Ask Jeanna
Published by GHC • Feb 22nd, 2008 • Category: Horse Advice, by Jeanna Briggs
from Jeanna Briggs, age 13
Ok, so let’s say you’re trying to train a horse yourself, but get stuck on some obstacle. Or maybe you’re getting a first horse, but don’t know what breed to get. Or maybe you want to teach your already-trained-in-dressage horse to barrel race. Or maybe you just want to learn more about horses. This advice blog can help!
I’ve been with horses thirteen years, riding most of that time. If you have any questions about horse related stuff, I would be glad to answer. I ride both English and Western now, but I know more about English riding. I’ve trained horses in English, and while I might not be qualified to give expert advise, I AM qualified to give a few tips.
Got a question about riding, training or caring for horses? Ask Jeanna using the comments form below!
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Thanks Leadmare!
Hey Jeanna, I do english riding! I have been riding for almost a year but I’m still not sure whether I should post at the trot when the inside or outside leg is reaching! Please help!
my little sister is too scared to ride at certain times/places. like she loves to ride and show off her pony (the pony used to be mine). but when we go to ride at the agisment property she chickens out and makes up and excuse, e.g: its too hot, im too tierd, Minnie (that the name of the pony) is to old/or stiff (she is 28 years but she still works REALLY well). lots of peolpe say she only rides coz i do and I know that is a fact but i want her to ride coz she wants to ride, got any idea to put her foucus on horses and riding coz she wants to?
What exactly is “changing the diagonal”? I’ve heard this phrase or something like it before.
OK guys, I think I should answer tash’s question first. If your sister is really uncomfortable riding, don’t push her. I had the same problem with my brother sand the swimming pool last summer. He hated to go in the deep end. He cried and screamed when we brought him out, but when he was ready, he found out he loved it. Just give your sister time.
Also tash, I think it’s great your sister rides because you do. It means she loves you and wants to be like you! And who knows? She really might love horses deep inside. :)
OK, Asia, my riding instructor (Mommy!) taught me that it really doesn’t matter what leg is reaching when you post. I don’t know this for a fact because I never post, but I will find out for you… :-? :-?
And Allison: Changing Diagonal means that you start going one way around your riding ring, and when you get to a corner, you turn your horse so there is a diagonal line between you and the far corner. you ride to that corner and turn, going the opposite direction from when you started. Hope this helps!
My instructor told me that changing your diagonale is changing which leg you post on! I guess a bunch of us dont know!
Nevermind I’m not sure about it so I don’t want to start a discussion!
Hey Jeanna, I know jumping is usually for english riders, but my friend and I ride western and we jump, [only low levels, nothing high] and I was wondering if there was any instructions for western jumpers. I know with english your supposed to lean foreward, but with a western saddle you cant do that because you get poked in the stomach with the horn! Is there anything western jumpers can do to jump higher and more effectively? thanks, lianna
Posting trot is rising when the outside leg is stepping forward. That’s usually how you post. You change the diagonal by sitting two beats. Riding a diagonal line is when you go from one point to another on a diagonal to change direction.
Lianna: I don’t think there is instruction for jumping in a western saddle. But try leaning forward in the saddle just a little, and stand up in the stirrups slightly. BE VERY CAREFUL THOUGH. It is harder for horses to jump higher with western saddles because western saddles are bigger and heavier. It would be better to get an english saddle for jumping, I think. Good Luck! :)
Asia: to change diagonal is to turn your horse the opposite way it is going by turning it on a diagonal across the ring…
How do you know how high to put a saddle and saddle blanket?
Ok nevermind I am thinking about posting on a diagonal not changing sorry…
Hey Jeanna! I’m having trouble with lead changes. I can change my lead if I go back to a trot and start again, but how do I change leads at a canter or a flying lead change?
Allison: you want to put your horse’s saddle on just a little behind the shoulders, but not right on top of them.
