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Randi Thompson. Trot/canter transitions. Adding the rainbow. The Steps to Connection

"The Rainbow...  An easy way for you to know if your horse is connecting the way you want it to do.  Check out this easy to use technique to see if your horse has a "Rainbow" in your trot/canter transitions."

For most of us, keeping our horses balanced and in connection is important. We like the way it feels when our horses connect with us at that level.  An easy way to be able to "see" (yes, sometimes we do look down) is by keeping a "Rainbow" in your horse's neck.  Of course, it is much more than that... However, this is an easy technique that will let you know when your horse is really on the aids/in front of the legs/on the bit, round, packaged, the beginning of self-carriage. The next time you ride, check to see if you have a "Rainbow" in your horse's neck.  Let us know how it works for you!   https://youtu.be/MNb2OWTCiqU

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Randi Thompson. Riders Test. Walk trot transitions. What are you doing with your riding position? When you ask your horse to change gaits, are the transitions rough or smooth? Would you like to see how you can use your riding position to make them smoother?"

In this blast from the past, Trudy focused on what she is doing with her riding position at the walk/trot transitions. Like many riders, she had a tendency to disconnect from her riding position with her lower legs as she practices them. Now you can watch what I did with Trudy that made a difference in the quality and smoothness of the changes of gait with Ani.  

What changes can you see in Trudy's riding position as she focuses more on it? What about Ani?  Did her changes or gait improve? https://youtu.be/EkgZfeewgI8

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Randi Thompson. Contact at the trot. What does "on the bit" really mean?...

What if... you really do not understand what contact or "on the bit" really means?  You are not alone.  Many other riders are also confused with the concept"

Now you can watch this blast from the past as Susan rides Beau to a new level of "on the bit"  In the past, Beau had often looked like he is on contact, yet the reins were often slack and a little loopy. That is where he felt comfortable. This was the first time we have focused on asking Beau to keep the rein connection "alive" as Susan asked him to step up into the contact fro  Are you ready to see if your reins are alive when you take up the contact?

https://youtu.be/6CqzSntgyR0

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Our newest Mover and Shaker of the Horse World. Pam Stone. Currently, Pam is a blogger for the Dressage Today Magazine. Pam is also an award-winning comedian and TV star. Many of us remember Pam from the TV series, "Coach." She has also been a guest star on the Tonight Show and Oprah. Now you can listen is as we chat about what she has done, what she is doing, the horse business, "Tall Whites", the Big Oaks Rescue Farm and so much more.

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Randi Thompson. Riders Test. Half Halts. What should you be feeling?

Would you like to know the steps to the half halt beginning with the riders position?  Then this video is for you!   In this blast from the past, Trudy asked me to isolate what she was doing with her riding position for her half halts and to improve how she is connecting (The Steps to Connection) with Ani.  For the first time, we started the connection process in the warm-up.  Now you can see the steps that we used. Are you ready to try this on your horse?  We would love to hear how these techniques are working for you.

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Randi Thompson.The Magic of the Lunge Line. Perfect circles/in front of the aids.

Would you like to be able to ride that perfect circle?  How about being able to really feel (or teach a rider) how to use their riding position and be able to feel when their horse is falling in and out of the circle or keeping a horse in front of the aids? Check out this easy to use yet amazing technique using a lunge line.

Are you ready to try this?  Let us know how it works for you!

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Randi Thompson. Riders Test. How is the balance of your rising trot?

Now you can improve your riding position in 30 days! It's time to go back to the basics and focus on your riding position at the Trot"

To improve your riding position all you need to do is try these exercises for 30 days. 5 minutes a day. You will be amazed at the difference in your riding position.

Let me know how these exercises work for you. Please tell us what you experience (whining is allowed...) and how different your riding position and lower leg feel after you try them.

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80% of People are Now Shopping Online. Will they Find Your Horse Business?

Randi Thompson

Social media and SEO (search engine optimization) are more important to local horse business owners than ever

With the recent Google search changes, social media is now the best way to get your horse business on the first page of the local search engine results. Studies show that most people do not go past that first page, so it is important that your business is listed there.

Local Marketing with a Focus on Social Media and SEO. How people will find you

When you enter the world of social media, you will become a part of a social network. You communicate and interact with each other through the posts that you share with each other. The more likes, shares and comments your posts and website that is connected to them gets, the higher your business will show up in the newsfeeds of anyone who interacts on it, and even more importantly, the search results.

Some of the benefits for marketing and promoting your local horse business on social media include:

• You can attract and target horse people in your local area.

• Social media marketing is low cost.

• You will become an authority in your local area and in your field.

• You create relationships with the people who become a part of your network. Those you are interacting with begin to know, like and trust you. They can become your customers.

• You can talk directly with potential customers or create a stronger relationship with your current ones.

Are you ready to get started?

