Comments for Tara Nolan Horses

Comment on Dressage horse training for Backyard owners by Gerry

Gerry — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 16:24:47 +0000

Finding this post solves a porelbm for me. Thanks!

Comment on Dressage Horse Training-Relearning to Ride Donzer by Kymberly Sedillos

Kymberly Sedillos — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 06:10:56 +0000

Love reading about you nd Donzer.

Comment on How to Teach Piaffe Part I by Aleisha

Aleisha — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:30:20 +0000

Hi, Can you do part two?

Comment on Dressage Horse Training: Learning versus competiting by admin

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:24:26 +0000

I think the scenario you described is the ideal situation and definitely the more traditional approach.

For me personally, I do not get very worried about dressage competition because this is something I do for fun. The competition I feel is really with myself working to do better than our last time. In my life I’ve always been a very competitive person and taken my competition, whether sports, work or academics, to an almost negative place where I beat myself up and feel badly if I don’t meet my personal standards of success. So far, I’ve been able to keep dressage in a personal fun zone and competition is just another aspect of the learning process for me.

Thanks for the conversation!

Tara

Comment on Dressage Horse Training: Learning versus competiting by zaude

zaude — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:16:23 +0000

Is it possible for you to ride 2 tests at each competition? One you feel really at ease with, to compete, and one you’re working on to test what you’re actually doing?

I personnaly prefers riding only tests I’m ok with, because I want my horse to think it’s easy when we go out, and taking lesson with ‘pro’ for judging my homework!

Comment on Dressage Horse Training: Half-Steps Part I by admin

admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:21:45 +0000

Hello Zaude,
Great thoughts. I keep Donzer trotting forward for 2 reasons. One, he actually likes to trot so it is a reward for him to trot forward in a relaxed way. This also lays the groundwork for the Grand Prix requirement of moving from Passage to Piaffe. Two, as we are moving up the levels I am teaching him that he can relax and rest in other gaits besides walk. I do take lots of walk breaks in my regular work thought (some for me too).

Tara

Comment on Dressage Horse Training: Half-Steps Part I by Zaude

Zaude — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:08:59 +0000

First, thank you for sharing these videos that show us the process of learning and not just the finished product!

But I have a question :

When you move your legs back, and when Donzer reacts well in quickening his hind quarters, why do you keep the trot afterwards and not just reward him for this action by letting him walk for example? Because I feel like this is the best moment in his action and if it were me, I’d like to reward him for that so that he understand it is exactly that moment/action that I want him to do…

I’m actually trying to teach the piaffe to my mare, but at present time I just work it in hand, so I have never done it riding and my question may be stupid!

PS : I apologise for my bad English, I’m used to read or hear it, but not to write in English

Comment on How to Teach Piaffe Part I by admin

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:03:31 +0000

Hey Louise,
You are seeing the finished product in this video. Ava actually picked up her leg quickly because she is very sensitive and I actually had to get her to just pick her leg up and not kick. My quarterhorse, Red, took quite a while to get him to try and lift his leg. It just didn’t bother him to be tapped in the leg. You can speed up the process by rewarding event the very smallest try like a subtle shift in weight. Horses can be quite frustrating though.

Tara

Comment on About Tara by admin

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Hey Bernie,
I’m glad you are being able to use the videos. I enjoy teaching people and even though I’m developing some DVDs I will continue to share my short videos.

Tara

Comment on About Tara by Bernie

Bernie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:04:13 +0000

Hi Tara
At 50+ I bought my first horse a rescue Standardbred. She was in really bad shape but now after nearly two years she is a wonderful smart and willing horse. Her name is Phoenix. I have been slowly and I mean slowly retraining her. I do a lot of ground work and it does pay off. I came across your videos on youtube and they are great. I love the way you explain each step. I have been watching the videos with Ava and I started with Phoenix last night. Looking forward to many hours watching your videos and training. Also the fact that they are free is very much a bonus for me. Thankyou.