Table of contents for Spring 2021 in Practical Horseman

As your in-hand skills improve, incorporate two invaluable lessons into your program: the rein back and “parking” (standing still) at the mounting block. The latter is one of the most essential basics you can teach any horse. Not only does it guarantee your safety during mounting—always a vulnerable moment—but it also serves as a “reset button” at horse shows. Horses who learn to relax and stand still next to the mounting block at home find the same comfort when you line them up next to it at shows. To read my article “Teach Your Horse to Rein Back,” scan the QR code above left with a smartphone camera. You will receive a link to the online article. For detailed instructions on how to teach your horse to stand still at…

It’s good to put students on both lazy and hot horses. By doing so they learn how to use their leg, how to be light with their seat and how to be quiet with their hands. I love putting all of my riders on horses who are sometimes difficult because they learn to fix problems by riding these horses, and it teaches them when to be strong and when to be soft. Today, a lot of professionals mount the kids beautifully and that’s great for the competition, but in the downtime kids need to ride green, spooky or difficult horses. That’s how students learn to ride those problems. I tell my students who have dreams of riding at the higher levels that it doesn’t matter how great the horse is…

In 2014, dressage groom and amateur rider Nicole Baergen of Wellington, Florida, took over the ride, and then ownership, of Glen Emeril, a horse she had cared for since he was imported to the U.S. from Ireland as a 5-year-old. Glennie—a chestnut Irish Sport Horse gelding—was previously trained and ridden by Heather Mason and was on the dressage highperformance track. He’d won two Horse of the Year awards and competed successfully at the Dressage Festival of Champions. But around the time Glennie turned 16, Baergen noticed a change. “Going into summer, he was not sweating correctly,” she says. “I’d known him forever, and he’s a beautiful sweater. He looked fine, but I knew there was something wrong.” A vet exam led to blood tests, which showed that Glennie had PPID.…

I hate to make mistakes, whether in my work, personal life or riding. I used to regularly beat myself up if I got too close to a fence, or heaven forbid, chip. I’m working through that by realizing that even if things don’t go as planned, it’s OK. My goal: Think about why the mistake happened, learn from it and move on. Several articles in this issue speak to this topic. In eventer Sinead Halpin’s piece about improving your show-jumping round (page 66), she shares an exercise and explains that when you first ride it, you’ll feel like you “are in a blender”—and that’s OK. Stay in the exercise (no pulling out) and figure it out, she advises. Similarly, show-jumping legend Katie Monahan Prudent says you’ll probably make mistakes in…

This picture shows Julie Reck riding her 4-year-old Oldenburg gelding. They are competing at Training Level. To be able to bring a young horse into the competition world is rewarding and exciting. Julie’s horse already looks very focused and seems to behave like a “pro” in the ring. He is moving with nice cadence, looks supple and is obedient to his rider’s aids. The way he is picking up his legs shows that his movement is elastic, and when looking at his hindquarters, I can see that his pelvis (croup) is rotating, showing that he is very mobile and soft in his back. One can see that he is a young horse, as he is not yet as round and muscled as an older dressage horse, but he has many…

There are some things that just go together in life: Peanut butter and jelly. Mac and cheese. Popsicles and summertime. Hugs and kisses. Equestrians and perfectionism. Socks and shoes. Bread and butter. See what I did there? It just fits right in. Type-A personalities and equestrians, specifically dressage riders, are a natural combination. I’m sure everyone has their own theories on why this is the case. Personally, I believe it has a lot to do with the way we are trained to think. We are always asking ourselves Where are the flaws? In competition, we are judged against the ideal: a score of 10. So it becomes second nature for us to look at a picture or video or even our own reflection in the arena mirror and see only…

When it comes to teaching horses the piaffe, many roads lead to Rome. Most trainers start with “half-steps,” which ask for the collection and suspension of the piaffe but allow the horse to continue moving forward. In a way, this “traveling piaffe” is similar to a passage, but with more collection. (For the official definitions of piaffe and passage, see the sidebar at right.) Producing this movement on a horse who doesn’t understand the concept can be challenging and stressful. That’s why I was so excited to learn Danish Olympian Morten Thomsen’s extremely effective approach to teaching it. Thomsen breaks the lesson down into very simple, clear steps, which horses find easy to understand. His process is progressive and logical, like teaching mathematics to a child. You have to introduce…

Adrenocorticotropic hormone: A hormone produced in the pituitary gland and involved in the body’s ability to control stress. It’s measured in tests used to diagnosis PPID. Dopamine: Produced in the brain, this chemical is used by the nervous system to help nerve cells communicate. It also helps regulate the production of hormones by the pituitary gland. Decreased levels of dopamine are part of the chain reaction triggering PPID. Endocrine: The system in the body that produces and secretes hormones. PPID is an endocrine (hormone-based) disease. Hypothalamus: A region in the brain that coordinates unconscious nervous functions (like breathing) and pituitary gland activity. Its actions help to control body temperature, thirst and more. Insulin: The hormone that manages glucose in the body (a type of sugar found in food, including grass…

Countdown to the Kentucky Three-Day Event Follow Practical Horseman’s coverage of the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, April 22–25, 2021, including the CCI*****-L and the new CCI****-S. Leading up to the event, we’ll share news and information about the horses and riders gearing up for the competition. At the event, held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, we’ll bring you on-site reporting, social media updates and takeovers, photos and more. The coverage is brought to you by Cosequin, Kent Nutrition Group and Straight Arrow. # USARidesToTokyo2021 Practical Horseman and Dressage Today will be covering show jumping, eventing and dressage competition at the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed from 2020 to July 23–August 8, 2021. Leading up to the Games, follow Practical Horseman and Dressage Today with Vita Flex…

The U.S. Equestrian Federation defines passage and piaffe as: PASSAGE: a measured, very collected, very elevated and very cadenced trot. It is characterized by a pronounced engagement of the quarters, a more accentuated flexion of the knees and hocks and the graceful elasticity of the movement. Each diagonal pair of feet is raised and returned to the ground alternately with cadence and has a prolonged phase of support compared to the phase of suspension. PIAFFE: a highly collected, cadenced, elevated diagonal movement giving the impression of being in place. The horse’s back is supple and elastic. The quarters are slightly lowered, the haunches with active hocks are well engaged giving great freedom, lightness and mobility to the shoulders and forehand. Each diagonal pair of feet is raised and returned to…

For students who don’t have a good eye or struggle to see a distance, I like them to try this simple exercise of jumping on foot like they’re a horse, which gives them a feeling and understanding of pace. “Canter” on foot over a pole on the ground. Then, make a mark on the ground 3 feet in front of the pole. Again, “canter” on foot to the pole but now “take off” by the marker and make sure your foot doesn’t go beyond that mark. So, let’s say that the 3-foot mark makes it a wide jump, you’ll find you can’t make it over unless you “canter” to it with a faster pace. Another way to visualize this is to imagine you are standing by a stream that’s 4-feet…

After pursuing an Olympic dream as a gymnast, AnnA Buffini switched to dressage at about age 9. In 2016, she won both the championship and reserve championship titles in the U.S. Equestrian Federation Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage National Championship. With a teaching, training and sales business in San Diego, California, AnnA is now working with her Grand Prix partner Davinia La Douce.…