Practical Horseman Practical Horseman Extra Volume 28

Cross-country schooling is an essential element in every event horse’s and rider’s training program. Whatever level you are, before you enter the start box, you’ll want to get a number of good schools under your belt. But what does a “good school” entail? That depends on your goal. And the better you can identify your specific goal, the more successful your school will be. I’ll explain why in this article and will offer a few examples to give you an idea of how to make a plan for your next cross-country practice. Why School? Eventers practice cross country for a long list of reasons. First-time horses and riders need a good, safe introduction to the sport. Green horses and riders need to continue developing their skills. Schooling can also be…

Whether I’m schooling or competing, I always ride cross-country in a safety vest and Point Two air jacket, an inflatable vest that I wear over my regular safety vest. I know these vests can seem expensive but, in the long run, they’re well worth the investment—especially if it means saving on medical bills for a broken rib, collarbone or worse. The sport of eventing will always be inherently dangerous, but the safer we can make it—with protective measures like this—the better. I also always jump cross-country with a neck strap, no matter how experienced the horse is that I’m riding. The great William Fox-Pitt doesn’t ever ride cross-country without one, so I feel like I’m in good company! You can grab it whenever you feel as if you’re losing balance,…

Q How can I keep my senior sporthorse healthy? How should I organize a fitness program with the goal of keeping him fit and interested? A The first step in maintaining the health of a senior horse is recognizing when your horse has reached senior status. This can be tricky since the definition is not simply based on age. Rather, horse owners and veterinarians must watch for the physical signs of aging and declines in body system function. Manage His Diet One of the first facets of a horse’s care that needs to be adapted for his age is diet. Through a combination of loss of dental integrity and the natural aging of the intestines, older horses lose their digestive efficiency. They can’t absorb the nutrition released from the food…