FEATURE
From the Horse’s Mouth
bones rather than on the pubic bone. “If your horse is deemed lazy, check if you’re riding with the hand-break on. Rotate your pelvis to adjust your weight.”
and stability, enhancing or hindering the horse’s gait inFEATURE transitions.”
She explains that In order to ride a good soft upward transition, the horse bones rather than on the pubic bone. and stability, enhancing or hindering the “If your horse lazy, checkthe if The fifth rungisisdeemed attention to what horse’s gait in transitions.” has to engage the abdominal muscles you’re the hand-break on. upperriding thigh with and groin are doing. The in order to lift its back. “Then the hind She explains that In order to ride a Rotate to adjust yourWith weight.” upper your thighpelvis shouldn’t be closed on the legs have to come underneath the Fiona Todd good soft upward transition, the horse horse. Tanja recommends lifting each leg body to support the rider’s weight and The fifth rung is attention to what the has to engage the abdominal muscles up andthigh thenand rotating out toThe loosen instep forward withthe thehind neck upper grointhem are doing. order to lift in itsbalance back. “Then any grip and to increase the range of soft and round, which we call going upper thigh shouldn’t beone closed on the legs have to come underneath the ay is always of my motion. “Think of Johnmonths Wayne, ” she ‘on the ,” she explains. biggest horse. Tanja recommends lifting each leg body to bit’ support the rider’s“The weight and favourite because says. “You can fitget a horse between up and then rotating out to loosen step in balance thedown neck partforward of my teaching is towith break we tothem payinhomage tohis a any gripwhen and group to range of thighs heincrease walks. ” theremarkable soft round, as which webit’ call, ‘getting going of truly suchand concepts ‘on the motion.-“Think of John Wayne,” she ‘on the bit’,” and she ‘improving explains. “The biggest people the horsey mums of the world. impulsion’ rhythm’ .I Next“You is thecan importance elbows says. fit a horseof inbent between his part of my teaching is to break down break this down to educate riders first, You know, those mums who get up thighs whenfists. he walks.” and closed “Soft hands come from such concepts as ‘on the bit’, ‘getting so the horse is able to achieve all that.” at some stupid hour and drive their impulsion’ and ‘improving rhythm’. I bent elbows, not open hands,” she children and their beloved ponies Next is the importance of bent elbows break down to educate ridershelping first, reminds riders. “If you squeeze your Tanja this teaches riders at all levels, to Woop Woop forhands a lesson; thefrom and closed fists.just “Soft come so the horse is able to achieve all that.” thumb who and index finger just when holding them to understand how they’ve been women go soshe their bent elbows, notwithout open hands,” the reins you can’t have a clenched fist. blocking theirriders horse.at all levels, helping offspring get to“If ride, lessons and reminds riders. youhave squeeze your Tanja teaches When we tofinger ride without (good) compete. thumb andlearn index when holding them to understand how they’ve been “The body buys into the story and instruction, develop thatfist. are the reins youwe can’t have ahabits clenched blocking theirto horse. take the time read the stories our As a mum, I’ve done all that and more. controls breathing. Horses are sensitive When weuseful learn to ride without that todo overall riding.(good) We editor Candy has gathered together I not know that we all it willingly and body ”buys into the story and to energy, she says, going back to the instruction, weitdevelop habits that areof “The have to question, break down into a new during the past few years. without because we loveway it controls breathing. Horses are sensitive not that useful to overall riding. We breath. That long breath out. thinking. ” we know that horsey kids and because It’senergy,” a great reminder that allback of the to she says, going to the have to break it down into a new way of are good kids! How could they not be? riders we feature started their journeys breath. That long breath out. Tanja conducts some of her mindset thinking.” She worries when people say things like as beginners, notwhich as theshe Grand This lands your inbox whilein work by phone, canPrix do with I justedition want to keepinmy horse round Tanja conducts some of her mindset She worries when people say things like riders they are today. They were all in we are attending the fabulous Aquis people anywhere in the world. If you’d the trot, or I just want impulsion. ”These work by phone, which she can do IChampions just want to keep my horse round in the back rings learning their trade.with If Tour, an event that has a like to contact Tanja, book a clinic with are not simple things, ” she says. “First I people anywhere in the world. If you’d the trot, or I just Lang-McMahon want impulsion. -”These this magazine encourages just one of mum – Michelle at her, buy her book ‘Itbook TakesaTwo to Tango’ look at simple the horse’s posture and “First ask can Tanja, are not things,” I it like you to to contact say, “I can do that” andclinic set awith big the helm. In honour ofshe thesays. event we’ve or her other on Mindset, or purchase her physically stay in the posture. Then I look her, buy her book ‘It Takes Two to Tango’ look at the horse’s posture and ask can it goal for yourself, then we are on track released our very first printed edition videos, check her website: atHorseVibes, whether theainrider hastothe her other onour Mindset, or purchase physically stay the posture. Then I look or to accomplish ambition to be a her of tribute Ourbalance, Jumping videos, check her website: at whether the rider has core the balance, www.tanjamitton.com meaning enough inner strength publication that inspires you to be the Heroes. What a privilege it was to put www.tanjamitton.com meaning enough inner core best horse person you can be. this publication together! Westrength hope you
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Buyers Ready! Ready! Buyers
You might notice the absence of one of our popular regular columns this month. The Horse Listener is having a little holiday because our wonderful editor, Candy, went and got married. All of us at HorseVibes wish Candy and Greg all the best for their future together. So without further ado, welcome to the May edition of HorseVibes. Ute Raabe travelled to Germany to interview Our Hero Mary Hanna, and what an inspiration she is. Jane Camens talked to some of the wonderful equine photographers who record and share the beautiful imagery of the people and horses that make our industry so amazing. Charlie Brister looked (or tried to look) into his crystal ball when he was asked to judge the Young Horse event in Toowoomba. We have two beautiful mother/daughter stories to celebrate our May Mother’s Day – one from Evangaline Read, and the journey she’s shared with her mother, journalist and publisher Shona Martyn and one from Bryn Anderson, on her mother’s 30-year love affair with a beautiful Arabian she won in a raffle.
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
If your horse isyour deemed If horse lazy, check if is deemed you’re lazy, check if Plus of course, we have allriding our regular columns, put together byour staff writer you’re riding with the Dannii Cunnane, featuring Caspian horses, endurance training with thetips and our hand-break young rider, Lindsey Ware. hand-break on.your favourite tipple, As always, pour on.
put up your feet and enjoy.
PS most importantly of all, Happy Mother’s Day to my Mum, you are my inspiration.
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APRIL 2019 -
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