You're such a great teacher honestly, sometimes I struggle with motivation but as soon as I watch one of your videos, I'm always so excited to get back in the saddle and try out what you've taught! I'm always looking forward to your latest videos
OMG ....I finally understand some CRUCIAL but so SIMPLE things. I am completely addicted to learning through your amazing theory & demo. It's certainly nice realising I'm not completely useless and that I can indeed give my big beautiful boy so much more, and set my younger ones up for success ❤ so grateful as I'm finally starting to believe in myself again. Yeeeha
My biggest "A HA" moment was when I felt that I had my horse totally "through" in the half pass (never got lower than an "8" in shows). Then, I had to figure out how to keep the same feeling when riding on straight lines....your banana description is a deceptively easy way to explain a complicated subject. It gives you that visual even when riding on "straight" lines.
Hi Alicia really looking forward to this episode. I just have to tell you this!!! I have never been more grateful or so utterly moved in connection to my riding than I am right now. I have stopped the peg thing and I could really feel my hips opening I am constantly practicing putting my weight into the stirrups (as I have to continually correct this new position until it is fully integrated) the difference this has made for my horse is mind blowing he is taking up a light, on the bit contact, with the most sensational ease and when I give the rein he immediately seeks the bit and lowers his head. Alicia you may never know how grateful I am to you, it is so hard to put into words and I feel so emotional. After a lifetime of frustration and feeling like such a failure as a rider I am overcome with joy and so excited for what may be possible in the future as a senior rider. May the force be with you all the way to the Olympics, I couldn't think of a more deserving soul. With so much love and appreciation. Yours faithfully Gareon Oh P.S. He is making white foam on one side and just wet on the other. Is this about his suppleness on one side?
Thank you 🙏🏻 this is such an amazing comment to read and really this is what makes us keep doing everything and giving back because we are so grateful for all of YOU xxx
Your lessons are amazing. Thank You. I'm loving the banana image! I jumped in deep water adopting a wild horse and haven't been able to find a helpful trainer. My background as a ballet dancer somehow is connecting with your methods. Yuma and I thank You.
Hi Alecia. I love the Banana analysis. I have had massive problems with my 5 yr old OTTB cantering. We are making some huge strides. I started back riding him in September after 2 months of EPM treatment. The EPM affected his right hind. We started out our rehab and I over exaggerated the Banana in my seat. We did a schooling show Intro B last weekend and improved our collective marks by .5 to 1 point. We had a break through with the Canter and getting stronger everyday. Thank you 😊
I never knew how important it is to sit in the right spot on a horse. I figured if you sit in the middle you are good to go 😂 well learning to ride dressage I know now that it's very important to know where to sit at all times. With the banana analogy it makes it so easy to understand where to sit. It's very easy and very quick to remind myself where to sit. Thank you Alicia to make it so easy to understand 🤠
UA-cam is so freaking awesome!!.. you can learn almost anything on this platform! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, and giving poor ppl lile me 😂 a better chance at learning dressage 😄
Thanks so much for this compilation video. I have quite a lot of experience ( as an amateur) with young or green horses and done ok, but have always felt that I have a handicap when it came to the lateral movements. It is like I have to try too hard and it frustrated me because that always creates some tension in me and then of course, the horse. The "ahaa" moment for me was your banana analogy and I have been using that as a mantra ever since. I just sit 'in the hole' every time I bend my horse or move his shoulder this way or that - it has stopped me from trying too hard and keeps the tension out of my riding - The improvement is astounding!
Alicia, thanks for such a clear helpful explanation..about where and when to sit in the banana on the saddle and even myself walking on the ground your explanations really sinks in. So powerful words always begin with the end in mind! Just loved this so much! So excited for everyone to learn from your platform, so generous ladies!❤️
Alicia this was THE perfect lesson AGAIN!! ❤️❤️I was exactly doing the wrong thing… when my horse was hanging in in the circle I was putting my weight on the outside and this was so heavy!! Looking forward to try this!
I have watched a lot of different dressage videos all with different trainers and by far you have explained it in a way that it finally makes sense you are so amazing I hope you continue to make videos you are my favorite 👍
Oh i am having an epiphany ..at first i was struggling a bit with this one despite Alicia incredible talent to teach while illustrating the way the horse moves ..was trying to picture how to place my legs , my hands , while keeping the horse on a nice circle ( and not an "ovale" like my friend said last time :-) and in a small cadenced trot ... and then i see her doing it on the horse and things clicked .. THANK YOU ALICIA
Alicia today I rode like I was standing, take the horse away I would still be standing. OMG my bad habit is lifting my heels and gripping. NOT TODAY I rode your way and I wasn’t so tired after a short time. Thank you!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing the banana 🍌. This has helped me so much. In my lessons my instructor and I will yell out where’s your banana. Lol. This has made half passes and leg yield and so many other things so easy. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!!
I love this! I realize now why my leg yields to the left and my canter to the right has been so difficult! My right seat bone was lost! I can't wait to try this today! Makes so much sense!!
i have been riding for 5 years and always get fustrated with my stirrups,nobody told me the 80/20 percent rule.wow,this has changed my riding for the better,thank you so much!!!!