Halz: You probably want to get someone at your stable to help you. A riding instructor who knows this horse better might have ideas how to train it so it will go through the lead change right.
I know how heavy western saddles are, which is why I am usuing lightweight one for jumping. It doesnt weigh half as much as a regular western saddle, and is fun to use. Thanks for the advice! Lianna ;)
Good idea Jeanna, starting a advice kind of thing! That’s a really good idea, would you mind if I stole the idea from you and made a ‘ask Halee” blog? I won’t do it if you don’t want me to, though. ;) But it might help so you dopn’t get over flown with questions.
Hey Jeanna, I love this new idea. Lately I’ve just started cantering without holding the saddle. My hands aren’t flying about, but practically the rest of me is. Do you know how I can relax, balance and not bounce around too much? :D Thanks!
Halee: well, I think I can handle it for now, but maybe later on if things get really busy you can help answer questions…
Madelaina: You should just relax. let the horse do the moving. you just take deep breath and let the horse do the rest. don’t sit rigid and stiff, I find that if you do, you tend the move around more. Ask your riding instructor for more help if you need it… hope this helps! :)
Thanks Jeanna. I’ve heard from my instructor as well that if I’m all stiff I tend to push myself out of the saddle. You’ve given me really helpful advice! I’m so glad you thought up of this blog :D
I don’t mean to be bossy or pushy or anything mean i just wanted to clear something up. with Allionson’s question about ‘changing the diagonal’ the way it is phrases it means the diagonal in trot. if someone was to say ‘change the rein across the digaonal’ it would be the way Jeanna discribed it. so Asia you are right about ‘changing the diagonal’ IN THAT SORT OF PHRASE/SENTENCES. Jeanna was right in the sort of way she explaned it. (please note Im NOT trying to prove anyone wrong, just wanted to help)
Thanx Madelaina! here’s a hug from my horses {:D} and here’s one from me! {:D}
Hi Jeanna. I have some questions for you: Do you do groundwork with your horse before riding? If so, what do you do and why do you do it? Thanks is advance for sharing your knowledge.
Leadmare: sometimes when one of the horses is acting up, we lounge them for a while. If they are scare of something while I am riding, I dismount and let the horse inspect the object and then walk him/her around it to prove it’s not an equine-eating monster.
Sorry tash! and Allison! I guess I didn’t read that question well enough… thanx tash… :-?
Thank you!!!!
Aww thanks Jeanna. *fetches a carrot for horse and a cookie for you*. I was just browsing through the internet when I came across another question. What is a pony hack and a galloway? I’ve got a little idea of what it is…but overall I’m clueless. :-/
Asia: You’re welcome!
Madelaina: I am also completely clueless as to what a galloway is, but a hack is a pleasure ride just for fun…
WOW! Jeanna, answering all these questions has GOT to be killer!
I’ve heard of a galloway before, I just can’t seem to put my finger on it…
grrr….
Hey Jeanna, How do you do a Flying Lead change?
I am new. I read the other blogs and voted. I noticed your blog, and I had a question. Which saddle is better for pleasure riding?
Thanks again Jeanna. I’ve heard they have pony hacks in competitions. Imagine how much fun that would be, getting judged doing what you love best.
I’m not sure but I thought Galloway was a type of size of horse, ect. 14h-15h… I could be wrong… Maybe Google it!
Asia: A flying lead change is changing leads at a canter. It is pretty difficult, but a lot of fun when you get it down!
Vallie: Well, a western saddle is more comfortable for the rider, But heavier for the horse, and an english saddle can cause pain for the rider if the rider is in it too long…
tash: It’s a possibility, I will google it…
Madeliana: You are right! It is fun to show off your skills doing what you love best! :) :-?
OOOOOOOWWWWWWWW! I just took the worst fall of my life! I knocked my hip, elbow, and shoulder out of place… and I hate emergency room music…
Jeanna,this horse at my piano teacher’s farm is really beautiful,but really wild.She rarely lets me come near her,and rarely comes for treats! How can I get her to trust me?
