Sometimes a super horse appears at the events where our instructors are showing that really catches my eye. He is already such a nice mover or I can see that he has the potential for three good gaits as he progresses. The following year, however, I might not even recognize the same horse much less tag him as a rising star. His flowing gaits have become short and choppy. His soft jaw and relaxed back are now clamped and tight. Instead of moving forward in his training, he has deteriorated. When a setback like this happens, the reason is often that his rider does not have an independent seat.

Developing a truly independent seat is the ultimate goal for a rider. It is not about looking pretty on the horse. It is about being in the right position with the right control over your own body in order to be able to communicate clearly and logically with the horse. If your horse feels the bit move in his mouth, it should be because you are deliberately asking him for a specific shape or a cadence or a degree of collection, not because you have momentarily lost your balance or have become tense somewhere in your body.

Obviously, if you are bouncing around on the horse’s back or grabbing at his mouth in order to keep your balance, that “noise” is what he is going to listen to. If the way you are sitting or moving on his back creates pain or discomfort for the horse, then any communication is gone. Without an independent seat, it is impossible to properly influence the horse’s mind and body in order to train it for any higher level equestrian sport from dressage to eventing or cutting or reining.

The rider must master six distinct skills as she or he develops an independent seat. These skills have to be mastered in order because each builds on the ones previously mastered to create a solid foundation like the trunk of a tree. In fact, we call it the riding tree. With a firm base, the rider can confidently branch out into any higher level equestrian sport. If the rider tries to branch out without that solid trunk beneath her, however, the branch is eventually going to break or maybe the whole tree will topple.

The six skills to be mastered are, in order:

• relaxation (both physical and mental)
• balance
• following the motion of the horse
• learning to apply the aids
• learning to coordinate the aids
• using the aids to influence the horse

It takes many hours of riding on many different types of horses to develop a truly independent seat. Even students in an intensive riding program like the one here at Meredith Manor who have access to a great variety of horses may spend their first year mastering just the first three stages of the riding tree. Every student progresses through each stage at a different pace depending on his or her own physique, temperament, and previous riding experience. Sometimes a student masters one level very quickly and easily only to find herself on a plateau at the next level for weeks or even months. It doesn’t really matter as long as she strives toward that ultimate goal of an independent seat. Once a student achieves that, he or she can move confidently into any riding discipline on any horse.

One of the big problems in the horse industry is the fact that many amateur riders and even some professionsals do not develop the independent seat that they need to correctly influence a horse. When that happens, their limitations end up limiting the horse.

Now every horse has his limits, both physical and mental. But those limitations should be determined by the horse’s conformation or his athletic ability or his temperament, not by the rider’s inability to stay in balance over the horse or to follow the motion or to coordinate the application and timing and degree of a set of aids.

I have seen even professional trainers trying to ride upper level dressage horses who cannot follow the horse’s motion at an extended trot. The minute that happens, they lose communication with the horse. They cannot communicate with the horse and influence one stride and the next and the next because they cannot follow the motion. Their “trunk” is weak. The same thing would happen with a reining horse rider trying to set their horse up for a spin or a rollback. If the rider is not relaxed, balanced and following the horse’s motion as the horse runs down the arena, he will not be able to coordinate the aids at the end of the slide to communicate with the horse and influence the smooth transition to the next movement he wants the horse to perform.

Having a truly independent seat means mastering all six skills at all three gaits on any kind of horse. As you look along the trunk of the riding tree and evaluate your own progress, you may find that you have some of these skills on every horse but you only have others on some horses at some gaits. Don’t be discouraged. It takes a lot of hours in the saddle, a lot of mental concentration, a lot of small corrections of a lot of mistakes, a lot of feedback from your horses and your instructors to develop an independent seat. But what a high when you achieve it! Just keep riding.

