- 04 Jun, 2025
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- 8 Mins Read
Bernie Traurig’s Top Ten Most Common Clinic Observations
Bernie Traurig has reached the top of the sport in all three International Equestrian Olympic disciplines–Show Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing. Additionally, Bernie won the ASPCA Maclay and AHSA/USEF Equitation Medal Finals and was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. A highly sought-after clinician, Bernie is renowned for his riding talents and teaching and coaching gifts. Bernie’s instruction follows the core principles of the American Hunter/Jumper Forward Riding System, focusing on the rider's position, the application of aids, and a schooling system. He is a master clinician for all levels of riding, from beginner level to Grand Prix performance.
The following describes the most common issues I encounter in clinics every week with some accompanying video topics on EquestrianCoach.com to help solve them.
#1 Lack of enough heel depth and proper placement of the foot in the stirrup.
One’s whole base of support begins with the foot and lower leg. The foot should be placed just over the ball or slightly in front of the ball if you are less flexible in the ankle. Placing the foot too far in the stirrup, behind the ball of the foot, makes it more difficult to lower your heel unless you are one of those blessed individuals who have extremely flexible ankles. Most of us pressure the edge of the stirrup rather than using the stirrup as a flat platform. The epidemic of wide stirrup pads, now seen all over, can in some cases discourage heel depth, as some riders will stand on them like a platform, as they would on the floor.
Watch my lesson: Building Blocks to a Great Position, Part One
#2 Improper placement of spurs or spurs placed way above the spur rests.
The placement of spurs today seems to have crept upwards, way above the spur rests. To some degree, it’s perhaps due to the snaps on some boots and half chaps that seem to place the spur above it easily. On the other hand, it also seems difficult to keep the spurs in place and not too low. Spur placement is so important as an aid to one’s leg. Too high and it’s hard to use your legs without the spur inadvertently poking the horse. Too low and it’s totally ineffective.
Watch my lesson “Spurs 101”
In this topic, I offer my personal philosophies on spurs. We’ll discuss the proper placement of your spurs and the appropriate choice of spur to use, taking into consideration your horse’s sensitivity level. Find out my favorites as well as the ones you should avoid using all together.
#3 Lower leg position!
In my clinics, the leg position of a rider is the first thing I notice and address before proceeding with further instruction. A solid foundation in the tack begins with the lower leg, and I am a huge advocate of the forward seat with proper leg position in the hunter/jumper discipline. We have three lower leg positions: 1. The normal leg; 2. The displacing leg; 3. The braced or leveraged leg. It’s a common observation at my clinics that I find riders lacking the understanding and application of these three leg positions, and many riders with a lower leg position too far behind the girth as their default placement.
You may learn more about lower leg stability and our three leg positions, along with their placement and applications, in my recent blog post here. Or gain greater lower leg mobility by watching this lesson.
#4 Horses behind the leg, dull to the leg aids.
Legs that constantly rub and nag the horse every stride to go forward. The result of this is creating a dull, insensitive horse and irritation on the horse’s sides. Most riders who do this lack the philosophy and correct technique of how to use their legs properly and how and when the different degrees of correction should be used.
Watch the lesson: Getting and Keeping the Dull Horse in Front of Your Leg
#5 A lack of “following arms” in the walk, and especially the canter, gallop, and jump.
This has to be a major focus of one’s riding. Your arms should elastically follow the natural gestures of the neck and head during the walk, canter and gallop. Your connection with your hands and arms, if in opposition with that movement, will be a direct blow on the most sensitive part of the horse – his mouth.
Watch my lesson: Developing Good Hands
#6 Misunderstanding the basic primary aid – the opening rein – to maintain a straight line between two jumps.
When I ask the question, “What is the primary aid to maintaining a straight line between two jumps?” I invariably get the answer “Leg.” Although the leg is definitely a backup (assuming the horse reacts to one’s leg aid), the number one aid is the opening rein. Turn the head of the horse, and they will most likely follow it.
