by Jenny Richardson, BHSAI Our head trainer Jenny Richardson teaches many guests and clients here at Castle Leslie Estate’s wonderful Equestrian Centre. She says that of all the common mis-understandings between horse and rider, there are four that stand out, detailed below… BALANCE A rider who loses his own balance will compromise the balance of the horse which in turn will affect the horse’s way of going. Whether it be riding a simple upward or downward transition or over jumps it may create one or more of the following problems: hollowing, wobbling, wrong bend, wrong canter lead, running … [Read more...]
Tips on Saddle Fitting
by Jenny Richardson, BHSAI As a trainer here at Castle Leslie Estate, I see plenty of horse and rider combos that are imbalanced. Optimal saddle fit for both horse and rider is a key factor for being balanced in the saddle. This is important, as the rider needs to be in balance in order to enhance the horse’s way of going. A balanced saddle gives a good bearing surface, and distributes the rider’s weight over the largest possible area. For horse riding holidays at Castle Leslie, we have our riding horse’s saddles checked regularly. Not only for our horses’ welfare, but also so our visiting … [Read more...]
All About Accuracy
by Jenny Richardson, BHSAI I am Equestrian Centre Business Manager here at Ireland’s Castle Leslie Estate. Read on to discover my top tips for show-jumping accuracy. Or, visit our main site, www.castleleslie.com, to see what we have to offer for horse riding vacations, Ireland! We know from speaking with the many visitors and guests that experience our own XC course at Castle Leslie Estate that most event riders are very confident in the cross-country phase. Most are also established in the dressage section, but when it comes to the show jumping round, this is where mistakes are made; partly … [Read more...]
Hacking Spooky or Young Horses
by Jenny Richardson, BHSAI In our latest blog, our head equestrian trainer Jenny Richardson takes a look at hacking a spooky or inexperienced horse safely; perfect timing, as we all enjoy the beautiful summer weather in the countryside! Jenny says: “The warmer weather and longer evenings in Ireland and the UK have inspired many equestrian enthusiasts get out hacking and enjoying the beautiful countryside! However in order to enjoy hacking to the full, it is important that we are up to speed with our riding and road safety knowledge. This will ensure we are as safe and confident as possible … [Read more...]
The importance of accurate dressage tests
by Jenny Richardson, BHSAI Many pupils here at the equestrian centre at our world-leading riding facility often ask me for tips in the area of honing their dressage tests, and increasing marks. The accuracy of riding and the horse’s movements is critical in the dressage score received for any combination, and when it comes to riding a polished dressage test, preparation is the key to success. Accuracy is a dynamic which often gets lost when riders simply focus on the horse’s way of going – which in turn often leads to increases in their own stress levels, and those of their horses. Riding a … [Read more...]
Remembering Course
by Jenny Richardson, BHSAI We spend lots of time helping our riding clients hone their showjumping. But as an instructor, I often hear that people find it hard to recall the set course! Fortunately, the more you compete, the more natural it will become to remember your course of show jumps. It is common to be anxious at the beginning, or on returning after a break. Most courses are built on natural lines to be flowing and inviting; the course builder does not aim for you to have worries about direction, but to encourage a rhythmical, correct round of jumping. 1. Walking the course At any … [Read more...]
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