Have you ever felt a dull ache or a stinging pain in your knees or ankles while riding? Maybe the pain comes after you stop… an unpleasant “price to pay” for doing what you love. It’s a common problem for riders, but it doesn’t have to be! There are different reasons you may be feeling […] The post Do You Have Knee or Ankle Pain When You Ride? appeared first on HorseClass ..read more

Think for a moment about how you feel moving. Simple movement – walking around, picking stuff up, light exercise. What are the words going through your mind right now? Are they positive? Do you see yourself moving gracefully and beautifully, or did some less-than-desirable adjectives come to mind in your self-talk? How about when it […] The post How Your Self Talk Affects Your Riding (and your movement!) appeared first on HorseClass ..read more

In this video, we are unraveling the complexities of seat aids, giving you a few simple things to always remember to always communicate clearly with your horse.  Using your weight to give clear seat aids is crucial for effective communication with your horse and maintaining good stability in the saddle.  However, these aids are often […] The post Understanding Seat Aids in Riding appeared first on HorseClass ..read more

Our bodies are incredibly interconnected, creating intricate lines of connection that influence our posture and balance in the saddle. In this new video, we will explore the surprising link between your jaw and your stability while riding, showing how tension in one area can move through your entire body. I will also share tips to […] The post How Your Jaw Affects Your Seat?! appeared first on HorseClass ..read more

“Get back on the horse” makes the person watching feel better. When people give advice, however well intentioned, it’s often for them, not for the person they are directing it at. If you’ve ever had a fall and with shaky legs inched your way back to the horse that someone was kindly holding waiting for […] The post Had a Fall and Didn’t Want to Get Back On? appeared first on HorseClass ..read more

Supporting riders with fear is close to my heart, because I have felt it too.  And I know there is a way to live, and to ride, with a completely different relationship with fear.  Have you felt riding fear or anxiety? The sick to your stomach, looking for a way out, can’t wait until you […] The post Experiences with Fear appeared first on HorseClass ..read more

We all want a great seat.  The ability to follow the horse’s movement. To stay balanced. To give subtle cues.  Perhaps the most important – to stay on! When a rider has a good seat the horse can trip, spook, lose rhythm, and the rider won’t feel that unsettling loss of balance.  I have a […] The post 3 Keys to a Great Riding Seat appeared first on HorseClass ..read more

What have you been told about what to do with your leg as you ride? Maybe put your leg at the girth, wrap your leg around the horse, feel your heel against the horse… There are many different instructions riders are given and as is true with most riding advice, many common “instructions” may be […] The post Keys to a Great Leg Position for Riders appeared first on HorseClass ..read more

Do you know the dreadful feeling when you make a mistake, lose your balance, get startled, and your horse’s mouth pays the price? Or the frustration of wanting to have steady contact to help your horse stay on the aids, and advance your riding, but you just can’t seem to keep your hands still? The […] The post 3 Exercises for Steady Rein Contact appeared first on HorseClass ..read more

Have you ever been told to “wrap your leg around the horse?”  As though staying on requires literally getting your leg around the horse, and hanging on.  This is another piece of riding advice that can actually make us more tense and unstable.  Here’s why… if we wrap our leg, we tighten our hips and […] The post Wrap Your Leg Around the Horse? appeared first on HorseClass ..read more