I just Love yr videos, and they are very helpful. I wonder if you can explain a little bit about when and when not to use a double bridle. Txh and Merry Xmas 2 U & yr team♥️
Great question Marie! A good way to think about is firstly your goals with the horse - if you are never going to compete FEI then you may never need to use one if you do not wish to. Then the important thing for the individual horse is that the horse needs to be connected in the snaffle always in training before starting with the double xx
I saw this again, and just realized what has been 'wrong' in my canter aids! Not enough room for horse's outside hind leg to lift as my sitting is a key blocker. Ohmyyyy... Need to rethink my aids again! Thank you Alicia!
Amazing video. I love how you break things down and make it so much easier to understand!! You’re such a talented teacher. And repetition is so appreciated!!
Loved this video! The banana has been a major "boom" or "ah-ha" moment for me since the day you put the banana video on UA-cam. I've been trying to use the banana as much as I can in my lessons. This has truly simplified things for me personally. Such a universally understandable analogy! 🤯🤯🤯
Hi Alicia, Thank you soooo much for all these cristal clear explanations. You are really helping us a lot and I am very grateful 🥺 Can’t wait to see what you are preparing for next year. We’ll be there. 🤗
I loved this! It is so instinct that you lean outside if the horse falls inside. Even riding school teachers have asked me to lean out in same situations - and obviously it has not helped at all! This is crystal clear now how to help horse in these matters. Thank you! 🙏❤️
Thank you so much for this video! I’m at the stage in my riding where I need a bit more from my horse after holding him back for so long because I wasn’t ready but now that I am ready he’s being a bit lazy and stubborn and this has helped me learn a bit more on flatwork/dressage and how to make him more responsive!
This has helped me out so much in my riding. I think all the time where's the inside of the banana? Right!! always works. Like Alicia says at the end of the video "There is never a time where you don't sit to the inside of the banana" Love it!!
Hi Alicia, I'm in nsw. Woke up at 5 to watch you. Got the banana theory, yay.. Luv your work luv your horses. Miss the Mowgli videos. Av a good 1, from Oz.
Hi from Russia, Alicia!✨ I would like to thank you for your awesome explanations in details! Even English isn’t my native, i kinda…understand everything! The fun and cool thing is that i can find answers on all my riding questions (and i have lots of them,really, cz im a beginner)! Probably you have any classes connected to fighting with fears? If so, could you please write the name of such a class? Can’t really find it😅 Thank you again!
Hello! Thank you so much for reaching out! You can register to attend one of our free classes on overocming fear and building confidence here.. www.fearlessridingsuccess.com/fearless-chat
Have been using this on simple circles and corners and it really helps. I’ve been finding the right spot according to a feeling - a feeling of the horse’s movement going through the space between the top of my pelvis and my spine, on the side that’s over the inside of the banana. I keep the same amount of weight going down each side of my body, but the inside weight goes a bit more into the stirrup on that side, and the outside weight stays a bit more in the hip on that side. It’s very slight with a balanced horse, but keeps me from being pushed to the outside.
And I have to add that I loved Alicia’s comment that you always need to feel like you’re getting ready to do a squat when you’re riding. Great comparison and so helpful.
Thank you as always. I've always had a tendency to fall in on the left lead with my gelding but the idea to not move my weight out that you mentioned in a video a few months back and again today has completely eliminated that problem.
OMG your your videos are amazing! I have been waiting for days to watch this one because I wanted to give it my full attention and I'm so glad I did! I love the banana idea and it will definitely help me while riding!! Thank-you for all your help and simplicity in such complicated movements!
Wow! Until I watched your various videos explaining the lateral movements I was off in lala land. I just pushed the horse sideways by any means. I had travers completely backwards - rib cage curved the wrong way. Many thanks for the clarification.
Love your videos Alicia ❤️. I need things like a banana to help me understand and remember what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm training my horse and my sisters and this method works like magic !
My biggest "ahhah" moment: I have never thought about having the outside bend of the horse as a longer side on my body, with my pelvic tilted a bit to the inside. Seeing it on the saddle (with no horse) helped so much! I hope you can also do a video on exactly your body position when asking for a halt. You previously posted a video on what you body is supposed to do when going from a halt to a walk vs halt to trot, it would be great to see a video going the other way!
Looking forward to this video. I have picked up so man useful tings this autumn, the banan, feet on the ground. Sit like it was your new boyfriends lap 😄 The legyield for suppleness. How to pop into canter-which went great, but I must say my trainer asks me to bend his hind to the inside and use my inside leg...
So excited for this video! I’m hoping that learning more about getting my horse to listen to my aids will help him pick up the correct canter lead! He is a bit weaker to the left-or perhaps I need to give better aids. He does great to the right, but always picks up wrong lead to the left! Would love a video on canter leads!
