Turns

This new exercise stands out if you need to improve the steering and thrust of your horse on a precise track. It also gives you an excellent opportunity to work on your position, as well as the discreetness of your aids. It improves your capability to control your mind while the difficulties arise.  Once again, in this video, you will note how much the determination of the rider is a key to ride successfully this exercise.

You will learn how to optimize the pushing power of your horse just by working on his flexion. This work will improve the balance of the horse by distributing his weight on all his feet equally.  However, the exercise will be beneficial only if the rider is able to communicate with light aids and be receptive to the horse’s feedback.

Thus, it is important that you utilise Michel’s advice: doing so encourages the riders to be aware of their position and influence on the horse. The goal is to become precise while implying less constraints to the horse.

This exercise is shown on the sheet A4 of the Training program 1

This second step of the exercise increases the level of difficulty as we add some cavalettis on the track. It’s an excellent transition from the flat work to the jumping work. The previous session helped setting the horse and rider’s straightness, calm and steadiness in the canter. The requirements stay the same when approaching or landing a cavalettis. If the rider was not successful in the previous exercise, it is advised to keep practising it on the flat before introducing the cavalettis. Sometimes, just to add some ground poles can be sufficient to disturb the rider’s serenity. If the rider starts looking down, he/she will disturb his/her balance forward. If the rider gets unbalanced, he/she can’t follow the motion of his/her horse. It leads the horse to break his cadence and become less precise in his direction or even to get over the bit. As we have already mentioned, this situation is generated by a rider who is worried.

This exercise from Michel, is an excellent way to keep the rider’s mind focused, serein, and aware of each of his action. Selene starts the exercise at a canter but according to the level the rider and the experience of the horse, it may be necessary to practise first at a trot a few times with some ground poles.

This exercise is linked to sheet T3 of the program Training 1

This exercise is a very effective way to improve the ability of the rider to stay centred and straight in his/her position and to keep the horse perfectly symmetrical with an even support on his 4 feet. The first part of this session is about flat work to get the horse and rider in a good disposition without the complication of dealing with a jump yet.

The simple fact of alternating between turns and straight lines, with some flexi-jump as guiding rails, is indeed difficult for a majority of riders. Most of the time, horses are zigzagging on the straight lines and are losing the impulsion in the turns. This exercise will be successful only if the rider is able to anticipate and get prepared for each part of the path while staying focused on his/her position. Any shift in the rider’s position compared to the median of the horse, can lead to a shift of the horse on the course.
Michel goes through all the key elements to be successful with this exercise in order to obtain a horse in a steady canter with a steady pushing power on a steady track.

This exercise is linked to sheet T2 of the program Training 1

This exercise is comprehensive and technical, which is among Michel’s favourite exercises.  It teaches the riders to be very meticulous in their position, the track they are on and the control of the speed.  It is a perfect exercise to practise the basics prior to a jumping session.  The goal is to program the horse and rider before jumping.

The set-up which consists of two ground flexi Jump poles, is really easy to realise and shows no risk for the riders and horses. That said, it will require a lots of focus and some preparation from the rider.  He/ she will have to comply with the requirements of a course, practising the flexions to the right and left, the approaches and landings, a certain number of strides between poles, the straightness, some flying change of leads, increasing and decreasing the speed….all that while keeping a light seat, to offer the freedom of movement to the horse. Quite a program.

This exercise is shown on the sheet G7 of the Training program 1

This exercise is very suitable to improve the turns especially to detect and correct any problem with the horse or rider’s symmetry. Directing correctly the horse on the path is key to success. If the rider stays in a centred position (middle position) without interfering with the horse’s balance, he/she’ll be able to turn short and win the few seconds that will make the difference.

This has to first be practised over small jumps like cavalettis as shown in this video with Michel and his student Marine.

This creative and fun exercise leads to approaching the fences on a curve and not on a straight line as we usually practise. It is excellent practice for speed challenges. The set-up will encourage the rider to tighten her turns while remaining calm and in control of her horse as well as in control of the track in order to prepare for the rest of the course. This exercise is also very interesting for horses who pick up the game very quickly. The unexpected track encourages horses to pay attention and trust the rider. Bottom line, horses become more responsive and interested in the job.

Alice came to stay a few days for a clinic at Michel Robert’s yard. The first videos show Alice’s preliminary flat work lessons. Alice’s horse is overwhelmed as it’s his first time working in a field. Open spaces, other horses around, news jumps ….all are excuses for him to express his joy! During this lesson, Michel will emphasise on the body position and mind-set the rider needs to adopt, in order to deal with her horse’s emotions, while working him with no excessive constraints. This lesson will show you that it’s possible to control a high energy level horse without any rein-aids or other kind of coercive methods which can ruin the horse’s mind and body.
 

Alice came to stay a few days for a clinic at Michel Robert’s yard. The first videos show Alice’s preliminary flat work lessons. Alice’s horse is overwhelmed as it’s his first time working in a field. Open spaces, other horses around, news jumps ….all are excuses for him to express his joy! During this lesson, Michel will emphasise on the body position and mind-set the rider needs to adopt, in order to deal with her horse’s emotions, while working him with no excessive constraints. This lesson will show you that it’s possible to control a high energy level horse without any rein-aids or other kind of coercive methods which can ruin the horse’s mind and body.
 

Alice came to stay a few days for a clinic at Michel Robert’s yard. The first videos show Alice’s preliminary flat work lessons. Alice’s horse is overwhelmed as it’s his first time working in a field. Open spaces, other horses around, news jumps ….all are excuses for him to express his joy! During this lesson, Michel will emphasise on the body position and mind-set the rider needs to adopt, in order to deal with her horse’s emotions, while working him with no excessive constraints. This lesson will show you that it’s possible to control a high energy level horse without any rein-aids or other kind of coercive methods which can ruin the horse’s mind and body.
 

This course is a succession of jumps taken at an angle with sharp turns upon landing and long distances. It’s an excellent training exercise for horses and riders for speed challenge’s courses.

This exercise is also very good for the rider’s mental preparation as he has to focus on the quick succession of lines and turns while staying alert with his ride. At the same time, the rider is not anxious about the height of the fence allowing him to stay focused on the given priorities such as his position.