© 2001-2010 Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre. All rights reserved.
Faith Meredith has successfully trained and competed through FEI levels of dressage during her more than 30 years as a horse professional. She currently coaches riders in dressage, reining, and eventing in her capacity as the Director of Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre (147 Saddle Lane, Waverly, WV 26184; 800.679.2603; www.meredithmanor.edu), an ACCET accredited equestrian educational institution.

We are lucky nowadays to have the availability of modern technology in the form of lightweight, smooth and comfortable stainless steel bits, and other modern materials, which need very little cleaning and no polishing. We can take advantage of a huge variety of types and sizes of bits. Of course the bit should always be rinsed clean after every use.

It is definitely an advantage to be able to choose from a wide range of bit widths, lengths, thicknesses and styles, to accommodate any size and shape of equine mouth. Since every horse’s mouth is slightly different, including their dentition and their tongues; this is a huge advantage. As a general rule the thicker the bit, the milder the action, but the bit width and thickness should be in proportion to the size of the horse’s mouth.

However, I believe there can be almost too much choice and certainly too many claims made by specialist bit manufacturers to ‘improve’ the horse’s way of going, ‘improve’ his outline or contact with the bit.

I believe that the path to alleviating problems in the mouth is not by a ‘miracle bit’ but by gentle and tactful use of a well fitting bit which is suitable for that particular horse at a particular point in his training. However, there are some designs of these modern bits which appear to suit some horses who have had problems with conventional bits and this can only be a good thing, but should not be seen as a ‘cure all’.

Here’s a quote from the Great Master Gueriniere in his book ‘School of Horsemanship’, in which he is referring to what the famous horseman Pgnatelli has to say on the subject of bits and bridling – “He was convinced by his own experience that the bridle should serve to make known to the horse the rider’s intentions, rather than to constrain the animal. He said that if bridles by themselves had the miraculous property of establishing the value of a horse’s mouth and rendering it obedient, the rider and the horse would be fully trained on leaving a tack-master’s shop.”

DETRIMENTAL ASPECTS TO SOME MODERN DAY BITS AND BRIDLES
One of the most maddening, not to mention downright cruel, contraptions I see horses wearing today are tight drop nosebands, often referred to as ‘crank nosebands’ because of their ability to be cranked tighter and tighter as the rider wishes. Contrary to classical principles as laid down throughout the centuries by the Great Masters, many riders and trainers today seem to believe that the bit should be held static in the mouth and the horse’s mouth should remain equally static with a tightly closed jaw. The truth is that the horse should be able, and encouraged, to gently ‘chomp’ on the bit or bits. This results in relaxation of the jaw and poll, encouraging a healthy salivation. This gentle ‘chomping’ is quite different from the grinding of teeth which is usually the result of an unhappy horse with an uncomfortable mouth. The idea of the bit being held completely still is contrary to good horsemanship.

THE MAIN SYSTEMS OF BITTING:
The Snaffle
The Double Bridle
The Pelham (a single bit system encompassing both the action of the snaffle and the curb)
The Bitless Bridle
The Gag

THE SNAFFLE
For most horses a simple jointed snaffle or a French link snaffle is a good bit in early training, and sometimes for most of the horse’s life. The choice of size and fit are crucial, and should be chosen by either a professional or a very experienced horse person. As a general guide a jointed snaffle needs to be slightly wider than a solid mouthpiece, because of the joint in the middle. A quarter of an inch protrusion either side of the mouth is correct. The height adjustment is also of vital importance; one wrinkle in the corner of the lips is correct with a snaffle. The bit should sit on the bars of the mouth – that is the part of the gums where there are no teeth. If the bit is adjusted too high it will cause discomfort or pain on the corners of the mouth; if too low it will bang on the teeth also causing pain or discomfort.

In most cases it is down to rider skill. Sometimes, if a horse has been badly ridden, say pulled in the mouth or ridden in draw reins, it will make no difference what bit you put in his mouth; he will still fight the contact. The only thing to do in this case is to use an extremely gentle contact, be very patient and ignore what he is doing with his head and neck; concentrating on working from behind with correct body posture etc. Given enough time, and it may take months or even years, eventually the horse will respond, almost forgetting his previous bad experiences, and come to accept, or hopefully seek, a caring contact with the rider’s hands.