Thanks Jessica, yes we know on this video parts of the audio are not as good as our newest videos as this is a re-make of an original video (made with updated footage and information) so the older parts are with our older technology which is not as good xx
Thank you so much Alicia for making every year full of joy love happiness incase ridding advice tips and I learn so much from you LOVEE you Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 happy holidays xoxo 😘 💚🎁🎄🐴🐴🎄❤️🎁✨✨🎅🏻🎁🎁❤️🎄🐴🐴💚🎁🎁❤️🎄🐴🐴💚🎁✨🎅🏻✨✨🎁💚🎄🐴🎄💚🎁🎁❤️🎄🐴🐴✨✨🎅🏻✨✨🎅🏻🎅🏻❤️💚🎄🐴🐴
Looking forward to this video - thank you masses in advance!! Question if I may please - In the video with lovely Bethany, you mentioned really briefly when the horses head does on the diagonal - kind of skew whiff - muzzle left/ears right - what am I doing wrong here - too much left rein?? Many thanks Jayne x
Hi Jayne, great question, yes if the horse is tilting the head it can mean the rider has uneven contact and this is the first thing to check, if this does not solve it then the horse could need some more suppleness or upright balance in the shoulders, to check this try riding some circles with leg yield and see it is helps and serpentines to check both sides, this will both increase suppleness and also help the horse balance better onto hind legs. Hope this helps x
Thank you this was so helpful. I will definitely start practicing this a lot more. How would you recommend getting circles more circle like? Mine turn into ovals, or get smaller, bigger or more lop sided. I think sitting in the correct spot will help but what other tips are there to try?
Super question Zanna! Have a look at this video Alicia did on 10m circles- she talks in the begining a bit about what you need and what you need to be thinking about for circles -ua-cam.com/video/iEgK2m3M95c/v-deo.html
Thank you again for an excellent video! I'm having real a block with the banana analogy / understanding where to sit, and I just wanted to chuck it out there. My issue is with controlling direction at the same time as controlling bend. I have a tendency to put more weight into the outside stirrup to control the direction when I want my horse to bend to the inside. So for instance, in a shoulder in I put weight into the outside stirrup to keep the horse on the track. I'm struggling to reconcile this with sitting to the inside of the banana. So I guess I've got two questions: 1) Are weight in the stirrup and position in the saddle separate things? Should I be sitting to the inside and putting weight in my outside stirrup? Or: 2)If sitting to the inside of the banana means having more weight to the inside of the banana, then how do I control the direction of my horse? For instance, how do I keep him out on the track in a shoulder in? I know you explained about this in the part of the video regarding the horse falling in on the circle, and trying to let the horse to balance himself, but I feel like if I tried that my horse and I would just spiral in to a halt. We're a bit too uneducated for that! So I guess my question is how do you balance your horse and direct your horse whilst shifting your weight to the hole in the banana? Sorry if this has been asked before and I missed it. Thank you again for another brilliant video, the effort you guys put into this channel is really obvious and so appreciated :)
Hi Adele! Update for you- The answer for this is actually not so much about where to sit but more about controlling the horses shoulder. The reason you are finding it confusing of where to sit on the horse is because you are not controlling the horses shoulder with your reins. Due to that, you are trying to compensate in your body to try to steer when in actual fact you should be using the reins to control the horses shoulder and sitting in the banana. I think if you think about it in that perspective youwill realize that ou don't have so much of an issue with the banana but more an issue with steering. Hope that helps! x
I love ❤️ ur videos so helpful I have a question on a trail ride my horse 🐴 spokes over seeing animals how do I train my horse 🐴 not to be while on a trial ride? Xoxo 😘 merry Christmas 🎄 I love you ❤️ 🎁💚💚🎄🎄🎁❤️✨🎅🏻🎅🏻🎁💚❤️❤️❤️🎁🐴🐴💚❤️✨❤️💚🎄🐴🎄💚❤️✨✨❤️💚🎁🎁🎅🏻🎅🏻🎁💚❤️💚🎄🐴🎁💚❤️✨❤️🎄🐴🐴🎄🎁
Hi Lauren! The best way to help the horse to not spook is to ride the horse connected into the bridle and then you have some more control over the horse, this can be difficult on a trail ride so it might be something you work on in the arena until you have it working well and then do small trail rides making sure you can still ride the horse on the bit xx
Hi Gracie, some horses have naturally a 4 beat canter and this can be due to breed or conformation and others can tend a little 4 beat when losing balance or struggling with an exercise, if it is the later then the important thing is to always remember rhythm is number 1 on the training scale and you should always take care of that first, so make the exercise easier until the horse can make a 3 beat and then slowly make it harder, making sure always the 3 beat remains x
Great suggestion! Alicia talks a bit about 2 point and how you can actually use it to improve your seat in the canter in this video - ua-cam.com/video/wHRu20KsxZk/v-deo.html
Hi there Alicia 😊 such a great video, very helpful to have the demo parts mixed with the theory parts. It has helped me heaps since I first saw it. Quick question, when sitting to the inside of the banana 🍌 I tend to want to lift my outside seat bone up, I am thinking you mean to move the whole position to the inside slightly, but still sit evenly on both seat bones? Rather than weighting the inside. Does that make sense? Thanks. Love your work!
@@YourRidingSuccess I love it ! Watched this morning and rode straight afterwards. Really helped remind you of where you should be. Also looking up & ahead as in Ash's video - I tend to get fixated on the ears! But looking ahead this morning was a real help. So many thanks team! You are awesome.
