Intermédiaire

Michel shows us the exercise, riding an 11 year old grey mare. After explaining the advantage of his method, Michel goes over an “easy to do” set-up of ground poles and cones.  To begin with, you can replace the ground poles with some cones to go through or around. The exercise is to be done at the lower gaits first and then if successful on it, at a canter. Once you have well mastered the exercise, don’t hesitate to modify the track. You can also practise it on a small course of cavalettis keeping in mind that the upper body relaxation is key.

For this new lesson, Michel teaches Charlotte who rides Bounty, a quite inexperienced 5 Year Old mare.

The exercise begins with riding in between the fences preparing for all the key elements that will lead to a successful jump: a rider in control of her mind and her horse’s mind, well seated with a steady canter and a straight mare.

Michel’s professional eye detects any interfering movement from the rider and its influence on the horse. We can see that a good landing is the results of a good approach. Therefore, the rider has to plan each phase of the jump constantly.

We will also notice how sensitive a horse is to the slightest disturbance of the rider’s mind. During this session, Charlotte will have to face a situation leading her to become confused. Her hesitation will impact the mare’s behaviour who will take the control over and decide for her rider.

For this session, Michel teaches Charlotte and her mare Rasbury. She starts the exercise at a trot. For less experienced horses and riders, it would be better to start at a walk two or three times. It will allow them to get a feel for the pattern and the requirements of the exercises in a quiet way.
Charlotte will have to resolve some difficulties such as keeping her mare straight between the poles and changing the lead in a spot more suitable for the rest of the course. Little by little she gets better at it, thanks to Michel’s advice.

Don’t hesitate to practise this exercise. It is an excellent way to test the connection with your horse and the quality of your work before going to jump.

In this lesson, Michel is teaching Charlotte who rides Rasbury
The exercise consists in modifying the number of strides between two flexy jumps poles on a line either by increasing or decreasing the length of the canter stride. To successfully complete the exercise, the rider should be in a good mental disposition and should be in harmony with the movement of the horse. Charlotte will succeed thanks to Michel’s advice.

Marine practices the exercise with Vivaldi, a 10 year old Stallion owned by the Haras de Hus.The first few trials have revealed that it is crucial to stay in the “position of the middle”, meaning being perfectly centred in the saddle to stay on the track and jump in the centre of the fences. The benefits of the  position of the middle is to be ready for everything: to go jump or to stop or to slow down or to speed up….Too often riders are riding only in one position which is the “Position to Jump”. It leads most often to some problems in controlling the horse during the entire course. The first few fences are usually well executed but little by little the horse takes over as he becomes stronger and increases the length of jumps as he goes. This exercise Michel is showing here, is an excellent way to learn how fix this kind of issues staying calm and in good spirit.
 

In this lesson, Michel demonstrates the ideal rider’s position as well as the different steps of teaching the rein-back, keeping in mind, of course, the horse’s wellness. For this session, Michel chose to ride Bounty, a young mare, a four-year-old who was started under saddle only a few weeks ago.

It’s the first time for Michel on this mare and today’s training goal is to help her understand the rein-back movement starting first on the ground and then under saddle. Once again, we can see how Michel’s training method brings fast results but insures that the mare remains calm and understands the exercise.

Michel shows us the exercise riding Undiams, an 8 year old gelding who is really willing to jump but who also has a tendency to rush fences.

The idea is that the rider should interfere with the horse as little as possible to let him find the solution. On the way-in to the grid, the rider has to move his hands forward during the take-off stride and keep his horse on a straight line while following the movement over fences. Under no circumstances, should the rider use his legs and hands aids like most riders are used to do, thinking it will help the horse. On the contrary, the horse needs his complete freedom of movement to learn to settle over combinations, pick-up his shoulders, use his back over fences and yet improve his front end speed of reaction.

 rides in the grass paddock with log fences. You can also practise it with some show jumping fences. The bank can be replaced by an oxer, a water jump or even a Liverpool….The height of fences should be adapted to the level of the horse and rider.

As Michel likes to explain, bringing a particular attention to the correct motion of the horse’s back, should be one of the rider’s top priority. We’re conscious about the fact that horses aren’t made to carry the weight of a rider on his back. Some conditioning work is essential if we want to keep them healthy and be able to get the most of their physical and mental ability. This conditioning consists, primarily of strengthening the muscle mass that is situated all along the spinal cord. Michel is using a very effective technique that he experimented during his long career as a high level international rider and horseman. This technique is based on the horse stretching his neck which consequently will stretch the entire top-line from the pole to the tail. This movement promotes also a work out of the abdominal muscles which are antagonistic muscles to the ones of the back.

As Michel likes to explain, bringing a particular attention to the correct motion of the horse’s back, should be one of the rider’s top priority. We’re conscious about the fact that horses aren’t made to carry the weight of a rider on his back. Some conditioning work is essential if we want to keep them healthy and be able to get the most of their physical and mental ability. This conditioning consists, primarily of strengthening the muscle mass that is situated all along the spinal cord. Michel is using a very effective technique that he experimented during his long career as a high level international rider and horseman. This technique is based on the horse stretching his neck which consequently will stretch the entire top-line from the pole to the tail. This movement promotes also a work out of the abdominal muscles which are antagonistic muscles to the ones of the back.