THE PELHAM AND DOUBLE BRIDLE
The Pelham, when used with two reins and correctly fitted, is a perfectly legitimate and useful bit. I disapprove of the use of the Pelham with roundings, joining the two reins together. With roundings the rider holds only one rein, meaning that the action of the curb and the snaffle are used indiscriminately at the same time.

Of course the action of the Pelham even with two reins, can be severe if mis-used, as can even the mildest of snaffles. However, I often find that some heavily built horses actually seem to prefer the use of a Pelham or a double bridle to the feel of the single snaffle. Obviously the rider must be reasonably experienced, possess an independent seat (in order that their hands may act independently, not being subject to unnecessary movement) and be able to utilise the two reins independently.

Similar comments apply to the double bridle as to the Pelham. The use of the double bridle should normally be confined to the more advanced horse and rider. The fitting and effect of each bit and the curb chain are important to understand before embarking upon this system of bitting (either the Pelham or the double). You will find more in-depth information on this in Elwyn Hartley Edwards’ book ‘The Complete Book of Bits and Bitting’ (David & Charles 2004).

THE BITLESS BRIDLE
Bitless bridles come in various designs and depending on the adjustment, can be very severe or very mild. It is a misconception to think that you cannot hurt a horse with a bitless bridle, but they can be very useful for horses who, for some reason, cannot hold a bit in the mouth without discomfort. The reason for the sensitivity in the mouth could be from a dental problem or previous bad riding and/or badly fitting bit. Often the temporary use of a bitless bridle will give the mouth a chance to heal and the horse a chance to regain his confidence before the reintroduction of an appropriate bit.

THE GAG
The gag is part of the snaffle family, but has been altered to exaggerate the action of the bit. They have holes at the top and bottom, through which is passed a cheek piece of rounded leather. The rein is attached to this cheek piece. As you can imagine this results in an acute head raising action and can be very severe. The use of the gag should be confined to very experienced riders and used with great discretion. Even then they should only be used in extreme cases where the horse would be otherwise very dangerous and all other avenues of re-training have failed (and these cases are few and far between).

This article first appeared in Equi-Ads, a free equestrian magazine published in the UK.  It is reprinted with permission at Cavalli Connections.

Zoe is about 10, and from what I’ve heard, has had some really crappy training methods bestowed upon her.  When I first met Zoe, something about her just looked wrong to me and I thought for sure she was much older.  Turns out, her body just looks like that because she is completely backwards and upside down with her muscle development.

So Tuesday night I am lunging her (because she is a bit crazy at night and it was my first time getting on her) and I’m watching her go around and around…and I’m squinting in disbelief over what I’m seeing.  There is a complete disconnect between her front and hind end.  If you look closely it actually looks like two people in a horse costume trying to get it together; her back end literally chases her front end.  Wow.

I had swapped her corkscrew snaffle that her owners ride her in for a mullen mouth, because of course you always ride in the softest bit possible!  I had that and a French link 3-piece and the mullen mouth initially looked like it might be more her size.  Luckily, my dressage saddle fit her.

When you first start lunging her she bucks…but it’s not really a normal buck.  She humps her back like there’s a kink and bounces her back end around and will kick out here and there.  I’ve been told she pretty much always has to get that out so that’s why they lunge her before riding, especially at night.  They think she’s “cold-backed”.  I’ve never really known a horse that was cold-backed so I had no idea what it was supposed to look like – perhaps she’s just trying to figure out where her back end is!

I get on and discover there are no brakes – for me anyways.  Dropping my weight and stopping my seat has no effect.  None.  It’s pretty obvious that down transitions and halts have been achieved by hauling on her mouth because when I squeeze that outside rein she throws herself on the bit in defense.

