Ready to Help Your Horse Find Suppleness? Lateral movements are the building blocks of advanced riding. They improve suppleness, balance, and communication between horse and rider. But for many riders, laterals feel intimidating—where do you start, and how do you know what to do with your body? Let’s break it down step by step. Why Learn Laterals in This Order Starting with simpler movements and gradually increasing complexity helps both horse and rider develop confidence and

Setting your Horse up for Success with the Right Fit and Design When it comes to riding bitless, the bridle isn’t just a piece of tack—it’s your main line of communication with your horse. A well-fitted bitless bridle can make the difference between a soft, responsive ride and a frustrating one. So, what should you look for when choosing a bitless bridle, and why does fit matter so much? Why Bitless Bridle Fit Is Different Unlike a traditional bridle, a bitless bridle transfe

Think you’re riding from your seat and legs—not just your hands? Here’s a fun way to find out! At Lagoballo , we love exercises that build independence and harmony, and this challenge will show you how well you can influence your horse using your 7-point seat . Why Try This Challenge? Riders often rely on reins more than they realise. These exercises help you: Improve balance and feel. Communicate through your seat and core. Build trust and responsiveness in your horse. Safet

Signs, Exercises, and Tips for In-Hand and Under Saddle Work Horses, just like humans, can develop tension in their ribcage and diaphragm, which can restrict movement, affect breathing, and impact overall performance. Recognising the signs of tension and knowing how to help your horse release it can make a world of difference to their comfort and athletic ability. In this post, we’ll look at how to identify tension, exercises to help your horse, and the differences between wo

How Self-Assessment Can Make You a More Mindful, Effective Rider If you're passionate about horses, you've probably spent more hours in the saddle than you care to count—only to discover, occasionally, that old habits have snuck back in. Maybe your horse in really lazy or is heavy in the contact. Don't fret! There's a refreshingly simple tool that can help you reset and ride with renewed awareness, it's what I like to call, the "horse shopping list" . This clever twist on int

How to Use Intentional Self-Assessment to Improve Your Body Mechanics in the Saddle If you’ve ever caught yourself gripping the reins too tightly or tensing your shoulders while riding, you’re not alone. Bad habits can sneak up on even the most experienced riders, often going unnoticed until they start to affect your comfort and communication with your horse. But what if there was a simple tool to help you reset those habits and ride with more awareness? Enter, what I like to

From Heavy to Harmonious: Unlocking Forward Energy Heavy breeds like Friesians, Andalusians, Gypsy Cobs, and draft crosses are stunning, powerful horses—but when it comes to uphill movements, forward thinking, and collected work, they face unique challenges. Unlike lighter breeds such as Thoroughbreds, Arabians, or Warmbloods, heavy horses are built for pulling, not lifting. This means they often carry more weight on the forehand, and even some have a forward-placed sternum,

How Do Equine Owners Fill the Gap and Why Root Cause Thinking is the Key Do you frequently find yourself unsure about how to advance or progress with your horse? Or do you sense that something is lacking in transitioning your horse from moving adequately to moving with complete ease? Or do you want to understand how to read their behaviours and patterns to enhance your connection more? (Whether this be on the ground or ridden.) Horsemanship, connection and advancement of ridi

Exploring the Pros, Cons, and Personal Approaches to Equine Training When it comes to training horses, the debate between the use of scientific methods and more intuitive, emotion-driven approaches is ongoing. While science-backed methodologies have brought about substantial improvements in safety, consistency, and welfare, they often fall short of addressing the complex emotions experienced by both horse and rider. In this blog post, we’ll examine why scientific methods in h

Unlocking smoother, more responsive rides with simple body cues Have you ever watched an experienced rider turn their horse as if by magic, with hardly a flick of the reins? It’s not sorcery – it’s the power of subtle body aids at work! Many riders (especially when starting out) think turning a horse is all about pulling the rein, but in truth, your body is the first and most important cue your horse will feel. Let’s break down how you can cue your horse to turn using a simpl

