5 training tips from Bliss Heers, show jumping rider
From the time Bliss Heers became interested in the world of horses near her hometown of San Diego, California, to the time she trained in Europe under German Olympic gold medalist Otto Becker and then competed for the U.S. in the FEI Jumping Nations Cups, she gained extensive experience in training and competition. Below, you can read five training tips from Bliss Heers for successful riding and jumping. Whether in warm-up before a competition or in a regular workout, do not worry about where the horse’s head is positioned. Just let it move forward freely. You should focus on relaxing its body and getting it moving from behind. With that forward movement alone, the horse will gradually place itself in a better frame and position. If a horse does not naturally move forward, the warm-up tempo should be only slightly faster than what the horse itself wants to offer. This helps it learn a sharper tempo and keeps its focus on you. Collecting the horse in the trot before asking for canter puts it in better balance to make the transition correctly. Guide the horse from your inside leg to the outside rein, soften your seat, ask it to bring its balance back, and then ask for the transition to canter. This helps you have a smoother transition that is neither rushed nor falling on the forehand. When you put your leg on the horse, it should respond immediately. When you approach a combination, before entering the corner, move forward a little more than is comfortable. Then balance the horse in the turn, keep your eyes up, and stay straight. This helps maintain a steady rhythm in the canter and also stay straight on the line of the combination. Use your body position as a strength, not muscular force. You should not get into a fight with the horse. The issue is not controlling the horse, but communicating with it. The goal is simply to think about getting the horse to do something while, at the same time, slightly changing your body position to show it what you want. The horse understands and responds as you expect. Source: Practical Horseman – Training