Tuesday night I did a little trotting, but it was a short session to see what she felt like.  I cannot believe how stiff and inflexible this horse is!  She moves off your leg though, if only a little.  Tuesday night is spent only doing halt-walk-trot-walk-halt stuff.  And it’s horrible.  I spent a lot of time thinking, can I even do this???

Thursday night, I switch the bit for the French link because I didn’t really care for the mullen mouth.  I thought she would like a moving bit that she could play with a little more.  I lunge her again, and she’s not quite as wild.  When I get on, I immediately like the French link bit better – she seems a little lighter.  However, as the ride goes on, she makes a habit of sticking her neck and nose out and twisting her head so her right cheek is pointing at the sky.  And she only does it a few strides after beginning to trot.  I rode through it, thinking it could be the new bit, the fact that she’s never really been ridden with consistent contact, or maybe all the foam from the sugar was ticking her lips (she looked like she stuck her nose in whipped cream – it was really cute).

I decide that I need some brakes before I can even think about cantering.

This is where the rope around her neck comes in, and if you have this problem I highly suggest using this!  In Zoe’s case I had to go one step further and bring in some sugar.

A lot of horses will slow down or stop when they feel pressure on their chests from the rope, and since horses learn by association, when you stop your seat and use the rope, they learn that your seat can tell them to slow/stop as well.  Zoe, being Zoe, didn’t react at all to the rope at first.  On to plan B!

I fill my pocket with sugar cubes.  I stop my seat, use the rope, and then use outside rein until I get a halt.  Then I give her a piece of sugar.  It only took her 2-3 times and then as soon as she felt me touch that rope, BAM, halt.  I even got a few halts just from my seat.  Woohoo, we have brains…if nothing else!

And now we trot, new trick in the bag.  Luckily, the seat and rope lesson transfers through and when I slow my seat and pull the rope gently we get a decent trot to walk transition with no reins required.  Still, out of habit, she gets heavy in my hands…but that will take more time.

Finally, I get to ride her in the morning on Sunday.  I lunge her anyway, and she is half asleep.  I give her a few less sugar cubes in case the excess of foam was bothering her, but she still contorts her head and neck a bit every once in awhile.  It seems to be a bit less and last a shorter period of time though, and she didn’t seem to be in pain…so I continued to ride through it.  Like Ryan, she is definitely stiffer to the left and has a hard time turning in that direction.

We even try a canter in both directions, which is horribly not smooth.  Zoe switches her lead in the back constantly and it seems like she canters on the wrong lead in the back more often than the correct one.  No doubt her back end has severe weaknesses.  I stiffened up a bit too, which didn’t help!

Afterwards, I ran into her owner when putting her away.  Her 11 year old that rides her wants to ride another day and her older sister’s horse is lame so she might Zoe ride 1-2 days a week.  So she tells me that maybe for awhile I will only be able to ride once a week.  *sigh*  It’s too bad because I was just starting to feel like maybe I could make some sort of difference.  But with a horse this messed up, I don’t think I can really help all that much riding once a week.  Oh well!  We shall see what happens…

This week is officially Crazy Thoroughbred Week at Cavalli Connections.  The older sister of the little girl who rides Trixie asked me to ride her OTTB 3-4 times this week while she’s out of town at a college equestrian camp, and another friend has asked me to ride her thoroughbred 3-4 times a week indefinitely.  The first one I have ridden sporadically, when they need someone to ride him and/or when they’re out of town.  The latter I had never ridden…until Tuesday night.

Now, I have unofficially labeled myself as a pony specialist because that’s where I’m most comfortable.  Throw me on anything 13-14.2 and I’m good to go.  But that’s exactly why I need to ride the bigger horses.  To step out of my comfort zone and improve.

