Prevent your horse from overheating (5 tips)
For the optimal functioning of your horse’s body, it is important that body temperature remains constant. If your horse gets too hot, certain functions can become disrupted. In the extreme case, overheating can even result in death. Very important to regulate the temperature of your horse. Speaking of which, the process of keeping body temperature […]
If your horse is ‘lazy’, ride a lot of transitions. Right?
Perhaps you’ve heard this phrase before: If your horse is ‘lazy’, then you have to ride a lot of transitions within the gait. Then he will react better to your leg aids and become more active. But is that really the case? Transitions within the gait means riding forward and also taking back the pace. […]
Learn how to ride your horse in his natural balance
IN THIS LESSON Rider: Nicole Horse: Kenzy (5 years old) Biggest challenge at the moment: “Ride my horse active/ in front of my leg” After the warm-up, Rien explains how he thinks that Nicole can improve her horse. The horse should move more in his natural balance. At the moment the head of Kenzy is […]
My new project horse
My ‘new’ project horse If you follow me on Instagram you might already know it… I’ve got a new horse! Her name is Dina and she arrived at our yard as Deborah’s ‘project horse’. But Deborah has discovered that she is pregnant (with twins!!!) And she didn’t feel 100% comfortable riding an unpredictable horse. Understandable, […]
Most common mistakes when straightening your horse.
Got the idea that your horse is not entirely straight? That can be right! Because every horse is somehow crooked. Just like we are left- or right-handed, every horse has a preference for the right or left hand by nature. Therefore, we often speak of left-bent or right-bent horses. With a right-bent horse, the left […]
Making a training schedule for your horse: tips and common mistakes
As a rider, you are the ‘personal trainer’ of your horse. However, to become a personal trainer, you’re required to follow an official education where you learn how to train someone in a sustainable way. But where do we riders learn this? Where do we learn what a good training schedule looks like? Which ways […]
A tip to check whether you’ve got the right connection
When do you have the right connection? Is that when your horse walks in a certain position? And how does that differ between a young horse and a horse that competes at the highest level? Rien van der Schaft has a very handy check that applies to both a young horse and a horse that […]
ANKY: my favorite items from the AW 20/21 collection
Anky: my favorite items from the AW 20/21 collection Two weeks ago a huge box of Anky Technical Casuals arrived at my doorstep… Partytime!!! The package was full of clothing that I’d selected a while ago. So it’s about time to tell you what my favorite items of this season are. Curious to find out […]
Tempo and transitions: 3 tips for more collection
If you want to work towards collection, changes of tempo and transitions are very useful exercises. But… only if you perform them well. Only then your horse gets better from it and will place more weight on the hindquarter. But when do you perform a ‘transition’ or a ‘change of tempo’ well? Before you’re going […]
The Circle of Energy: how, what and why?
A good connection, that’s what we all want… but how do we accomplish this? What if your horse wants to curl up or keeps taking over the tempo? Or gets tense when you try to ride him towards the hand? Rien explains it according to the Circle of Energy. What is meant with the Circle […]
