"I didn't have talent, but I had great Ambition, and still have great Ambition." - George Morris Well according to the king of the hunter jumper world, ambition is all we really need to be great. I believe this to be true. Natural talent is rather useless without the desire and drive to achieve. And …
Tag: horse training
Back Again
I have been a little absent from the blogging world the past couple of months, but now that life seems to be slowing down a bit I plan to get back to it! What has been going on? Of course work has been crazy, as well as farm planning. Also, Texas keeps trying to float …
Working Without Stirrups
Perfect practice makes perfect. - George Morris Working without stirrups is so incredibly beneficial for our riding. It may not be fun, but it strengthens our legs, stabilizes our position, and allows us to really feel the horse. I once had a trainer who made me flat without stirrups every time I rode for a …
Change is Subtle
The other day during my yoga practice, I realized that one of the standing asanas has become easier for me; I can lift my leg a little higher and hold it up a little longer. It was not a major change - I could not suddenly put my leg behind my head or hold a handstand for …
Crazy Pets
Yesterday was a rather exciting day out at the barn. Due to miserably cold and wet weather, I hadn't ridden Chance for a few days. He started out pretty fresh and on edge. This is pretty typical for him on a cold day, but he usually settles after ten minutes or so. Yesterday, not so …
Horse Shopping
One of the most exciting times of an equestrian's life is horse shopping! Whether you are searching for a prospect, your next show champion, or a companion looking at and trying horses is so much fun. However, it can also be a rather intimidating and emotional experience. A horse is a huge commitment, and they …
Bad Behavior
"He's going through this phase where he sometimes tries to run out of the arena when I'm riding him," I said to my friend the other day when she asked why I got off of Chance in the arena instead of walking back to the barn. He has not done it in a while, but I now …
Back to Work
With all the bad weather we have had, yesterday was my first time riding a week. A week is not a major break, but care still had to be taken on Chance's first day back to work. First of all, the footing was not ideal; it wasn't terrible, just still a little wet. I never like …
To Spur or Not to Spur
What are rider aids? Natural aids include our leg, seat, hand, basically our whole body in general. Artificial aids include crops, spurs, whips, draw reigns, martingales, flashes, curb chains, bits and more. Artificial aids can be very useful tools in training horses, if used properly. In my opinion, less is more when it comes to artificial …
Patience
"Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson~ We've all been there: we think we are not achieving our goals fast enough; our horses are not where we want them to be; we are not where we want to be. This feeling of impatience can cause frustration and disappointment. The funny thing …
Laurel Ashton Equestrian 