In these cases, it’s not just the size!  What really scares me is that these two thoroughbreds have been trained incorrectly non-classically and it’s a little unnerving to me to be on top a 1200 pound animal that doesn’t get what I’m trying to say most of the time.  That’s why it’s not really an issue for me to ride Wilt, even though he’s big.  I feel like my 4 weeks of being home and riding him had really put me in the mode for the bigger movement, but they’ve also really spoiled me…

Enter thoroughbred #1.  Ryan is a 16 year old OTTB that is riddled with aches and pains and is mostly used for hunter jumper for his owner.  When I first met Ryan, I was told horror stories about him taking off, bucking, rearing, etc.  In the “winter” in Arizona he can be really high and there were a few times I rode him over the winter and he would do the whole shoot-out-from-under-me thing which put my heart in my throat.  But he came back and never did anything more than that with me.  As I observed him being ridden more and more, I realized why he is the way he is, and I worry a lot less since I ride very differently.  He’s also as sweet as they come and when my Mom came out to Arizona last year she rode him and said that he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.  We’ve developed a little friendship since I see him all the time when I’m riding Trixie, etc. and I get the feeling he likes me.  I sneak him a massage every once in awhile if I have extra time when I’m done with Trixie.

On Tuesday morning we headed down to the arena for our first ride of the week.  Ryan is really funny in that if you sing/hum to him quietly he puts his head down right next to you and practically falls asleep.  So by the time we walk the quarter mile or so to the arena he is really relaxed.    He had been jumped both Saturday and Sunday so his owner could be extra prepared for her equestrian camp, so I expected him to be a little stiff.  And stiff he was.  I was working a heck of a lot harder than him trying to get him going forward and I felt like there was an anvil at the end of the reins.  I realized how stiff the right side of his body is; he listened to the weight aids (mostly) for turning right but whenever I stepped into my left stirrup to go left he said “nope, too hard”.

Yesterday was a big improvement.  He went forward more easily, tripped less, hung on my hands less, and was a little more right-on with what I asked.  I was able to do more circles, serpentines, etc. without feeling like I had to pull him around.  The thing I was most proud of was that he stretched down a little when I let him take the reins out of my hands.  He had gotten it a little the first day but when I asked on the second day it was like he remembered that it felt good to stretch his back and he gave me more.  That’s huge for him.

It’s nice to be able to ride him 4 days in a row.  (And in July I’ll be riding him while they’re out of town for 2.5 weeks of that month.)  One of the biggest frustrations for me is riding a horse every once in a while.  There’s just not a whole lot you can do to help them when you’re not working with them consistently!

Heading out today for ride #3 this morning on Ryan with high hopes.  Watch for my next entry on thoroughbred #2!

Meet Wilt…an active member of Spookers Anonymous.

This is Wilt trying to believe my Mom when she tells him that the line across the door (that was just put up for her next lesson, to keep a certain mischievous pony from escaping) is ok, darn it.

Wilt has no interest in getting out of anything; he loves to work. And on the whole, he’s not what one would label a “spooky horse”. But there are some things that throw him for a loop, things that just aren’t right.

There’s a grill just sitting in the woods. He knows it’s not a tree…so what the heck is it doing there??  He won’t step on a tarp, even when Zac (whom he’d follow off a cliff) calmly walks onto the tarp and stands in the middle of it. And cows…oh my goodness.  They might as well be aliens.

So anyways, our outdoor arena has trailers backed up to one of the short ends, about 10 feet from the fence. And Wilt just cannot get the thought out of his head that there might be monsters lurking around them. The first time this season that I rode him out there, we used 2/3 of the arena (because he’s a dork and I’m a wimp on big horses :p). Wilt is 16.2 and allllllllll muscle…and when he’s afraid his body grows and his brain shrinks. Logically I know if he spooks it’s going to go down in one of two ways: he either does the 4-foot plant…or he shoots sideways (and throws out your back). He never takes off like a bat out of hell. Never.

So…what’s the problem? I have a decent seat, good balance, and I know that the way to help a horse gain trust in his rider through scary experiences is to remain calm and relaxed and show him there’s nothing to fear. By avoiding the fearful place, I’m just confirming that there’s something to be afraid of!

