This member requested video features a horse that is afraid of liverpools, affecting his show performance whenever this obstacle presents itself. Bernie tackles this issue using the same techniques he uses when introducing green horses to liverpools for the first time. His tried and true methodical approach leads to success.

Running Time: 15 minutes and 44 seconds

Gymnastic jumping exercises are used to strengthen every aspect of the horse’s jumping mechanism. In this topic, Bernie schools Hanna Mauritzson and her Grand Prix jumper prospect, Cilandro, over a gymnastic designed to enhance his front end and ability to shorten his stride between elements. Cilandro was recently imported from Europe where he developed a dependance on his previous rider who “protected his front end.” Bernie and Hanna have been working with this horse to be more self-reliant, reactive and quick off the ground with his front end.

Running Time: 5 minutes and 18 seconds

Gymnastics referred to in this video:

The Kusner Gymnastic – presented by Bernie Traurig

The Winkler Gymnastic – presented by Bernie Traurig

A narrated video presentation celebrating the extraordinary contribution the Thoroughbred horse has made in all the jumping disciplines. Until the very recent past Thoroughbreds dominated North America’s competitive jumping scene with their superior athleticism, heart and jumping prowess. Their popularity sadly declined as warmbloods descended en masse upon the horse show industry beginning in the early 1980s. Thoroughbreds seemed to virtually disappear as seemingly “easy-going” warmbloods gained momentum and cachet. This video is a reminder that some of our most outstanding and beloved equine athletes of all time were proudly Thoroughbreds. Not only should we remember their profound influence, but applaud and encourage their reemergence into the mainstream of the equestrian sport.

Running Time: 37 minutes and 15 seconds

An unstable or unintentionally displaced lower leg during downward transitions can send mixed signals to a horse. Bernie Traurig likes to call these “clashing aids.” If for instance, a rider squeezes with the lower leg behind the girth (or even brushes that area on a sensitive horse) while asking with the rein aids for the horse to come back, the horse will be confused and the transition will be anything but smooth. In this video lesson, Bernie demonstrates this common mistake and shows how to achieve prompt downward transitions by avoiding what he calls the “tickle spot,” that area on a sensitive thoroughbred or warmblood horse that can cause an unwanted reaction with even the slighted touch.

Running Time: 4 minutes and 59 seconds

Are you looking to correct a horse with a carriage that is too low or is too heavy on the forehand?

In this free video tip, Bernie Traurig teaches us a very handy tool all equestrians should have in their riding toolbox. One of his versions of a half-halt that is simple to do, he calls a “nip up.” This can be used in many instances, especially on a horse that is too low in its carriage or is too heavy on the forehand. Bernie demonstrates how to use this technique properly and effectively without hanging on the horse’s mouth. Ultimately, this should be an invisible and soft correction that you should only use when absolutely necessary so it remains meaningful. This technique can also be found in the books by Vladimir Littauer (Commonsense Horsemanship) and Gordon Wright (Horsemanship & Horsemastership) where it is defined as a Half-Halt.

Running Time: 2 minutes and 49 seconds

Training Level Eventer and EquestrianCoach.com member, Kristen Schalck, gets a free training session from Bernie with her 9 year old OTTB (Off The Track Thoroughbred), JC. Watching the show jumping round Kristen presented, Bernie got a sense of just how he could help them. Kristen had some lower leg stability issues and JC had a tendency to get a bit too aggressive at the jumps, particularly in combinations, and jump past the arc. Tapping into his reservoir of knowledge gained through many years of experience with Thoroughbred horses, Bernie introduces them to the Kusner Gymnastic. This exercise proves to successfully back up JC over the jumps, while allowing Kristen to perfect her automatic release, maintaining the contact in the air that so many Thoroughbreds appreciate.

Running Time: 35 minutes and 51 seconds

Click here to view “The Kusner Gymnastic” video topic referenced in this video.

Click here to view “An OTTB Jumping School With Bernie”

If you are a member that owns a Thoroughbred in the Southern California area and are interested in participating in a FREE TB Training Session with Bernie, click here for more details.

For some equestrians it is the ultimate goal – to get your horse on the bit and experience that suppleness of poll and jaw, the engagement of the hindquarters, the acceptance of the rider’s hands, that fluid link between horse and rider. In this topic Bernie demonstrates all the different levels of contact with the horse’s mouth and different elevations of the horse’s head and neck that can be considered “on the bit.” He takes into consideration the horse’s conformation and willingness to acquiesce to the required pressure as well as the pit falls of trying to manufacture “on the bit” compliance.

Running Time: 7 minutes and 31 seconds

EquestrianCoach.com member, Adult Amateur Jumper rider Stacy, reached out to us to get training help from Bernie for her off the track Thoroughbred horse, Diesel. Before the training session, Bernie familiarized himself with the duo by watching a video of them on course, determining what issues needed to be addressed. It became apparent that Stacy was having trouble maintaining an even pace on course, that Diesel avoided contact and wouldn’t use his neck over the jumps and got quite hot, occasionally bucking and evading the bit, between the fences. Watch as Bernie returns to basics with this team, using the simplicity of the Forward Riding System to re-school this horse and provide valuable tips for Stacy to apply at home.

Running Time: 33 minutes and 42 seconds

Click here for “Training the OTTB Horse – Session Two”

If you are a member that owns a Thoroughbred in the Southern California area and are interested in participating in a FREE TB Training Session with Bernie, click here for more details.

During the World Cup Finals in Dortmund, Germany in 1990, the young, inexperienced horse, Maybe Forever, was filling in for Bernie’s seasoned grand prix horse, Eastern Sunrise, who was out with an injury. Who would have thought he would be the only horse to go double clear over one of the most challenging indoor courses Olaf Petersen has ever designed.

Running Time: 7 minutes and 10 Seconds

Watch Brian’s journey from riding behind the vertical, out of sync with his mount, to beautifully riding with the motion of the horse. This summer Brian joined Bernie in Southern California at EquestrianCoach Ranch for an intensive workshop. He traveled all the way from Argentina for the chance to ride twice a day for seven days. This video documents his progress and stamps the merits of the American Forward Riding System. He arrived with a habit of sitting behind the vertical on his approach to the jumps. He had convinced himself that this allowed him more time to find a distance, but it really only served to interfere with the horse’s ability to jump and created various other complications on course.

Total Running Time: 24 minutes and 26 seconds