So god explained, thanks. My horse starts to throw his head back when he gets fed up and tired and then I lose my control on my own body and gets to strong in my hands/pulling to much and legs starts to move around. Don’t know how to fix this. Any tips? / Jenny
Hey Jenny, best advice with this is try to take a walk break or finish the session before you get so tired in your own riding that you feel you cannot be effective as otherwise it is not easy for the horse to do the right thing! It sounds like you are doing well before getting tired yourself so try to just make the sessions shorter until your riding stamina improves xx
Hi Carrie! Think of the banana, you need to sit to the inside on a circle and if your horse is falling out on a circle it might be that you need better control of the outside shoulder and if even that is difficult then you might take outside bend and counter flexion which would require your banana to be to the outside but that should be a correction and first step is shoulder control and on correct circle banana is inside of circle xx
Great episode!! When I ride I picture my butt crack over the spine. I even drew myself a picture for reference. 🍑My 5th grade self would be so proud of my epic potty humor 😂 Now I can ride with a smile on my face and my butt in the correct place! Thanks Alicia for bringing education and fun into dressage. You are a gift! Mwah xxx 🍌❤
Hi Tina, only to the outside if you were making a correction by using counter flexion and counter bend, otherwise to inside and remember when the horse falls really it is shoulder control (reins) not the ribcage xx
Yessss!!!! thank you so much for demonstrating in the saddle. Now I know how much I should be moving to get in the banana :)))
Love this!!
You're such a great teacher honestly, sometimes I struggle with motivation but as soon as I watch one of your videos, I'm always so excited to get back in the saddle and try out what you've taught! I'm always looking forward to your latest videos
Thank you! So glad you are finding the videos so motivating!
REALLY???
the way you teach is amazing i love the example of the banana
YAY! So glad you enjoyed the video x
OMG ....I finally understand some CRUCIAL but so SIMPLE things. I am completely addicted to learning through your amazing theory & demo. It's certainly nice realising I'm not completely useless and that I can indeed give my big beautiful boy so much more, and set my younger ones up for success ❤ so grateful as I'm finally starting to believe in myself again. Yeeeha
Happy to help! We are loving the support!
My biggest "A HA" moment was when I felt that I had my horse totally "through" in the half pass (never got lower than an "8" in shows). Then, I had to figure out how to keep the same feeling when riding on straight lines....your banana description is a deceptively easy way to explain a complicated subject. It gives you that visual even when riding on "straight" lines.
Thanks for sharing your biggest AHA moment!! Glad you enjoyed the video xx
Hi Alicia really looking forward to this episode. I just have to tell you this!!! I have never been more grateful or so utterly moved in connection to my riding than I am right now. I have stopped the peg thing and I could really feel my hips opening I am constantly practicing putting my weight into the stirrups (as I have to continually correct this new position until it is fully integrated) the difference this has made for my horse is mind blowing he is taking up a light, on the bit contact, with the most sensational ease and when I give the rein he immediately seeks the bit and lowers his head. Alicia you may never know how grateful I am to you, it is so hard to put into words and I feel so emotional. After a lifetime of frustration and feeling like such a failure as a rider I am overcome with joy and so excited for what may be possible in the future as a senior rider. May the force be with you all the way to the Olympics, I couldn't think of a more deserving soul. With so much love and appreciation. Yours faithfully Gareon
Oh P.S. He is making white foam on one side and just wet on the other. Is this about his suppleness on one side?
Thank you 🙏🏻 this is such an amazing comment to read and really this is what makes us keep doing everything and giving back because we are so grateful for all of YOU xxx
The repetition and different perspectives really help. Imagine winning a horse!
So glad you enjoyed the video! It would be SOO epic wouldn't it?!
Your lessons are amazing. Thank You. I'm loving the banana image! I jumped in deep water adopting a wild horse and haven't been able to find a helpful trainer. My background as a ballet dancer somehow is connecting with your methods. Yuma and I thank You.
Wonderful! You are most welcome!! :)
I just love the way you describe things, you make it understandable. Wish I could spend a week with you!
😘😘😘
Hi Alecia. I love the Banana analysis. I have had massive problems with my 5 yr old OTTB cantering. We are making some huge strides. I started back riding him in September after 2 months of EPM treatment. The EPM affected his right hind. We started out our rehab and I over exaggerated the Banana in my seat. We did a schooling show Intro B last weekend and improved our collective marks by .5 to 1 point. We had a break through with the Canter and getting stronger everyday. Thank you 😊
Super work Kimberlee!! So excited the tips are really helping you to make progress!
I never knew how important it is to sit in the right spot on a horse. I figured if you sit in the middle you are good to go 😂 well learning to ride dressage I know now that it's very important to know where to sit at all times. With the banana analogy it makes it so easy to understand where to sit. It's very easy and very quick to remind myself where to sit. Thank you Alicia to make it so easy to understand 🤠
You are welcome Nada! Love that you are enjoying the videos!! ❤
UA-cam is so freaking awesome!!.. you can learn almost anything on this platform! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, and giving poor ppl lile me 😂 a better chance at learning dressage 😄
Thanks so much for this compilation video. I have quite a lot of experience ( as an amateur) with young or green horses and done ok, but have always felt that I have a handicap when it came to the lateral movements. It is like I have to try too hard and it frustrated me because that always creates some tension in me and then of course, the horse. The "ahaa" moment for me was your banana analogy and I have been using that as a mantra ever since. I just sit 'in the hole' every time I bend my horse or move his shoulder this way or that - it has stopped me from trying too hard and keeps the tension out of my riding - The improvement is astounding!
