Edgewater Equestrian

05/24/2026

The trend in riding instruction toward teaching WHAT to do when riding combined with the decline in teaching HOW and WHY we do certain movements with horses is a huge problem. The result is that today's riders achieve much lower levels of unity of balance and movement with their horses. One important example is that today's riders have far less awareness of footfalls.

If a rider lacks physical awareness of a horse's foot falls, later on in their riding they will have no basis to learn the more complex and subtle movements Like the canter-halt.

Using the canter-halt transition as an example, a rider begins teaching their horse this movement by accomplishing the change from the usual 1-2-3 beats of the canter to the very different 1-2-3 beats of the canter-halt. Effective riders should be able to physically feel the footfalls of the usual canter's 1-2-3 foot falls so they can alter those footfalls to accomplish the very different 1-2-3 beats of the single stride canter-halt.

WHY do we teach a horse the canter-halt? The main reason is safety. In fox hunting we use it to avoid trouble, which can include not stepping on a hound or on a rider who has fallen to the ground. In polo the canter-halt is used to quickly change direction because this halt is the first step in a rollback. In general a rider employs the canter-halt when they see things like dangerous footing ahead or an obstacles that could cause harm, like barbed wire on the ground.

When driving a car we sometimes need to put the brake pedal to the floor in an emergency. The canter-halt is like that. It's the equestrian emergency stop.

Training the canter halt begins by feeling the 3 beat of the usual canter stride. The three beat is the long beat, as in one-two-threeee. When we can feel the long threeee beat, we know the 1 beat will come next because the 1 beat always follows the 3 beat. To do a canter-halt, during the 3 beat of the canter stride we first give a light subtle preparatory command for the halt. This preparatory command means, "Wake up, I'm going to give you a demanding command in the next split second".

Once the horse is alerted to the coming canter-halt command, the horse is prepared for that demanding command of halt from the canter. Then, just as the 3 beat ends (you feel the forward energy of the 3 beat diminishing) you know 1 beat push forward is about to happen. It is then, between the end of the 3 beat and the beginning of the next 1 beat, we give a crisp clear halt command.

It's all about the timing of the footfalls between the 3 and the 1 beat footfalls, and if you cannot feel these footfalls, you cannot do an effective crisp canter-halt.

You begin by learning to feel the long 3 beat canter footfall, which is pretty easy to do. Next you learn to feel the very quick 1 beat footfall that always follows the 3 beat, which is not easy because it is so quick, but you can eventually feel it because it is always next after the long 3 beat. I think of the 1 beat as punctuation before the new canter stride.

If the timing is correct and the halt command is clear and effective, the horse will give us a very different foot fall on the next 1 beat. Instead of the horse planting its foot for a 1 beat push forward into the new stride, the horse prepares instead to plant its foot with more heel down than toe down for a 1 beat halt footfall.

This is the key to the canter halt, to get the horse to do a very different angled foot fall on the 1 beat for the cater-halt. Once we get the 1 beat into the heel down footfall, the same more heel than toe footfalls will happen on the diagonal 2 beat of the canter IF the rider does not interfere with the horse's balance. And then finally the 3 beat is not a push forward hoof position but rather a halt footfall. The end result is a quick one-two foot falls of both front feet for the halt. Done correctly, there are no sloppy tiny steps after the one two forehand halt.


Eventually the horse learns that both its hind foot falls must hold together as seen in the right picture. Once the horse gets it that the canter-halt requires both hind footfalls to be together with heels down, we have a horse that can do a respectable canter-halt.

All of the above requires the rider to sit deep with their core firm but supple and their shoulders open. When teaching a horse to do a canter-halt, we must be patient. This movement is not learned in one session. I have had horses learn the canter halt in two or three sessions and some sloppy movers that never got it 100% correct.

When a horse struggles to include the other hind foot in the halt precisely together with the other like the right picture, I will canter them down a slight hill with slippery footing like shale or grass, and I will do the canter halt training exercise there. The slope amplifies the messiness of their uncoordinated use of their two hind feet to the point of it being a bit scary for them. After the slope work they usually improve their agility in order to achieve greater stability and that stability leads to a correct canter halt.

