Part 21 of Susan Deal’s “Forward Riding Series – Exercises for a Rider’s First Year”

In this topic the young student has progressed to the point that she is beginning to ride on contact. It is important that the rider has tactful arms and hands when riding with contact as not to abuse the horse’s mouth. Susan finds that teaching her students to steer with a driving rein really encourages them to follow the balancing gestures of the horse’s head and neck with sensitivity.

Running Time: 8 minutes and 9 seconds

Part 20 of Susan Deal’s “Forward Riding Series – Exercises for a Rider’s First Year”

At this point in the beginning rider’s progress, she can trot independently, steering with her hands off the pony’s neck and she can maintain a solid jump position while negotiating a rail on the ground. During this video tutorial, Susan Deal starts her student over an exercise consisting of rails on the ground and advances from a cross rail with trot poles to a single vertical. Once the young rider is capable of this, she can start to incorporate more jumps until she and her pony are jumping courses.

Running Time: 10 minutes and 9 seconds

Part 19 of Susan Deal’s “Forward Riding Series – Exercises for a Rider’s First Year”

Near the end of the young rider’s first year, Susan introduces the indirect rein. This rein aid, used in conjunction with the leg aids, is more sophisticated than an opening rein to facilitate turns. In this video topic, Susan uses exercises with figures, such as circles, half circles and serpentines, to solidify her students’ use of leg and rein aids together.

Running Time: 9 minutes and 37 seconds

Part 18 of Susan Deal’s “Forward Riding Series – Exercises for a Rider’s First Year”

In this video topic, Susan Deal asks her young student for longitudinal movements, adjustments of pace, in order to begin feeling when to increase or decrease hand and leg pressure. When performing transitions from a regular posting trot to a slow sitting trot, for example, the rider must recognize when she needs to use her leg to prevent the pony from breaking to the walk, likewise, too much hand will also cause a break to the walk. This ability to gauge, calibrate and coordinate hand and leg is fundamental to the rider’s progress.

Running Time: 3 minutes and 5 seconds

Before quiet hands are developed in a rider, it is very common to see beginners at the trot “posting with their hands.” In this free video tidbit from from ANRC Level 5 Rider, National Judge, and Steward, Susan Deal, we are introduced to an exercise that corrects this position mistake before it becomes a bad habit.

Running Time: 1 minute and 17 seconds

Part 17 of Susan Deal’s “Forward Riding Series – Exercises for a Rider’s First Year”

Susan Deal employs some fun exercises to help her beginning student execute proper hand and leg position.  By using exaggerated movements, the rider gains independence in the use of her hand and leg aids and, at the same time, becomes familiar with the feel of her body when it is in the correct position.

Running Time: 4 minutes and 30 seconds

Part 16 of Susan Deal’s “Forward Riding Series – Exercises for a Rider’s First Year”

In this video lesson Susan works her young student on how to determine if the pony is on the correct or counter lead. At this stage of the rider’s education, she can canter a circle and steer through a turn. The rider learns to recognize the feeling through a turn when the pony is on the wrong lead and corrects the lead with a simple change.

Running Time: 3 minutes and 34 seconds

Part 15 of Susan Deal’s “Forward Riding Series – Exercises for a Rider’s First Year”

In the 15th lesson of this video series Susan works on her student’s balance with bareback exercises. The rider is already capable of walking, trotting and cantering with a saddle and the pony is tolerant & comfortable with a rider bareback. These exercises are particularly helpful to enhance the rider’s feel, balance and focus as he must concentrate on moving with the pony’s movements.

Running Time: 4 minutes and 11 seconds

Part 14 of Susan Deal’s “Forward Riding Series – Exercises for a Rider’s First Year”

In this video topic, Susan Deal works with a young student who has difficulty maintaining focus during riding lessons.  She reveals some of her creative and effective exercises that make if fun for him to stay on task while improving his riding position at the same time.

Running Time: 8 minutes 17 seconds

Part 13  of Susan Deal’s “Forward Riding Series – Exercises for a Rider’s First Year”

In this video, Susan Deal’s young student is just learning to ride a course. The rider is already comfortable over trot rails, trotting into a line and cantering out. In this exercise, she rides over a course of rails on the ground in order to determine her track without having to worry about the jumps. The rider is able to focus on riding to the middle of the rails, keeping her pony straight, developing pace and not cutting her corners.

Running Time: 3 minutes and 1 second