Wow!! This is soo amazing!! Thanks for sharing, Helen! LOVE that this technique works best for you xx
Alicia, thanks for such a clear helpful explanation..about where and when to sit in the banana on the saddle and even myself walking on the ground your explanations really sinks in. So powerful words always begin with the end in mind! Just loved this so much! So excited for everyone to learn from your platform, so generous ladies!❤️
Thanks, Theresa! So glad you enjoyed the video xx
Alicia this was THE perfect lesson AGAIN!! ❤️❤️I was exactly doing the wrong thing… when my horse was hanging in in the circle I was putting my weight on the outside and this was so heavy!!
Looking forward to try this!
Wonderful! Tell us how you go trying out this technique x
I have watched a lot of different dressage videos all with different trainers and by far you have explained it in a way that it finally makes sense you are so amazing I hope you continue to make videos you are my favorite 👍
LOVE it!! So glad you are getting so much from the videos that we share! Keep tuning in and there's more to come! x
Lots of light bulbs coming on! This is THE BEST description of how to use the training scale I have seen! Thank YOU!
YAY!! So glad you enjoyed this video!
I love how your lessons are well described to really understand the explanation
Thanks, Louise!!
I just love your videos and your enthusiasm. You have a way of communicating the details in a way everyone can understand.
Love it!! So glad you're finding the video very easy to understand xx
Oh i am having an epiphany ..at first i was struggling a bit with this one despite Alicia incredible talent to teach while illustrating the way the horse moves ..was trying to picture how to place my legs , my hands , while keeping the horse on a nice circle ( and not an "ovale" like my friend said last time :-) and in a small cadenced trot ... and then i see her doing it on the horse and things clicked .. THANK YOU ALICIA
Life changing really 🙌. This is the simplest most logical explanation I’ve ever heard! I get it 🙋🏻♀️👩🏻🎓🐎
Yay!! Love it xx
Alicia today I rode like I was standing, take the horse away I would still be standing. OMG my bad habit is lifting my heels and gripping. NOT TODAY I rode your way and I wasn’t so tired after a short time. Thank you!!!!
yes! love it!
You’re seriously the best. Help me keep my left heel down! My trainer won’t leave me alone for it
Thank you, I finally get the banana analogy! OMG 😲
Yay!! This is great xx
Thank you so much for sharing the banana 🍌. This has helped me so much. In my lessons my instructor and I will yell out where’s your banana. Lol. This has made half passes and leg yield and so many other things so easy. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!!
HAHAHA! Love the yelling part!! Glad that this has helped you so much!! xx
This is one of your best videos! I loved the way you explained it. I am so excited to try this on my next ride😊😊💕💕👍
Yay! Thank you!
OMG what a light bulb moment. Now I fully understand 😍
This is so great to hear! Thanks for sharing!
These videos give me something to bring into my lessons each week and work with my trainer on. So helpful
Perfect! We can't wait to hear how it goes for you when you try this technique x
Thanks. It's clearer than mud and more clear the more I watch the video over and over....have a very Merry Christmas.
Happy Holidays! Glad you are enjoying the videos so much!
I love this! I realize now why my leg yields to the left and my canter to the right has been so difficult! My right seat bone was lost! I can't wait to try this today! Makes so much sense!!
WOOO!! So glad it helped so much! Would love to hear how you go trying this out!
Simply brilliant. Brilliantly simple.
WOWOWWWOW🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! This is a huge AHA!!
YAY!! Thank you x
i have been riding for 5 years and always get fustrated with my stirrups,nobody told me the 80/20 percent rule.wow,this has changed my riding for the better,thank you so much!!!!
Right on! Thank you!! :)
I just Love yr videos, and they are very helpful. I wonder if you can explain a little bit about when and when not to use a double bridle. Txh and Merry Xmas 2 U & yr team♥️
Great question Marie! A good way to think about is firstly your goals with the horse - if you are never going to compete FEI then you may never need to use one if you do not wish to. Then the important thing for the individual horse is that the horse needs to be connected in the snaffle always in training before starting with the double xx
I saw this again, and just realized what has been 'wrong' in my canter aids! Not enough room for horse's outside hind leg to lift as my sitting is a key blocker. Ohmyyyy... Need to rethink my aids again! Thank you Alicia!
We can't wait to hear how it goes for you when you try this technique on your next ride x
Amazing video. I love how you break things down and make it so much easier to understand!! You’re such a talented teacher. And repetition is so appreciated!!
Thank you for your kind words! We're glad to hear that you found our video helpful and that our teaching style resonates with you.
Loved this video! The banana has been a major "boom" or "ah-ha" moment for me since the day you put the banana video on UA-cam. I've been trying to use the banana as much as I can in my lessons. This has truly simplified things for me personally. Such a universally understandable analogy! 🤯🤯🤯
Love that the banana video has helped you a lot!! Thank you!!
Hi Alicia,
Thank you soooo much for all these cristal clear explanations. You are really helping us a lot and I am very grateful 🥺
Can’t wait to see what you are preparing for next year. We’ll be there. 🤗
You're welcome, Laurine!!
I abselutely love your explanations Alicia!! The holy grail is found, it is a banana!!! 😂❤️🐎
HAHAHA yes!!
This is FANTASTIC! I love how clearly you explain these things to make them seem so super simple!
Glad you like them!