The canter-halt is a higher level movement that is very practical and useful. While it is a pretty dressagey movement, its origins are in practical riding.

04/30/2026

04/13/2026

✨Now Accepting New Students✨

From beginners taking their first lesson to competitive riders looking to refine their skills, Edgewater Equestrian welcomes riders of all ages and experience levels. Enjoy high quality instruction and experienced lesson horses in a friendly, supportive learning environment.

🐴 All Ages & Skill Levels
🏇🏽 Expert Instruction & Personalized Lesson Plans
🦄 Reliable, Experienced Lesson Horses
🥇 Show & Lease Opportunities Available
🗓️ Private Lessons by Appointment Only

📍Conveniently located just a few miles from I-90 & Rt. 23 within ERC Farms in Marengo, IL

Limited Spots Available - Message us today to reserve yours!

📲 815-508-3650
📧 [email protected]
🌐 https://www.edgewater-equestrian.com/lessons

03/27/2026

In general I’m not a big lunger. I personally use lunging for three things: the vet, an outlet for energy, and as a tool to keep horses moving when there’s some reason I can’t or shouldn’t ride. If I’m using lunging as an outlet for energy, I’m not just letting Dobbin sprint until he’s tired; I still require that he be patient and on my aids, and listen to my voice cues. He’s just also allowed, when I cue the canter, to use it as an opportunity to let out that hump in his back, rather than do so when I’m sitting on him. 😅 (And man oh man do I appreciate when my horses tell me that they need a minute on the lunge before demonstrating WHY they need a minute on the lunge!)

Why might I lunge if I can’t or shouldn’t ride? Maybe because I’m sore/out of time. Or maybe because a horse is back sore (from normal work, from an evolving saddle fit situation, from a place where he’s just building after a break/coming off the race track/whatever), and I don’t want him to just park. I’d love to believe that turnout is enough, but the reality of even our spectacular wonderful big grass fields is that mostly horses stand still eating in one place, then go somewhere else and stand still eating there, and on and on. So a horse that is back sore needs to move a little bit; he won’t exercise himself enough on his own.

The various types of side reins are great for the things they’re great at, and I use different tools on different horses when I lunge. My personal favorite tool, on many many types of horse? An elastic neck stretcher. It’s elastic (duh), so it’s VERY forgiving, and it goes over the poll, helping incentivize a horse to keep the neck low and provide access to the back. When I want to provide exercise without the weight of a rider, but keep things cool and casual, it’s almost always my go-to.

12/19/2025

When trainer Geoff Case talks about great riders, he doesn’t start by listing medals or miles. He talks about feel. It’s that elusive, intuitive quality that turns skill into art.

“Feel is everything,” he said. “It’s how you know when to go forward, when to wait, when to soften, and when to do nothing.” But feel isn’t magic. It’s built through time, mistakes, and awareness.

Case believes that some of the best lessons happen when no one’s telling you what to do. “When you don’t have a trainer in your ear, you have to actually listen to your horse,” he said. “You start figuring out what the horse is saying back.”

That process of trial, feedback, and adjustment is how riders develop true sensitivity. “If he leans, try something. If it works, remember it. If it doesn’t, try something else,” Case explained. “That’s how you learn timing.”

He compares it to learning a language. “The horse is talking all the time,” he said. “You just have to learn the language.”

Feel starts on the ground. Case says groundwork is one of the best ways to understand timing and communication before you ever get in the saddle. “Every horse on the ground teaches you about pressure and release,” he said. “You ask, they move, you release. They learn that the release is the reward. That’s horsemanship.”

He encourages riders to notice those same cues under saddle. “When you put your leg on and they move off, take it off,” he said. “Reward the try. That’s what creates softness.”

This rhythm, ask, feel, release, is the foundation of connection. “If you’re just pulling or kicking, you’re not having a conversation,” he added. “You’re just yelling at the horse.”

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/12/15/feel-is-a-muscle-how-to-learn-without-a-trainer-in-your-ear/
📸 © The Plaid Horse

12/13/2025

Equestrians spend a lot of time, money, and effort to be able to ride their horses. Whether you take multiple lessons a week or one a month, time with a good trainer is a privilege. It’s important to set yourself up for success, especially when starting with a new trainer or attending a clinic.