Begin by choosing a social media network that features local business pages. You can start a local business page on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php If you are on Google + (of course, since it is Google, you will get the best search results there) start with a Google local business page here: http://www.google.com/+/business/

When you go to the business start-up page you will be asked to pick a classification. Choose “local business or place” This classification will help your business rank higher in your local area. The name you choose as the title of the business page is very important. It needs to be one that people will search for. Since they probably do not know the name of your business, you can add more words to the title. For example, Sundance Stables. Conyers, Ga. Or, Sundance Stables- Horse training, boarding.

Next, you will be asked to upload a photo for the “cover photo”. This is the image that will appear across the top of your business page. Creative business owners use their cover photos to promote their sales or share photos that focus on their business and the customers who make it special.

You will also need a smaller “profile image”. It is the profile image that will show up on any of posts you share. Many business owners use their logo as their profile image so that people can recognize their business.

The “About “section” is designed so that your business name and website (if you have one) can be found in the search engine results. It is very important and often over looked by business owners who do not realize its value. With Facebook and Google+ local business pages you can also add your location, phone number, website and other information that people will be looking for in a local business.

Once your business page is set up, make sure to add its icon, a clickable image, to your website. By doing this, your website will have more value as your activity on social media will be noticed by Google and your website will be listed higher in the search results.

How to Find the Local People Who Are Interested In What Your Business Has to Offer

Social media is all about connecting to people with similar interests. Your goal will want to find where they are on other social media pages, groups or communities. To find them go to the search bar on the top of the page and type in the words that people in the horse world are using. This is called “targeting”. For example, you can start with the word, horses, and see who turns up. To narrow your search down even more you can type in AQHA, dressage, horse training or whatever words are related to what you are doing in the horse business. To find out who is in your area, type in those words and add your city and state. You can also go to your competitor’s pages to see who is there and target the people who are there that you would like to get to know better. All you need to do is click on their profile image and you will be magically transported to their business page or personal profile where you can start having conversations with them on the posts they have shared. This makes them feel valued and they will often click on your profile image to see who you are and what you are doing. If they like what you are doing, they will become a part of your social network.

How to Get People Talking About Your Business

There is a reason it is called social media. It’s all about being social. You will be using the posts you share and the comments you add to other people’s posts to create conversations with other people. Especially those who are interested in your field or what you have to offer.

• To start, you will need to reach out to your prospective clients, or the people with lots of connections related to what you are offering in your business, by going to their posts and business pages.

• Add interesting comments to the posts that they are sharing. Your goal is to get them to respond to you.

• Post from your business page when you are on other business pages so that those who are there begin to recognize your business from your profile image

• The more people you can get to like, share or comment on your posts, the higher your business page, and as a result, your webpage, will appear in the search results. To do this, share interesting posts, photos, or videos to attract their attention.

When do You Promote Your Business?

Every time you post from your business page you are promoting your business. It is important to keep most of your posts, or comments, conversational, entertaining, or educational. At least 90% of your posts should be posts that people want to interact on or respond to. You can also use your posts to promote your business directly. The trick is in making that post more than just another ad that no one will look at. To do this you can ask questions or experiment with what people will respond to. Less than 10% of what you share on social media should be focused on direct advertising. You can also target local horse people directly with Facebook and Google Ads.

Can Anyone Find You’re Business When They Do a Search?

Your prospective customers are now searching online for what they want locally. Will they be able to find your horse business?

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Randi Thompson. Riders Test. Balance for rising/posting Trot. 

""What would it feel like to finally... feel like you have a secure riding position at the rising/posting trot?"

Watch this blast from the past to see what happened as these two riders focus on their riding positions at the trots. Once we started focusing on these awareness exercises, both riders found that they needed to go back to some of the basics. Now you can see how much their riding positions change at the rising/posting trots.

Are you ready to try these on your horse? Let us know how they make a difference for you!

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Randi Thompson. Riders Test. Is your horse listening to you? Walk/trot.  Every rider gets to a point in their riding and training where they need to become more assertive with their riding position and how they are using their aids."This could be as simple as keeping the horse's rhythm, the rider adding more leg, seat or rein pressure. Knowing when to apply more pressure is challenging for many riders. In this blast from the past, Trudy told me that she felt like Ani was ignoring her aids at times and that it was making her feel like she did not have control. We started this session (which goes into the walk and trots) by asking Trudy to become more aware of what she is doing with her riding position and how Ani is responding to it. At first, Ani barely responds. Next, we turn up the volume and Trudy became more assertive with her riding position and aids. As a result, Ani became more responsive and lighter on the aids. Can you see the difference in Ani's attitude and movement as a result of what Trudy is doing?