Thanks, i will give this a try with my next riding lesson. I was kind of confused where to put my weight too 😛
I loved this! It is so instinct that you lean outside if the horse falls inside. Even riding school teachers have asked me to lean out in same situations - and obviously it has not helped at all! This is crystal clear now how to help horse in these matters. Thank you! 🙏❤️
Love it! Such an eye opener, isn't it? xx
Thank you so much for this video! I’m at the stage in my riding where I need a bit more from my horse after holding him back for so long because I wasn’t ready but now that I am ready he’s being a bit lazy and stubborn and this has helped me learn a bit more on flatwork/dressage and how to make him more responsive!
You got this, Miley! x
OMG! It makes so much sense now!!! For awhile I have been struggling with transition and my position, now it’s so clear. Thank you 😊
Yay!! So glad you're getting so much from this video! Tell us how you go trying this out! x
epic video Alicia! will be watching this one over and over again :)
Yes!! Binge watch as long as you can! xx
This is still one of your most epic videos, and you have many.🥰
Yay!!!
I love watching your chanel, you explain things so well.
Thank you so much!
Wow this is extremely helpful specially my horse is a young very very green 4 year old so helpful thank you so much I love this
We're happy to help!!
This has helped me out so much in my riding. I think all the time where's the inside of the banana? Right!! always works. Like Alicia says at the end of the video "There is never a time where you don't sit to the inside of the banana" Love it!!
Yay!! So amazing to see this is working well for you!! xx
Great video! You put so much effort into it! Thanks so much!
Thank you!! This is for amazing people like you xx
Merry Christmas Alecia, Tash, Toby, Meghan, and the entire team! And of course, those beautiful horsies!!!!!
Thanks Jesse! Happy Holidays!
Hi Alicia, I'm in nsw. Woke up at 5 to watch you. Got the banana theory, yay.. Luv your work luv your horses. Miss the Mowgli videos. Av a good 1, from Oz.
Thanks for getting up super early to watch Alicia!! We really appreciate it xx
Great combination of prior videos and new content so further explain these concepts.
Thank you 🙏🏻 glad you loved it xx
This was incredibly helpful. Thank you so much!!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi from Russia, Alicia!✨
I would like to thank you for your awesome explanations in details! Even English isn’t my native, i kinda…understand everything!
The fun and cool thing is that i can find answers on all my riding questions (and i have lots of them,really, cz im a beginner)!
Probably you have any classes connected to fighting with fears? If so, could you please write the name of such a class?
Can’t really find it😅
Thank you again!
Hello! Thank you so much for reaching out! You can register to attend one of our free classes on overocming fear and building confidence here.. www.fearlessridingsuccess.com/fearless-chat
Have been using this on simple circles and corners and it really helps. I’ve been finding the right spot according to a feeling - a feeling of the horse’s movement going through the space between the top of my pelvis and my spine, on the side that’s over the inside of the banana. I keep the same amount of weight going down each side of my body, but the inside weight goes a bit more into the stirrup on that side, and the outside weight stays a bit more in the hip on that side. It’s very slight with a balanced horse, but keeps me from being pushed to the outside.
And I have to add that I loved Alicia’s comment that you always need to feel like you’re getting ready to do a squat when you’re riding. Great comparison and so helpful.
Hey Tania, love this and so glad the video made so much sense for you xx
Thank you as always. I've always had a tendency to fall in on the left lead with my gelding but the idea to not move my weight out that you mentioned in a video a few months back and again today has completely eliminated that problem.
This is amazing!! So glad this technique works for you xx
OMG your your videos are amazing! I have been waiting for days to watch this one because I wanted to give it my full attention and I'm so glad I did! I love the banana idea and it will definitely help me while riding!! Thank-you for all your help and simplicity in such complicated movements!
Thank you so much for the kind words! So happy to hear how much you are loving the videos!
Gosh it looks so easy. Obv not lol. Im a former showjumper and this is different ball game all together. Love these videos
Glad you liked the video, Carol! We can't wait for you to try out this technique xx
Wow! Until I watched your various videos explaining the lateral movements I was off in lala land. I just pushed the horse sideways by any means. I had travers completely backwards - rib cage curved the wrong way. Many thanks for the clarification.
Hi Mimi!! So glad you had such epic breakthroughs from the video!
I am saving up for a horse 🐎 so can have my own just like you
Love it!! x
Love your videos Alicia ❤️. I need things like a banana to help me understand and remember what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm training my horse and my sisters and this method works like magic !
This is amazing!! So glad this technique works for you xx
My biggest "Ahha" moment was then i saw there exactly sit on your bannana and then, great explanation so thankful
Thanks for sharing you "Ahha" moment with us! xx
My biggest "ahhah" moment: I have never thought about having the outside bend of the horse as a longer side on my body, with my pelvic tilted a bit to the inside. Seeing it on the saddle (with no horse) helped so much!
I hope you can also do a video on exactly your body position when asking for a halt. You previously posted a video on what you body is supposed to do when going from a halt to a walk vs halt to trot, it would be great to see a video going the other way!
So glad you got so much out of the video! Great suggestion for a video!
sorry I haven’t been watching your videos lately because I’ve been sick But I can’t wait for is One to come out 😀
Welcome back! I hope you are well now. xx
Thank you I hope you’re doing great yourself
Yes 💯
Love this video I Learned a lot from this 😄
Yay to this, Ava!! So glad you learned something from this video xx
Thank you for posting such good videos I love your videos
You are so inspiring and remarkable I learn so much from and so beautiful handsome horses 🐴
This is great!! So glad you're learning so much from these videos xx
Very helpful! Thank you Alicia and Team!