Watch the lesson: Straight and Simple
#7 Riders that look way over and beyond the top rail of the jumps on their approach.
Time and time again, I come across riders in my clinics that are having trouble with their distances because they are taught to look up or ahead too early, having a wide-angle view and simply losing focus on the actual object they are trying to find a distance to—the fence.
It seems these riders have been taught to “look at the trees,” in theory, because looking down promotes slouching. But, quite frankly, if you teach proper position, looking at the top rail does not encourage slouching.
After decades of teaching riders of all levels, I have found that the system explained in this video has proven to be the most successful. Anything taken to excess could become a problem. And, it seems to be that the notion of looking ahead with correct timing has been taken to the extreme where I see riders being taught to not even look at the fence at all. If you’re having problems with your distance, perhaps you might consider you are maybe looking a little too high and too early.
Keep your eye on the center of the top rail of the jump, or the center of the front rail of an oxer, and maintain that focus until take-off or slightly before (maybe even a few strides before if you are comfortable and secure with the distance).
If you’d like to learn more about my system, you can watch my lesson “Looking for the Distance.”
#8 A lack of basic schooling techniques for the horses that are strong in lines and after the end jumps.
A complete progressive forward-riding training system.
The first of the series, this video outlines a simple, progressive method of flatwork for all jumping disciplines. It focuses on the training of a young or inexperienced horse with the aim to achieve obedience to light rein and leg aids, and assumes the rider is familiar with the proper techniques of riding and jumping. But you do not have to be a highly experienced or seasoned rider because these strategies are clear, straight-forward, classical and timeless. The Basic level highlights my favorite exercises that can be incorporated into anyone’s training program.
#9 Improper bitting.
This brings us to one of the biggest issues I encounter: Correctly bitting the horse, especially for schooling over fences. I always say, school in the mildest bit suitable for the horse, considering the rider. Learn my philosophy on bits and bitting that I have gained through decades of experience working with thousands of horses.
Watch my lesson on bits and bitting here.
#10 Riders without knowledge of the proper adjustment of stirrups and the girth, relying on a ground person to adjust them.
That said, I am very understanding of this dilemma today due to the difficulty one has moving the thick stirrup leathers constricted by the very tight stirrup bars against the saddle.
Here are two videos with tips to help with this issue and educate riders on proper adjustments:
Equestrian Coach Workshops are open to all ages and all levels of riding, and are educational for horses at any stage of their training. While the instruction will be professional and focused, the atmosphere will be relaxed, friendly, and positive as Bernie addresses and improves your specific issues or those of your horse(s). He will work with you to establish an ongoing program to reach your goals that will include individualized homework and training plans beyond the workshop. Additionally, you will have one year of one-on-one access to Bernie as he monitors your progress via video analysis and answers any questions or concerns via email.
DID YOU KNOW? You can schedule a private workshop with Bernie Traurig for you or your stable!
Beginning August 20th, 2025, after our Summer Workshops conclude, Bernie Traurig will be offering private, extended-stay training at the Equestrian Coach Training Facility in beautiful West Point, Virginia. In addition to trailer-in opportunities, we will offer tailor-made extended-stay packages for private training or arranged workshops for your stable. These extended-stay opportunities include housing and meals, and stabling for you and your horse(s), or you may lease our available Equestrian Coach horses. Our beautiful 45-acre farm includes grass turn-outs, a 250×140 outdoor jumping arena with all-weather footing and new IsiTrade aluminum jumps, an all-weather viewing gazebo, two large grass jumping fields, a regulation dressage arena, and a round pen. Our farm adjoins the Sandy Point State Park with seven miles of groomed trails for riding, hiking, and mountain biking along the Manaponi River. Housing on the farm includes fiber internet, four mountain bikes, a guest six-seater golf cart, a ping-pong table, and a volleyball/racquetball court. For more information on pricing, housing, availability, and booking, email us at bernie@equestriancoach.com.