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Creative Images for Using the Aids
From the very first time you mount a rider on a horse, she needs to know how to use her primary natural aids, the seat, legs and hands, to communicate to the horse what she wants him to do.

Understanding Natural Horsemanship
Part I of a three part series on Natural Horsemanship
Natural horsemanship (NH) simply means that we know and understand the horse's instinctive and herd behaviors and that we use that information to develop a willing partnership and communicate with the horse and in a way that he understands. Take the informative quiz.

Round Pen Revealed
Part 2 of a 3 part series on Natural Horsemanship
The round pen is one of the most commonly used tools of Natural Horsemanship (NH). As discussed in the first article in this series on NH, this is a generic term for a style of training that considers the horse's natural behavior and attempts to train him in a language he understands. Round pen work is quite a bit more complicated than just chasing the horse in a circle; it involves a systematic process that brings the horse to a respectful, trusting and willing frame of mind.

Lead Line Leadership
Part 3 of a three part series on Natural Horsemanship
The first two articles in this series on Natural Horsemanship (NH) were about understanding the principles of NH, the tools utilized in this style of training and working in the round pen to establish a respectful attitude from your horse. In this article, we’ll explore the groundwork you can do with your horse from the lead line, to refine your relationship with your horse and bring it to a whole new level.

Of Women and Horses
Without question, there is a connection between women and horses. This bond lures both young girls and older women into a web of seduction. My humble beginnings with horses has enlightened me not only to the ways and wiles of horses, but also to a greater understanding of how it is that women are so inextricably intertwined with them, for better or for worse, and why horses are so powerfully attractive to women.

Stirrup Length
Appropriate stirrup length is critical for all levels and disciplines of riders. It is important for safety, for rider balance and for the effectiveness of the rider in developing correct riding skills. For starters, know what the appropriate stirrup length is for the style of riding, or disciplines, such as English/Western, Dressage, Reining, Saddle seat, Cutting, Jumping, Roping, etc. But there are some commonalities between all disciplines of riding that will help an instructor determine if the length is correct for the rider. Read more on how (and how not) to gauge your stirrup length.

Understanding Leg Aids
The "natural aids" are the tools that you were born with that allow you to communicate to the horse what you want him to do while you are riding. Traditionally, there are four natural aids, the seat, the legs, the hands and the voice. As a rider progresses in skill-level, the leg aids should become more articulate to control different parts of the horse's body for turning and more refined and controlled movements. The rider's hands control the horse from the withers forward, but the legs control the horse's body from the withers back to his tail. Read more to find out how to effectively use your leg aids...

Upper Body Equitation
Read about the most common upper-body equitation faults seen in riders from head position to hand position. Learn how to communicate with your eyes and why this is an important aid to the horse. Learn how to correct rounded shoulders and improve your balance with minor position corrections. This article also reveals the secrets for developing quiet and steady "giving" hands that will make your horse happy.

Understanding Pressure
This article explores the types of pressure we apply to horses, the effective ways to apply it and how we may expect the horse to respond to pressure. As prey animals, horses respond to different stimuli (pressure) in different ways (flight or fight). Horses will respond to both mental and physical pressure. Horses may respond to pressure offensively or defensively. Flight is an example of an offensive response, while biting, kicking and striking are examples of defensive responses to pressure. An offensive response will cause a horse to move away from pressure, while a defensive response will make a horse move into pressure. Horses are most responsive to light, dynamic (always-changing) pressure. Understanding the pressure we are putting on the horse will lead to a lighter and more responsive horse.

Understanding Horse Behavior
Before we can ever hope to understand, let alone control the movement of a horse, it is important to know the various behaviors that motivate a horse to move in the first place. What is often misunderstood about horses is how deep the flight response goes in a horse's nature and that every movement a horse is capable of and every step he takes has some significance. According to the laws of the herd (the only rules horses really understand) the hierarchy is linear, meaning each and every individual of the herd is either dominate over or subordinate to each and every other individual. For a horse to accept a human as leader, that human must be able to control the horse's space and must never betray his trust by causing him fear or pain. Once they have accepted the individual (horse or human) as leader, they will be relaxed, compliant, obedient and happy. This article gives important information for understanding horse behavior and the horse-human bond.

Using the Natural Aids
The natural aids are the best tools the rider has to communicate with the horse. Traditionally, there are four natural aids, the seat (weight), the legs, the hands and the voice of the rider. I prefer to teach seven natural aids, which in addition to the traditional four aids includes the rider's eyes, the rider's breathing and the rider's brain. All of the natural aids should be used in unison and should always originate, or be connected to, the use of the seat. No one aid gives a cue to the horse (you do not stop by pulling on the reins or go by kicking), but all the aids working together will guide the horse toward the appropriate response. Read more about connecting and coordinating the natural aids to give clear and consistent communications to your horse.

Equitation Problems and Solutions
Horseback riding is a true balance sport and has been compared to both ballet dancing and downhill skiing as activities that require an extreme amount of balance.   The balanced position requires that your ear, shoulder, hip and heel form a straight line. 

Understanding Horse Behavior-Flight for Life
-Before we can ever hope to understand, let alone control the movement of a horse, it is important to know the various behaviors that motivate a horse to move in the first place. Being a prey animal means the horse's first reaction to danger is to run, hell bent for leather, away from the perceived threat. React first, think later. Winter 2000

Improving Rider Position Let Gravity Be Your Friend
We have talked in previous articles about the importance of a balanced position with ear-shoulder-hip-heel alignment and open and relaxed joints that allow the rhythm of the horse to flow through the rider. Proper position unites the balance of horse and rider, giving the picture of a team moving as one. If I were to guess at the single most common equitation error I see, what immediately springs to mind is the rider that is braced on the stirrup.

On The Rail By Julie Goodnight
A Q&A column written by Master Instructor and CHA Program Director, Julie Goodnight. This column answers questions from real instructors, students and parents on how to improve riding and teaching skills.