Two Minute Training Tips - Better Riding with P.O.T

If you want better riding in 2020 you need POT! What? Cannabis? It might help if you ingest to have a better ride if you need to relax but might interfere with your balance so that’s probably not a good idea. But if you’re thinking about the Pyramid of Training as your POT to help you be a better rider – you are correct! The Pyramid is made up of six riding ideas - rhythm, relaxation, connection, impulsion, straightness and collection. What’s rhythm? A strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound. For our horses that’s you two moving steadily together in a direction of your choice. You should be able to hear their hooves and the sound is a regular sequence not herky-jerky like a newbie driving a stick shift up a hill. Rhythm is moving in a steady predictable gait. You want to have a regular 4 beat walk, a 2-beat trot and the 3 beat canter. When you run into problems riding – first stop and solve it with your first POT requirement – Rhythm. Let’s say the trot was getting frantic and out of control. Start counting out loud what it SHOULD be. Count out loud – One-Two, One-Two. Notice how you are saying it. Is it rushed? Is it soooooo slloooowwwww. Is it rapid and then slow? If so, then the gait rhythm is ‘irregular.” Take some deep breaths and begin to count out loud with the trot strides in an even, steady easy one-two sequence. Notice how your body relaxes and follows that sequence and then so does your horse. Pick some points in the arena and focus just on counting out loud. See how far you can go before something changes - like a dip in the terrain or you lose focus or count! Then go back to the one-two count. Once you can do that both ways, challenge yourself. Between letters speed up the count and then the next set of letters slow it down. Counting out loud will help you find your rhythm! Want more saddle success for your horse? Some Dolce Vida? You can always email me questions at revelationfarm1911@gmail.com or check out our website revelationfarm.com. Subscribe because there is so much goodness coming! For upcoming events like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RevelationFm