A good lesson will give you takeaways that last far longer than the time in the ring, but students have to do their part. Here are my tips for getting the most out of your lesson.

1. Arrive on time to be mounted in the ring at the appointed time so you are not late (and stressed).

If you’re late to your lesson, you’ll miss out on valuable information that you may not get back depending on the schedule. Your trainer also has a schedule to keep, and it’s frustrating (as well as unfair to others) when some arrive rate. Plus, the added stress of rushing to get ready will not help your riding. Get there early, give yourself plenty of time, and enter the ring relaxed and ready to learn.

2. Have everything you need organized in a bag or backpack.

Again, this helps your mental state for your lesson. Plus, it’s great to be prepared if your instructor asks you to add a spur or crop. It never hurts to be over prepared!

3. Focus. Focus. Focus. Listen carefully and do your best to follow directions.

It doesn’t matter if you had a hard test at school or a stressful day at work prior to your lesson. Try to flush everything else from your mind, and focus on your horse and the help coming to you. A good trainer will never get upset at someone making mistakes while trying to learn, but failing to listen to directions will leave everyone flustered.

4. A positive attitude is important.

When things don’t go well, remember that challenging yourself is hard. Take the mistakes as learning opportunities, and continue to push harder. A poor attitude will almost always ensure failure.

5. Don’t decide you already know a better or different way.

There are countless ways to teach something. Just because you’ve been doing it a certain way for a long time doesn’t mean that’s the best way. All horses respond differently. Be open to new ideas. After all, you showed up to hear the trainer’s expertise!

6. Watch what’s going on around you.

Watch the other riders in your group when they’re taking their turn. See who was able to follow directions. See how their trips worked out. Learning isn’t limited to what you are doing. You soak a lot in by observing.

7. Study the horses too.

Watching the others is also a good way to learn about different types of horses. Quick ones, lazy ones, horses that are heavy on the forehand, horses that go around with their head up in the air. See how the riders navigate their different strengths and weaknesses, and what does (or doesn’t!) work out.

8. Be open to a lifetime of learning with horses.

This is not a sport that can be learned overnight. The best riders are lifelong learners who are completely open minded. They listen to everything, and try their hardest. You don’t even stop learning, so never stop trying to improve!

📎 Save & share this article by Robin Greenwood at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2021/04/08/8-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-every-lesson/

09/13/2025

Riding lessons are more than time practicing your skills in the saddle. They’re opportunities to grow as both a rider and a horseman. But to get the most out of every minute, it takes more than showing up and hoping for the best. From preparation to mindset, small choices can make a big difference in your progress. Here are ten simple but powerful ways to maximize your next lesson.

1. Listen to Your Trainer
During a lesson, your priority should be to focus on what your trainer is saying. You’ve paid to learn from them, so keep your ears open! Enter your lesson with the intention to listen rather than speak. This goes for apologizing as well. You don’t need to apologize throughout your lesson. Your trainer knows you didn’t mean to make a mistake. Instead, use your focus to improve, not to beat yourself up or make excuses.

2. Keep Going
When performing an exercise, assume that you should keep going until your trainer tells you to stop. Preemptively pausing or stopping an exercise may show that you’re not fully committed to the lesson at hand. Your trainer knows what is hard and how hard to push you-trust them enough to see their pedagogy vision through.

3. Arrive On Time
Keep in mind that your trainer has a busy schedule. Arriving late to a lesson not only impacts their schedule for the day, but also takes away time from your lesson. Being timely helps to create a trusting relationship between you and your trainer.

4. Show Up Prepared
When you arrive at a lesson, be prepared to hop right on your horse or pony. Come appropriately prepared so that you aren’t putting on spurs or other equipment at the last minute.

5. Prioritize Your Fitness
Put some time and effort into keeping yourself in shape out of the saddle. This could look adding workouts to your routine or even offering to do some extra physical activity and chores around the barn. Being fit outside of the ring is essential to maintaining your athleticism atop a horse.

6. Remember What You’ve Learned
It’s important to bring the work you’ve done in previous lessons to your current lesson. Keep in mind the areas where you’ve struggled or succeeded and use that past knowledge to build upon those skills.

