a trainable and reliable partner.
Following the principles of Légèreté we begin schooling our horses from the ground Up! We have a systematic approach based very much around the flexions which we introduce to the horse stationary and then proceed to include the same flexions in-hand. We also value work on the lunge where the horse can improve their balance and forward paces without carrying the rider. We prioritise shoulder balance on the lunge to perfect straight lines, circles and squares and address each horses natural asymmetries with exercises in-hand.
We use a gymnastic exercise program that encourages the horse to stay relaxed and flexible which helps them develop the necessary strength and balance required for self carriage. We never fix the horse into one position and put a strong emphasis on correct neck extension in all paces. We teach the horse to copy our rein length without leaning on the hands or over flexing the poll and teach them to keep a contact to our hands. We never force the horse into an outline causing the neck to shorten and contract their topline.
A horse who is comfortable and relax will move freely and with elegance.