Category Archives: Training

One of the most important things that I have learned as a trainer and competitor is that success in the sport really comes down to strong flatwork.  As competitors, not...

It’s a universally accepted truth that every equestrian wants to improve their riding. We all want to feel confident in the saddle, have a horse that responds to our aids...

You’re in the saddle for your daily hack, when you start to hear the grating noise of your horse grinding its teeth against the bit. You try several times to...

#MasterclassMonday is a collaboration between Horse Network and NOELLEFLOYD.com to empower equestrians. Every Monday we’ll bring you a new lesson from a leading trainer to help you troubleshoot your training,...

Renowned painter and sculptor Michelangelo famously said, "Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to release it."  Releasing that "angel in...

Much has been written recently on the importance of riding without stirrups, and of sitting the trot. In order to achieve a perfectly balanced seat from which to use the...

Many say SmartPhones have no place in a riding lesson. This exercise relies on one. The "Hey Siri" drill, from The EquiVault, is a group lesson that is challenging, educational,...

The Super S Line looks harder than it rides. This EquiVault exercise is designed to teach the horse and rider to look for the fence, emphasizing balance through the turns...

Working with young event horses is one of my favorite parts of my training program. Seeing them develop into confident, willing partners is incredibly rewarding. Whether I’m training one of...

Establishing control of the horse after a fence is one of the biggest challenges in show jumping. The TnT (Turnbacks 'n Transitions) exercise from The Equivault works on rideability after...

Straightness is a critical factor for jumping success. A horse that jumps straight is set up to jump in good form, jump higher and has a better chance of landing...

Sometimes finding the distance to a jump or seeing your spot on course is just downright frustrating. The ability flickers in and out like lights in a thunderstorm, occasionally leaving...

Round 1 of the 20202 ASPCA Maclay Final tested control. “You had some questions that kept being repeated—long to short, long to short—really showing that the kids had focus and...

Remi is one of the most uncommonly complicated creatures I have come across so far. He is a big, beautiful, cherry bay, rabicano Thoroughbred with a skunk tail. I have...

My horse has been rehabbing from an injury for almost six months. For the first three of those months, all I did was walk with him. Now I am up...

Scrolling on my cell phone, I see exuberant tweets and Facebook posts about riders working with their young horses during the free time created by the COVID-19 pandemic. With so...

I have always been fascinated by different approaches and philosophies for coaching athletes. Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to spend a considerable amount of time...

Show jumping is a sport of precision, intensity, dedication, and teamwork. To have sustained success, riders and trainers need to be able to manage competition schedules, choose training exercises, oversee...

For the past several years, the High Performance Equine Sports Medicine Group, led by veterinarians Dr. Mark Revenaugh and Dr. Timothy Ober, has been searching for methods to improve the...

What a difference a few weeks makes. At the beginning of April, people were going to the grocery store without masks, horse show managers were cautiously optimistic about getting May...