How do you do the flying change? My instructor is tryong to get me to do one but I am still not getting it!
I could never keep up with all the questions Jeanna! your doing a great job!
tash, I think we’re getting somewhere. I think you are right, and maybe a Galloway is where you have to ride a Galloway horse.
Jeanna Briggs: I think Asia meant how you perform a flying lead change, not what it is.
Sorry I’ve been not answering questions all day. I just had a really bad accident and one arm is completely useless for a time and the other is bruised… It hurts to type…
Cassie: try a trick that wild horses do. pretend you are a lead mare. You bsee a horse, all alone, and think she is not good enough to be in you herd. Spread your arms and stand tall, making yourself look larger. Walk towards her, menacingly, as if to say: you can’t come in, you can’t come in… etc. She should gallop around for a while, but you want to face her at all times. She might move closer: step towards her. When she starts lowering her head and licking her lips, lesson is done. Do this over and over until she comes to you.
Asia: Do a normal lead change, going across the diagonal, turning, all that. just stay at a slow, steady canter while doing it.
with flying changes I find my horse sometimes randomly does them! it’s quite funny! once I was practising for my C certificate (its a level/certficate that allows me to compete at zone and state level comps) and I had to figure out witch canter lead my horse was one and turn him that way, as i was turning him to the correct cirlce he changed his leading leg!!! it was very funny and even my instructor laughed! he hasn’t done it for a while but still does do very good flying changes when I ask.
Jeanna I just re-read over the comments! how did you fall? have you got any broken bones? when i fell recently i fractured my wrist, ive been in a removable cast for 4 weeks! ive only ridden 3 times since then! i hope something like that hasn’t happened to you!
Jeanna Briggs: Ouch…that must have hurt. I hope you’ll get better, and rest your arms as much as you can. It’ll probably get better that way. I’ll be praying for you to get better, and great job with all the questions even when your arms are hurting so much! Here’s a hug {:D}
Jeannna, I am SO SO SO sorry about your fall. I’ve had several, but luckily I’m cursed. The curse is that nearly every time I fall I land on my feet. Knock on wood.
I remember one time I was having a lesson with my friend and we were going over some simple jumps for warm up. I am approaching a cross rail on Danny, the pony I was riding. He jumps, but as soon as he lands, he stops. I come flying off, but my curse saves me, and I land on my feet. I do it again and get it right and then it was my friends turn on Magic, the pony she was riding. They do the exact same thing! Magic stops right after he jumps and my friend falls off and lands on her feet! She is under the curse too.
I hope you recover soon.
Well, I didn’t break any bones… but I did knock my hip, elbow, and shoulder out of place… I was riding a new greeny we have and he spooked and reared and through me against a fence.
Thanx for all the love and well-wishes, guys! tis is one of the reasons I love GHC so much!
AWWWW feel better!! I hate falling!! ones I almost broke my fingers but nothing major! PLease feel better! {:D}
I try to get my horse to listen to me, he never does! when i lead him hi would just push me and go eat the poor trees!! :((
Yah, I really hope you get well soon, Jeanna. I have a question: How do horses know the difference between a walk, trot, canter and gallop? Why do they move the way they do for each gait?
Hey Jeanna,
I ride english and i can’t get my horse into a slow canter or she will start trotting, her canter is bascially a gallop and i would like to get her to slow down, espicially during shows… any suggestions?
OOUUCCHH! get better sooo soon!
dreamstar: try pulling on one side of the horses reins. this causes slight pain and makes him go were you lead.
Lauren: horses move the way they do because that’s the way God made them. They know the difference between gaits from how many beats each one is. a trot, for instance, is 2 beats. A walk, on the other hand, is 4.
Sahra: When your horse is cantering too fast, pull back the reins a little, but then release the pressure. Keep doing this, and she will get the point.
tash, lauren and asia: don’t worry, I will be walking again in a few weeks. After that t is back in the saddle… thanks for the get wells!