7. Listen to Your Horse
Never forget that your priority in the ring is your horse. Keep a close eye, ear, and hand on your mount to make sure you’re both operating at your best ability. If you discover something is off with your horse, always speak up—even if you aren’t sure. Your trainer will help you assess and you find the best solution for the horse.

8. Stay in the Moment
Your attention should be focused on what’s happening in the present during a lesson. Not what happened at school or work that day. Not about the show next weekend. What’s going on right now in your lesson. Watch other people do the exercises before you, so you can get a handle on how it rides. Notice how others excel and what mistakes to avoid. Appreciate the time you have with your trainer and truly listen to their guidance and advice.

9. Be Considerate
In private and group lessons, always be considerate of who you may be sharing the ring with. This includes not interrupting another lesson with a personal question or issue. Stay attentive and mindful to keep yourself and those around you safe.

10. Don’t Forget the Basics
At the end of the day, perhaps the four most important words to remember are some of the most basic reminders: heels down, eyes up.

Every lesson is a chance to learn, not just from your trainer, but from your horse and yourself. By staying focused, prepared, and considerate, you set the stage for steady improvement and stronger partnerships. Keep these tips in mind the next time you head to the ring, and see how much more you take away from each ride.

📎 Save and share this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/09/10/10-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-next-lesson/

06/06/2025

Important Update from Greyson’s Horse Haven 🐴💛

As many of you know, Greyson’s Horse Haven was founded out of love, loss, and an unwavering commitment to second chances—for horses and for people. It’s with mixed emotions that we share this update: our founder and president will soon be relocating to Texas, and as such, Greyson’s Horse Haven will be taking a hiatus as we reimagine our future.

This is not the end of Greyson’s Horse Haven—but it is the beginning of a new chapter. While we take time to regroup and reflect, we’re considering a different approach to our mission and operations once the dust settles. The heart of our rescue has always been rooted in compassion, and that mission will carry forward, even if it looks a little different.

At this time:
• We currently have two horses still seeking loving homes
• Our remaining horses will soon be moving on to safe, well-matched placements
• We’ll be holding a barn sale to part with our tack inventory, with all proceeds supporting our transition and final horse care

To our incredible supporters, donors, volunteers, adopters, and fellow horse lovers—thank you. Your belief in this mission made everything possible. We’ll be sharing more about our next steps in the near future.

With deep gratitude and hope for what’s next,
The Greyson’s Horse Haven Team

05/29/2025

Pingree Oaks Farm NIHJA show is right around the corner! Stalls are limited - don’t miss out!

Pingree Oaks NIHJA Show — June 13–15
📍 Tower Hill Stables | Hampshire, IL

We’re excited to host this year’s Pingree Oaks NIHJA Show! Come out for a great weekend of competition and fun.

Show Highlights Include:
- $1,000 Dick Narta Memorial Hunter Derby
- Hunter, Equitation & Jumper Classics
- Blue Ribbon Round for Jumpers (Friday only)

Stall Reservations:
Text Brad at (630) 453-3435
Deadline for stall counts & entries: Sunday, June 8th
Reserve early — stalls are limited!

Enter Online + View Prize List:
https://horsespot.net/shows/8313fb9d-25c8-41e0-e24f-08dd747a6bf5

04/24/2025

🌟Now Accepting New Riders & Students🌟

- Lessons for all ages and skill levels on our lovely school horses or your own
- Flexible levels of training tailored to suit the needs and goals of each individual horse & rider
- Lease opportunities available for those ready to take their riding to the next level
- Attend shows on multiple circuits including IHJA, NIHJA, & schooling shows

📍Conveniently located in Elgin, IL

At Edgewater Equestrian, we take pride in developing well-rounded horsemen & women while providing a fun, safe, and supportive environment.

Whether you’re a first time rider or seasoned competitor, our lesson program utilizes high quality instruction, five-star care, and individualized lesson plans to bring out the best in each horse and rider. With an emphasis on correct fundamentals, safety, and horsemanship, our program is designed to ensure each rider has fun as they work towards achieving their goals, while keeping the well-being of each horse paramount.

For information & scheduling, contact Sammie at:
📲 815-508-3650
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.edgewater-equestrian.com