Category: Equine Biomechanics

Anyone who knows me understands I’m pretty hard-core classical dressage and believe that dressage with correct bio-mechanics is the foundation for any and all disciplines.  But I also know that each discipline has their own nuances, both good and bad, that can be learned from.  A typical jump course lasts a few minutes, and there is only a few seconds...

When the horse walks or trots, its spine moves from side to side in a snake-like motion as each step pushes energy up the horses back.  The diagonal pattern of the gait transfers the thrust from the push phase of the gait up one side of the horses back and then the other.  The energy flows through the muscles like...

Most riders who work their horses regularly have a set routine for warm-up.  Others may not follow any routine or minimize warm-up and go straight to working.  Still others may not really know what to do or how to effectively ride a warm-up.  Understanding the purpose of the warm-up for both horse and rider may give you a perspective on...

This is the last in a series of three articles about Stiff vs. Hollow.   In Part II we saw what happens when your horse is traveling in the direction where he feels stiff.  Now we will look at the “hollow” side. Previously we learned that in the natural horse, the major component of balance usually follows the dominant side because...

This is the second in a series of three articles about Stiff vs. Hollow.   In the first I explained why your horse feels different when moving in each direction, what to look for, and how to help correct it under saddle. When ridden, it is natural for the horse to shift his weight to the forehand, where he carries 60%...

In this little series of three articles I’m going to delve into why your horse feels different when moving in each direction, what to look for, and how to help correct it under saddle. “Stiff” and “Hollow” are terms that describe what the rider feels when a horse is moving in a particular way.  These terms are often used to...