Amer. System of Forward Riding

[Elsinore13]

I accidentally posted this in the Eventing forum, maybe you can help.

In the Bit of Britain catalog I saw the DVDs for the American System of Forward Riding. Seems like a decent supplement to regular lessons.

Has anyone seen these? Are they worth the money? I keep seeing them advertised, but I don't see any reviews on it.

[serendipityhunter]

I'm not sure how much they cost but I borrowed two of the DVDs from a friend and the 2 books that go with them. I think there is a third DVD and book but she couldn't find it at the time. Anyway, I thought they were really good!!

[besttwtbever]

I will tell you about my experience with said system. I rode in several lessons from an instructor who is one of the main people involved with it. I personally was not a fan. While I agree with some of the stuff I do not agree with all of it (as with any other type of training).

Let me start by saying that I believe that forward movement and balance are very important. I also belive that there should be minimal contact on a horses mouth. I also think it is important to try many different things during your riding career and find out what works for you. If you thing it might work for you then go ahead and try it.

My first lesson from this person who is going to remain nameless went terribly. I was put on an ex dressage horse now used as a H/J schooling horse for flat and small fences. I was told to ride on the buckle at all times. I was not allowed to have any contact whatsoever with the horses mouth. Being an ex dressage horse, he got very confused and flustered, as did I. He was constantly searching for contact, stretching his head up, down, flipping it, you name it. He wanted that 'elastic' contact that is so sought after in dressage. I was to go at all gaits like this, the canter was the worst. I thought I was going to die. He kept going faster and faster and putting his head lower and lower to the ground in an attempt to find the contact. I can only imagine what would have happened if he would have tripped cantering at full speed with his nose on the ground.

While all this was happening, this person only told me to sit up and back and that he would slow down. He never did. I went around the ring again and again until he was so tired he had to stop.

I rode the same horse another day with a different trainer that tought in a more traditional fashion. I was allowed to have light contact and the horse rode like a dream. He was AMAZING. No tossing his head or pulling up or down and no running to find the contact. His gaits were rhythmic, and like a metronome and he never offered to pull on me once.

I rode with the forward riding trainer two more times and nothing changed, and I haven't ridden with them since.

I am not saying that this system doesn't work. I am just saying that I don't think it works for everyone or every horse. It just wasn't a good fit for me. :no:

[OneMoreTime]

they are excellent.

[englishivy]

I have used the DVDs and workbook exercises with my clients (and myself) with great success. I also have a few trainer friends that have done the same. I continue to ride with one of ANRC trainers. I find it a wonderful philosphy.

That said, you may find some of it a bit "left of center" at times, but I think it depends upon your background and what you are looking for. I'd say give it a try; make your own opinion. :D

[AGRHJRider]

I am a trainer and i teach based on the forward riding system designed by Vladmir Littauer. George Morris among others is a big supporter of this program as well.
The forward riding system classifies riders and horses individually on their knowledge and ability. The program is designed with checkpoints that allow you to test your horses level of training.
The forward riding system in partnership with the Affiliated National Riding Commission also has Equi-Trials which allow you to do a hunter course, a field hunter round and what is called a dressage sportif. The dressage sportif is a dressage test with movements such as counter canter, turn on the forehand, lengthening of gait and transitions as well as a trot fence and a canter oxer. The test is scored numerically with points for each movement and also overall scores for the horses way of going, the riders effectiveness and the riders equitation. The field hunter round is scored on both manner of going, fence scores and equitation as well. The stadium is a hunter course with equitation being judged.
The elementary level which you were being taught to learn teaches a rider to use their body aids, weight, leg, opening rein, tapping leg etc. For a young horse or even a seasoned horse the elementary level is taught to achieve stabilization. ie.- the horse should carry you consistently with or without contact, over varying terrain, inside or outside of the ring.
The intermediate level is equivalent to training level dressage or a hunter frame. As you progress into the system you introduce more contact. The elementary level is designed as a base and a building block which you can perfect, move up when necessary, or come back down if pushing your horse forward in his education encounters a few ruts. It creates soft, happy horses who respond effectively and efficiently to the riders aids.
The advanced level allows you to ride with full contact.
All horses should be able to be ridden on the buckle imo , thats the result of good consistent training. But thats just my pov.
One thing i really learned from this program is how to use my body and my equitation to positively effect my horses way of going.
These dvd's and the book are a wonderful training aid for anyone. Especially those who are not able for a myriad of reasons to take regular lessons. It never hurts to have a program or a system. It builds consistency!
Regardless if it didnt work for you no big deal, i love it, my horses seem to really respond to the forward positive ride and the videos are phenomenal.
Try it, you'll learn something from the dvd's and books ;)

[Lazy Palomino Hunter]

I'm a fan! I attended a college (Sweet Briar) that uses the system. The DVDs are great, and the system itself is quite effective. On the ANRC front, I love that it isn't just about riding in the ring and "equitating" well... it's about helping your horse go as well as possible, being able to pass a written horsemanship test, ride a dressage test, an equitation course, and a field hunter course over cross country fences... all with style and good form on your part.

With appropriate lesson horses, the levels system is fantastic for teaching. I was a teaching assistant in college, which meant I would get one beginner and teach 6 lessons per semester, or assist with a low intermediate lesson of 4-6 students all semester. I find that the steps in the system follow a very logical progression, from beginner to advanced.

I know of at least one student who had never touched a horse when she arrived at SBC, and was solidly jumping around the 3' by the end of her senior year. You would never have imagined that she hadn't been riding her whole life.

I'm a believer. :)

(plus nearly, if not all of, the horses in the videos are SBC school horses! Here is a link to the system (http://www.anrc.org/index.asp), with a preview of the DVDs)

[alakazam]

I like it too. I really like the systematic aproach they take to building a solid foundation. I found my DVD's on ebay. You might want to check there before buying new.

[JB]

besttwtbever, I think you are a case of having a bad trainer, period, nothing to do with that particular system ;)

Also, a well-trained dressage horse should be able to carry himself around on the buckle - he may be seeking a long and low position to find the bit, he may not be in the perfect frame, but he should be able to balance himself in the process. So, his reactions are not because he was trained dressage and now ridden on the buckle, his reactions were more of a horse who never learned how to move without any contact.

The system, starting with the no contact and working to passive contact and then working to active contact, is really about training the horse - get him forward and learning his own balance without you in his mouth, then take passive contact so he can (re)learn the same thing while learning to accept contact, and then take active contact so you can affect what his head and neck, and then the rest of his body, are doing.

But, having a lesson horse who can go around just as happily with no contact as with active contact is invaluable in teaching the rider to find his own balance as well. The same steps an educated rider uses to teach a green horse can be used to teach a green rider on an educated horse.

The videos are very nice. I like Paul Cronin's book a lot too.