You're welcome, Sam!
Great and thanks lots, the advice re how to handle a horse that falls out on a circle is so useful!!
This is great, Nick!! Love that the video was so useful for you xx
Excellent info!! Thank you so much for giving your time and knowledge for this wonderful and educational series :-)
Our pleasure x
Looking forward to this video. I have picked up so man useful tings this autumn, the banan, feet on the ground. Sit like it was your new boyfriends lap 😄 The legyield for suppleness. How to pop into canter-which went great, but I must say my trainer asks me to bend his hind to the inside and use my inside leg...
Hahaha love all this! The analogies make it so much easier to remember it all! Now it sounds like you have more knowledge!!!! 😇
So excited for this video! I’m hoping that learning more about getting my horse to listen to my aids will help him pick up the correct canter lead! He is a bit weaker to the left-or perhaps I need to give better aids. He does great to the right, but always picks up wrong lead to the left! Would love a video on canter leads!
Thank you for sharing!! xx More to come!
thank you that will help a lot
You're most welcome x
thank you for the great video! it helps a lot!!! :)
Super!! Glad to know this helps a lot!!
I absolutely cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!
Tell us what you thought after watching!!! x
@@YourRidingSuccess sorry I was on late but it was awesome!
Love it!!
Love your energy !! :D
finally understand the banana analogy
Yay!! What was your biggest take away?
@@YourRidingSuccess get to the side where you can create room for the horse to move better and in return it helps to complete your aid.
Thanks for sharing!! We can't wait to hear how it goes for you trying out the technique x
I loved watching this video. Im gonna try this when I'm riding next but please fix the audio. It was hard to hear the stuff in the arena
Thanks Jessica, yes we know on this video parts of the audio are not as good as our newest videos as this is a re-make of an original video (made with updated footage and information) so the older parts are with our older technology which is not as good xx
Happy holidays Alicia! Hope you have amazing Christmas 🎅🏻 xoxo 😚
Same with you, Lauren!! xx
Thank you so much Alicia for making every year full of joy love happiness incase ridding advice tips and I learn so much from you LOVEE you Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 happy holidays xoxo 😘 💚🎁🎄🐴🐴🎄❤️🎁✨✨🎅🏻🎁🎁❤️🎄🐴🐴💚🎁🎁❤️🎄🐴🐴💚🎁✨🎅🏻✨✨🎁💚🎄🐴🎄💚🎁🎁❤️🎄🐴🐴✨✨🎅🏻✨✨🎅🏻🎅🏻❤️💚🎄🐴🐴
Happy Holidays, Lauren! xx
Looking forward to this video - thank you masses in advance!!
Question if I may please - In the video with lovely Bethany, you mentioned really briefly when the horses head does on the diagonal - kind of skew whiff - muzzle left/ears right - what am I doing wrong here - too much left rein?? Many thanks Jayne x
Hi Jayne, great question, yes if the horse is tilting the head it can mean the rider has uneven contact and this is the first thing to check, if this does not solve it then the horse could need some more suppleness or upright balance in the shoulders, to check this try riding some circles with leg yield and see it is helps and serpentines to check both sides, this will both increase suppleness and also help the horse balance better onto hind legs. Hope this helps x
Thank you this was so helpful. I will definitely start practicing this a lot more. How would you recommend getting circles more circle like? Mine turn into ovals, or get smaller, bigger or more lop sided. I think sitting in the correct spot will help but what other tips are there to try?
Super question Zanna! Have a look at this video Alicia did on 10m circles- she talks in the begining a bit about what you need and what you need to be thinking about for circles -ua-cam.com/video/iEgK2m3M95c/v-deo.html
Always amazing x
😘😘😘
Thank you again for an excellent video! I'm having real a block with the banana analogy / understanding where to sit, and I just wanted to chuck it out there. My issue is with controlling direction at the same time as controlling bend. I have a tendency to put more weight into the outside stirrup to control the direction when I want my horse to bend to the inside. So for instance, in a shoulder in I put weight into the outside stirrup to keep the horse on the track. I'm struggling to reconcile this with sitting to the inside of the banana. So I guess I've got two questions:
1) Are weight in the stirrup and position in the saddle separate things? Should I be sitting to the inside and putting weight in my outside stirrup? Or:
2)If sitting to the inside of the banana means having more weight to the inside of the banana, then how do I control the direction of my horse? For instance, how do I keep him out on the track in a shoulder in? I know you explained about this in the part of the video regarding the horse falling in on the circle, and trying to let the horse to balance himself, but I feel like if I tried that my horse and I would just spiral in to a halt. We're a bit too uneducated for that! So I guess my question is how do you balance your horse and direct your horse whilst shifting your weight to the hole in the banana?
