Achieving an educated hand could be construed as the most difficult of all the lessons to learn as a rider.

First introduced at fourth level, the counter change of hand in trot, or zig-zag, is one of the more difficult exercises in the trot work. The horse must not only be laterally supple in both directions, but he must also be straight and on the aids in order for the change of direction to take place with no loss of balance or rhythm. I address the change of direction already while schooling the leg yield. Many of the same principles apply, since a change of direction in the leg yield requires the horse to move sideways in one direction, to straighten for a moment, and then yield away from the leg in the opposite direction.

Get help stopping your horse, from Debbie Dobson, a coach, trainer, and competitor with 30 years’ experience in the equine industry.

Can’t ‘see’ a take-off spot or distance if your life depended on it? Perhaps you’re looking too hard, or need to work on the basics.

Sitting right in the middle of the Dressage Training Scale, contact is often the most misunderstood step on the scale. Learn how to correct mistakes here.

The struggle to keep the horse and rider sound of body and mind through the show season is always a top priority for trainers.

What would happen to a rider who entered the ring for an equitation class with black stirrup irons? Keep reading to find out more.

You've practiced dressage, jumped some stadium courses, and schooled over cross-country obstacles. But are you and your horse ready to compete at a horse trial?

Randy Roy is a senior international judge, course designer and author. He owns and operates Hunters Glen Show Stable in King, ON, with his daughter, Ryan Roy.

In the third and final segment of a series on training young event horses, top eventer Kendal Lehari and her instructor/event rider mother, Gwen, discuss their system for preparing four- and five-year-olds for their competition careers at Reindalyne Farm in Uxbridge, ON.