Mastering Hand Control with Exercises Whether you're a weekend rider or training for your first competition, one skill that can transform your relationship with your horse is learning how to keep your hands steady. Noisy hands—those that bounce, jerk, or fidget—can confuse your horse, disrupt communication, and make your ride less enjoyable. In this post, we'll explore practical exercises to refine your hand position, discuss the role of Equisk gloves in supporting riders, an

Student's Needing their Own Headphones for Lessons When it comes to equestrian training, clear communication between rider and coach is essential. Ceecoach systems are designed for this purpose, but the headset you choose can make or break the experience. While Bluetooth options exist, many riders prefer corded headphones  for their reliability, zero latency, and simplicity. Why Choose Corded Headphones for Ceecoach? Stable Connection:  No risk of Bluetooth dropouts during le

Flow, Function, and Feel—Learning from the Inside-Out Eight horses. Three days. One clinician with a deep understanding of equine anatomy and movement. Thirza Hendriks ’ recent clinic (held at beautiful Anamir Equine near Canberra) was a masterclass in functional biomechanics, blending in-hand and ridden work to help horses move with greater ease, efficiency, and flow. Clinic Format: Three Lessons, Three Days, Eight Horses Each participant received one lesson, per horse per

Understanding Timing, Aids, and Adaptation Across Environments Raising and training a young horse is a journey that requires patience, empathy, and a good understanding of equine learning. One of the most crucial – yet often underestimated – aspects of this journey is giving your young horse time to process. In this blog post, we’ll explore what it means to let your young horse process, why it’s essential, and how you can apply the right timing and aids in a variety of settin

Sharing our journey so far and what’s next on the path to a well-rounded, confident young horse Bringing up a young horse is as rewarding as it is challenging. Over the past two years with my gelding, Thor, I’ve focused on building a strong foundation—one that will set him up for a happy, confident, and safe life, no matter the pathway he ends up taking. Here’s a look at what we’ve done to date, along with some thoughts on what else can help shape a well-adjusted young horse.

Simple Exercises to Check Your Body Engagement in Rising Trot The rising trot is a fundamental skill for any rider, but mastering the technique is more than just standing up and sitting down in the saddle. It’s about engaging your body correctly and moving in harmony with your horse. If you’ve ever felt out of sync, bounced, or found yourself gripping tightly with your legs, it could be a sign that your functional mechanism in the rising trot needs a tune-up. Let’s explore ho

How to Move Forward When You Feel Stuck in the Saddle At some point, every horse rider, from the eager beginner to the seasoned competitor, hits a plateau. Progress stalls, frustration creeps in, and doubts start to nibble at your confidence. If you’re finding yourself stuck in your horse riding journey, you’re definitely not alone. But the good news is, there are ways to get moving forward again—sometimes, it’s just a matter of shifting your mindset, changing up your approac

Introduction: The Importance of Structured Learning in Horse Riding Whether you’re a new rider just finding your seat or an instructor guiding students through their first canter, you’ve probably noticed a pattern in horse riding lessons: instructors rarely introduce more than three new concepts at a time. This isn’t just a teaching quirk—it’s rooted in how the human brain (and even the horse’s mind) absorbs, processes, and stores new information. Let’s explore why the “rule

Why Riding with Me at Lagoballo Is a Game-Changer Horse riding isn’t just a sport—it’s a soulful experience that builds confidence, deepens your connection, and creates a powerful bond between you and your horse. If you're in Canberra and looking for more than just standard lessons, welcome to Lagoballo . I’m Laura (Loz) Ushay, and I do things differently. What Sets Me Apart At Lagoballo , I blend biomechanics (the sexy word for how horses and humans move and function physica

Exploring How Horses’ Sensory Strengths Shape Their Behaviour Individually and in Groups Horses are fascinating creatures, not just for...