Thanks, Jeanna.
Sometimes i wright something in the box, click Be Heard, and the staff that i wrote comes up. A little while later I look at the same page, and all the staff that i wrote is not there! WHY?????? :-? :-O :-O :-O :-O :-O :-O :-O
dreamstar, welcome to GHC. All comments are moderated before they’re posted. We don’t post comments unless they’re on topic (related to the blog you’re commenting on) and meaningful. For more info about how things work at GHC, visit the links under ‘About the Blog’ on the top right of all blog pages. Hope this is helpful.
Leadmare: I am going to be out of GHC for a few days. I am going into surgery tomorrow for my shoulder. :(( :( :((. if any more questions come up, will u make sure they get answered?
Jeanna, sorry to hear you need surgery. :( Get well soon!
We’ll take care of everything while you’re away. I’m sure others will step up to help. I can also close comments temporarily until you come back. Let me know if you have a preference.
Please take care.
Oh no Jeanna! I really hope you’re going to be okay, and I’ll be praying for you. You’re a really brave girl. Get well soon!
OMG!!! I really hope your okay! I’ll help with the Qs! Like LeadMare said I’m sure other bloggers would LOVE to help! :D Lots of Luck! (I’ve had many operations and surgeries so I know how scary it feels! But you’ll be fine!) Lets all think postivite thoughts for Jeanna!
So so so SO sorry to hear about your surgery! I would be glad to help with the questions, I have been riding and learning about them for 5 or 6 years so I think I could help. Besides that, if there were any I didn’t know, I could ask my genius trainer.
Get well soon!
Aww, I hope you get well soon Jeanna! I had to get a surgery a while back as well, all I can say is don’t be afraid!
Lots of love and hope for you!
Be strong Jeanna, and remeber, you barn family is all here for you :)
Take Care,
Tori
Ughhhh i am so tired. I was just riding and the horse i rode Asia bolted four times! Man he rammed my foot into a fence owwwwwwwwww!! But we jumped 2″9 and then he bolted! OWWWWW!! oh well my pain is no where near how you must be feeling right now Jeanna! feel better!
oh and I can help with the Q’s too! Anything to help out Jeanna!
Hello! I’m back! You guys are so great! thanx for the nice words and the get wells {:D} {:D} {:D}
Leadmare: I just had another idea. There are are so many talented, horse-wise girls on GHC. I think you should shut down the ‘Ask Jeanna’ blog, and open one that anyone can ask and anyone can answer, a blog that we all run, and we all ask questions. I think that would be more fair than the one we have now…
Hi Jeanna, how did the surgery go? To ease any pain let me tell you this: your cantering tip worked! For the last two lessons I imagined relaxing and letting the horse do all the moving. My bottom stayed well into the saddle and I didn’t bounce around at all! Thank you so much! Get well soon {:D}
Yay your back!!! :D
Jeanna, that’s very thoughtful. I don’t feel giving you an advice blog is unfair to others since you proposed the idea, but if you want to shut it down I support you.
As far as your idea for an open question/answer blog, how would that be different than the gazillions of advice forums on the web? I’m just wondering how we can make ours unique to GHC. :-/
Madeliana: Good for you! And yes, it did go well. I can move a little without extraordinary pain!
tash: yup, I’m back, for now…
Leadmare: I really do want to shut the Ask Jeanna down. Everyone on GHC knows something about horses, and with all of that talent and knowledge, well, it just doesn’t seem fair. But with a ask blog we all can help with, it would even things out a lot. I’ve been thinking hard about how to make this unique to GHC, and I haven’t found anything yet… But I can with a little more time… not that i’m doing anything else in bed for three more weeks…
Sounds good Jeanna, comments will be closed. Hope you heal quickly and are back in the saddle soon. Thanks for your time and expertise answering questions!