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Randi Thompson. Are your reins connected to your riding position? The amazing Steps to Connection

"What if... you want your horse to keep its head in a certain position.  This is common for those who are competing or riding dressage.  Do you feel like your horse is still locking up or leaning on the reins when you pick up the reins connection?  You are not alone.  This is a mystery that takes some riders years to understand.  Now you can watch what I do with Trudy so she can isolate how Ani is responding to what she is doing with the reins. On this day Trudy asked if we could focus on that "rainbow" that happens in a horses neck when they are soft to the bit (rein connection) and on the aids/in front of the aids/round and so on.  Trudy has been watching horses at the dressage shows and now that Ani is more comfortable with that level of connection is ready to ask her to stay balanced between her reins and legs even more. In this video we are at the halt and you can see how I break everything down for Trudy.  (We have done this in the past, but now Trudy has a different idea about what this really can do) How does your horse respond to the rein connection?  Are you ready to try this technique on your horse?  Let us know how it works for you.

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Randi Thompson. 3 Magic Riding Position Fixes. Dressage, balanced riding

Would you like to have 3 Magic Riding Position Fixes that you can use to improve your riding position or your students? While I was in Oklahoma I took the time to film some of my favorite riding instructor tips. 3 Magic Riding Position Fixes. There were more western saddles there than I have seen in a long time! The facts are that good basics work with any style of riding and these tips will make a difference for you and your students in almost any riding discipline.

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Randi Thompson. Riders Test. What is your upper body doing in curves and transitions?

What if you could finally...  feel if your upper riding position was in the right place?  

In this blast from the past,  Trudy asked me to focus on what she is doing with her shoulders and upper body in the circles and so on.  In this session, you can watch what happened to Trudy's riding position and her connection with Ani as a result of adding a simple technique.

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Randi Thompson. Trot/canter transitions. Adding the rainbow. The Steps to Connection

"The Rainbow...  An easy way for you to know if your horse is connecting the way you want it do.  Check out this easy to use technique to see if your horse has a "Rainbow" in your trot/canter transitions." For most of us, keeping our horses balanced and in connection is important. We like the way it feels when our horses connect with us at that level.  An easy way to be able to "see" (yes, sometimes we do look down) is by keeping a "Rainbow" in your horse's neck.  Of course, it is much more than that... However, this is an easy technique that will let you know when your horse is really on the aids/in front of the legs/on the bit, round, packaged, the beginning of self-carriage. The next time you ride, check to see if you have a "Rainbow" in your horse's neck.  Let us know how it works for you!  

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Randi Thompson. Half halts and the Steps to Connection. Adding the breath...

Have you had to take time off from your riding because of the weather or other reasons? Now you can watch this blast from the past to see what I did to bring both Trudy and Ani back into training by connecting them with the half halts and Steps to Connection at the walk"

We had no idea how Ani would behave. It has been over 6 weeks since their last ride and we were not sure what to expect. We went right to where we had left off and were thrilled with the results! Both Trudy and Ani were able to go pretty much back to where they were with the basics before winter came! We started with the half halts (as taught by Robert Dover with a breath) then continued with the Steps to Connection. This was only the third time that we have asked Ani to stay connected at this level and so we were very excited at how much she had remembered from before. Now you can watch the process we used and try it with your horse.

Even if you have not had to take time off, you will find that by applying these training techniques for your half halts and connecting with your horse will make a difference. Try them this week and let us know how they work for you.

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Randi Thompson. Canter. Connecting for the 3rd time! On the bit/on the aids.

"What happens when a horse is asked to accept the contact of the rider's reins at the canter?  Now you can watch the progress that happens in this blast from the past as Trudy asks Ani to keep an even feel on both sides of the reins on the aids for the 3rd time at the canter.  This is a challenging time in the training process as the horse begins to allow the rider to balance them between the "rein and leg".  

This was an exciting time for Trudy. Ani is now ready to be ridden on contact (on the aids, on the bit) at the canter!  In the past, Trudy has been allowing Ani to canter like a green horse on a loose rein and with her head up. Now, Trudy is thinking about competing in dressage and it is time to go to the next level.  Contact and connection at all the gaits.  This is only the 3rd session that we have done this at the canter and the perfect video for you to watch if you are taking your horse or a student, through this process.

What did you learn about connecting a horse that is new to contact at the canter?  Does it make you feel better about the progress you might be having with your horses to do the same thing?

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Randi Thompson. The timing of the rider's aids at the walk. The Steps to Connection.  Outside rein and leg.

"The timing of the riders aids at the walk. Is your horse hearing what you want them to do?"

In this blast from the past, I asked Trudy to become aware of when Melody was listening to her aids. These are the steps that she is using. 1) First Trudy needs to be aware of when Melody's hind foot is off the ground. 2) Melody needs to soften her jaw. 3) Melody will flex her neck (so the muscle falls to the outside) 4) Trudy aids her inside calf muscle to see if Melody is responding to her leg by shifting her weight to the outside. 5) Next, we add the outside rein and leg to soften Melody's poll. Sounds easy right? Watch to see how what we are doing makes a difference in how Melody is responding to Trudy's aids. What I found interesting is that by asking Trudy to say words as she is riding that it is easier for her to time when she is using her aids.

Can you see how the timing of the aids depends on where the horse's hind foot is? (on the side you are using the aids on...) Try this on your horse (or student) and let us know how timing your aids makes a difference for what you are doing with your horse at the walk.