BELIEFS VS BIOMECHANICS In most lessons that I observe I see so many dogmas that are taught and these lead to misconceptions about “correct”  training and riding that become so ingrained in the riding circles that they are accepted as fact, without riders ever doing any research and looking at the real science behind these dogmas. I am going to highlight a few of these dogmas and misconceptions over the next few weeks . Misconception No 1 "You can bend a horse’s spine to the

Are bits inherently bad or cruel? Why use a bit at all? By Anneliese Gillett With all the recent attention on animal abuse, in particular horses in competition, many critics have focused on bits and why we should do away with them. As I mentioned in my previous blog, bits are inanimate objects and only have an effect on a horse once a rider takes up the reins. Leave a horse in a field with a correctly fitted bit and bridle and it will happily graze without any discomfort. So

Debunking Common Misconceptions for Riders By Anneliese Gillett One of the most common pieces of advice given to riders struggling with...