By Barbara Ellin Fox
LONGING or LUNGING
Longing is often over looked in riding instruction programs. Good lunging horses take time to train and until recently the art of longing riders was not normally taught to American instructors. With USDF instructor prep classes, the teaching of longing the rider has been given more attention. … Continue Reading
Popularity: 80% [?]
My favorite way for riders to develop their seats is as old as riding a horse -
Ride Bareback
Nothing comes close to riding bareback for developing muscles, feel and balance on a horse. I recommend it for the young and the adult rider but I do have a few guidelines for safety and correct riding. … Continue Reading
Popularity: 100% [?]
by Barbara Ellin Fox
Judy Richter’s book “Riding for Kids” is a winner in the eyes of “The Riding Instructor” because I believe it’s a book that kids will read. Other than one chapter that’s written to guide parents, this book is written to kids. Topics are explained without a lot of “to do” and with the minimum amount of words. All important issues are backed up with well done illustrations that kids will love.
Judy Richter covers the basics in an encouraging style, while at the same time she avoids insulting beginners by including beyond beginner topics; such as leg yield, half halt, flying changes, and courses. Ms Richter teaches “crest release” which is totally appropriate for this level of rider. … Continue Reading
Popularity: 37% [?]
Understanding what you teach , or what you do when you ride, can make the difference between helping or hindering the horse. When I say understanding I mean really knowing the back ground behind what you’re teaching ( or learning), it’s uses, and how it effects what you do when done correctly, or incorrectly.
Take the crest release. My blog US Horsemanship has an in depth discussion about the development of the crest release. You can read about it at http://www.ushorsemanship.com/?cat=29 . Check out the “Effects of the Crest Release” for my video that shows how far we’ve come. … Continue Reading
Popularity: 61% [?]
by Barbara Ellin Fox
“Slug Bug, Red! No Slug Backs!” and I receive a “thump” on my shoulder. My 4 1/2 year old granddaughter demonstrates the effects of “branding”.
Branding is the process of turning something into an easily recognized, cohesive identity. We recognize the branding a single item like the shape of a Volkswagen Beetle or Budweiser Beer with the Budweiser Clydesdales. The sight of a polo pony and rider with mallet in the air tells us we’re looking at the Ralph Lauren line of products. A green four leaf clover with an H on each leaf identifies the “4H” member. Branding makes it possible to identify an object, a group, and association, or a member in an instant. … Continue Reading
Popularity: 19% [?]
by Barbara Ellin Fox Aside from having great videos and pictures AND being a fun blog to read, The Riding Instructor blog is a good source for information for instructors, riders, students and their significant others. Significant others could be a spouse or Mom and Dad. The purpose of The Riding Instructor blog is to [...]
by Barbara Ellin Fox The Riding Instructor is for anyone who wants to learn more about horses. It includes areas that will be of interest to actual riding instructors or people hoping to become instructors but it also includes resources for people who would go to a riding instructor for help and education. While I [...]
by Barbara Ellin Fox What could be better for a horse lover than a social network that is totally for horse people! Barnmice says “To ride a horse is to ride the sky.” — Author Unknown- If you live by these words , then welcome home! I first learned about Barnmice through a classified ad [...]
by Barbara Ellin Fox I love this French and Saunders clip about a girl who loves riding but has to do everything she can to put a positive spin on her accomplishments or lack there of. She doesn’t have a high rate of success but she has big dreams. She has more things going against [...]
by Barbara Ellin Fox Riding is different than most other sports. If a person is taught to ride correctly they can continue this sport for a lifetime. I’ve known many people who continue to ride in their 60s, 70s, and 80s and a few who have continued to ride in their 90s. That’s something that [...]
