Get the horse working better - forwardness

Hi! Here are a couple of good tips for when your horse lacks forwardness:

🐴 Transitions and changes of tempo. Count the strides and ask for more, then less. For example, three steps back, three steps forward. Practise using neither hand to slow down nor speed up, but your seat and stomach muscles instead. Ride with the horse's movement when you want it to go forward, and think of tucking the tailbone under and braking with the lower stomach muscles when you want to bring it back. You can do this in all gaits, on straight and curved lines, in the school or out in the countryside.

🐴 Hack out! Walk out in the woods, up and down hills, around trees and rocks and over different surfaces. Horses usually find it fun and you get a natural forwardness. Ride with company if you can, and remember reflective gear if it starts to get dark.

Good luck 🦄