It presents step by-step training programs and showing advice from recognized experts in hunters, jumpers, equitation, dressage, and eventing, along with money- and time-saving ideas on health care and stable management.
When I sit on my horse, elasticity and suppleness are the key qualities that make all things possible. Suppleness comes from good riding and elasticity is the development of even more flexibility in the horse’s body that allows him to show his quality. When the horse is stiff and strong, it’s not easy for the rider or the horse and it’s not nice-looking either! But when the horse is flexible and elastic, he can do his job well. First Things First Rhythm and a good connection. The seat and the hands of the rider must be independent of each other. That is, a rider must be able to sit the rhythm of the horse without moving her legs or hands. The movement of the whole horse goes directly into the…
Many riders straighten their elbows and then their arms get long and strong. They end up hanging on the reins and they can’t be deep in the seat. Try this: Keep your elbows on the side of your ribs and swing your seat and your back between your elbows. Then sit as independently as possible. Every horse is different but these basic ideas are always the same: • The horse needs a clear, fluent rhythm and flexibility. • The rider needs an independent seat and hands for a good connection. Whatever you do with your hands, they must be independent of the seat.…
The breeding of dressage horses has improved their quality to a huge degree over the last 20 years. The horses I had many years ago had good movement but they weren’t as flexible as they are now, so it was much harder for me to keep them together. Today, the modern horses are more elegant and have better movement, lightness and self-carriage. This makes it much easier because the rider needs less power to keep the horse together. It’s much easier to play with them because they are more elastic and flexible by nature.…
Keep your horse honest. Sometimes I see new trainers who are trying to improve their horses but are making a common mistake. For example, they are doing four-tempis. After the second one, the horse starts to become crooked, he loses the canter or he’s running away or whatever, and the rider keeps going. Riders must learn to make a correction. Before doing the next change, you have to make your horse straight and balanced and help him with whatever is needed. Change the line, walk and go again. The rider has to react directly. Correct the mistake and then keep going. It’s not a punishment; it’s simply a necessary correction. You’ll see, after a while, that your horse will improve more than if you continue doing four-tempis in the wrong…
Q Every fall I wonder how to best manage my horse’s coat. I don’t want to clip him too early and sometimes wonder if I should clip at all. What is the best practice to keep him comfortable and clean as we transition from summer into fall and winter? Name withheld by request CAT HILL Crisp autumn air has arrived and so has new growth on your horse’s coat. Seasonal transitions can pose challenges for your horse, but regular grooming can help. Coats already begin growing out as early as mid-August to prepare for the cooling temperatures. During this time, your horse may become itchy and uncomfortable. You can maintain your horse’s comfort and health through the seasons by developing a seasonal grooming routine. Determine your routine. Currying is always…
grew up in New York riding ponies and later rode show hunters through college. After college, she moved to Ireland and worked at Mullingar Equestrian Center with show jumpers and eventers. She later returned to the U.S. and was a working student for a top Grand Prix dressage rider before being hired to manage eventer Mara DePuy’s barn. Today she freelances as a groom for various disciplines and teaches lower-level riders in dressage, jumping and eventing. She and Emma Ford wrote the book, "World-Class Grooming."…
