
These are just a few samples of the photos printed in
"The Truth in the Teaching of Nuno Oliveira"
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photos.
During the year spent in Avessada, Eleanor who had previously
translated two of Nuno Oliviera's last books was given permission to take
these unposed photos at any moment during training.
Towards the year's end Nuno was shown a draft of the proposed
book and gave his enthusiastic approval for the photos to be published in
book form.
Photos from Gymnastic Exercises for Horses Vol.
2
WOW IT WORKED!!
* He stayed a little bent around the left leg looking to the outside
and his quarters were a little in off the track but he FELT in his own
balance.
HELP! IT DIDN'T HAPPEN
* He just stays straight on track!
Go back to the small circle and repeat the turn on the forehand / walking
forward away from your left leg and imprint on YOUR mind what it FEELS
like. Now repeat the same FEEL along the wall! |
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HELP! IT DIDN'T HAPPEN
* I used my inside leg and he bent but he
kept on bending and fell out off the line. You forgot to stop
using your inside leg and where was your outside rein? Remember to stop
using your inside leg and straighten him with your outside rein but
adjust / FEEL how much of an aid you need.
* He didn't bend and fell in with his inside
shoulder. You must correct this immediately. Do half a halt
to get his attention and insist he moves / bends away from your inside
leg as in the earlier exercise of one step sideways, one step forward.
Don't expect the line to remain a good serpentine while doing this correction.
The priority is he HAS to accept that inside leg and bend a little.
* He began to trot. He misinterpreted
your aids. You must flex and relax your fingers a little to reduce his
desire to trot, but give to allow him to still go forward while bending
along the line. |
I first saw this exercise at Saumur and found it's a good and easy way
to teach the transition. Your horse is already bending around your inside
leg with his inside hind leg underneath him. Your aids are the same as
for your canter strike off from trot.
Sit down using your back and feeling your seat bones as you sit deeper
in the saddle and touch with your outside leg. Close your fingers, don't
pull back and, as he knows these aids, his back will round. He will
feel like a round beach ball underneath you and he will canter from
behind, from his hindquarters.
WOW! He did it!
* It felt marvellous, round and calm. We just cantered to the other
side, I took a deep breath and as I relaxed deeper in the saddle letting
my breath out, I flexed my fingers and he walked and I was able to immediately
begin the next shoulder-in at walk.
HELP! It didn't happen!
* He trotted and wouldn't canter. Go back to the beginning, same side
of the arena and give your aids a little stronger. Remember to sit up
and in and not lean forward into canter.
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