Sorry if this has been asked before and I missed it. Thank you again for another brilliant video, the effort you guys put into this channel is really obvious and so appreciated :)
Great questions Adele! We are checking with Alicia and the team for you! Watch this space for an update :]
Hi Adele! Update for you- The answer for this is actually not so much about where to sit but more about controlling the horses shoulder. The reason you are finding it confusing of where to sit on the horse is because you are not controlling the horses shoulder with your reins. Due to that, you are trying to compensate in your body to try to steer when in actual fact you should be using the reins to control the horses shoulder and sitting in the banana. I think if you think about it in that perspective youwill realize that ou don't have so much of an issue with the banana but more an issue with steering. Hope that helps! x
I really love your videos.
Thank you! So glad you are enjoying them so much!
I love ❤️ ur videos so helpful I have a question on a trail ride my horse 🐴 spokes over seeing animals how do I train my horse 🐴 not to be while on a trial ride? Xoxo 😘 merry Christmas 🎄 I love you ❤️ 🎁💚💚🎄🎄🎁❤️✨🎅🏻🎅🏻🎁💚❤️❤️❤️🎁🐴🐴💚❤️✨❤️💚🎄🐴🎄💚❤️✨✨❤️💚🎁🎁🎅🏻🎅🏻🎁💚❤️💚🎄🐴🎁💚❤️✨❤️🎄🐴🐴🎄🎁
Hi Lauren! The best way to help the horse to not spook is to ride the horse connected into the bridle and then you have some more control over the horse, this can be difficult on a trail ride so it might be something you work on in the arena until you have it working well and then do small trail rides making sure you can still ride the horse on the bit xx
Alicia…the mare i ride tends to pop into a 4 beat canter. What are some tips to keep her in a three beat true canter?
Hi Gracie, some horses have naturally a 4 beat canter and this can be due to breed or conformation and others can tend a little 4 beat when losing balance or struggling with an exercise, if it is the later then the important thing is to always remember rhythm is number 1 on the training scale and you should always take care of that first, so make the exercise easier until the horse can make a 3 beat and then slowly make it harder, making sure always the 3 beat remains x
Hey! Can you make a video about 2 and 3 point seat?
Great suggestion! Alicia talks a bit about 2 point and how you can actually use it to improve your seat in the canter in this video - ua-cam.com/video/wHRu20KsxZk/v-deo.html
What brand is your sattle? IT looks really nice 😍
Thank you! This one is a Hennig xx
Hi there Alicia 😊 such a great video, very helpful to have the demo parts mixed with the theory parts.
It has helped me heaps since I first saw it. Quick question, when sitting to the inside of the banana 🍌 I tend to want to lift my outside seat bone up, I am thinking you mean to move the whole position to the inside slightly, but still sit evenly on both seat bones?
Rather than weighting the inside. Does that make sense? Thanks. Love your work!
Hi Sue! Have a watch of our newest video where Alicia gives a visual of what you want to do - ua-cam.com/video/11dkJCw5KXc/v-deo.html
@@YourRidingSuccess I love it ! Watched this morning and rode straight afterwards. Really helped remind you of where you should be. Also looking up & ahead as in Ash's video - I tend to get fixated on the ears! But looking ahead this morning was a real help. So many thanks team! You are awesome.
So glad you tried out this technique and it helped! We can't wait to hear more about your progress x
So god explained, thanks. My horse starts to throw his head back when he gets fed up and tired and then I lose my control on my own body and gets to strong in my hands/pulling to much and legs starts to move around. Don’t know how to fix this. Any tips? / Jenny
Hey Jenny, best advice with this is try to take a walk break or finish the session before you get so tired in your own riding that you feel you cannot be effective as otherwise it is not easy for the horse to do the right thing! It sounds like you are doing well before getting tired yourself so try to just make the sessions shorter until your riding stamina improves xx
Loved this lesson! #harlow
Thanks for watching x
Question! My gelding tends to fall out toward the wall on a circle, so I sit toward the wall to make it harder for him? Is this correct? Thanks!!
Hi Carrie! Think of the banana, you need to sit to the inside on a circle and if your horse is falling out on a circle it might be that you need better control of the outside shoulder and if even that is difficult then you might take outside bend and counter flexion which would require your banana to be to the outside but that should be a correction and first step is shoulder control and on correct circle banana is inside of circle xx
Great episode!! When I ride I picture my butt crack over the spine. I even drew myself a picture for reference. 🍑My 5th grade self would be so proud of my epic potty humor 😂 Now I can ride with a smile on my face and my butt in the correct place! Thanks Alicia for bringing education and fun into dressage. You are a gift! Mwah xxx 🍌❤
Love this Abbey! Thank you :)
How is Mowgli doing? He made such strides in riding and looking fantastic xoxo 😘
Hey Lauren! He is doing really top, making lots of progress and we will show you soon how is doing in a video xx
🤗Brilliant explanatio
Thanks so much!
Hi sorry, so if my horse falls out on a canter circle or has incorrect bend, i sit toward the outside?? have i got that right xx
Hi Tina, only to the outside if you were making a correction by using counter flexion and counter bend, otherwise to inside and remember when the horse falls really it is shoulder control (reins) not the ribcage xx
Fabulous
Thanks, Hana!!
Thanks for your reply! I am subscribed to “ your riding success “ so that’s What Should give me the notifications for new videos, right? .
Yes! Welcome aboard! 😊
would you maybe come over here to germany and teach me and my horse? we don't have that good instructors where I live 🤣🤣
so glad you enjoyed the video!! If you'd like some more info on getting help in person email us at hello@dressageinstitute.com :]