I realized that was being ridiculous; I needed to just act like nothing was wrong. Because I know there are definitely no monsters by the trailers.

My Mom rode him next and he was prancing all over for her, so at least I know it’s not just me.   But the next few times we were out in the arena we went by them.  He wasn’t perfect, but it was a start and much better (for both of us).

So yes, face your horse’s fear. Don’t be stupid about it…but don’t allow silly things to keep you from doing the normal things – like using the entire arena. Geez.

On the other end of the spectrum you have Zac.

Zac typically spooks maybe twice a year, and it is usually a slight startle at something (like the cat zipping by out of nowhere). Afterwards he gets incredibly embarrassed that something as silly as that could have possibly scared him. It’s very humorous.

So my Mom and I went on a yahoo-all-over-and-gallop-up-the-steep-hills trail ride about 2 weeks ago. Me on Zac, her on Wilt. Zac has to go first because if Zac doesn’t “beat” Wilt, his life is pretty much over. At 26, he still thinks he wins all the time. We don’t tell him that we hold Wilt back so that he can retain his dignity.

So I go flying up this hill that goes up…levels out…then goes up again. My Mom is a little ways behind me. Just as I reach the very top and just as I’m getting down to a canter, there is a really loud noise about 50 feet ahead. I look up and a bunch of wild turkeys with really loud wings fly up, startled at us.

My first thought, which took less than a second, was something to the effect of: Oh ok…no big deal, Zac will stop and we’ll look at them and Wilt will be ok because Zac is in front of him. Unfortunately, Zac’s initial thought, simultaneously, was: Yeah!!! Let’s get ‘em!!! And as that split second ended, his head shoots up and we’re are gone, out of the starting gate, BAM.  Half laughing, half screaming…I start yelling at him, grab at the rope that’s around his neck (for occasions just like this)…and we eventually stop.

But not before my Mom can start yelling at me: “Sit DOWN…I’ve got a bucking horse back here!!!” Apparently Wilt was listening when she held him back, but wasn’t all that happy about Zac high tailing it out of there, potentially leaving him with some very big, very scary birds.

(For the record, the first thing my Mom will always yell when a horse takes off is “Sit DOWN!!!”…in various ways.  If you’re lucky, you just get “Sit DOWN!”…if you’ve been getting on her nerves for awhile it will be something more like, “Get your BUTT in that SADDLE!!”  In 2008, for about 5-6 months, I rode a horse in AZ that took off with me almost every time I rode him. Even though I was 3,000 miles away from my Mom, the first thing I always heard in my head was her voice saying: “Sit DOWN!!”. So yeah, I think my instinctual response has gotten a lot better. )

So I think I may have the only horse in the world who runs towards the danger. In the past, when we’ve been at barns that had large, open fields, Zac would chase deer, head straight up, not really sure what he was going to do if we caught them but having a blast all the same. He is so much fun!

Moral of the stories: face your horse’s fears – don’t chase them!

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Developing an independent seat is absolutely essential if a rider aspires to the upper levels of any equestrian sport.  An independent seat is wonderful to have, beautiful to see, but difficult to describe in words.  A rider with an independent seat can move each body part independently.  Each part of his or her body is flexible enough and strong enough to do its job without any compensation in another part.  He or she can balance perfectly over the horse’s center of gravity at any gait without any hint of gripping or tilting.  She can shift her pelvis to half halt without tensing her shoulders or falling behind the vertical.  He can shift his weight on his inside seat bone and bring his shoulders back to ask for a spin without collapsing a hip or grabbing with his legs.

An independent seat starts on the ground.  If riders cannot independently control their body parts before getting in the saddle, there is not going to be a sudden transformation when their feet are in the stirrups.  A rider whose balance on the ground is a bit shaky or who is physically unfit will not be able to achieve a completely independent seat once mounted.  Activities that help develop both strength and balance such as skating, skiing, yoga, dance or martial arts can help riders cross train to achieve an independent seat for riding.  Mounted riders can work without stirrups or reins on a lunge line or in a jumping lane to achieve balance without gripping.  The more control a rider develops over his or her own body movements, the more precisely he or she will be able to use body language to communicate with a horse whether on the ground or from the saddle.

