Moonstone Riding Academy

12/14/2025

Getting in the December vibes this beautiful Sunday Morning ❄️ 🎄

11/16/2025

We may not get as much "weather" here is so call, but we tend to not welcome it when it does come. Instead of being upset at the changes in our routines, let's better our schedule with double the bonding through grooming and remembering the importance of ground work and out of the saddle horsemanship because a true rider is one that has a bond with their horse, not one that just sits on their back.

11/14/2025

10/31/2025

Challenge meet and raised. Full ba****ck Pre- No Stirrup month.

10/30/2025

Starting early for No Stirrup time. Girls rode strong and enjoyed having the great shade over the ring to keep cool.

10/27/2025

Hope this helps some riders understand what we mean 😉

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1465055265624855&id=100063611858418&mibextid=wwXIfr

👌It’s B and here is why…

Many riders are told to ride with low hands, often justified as being “softer” for a green horse. But this isn’t about these specifc circumstances, it about how biomechanics shows that low hands usually create more problems than they solve.

This rider always felt like her arms were too short trying to put her hands down and she was unsure oh where her hands should be.

👉 When the hands drop (A), the elbow extends and the wrist normally pronates, removing the elbow’s spring-like function. Consistent rein tension becomes harder to maintain. The trunk should naturally brace to compensate for a change in arm position but many riders either get pulled forward, lean back to counterbalance or tense their ‘core’ (ie bracing wity their abdominal) . In all three cases, the hands end up being used for stability, not communication.

👉 Low hands also turn the wrist into a pulley. Instead of subtle finger aids, the rein load redirects around the wrist, over-recruiting muscles like flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU). This creates forearm tension and can lead to golfer’s elbow or carpal tunnel strain. Contact becomes harder, less elastic, and more fatiguing for both rider and horse.

👉 Research shows rein angle matters. Low reins increase downward pressure on the bit, while a straight line from elbow to bit distributes pressure more evenly. For the horse, low reins usually create poll flexion without lifting the base of the neck or back - producing an outline without true self-carriage.

In (B) the rider uses finger muscles correctly to adapt the bend of the fingers and change rein tension dynamically - no forearm tension, and the elbow can move forward and back on the same angle to the horses mouth as the horse moves.

It’s also important to remember that rider proportions and the horse’s movement influence how this looks. A taller rider will naturally have their hands higher than a shorter rider, and different horses with different head and neck carriage - altering optimum hand level.

The key is not that everyone looks the same, but that they function the same: elbows softly bent and spring-like, fingers in control, and a straight elastic line from elbow to bit that follows the horse.

Low hands may look “better” to some, but they mechanically disadvantage both rider and horse.

Want help with your hand and arm position in the saddle - book a Rider Physio session or sign up to the Video Subscription 🙌

🔗 www.pegasusphysio.co.uk

10/26/2025

Hey Moonstone, check out Jackson back in the day with Daniela Chait when he was rockin’ it quick in the show jumping ring.

10/26/2025

10/26/2025

We had many horse owneres and leasees from Moonstone participate in the NRSC Halloween Fun Day. Great costumes, games on and off horses and eating lots of sweet treats while socializing with each other.

10/24/2025

Who is ready for another fun day tomorrow?!? We can't wait to see all the great costumes and play all the goofy games. Are you going to be there?

10/20/2025

Cedric Croft passed away yesterday on his own peacefully. He had definitely earned his Angel Wings. From being an European jumper who came to the US, made a mark in the Big Hunter Derbies with one of the highest scores a horse could receive; he eventually needed to step down and was blessed to find an amazing young rider to help teach during her foundational growth time. He eventually had a few conditions that lead to his retirement, he was able to be in an on site pasture in a small herd with 2 other Moonstone retirees, he was the Alpha of the group. He enjoyed the position & just to be a horse. He had his young teen & family visit often and they continued to give home treats to honor him for his years of service. He made some strong “ hoove prints” in many people’s hearts and will be remembered for our lifetimes. Thank you Cedric, you earned the Golden Wings. Fly high big boy over the Rainbow Bridge and to the glorious heavens.

10/06/2025

Being around horses teaches you so much more than just how to ride. Team work isn't just about you and your horse. Showing is about so much more than the ribbons. So proud to surround ourselves with such wonderful kiddos and students ❤️