"FOUR CORNERS PHILOSOPHY"
The Winning Training Advantage

Her Training Label: "4 CORNERS" 

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"Four Corners" is a term I have used many times when teaching.

 

Connected riding is all very important but if you do not have all “Four Corners” of the horse working in harmony, (balanced and relaxed), you cannot progress correctly.

Once you have attained the working "Four Corners" you can teach your horse any exercise, be it an Extended Trot to Piaffe, Passage and Half Pass easily and happily.

"Four Corners" means each leg with shoulders and hips of the horse - these are the legs of the table that allow it to stay upright. Through flexibility and movement these corners move in fluid ways.

In the basic level of dressage we want a horse that has balance 50/50 from front to back.
Each corner then carries the same weight. Naturally, the horse would carry 60% in the front end and 40% in the back end. If we ask them to load onto their hind end before they are developed correctly, it can lead to problems in joints and muscles.

 

Furthermore, over-training can stress the horse mentally to perform outside of their comfort level and ability.

Once our horse is ready and balanced, they are able to then stretch forward and down over their back.

This allows them to lift their underline which causes their back legs to come underneath them. All 4 legs are moving freely, and the horse is now relaxed and happy to move.

As we develop the horse through the exercises of strengthening the 4 corners we achieve:

 

• freedom and regularity of pace

• balance

• uphill carriage

• extended movement

• lightness

 

Our goal is to have the horse able to shift their weight onto each corner independently.
 

JUMPERS
When developing a good jumper, the flat work is fundamental! It is much like build a house. If we start with a good solid foundation, the house will serve us a very long time.

 

It is important for us to develop the supporting structure that can then, be utilized over fences. Fitness is key!
If the horse does not feel physically confident or capable of doing the job, they will refuse, run out or jump awkwardly and/or become sore and unfit to go further.

 

The horse should always approach with ears forward, confident in their rider that they will not be over faced. 

 

The height of the fence is not important. That is the last thing to
develop. You wouldn't go to the gym cold, never having lifted 200 lbs and expect to lift successfully or without injury.

We must think of our horse the same way.
We are developing athletes. As their strength and balance increases and improves, so does their ability to jump higher, not just a jump or two but 14-23 in succession.

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I have developed countless successful jumpers by sticking to this outline regardless of market trends or demands.

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I look forward to helping you and your horse(s) connect at a deeper level physically, mentally and emotionally. Contact me today to schedule private or group schoolings or a clinic.