Relaxation is absolutely key to development of an independent seat and relaxation, too, starts on the ground.  Meredith Manor’s “heeding” system of groundwork teaches students to move with relaxation and rhythm so that their horses will move that way too.  Students learn that their body language communicates a huge vocabulary of nuances to their horses.  This attitude of rhythm and relaxation and the understanding that even small movements can create huge responses in the horse also figure in the development of an independent seat when they carry them over from handling the horse from the ground to working with it under saddle.  Starting out on reliable schoolmasters can help more timid riders relax as they develop balance and other skills on their way to achieving an independent seat.

The rider who is gripping with her thighs and knees and whose heels angle downward from a locked ankle may look like she has good form.  She may even win ribbons.  However, her stiff form blocks full communication with her horse.  Her aids will be like cell phone static.  They may be garbled.  Worse still, the batteries may go dead and communication may stop altogether because the horse starts to ignore her constant aid pressures.

The rider with an independent seat is completely relaxed yet able to use any muscle independently of any other muscle at any time in order to use that muscle as an aid pressure whenever she wants.  Her ankles, knees, hips, and elbows are relaxed, flexible, and soft.  Her head and shoulders are loose, nodding almost imperceptibly at the top of her spinal column in rhythm to the horse’s gaits.  There is no unproductive tension anywhere in her body.  She is able to communicate with her horse with great nuance.

There is a mechanical level of understanding of horse communication that tells us what combinations of aids communicate what patterns to the horse when we ride.  Riders need to comprehend this mechanical language but they also need to understand that it is like speaking only to their horses in the present tense.  Communication may be clear but limited.

Developing an independent seat is like developing an understanding of more sophisticated verb forms.  Now the rider can talk to the horse in the present tense, future tense, future perfect and so on.  They can fine tune their performance by small degrees.  Muscle memory develops over time so that the rider no longer even thinks about each mechanical aid sequence every time he or she asks the horse for a particular maneuver.  Now they communicate so effortlessly that they appear to be of one mind.  Both horse and rider have reached a level of athleticism that is a beautiful thing to see.  This should be the ultimate goal of every serious rider.

© 2001-2010 Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre. All rights reserved.
Faith Meredith has successfully trained and competed through FEI levels of dressage during her more than 30 years as a horse professional. She currently coaches riders in dressage, reining, and eventing in her capacity as the Director of Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre (147 Saddle Lane, Waverly, WV 26184; 800.679.2603; www.meredithmanor.edu), an ACCET accredited equestrian educational institution.

Awhile ago, Lee over at Confessions of a Struggling Dressage Rider bestowed upon Cavalli Connections the Beautiful Blogger Award. My task was then to find 15 blogs to give it to…but that’s a lot! So I am going to give it to five blogs and render it a bit more exclusive:

1. Tango Dressage Blog
2. Feather Touch Ranch
3. Combined Training
4. Dressage For Life
5. TB at X

So there you go! Take this image, put it on your blog, and beam with pride.

But that’s not all. This award got me thinking, and I came up with my own award. And because I’d like to keep it ultra exclusive, I will be giving it out every couple months to (…drum roll…) one blog. Just one.

So I present to you…the Classical Riding Awareness Award from Cavalli Connections. This award is for those who demonstrate compassion for horses and a true awareness of training and riding classically (i.e. correctly).

And the very first recipient is…

Tango Dressage Blog! If you haven’t read Suzanne’s blog yet, I highly recommend it. It is truly inspiring to see a rider and trainer of her experience retaining classical principles at such a high level. Congrats Suzanne!

Because of its enormous popularity, it has its own website!

Go watch it here –> http://www.halfpassgal.com/breathevideo.htm

You will not be disappointed.