Equitation: Improving Your Skill and Scores Part Two

Equitation: Improving Your Skill and Scores Part Two
Renee Swanepoel N Dip Equine Science SANEF Level 1 Instructor

In this part of the article, we will be taking a look at an example of a Novice equitation test with pointers on how to ride, what the judge is looking for and how you can improve, plus I will include a video of the test being ridden at an actual event so that you can see what it should look like. The test we will be using as our example will be the SANEF 2011 EQUITATION NOVICE TEST 8, as ridden at the 2011 Gauteng Finals in July of this year. The test is as follows:










The first thing that I do with a pupil when we look at a new test is to break it down into its movements and discuss what we think is being tested with each question. In this test we start with a walk, no stirrups. What the judge would like to see is the walk and the position of the rider without stirrups – heels down, quiet leg and steady contact. The test commences the second the rider takes the feet out of the stirrups. The walk should be athletic and marching and the horse should at all times be between hand and leg, ready for the next instruction. Important too is that the walk is shown in a place where the judge can see the movement. Remember, a judge can only mark a movement that they have actually seen, so make sure that you never work towards or right in front of the judge. The walk needs to be 10m, so make sure that you have paced out the distance and are sure of how much you need to show. At this venue we realised that the brick posts were 10m apart after pacing them so we planned to start and end at a pillar and in that way the walk was accurate. From the walk movement we proceed into the trot 15m circle without stirrups. Again, the judge is checking position – keeping the body quiet, keeping the leg relaxed and the heel steady and low. The circle is very important – when we walk the course, I have the rider pick a start/finish point on the circle so that we ensure that the dimensions are correct and that the circle starts and ends neatly into the next movement. In this test we used the brick pillar again as a marker to make sure the circles were accurate.

Our next movement is a 20m canter on the circle with stirrups. There are a few things that need to happen into this movement – firstly the circle size increases by 5m. When walking the course I have the rider walk 5m away from the far point of the 15m circle we have just paced. In that way they know where to increase to. The biggest problem you will see with riders in this test is that they do not show a difference in size in the two circles. The first circle is often a little too big; they then proceed to canter the second circle exactly where they have just ridden the first. The judge is looking for a difference in size on the circles. Another problem is that the start and finish of the circles needs to be in exactly the same place, hence the marker you have chosen as your start. This often happens when riders do a figure of eight in their tests as well – they forget to start and finish on the same point and often don’t close the figure. At the exact start point of the 20m circle, the rider puts the feet neatly back into the stirrup and asks for canter. This is a movement that has to be practised as it should be smooth, effortless and instant. There should be no looking down, hesitation or legs moving around when finding the stirrup. My one criticism on this movement was that the pony was a little above the hand and was not bent in the direction of the circle all the way through.

Our next movement now that we are in canter is to show a change of leg through trot. Again, never do your change coming towards the judge if there is only one as they cannot see you or your horse properly and you will lose marks because they cannot judge the movement. A change across the diagonal ensures the judge sees you and gives you time to prepare the change. I also feel that a change on a straight line shows more riding ability than a change on a figure of eight or bend, so we practise changes of leg on straight lines with all our equitation horses. They also need to be able to lead off on any leg on a straight line which tells us that they understand the aid and are not using the bend to decide what leg to strike off on. Important in the change is maintaining rhythm – not letting the horse run in to the change but keeping it slow, balanced and straight.

From the change we ride the gymnastic. In the course walk, we would have paced the distance, discussed how we should ride it on that particular horse and decided how we would like to approach. In equitation, we are always looking for a rhythmical balanced approach in the centre of the fence. We want the horse to maintain rhythm throughout the gymnastic, as many will tend to speed up as they go through. Important also to note the going and riding surface on the approach – harder surfaces tend to ride a little shorter than the deeper sand going, so you will need to check for that. Also this particular gymnastic was on a slight uphill, so care was taken to make sure we did not push too hard going through as the pony would already be opening the stride since it was uphill. On this particular course we had to change the rein when going on to jump the course as the gymnastic was on one rein and fence 1 on the other. Again, a neat balanced change on a planned route is much better than coming round the corner on an incorrect lead, breaking a mad trot and kicking on again. We planned the change on a convenient spot and kept it sort and balanced. This particular pony is quite adept at flying changes and you will note in the change that she in fact did the flying change before Gerdi asked for the trot. We decided before the time that we would do the trot irrespective of whether she did the flying change as firstly it was directly away from the judge which meant seeing what was happening was unlikely and secondly in case she misunderstood the aid for the change, we rather wanted to be sure she did it. This pair is a relatively new combination, having only been riding and competing at equitation this year, so as she gets to know the pony, so the risks they take can get bigger.

The course was quite straightforward for this class, however there were many turns where riders had to be careful to come in straight in the centre of the fences. Also important which many riders struggle with is picking up the correct lead after a fence – this is something we drill at home from the very beginner riders. Although not marked as strictly in the lower welcome classes, I feel the horse and rider should ride the correct leads from the start of their training as it is very difficult to try to fix a horse that has learned to ignore the canter leads than teach it correctly from scratch. Teaching the flying change is also done early as it is vital when riding equitation that the horse understands how to stay in balance and be correct around a course of fences. Important too to use the whole arena – often the younger riders will try to squeeze their test into a small area of the arena – use the space you have so that your test looks neat and polished and that the judge can see you. Vital in the course is keeping the rhythm. This is where a good horse with a steady rhythm makes it so much easier for the rider in a class. The judge is looking for a horse that goes around the course without speeding up or slowing down or needing to be checked every few strides by the rider. The ride must look effortless, calm and polished. Position is vital – maintaining a good foundation that has been drilled at home is so important. The riders who go far are the ones who are willing to do endless hours of sitting trot, jumping without stirrups and learning tests and doing the homework I give them every week. There is a lot of hard work that goes into the sport and the good riders are the ones who put in the time and the effort – not always the ones with the best horses. Feel for the track is important – riding steady corners and looking ahead to the next fence is vital. Meeting every fence on a good stride in the middle and out of a rhythmical canter is key.

A short word on turnout for competition. Do not forget that you make a certain impression on the judge in the way you are turned out for your test. While there are fashions that will come and go, a classical approach to your turnout will achieve the polished look you are aiming for. Tack should be clean, polished and not too bling. (while a little bit of sparkle here and there is fine, don’t go overboard on the fairy dust – you will end up looking like a Disney character, not a rider to be taken seriously!) Make sure that martingales, boots etc fit well and are fitting with the entire look you are presenting. A fitted numnuh is more correct, although at School level most numnuhs have the school logo on and are square. Sheepskin numnuhs present well providing they fit well and are clean and in good condition. Plaits are important. If you are not able to plait well, find a friend who can help you or practise as much as you can. There is nothing worse than a lovely little rider coming in to do a great test but the pony they are riding has bits of hair sticking out all over the place with plaits that are falling out, a scratched up tail and dirty tack. Hairnets are another bugbear of mine – I cannot abide bits of rider hair all over the place or riders who have messy ponytails hanging out behind. Hair should be neatly pinned up and in a proper net. Gloves are a must - in any show ring! Your turnout is vital in the overall presentation of your test and should not be underestimated.


In conclusion, if you are not scoring those extra few points that mean the difference between a good test and a brilliant one, you may need to look at the following:

- Have you planned your test well to flow from one movement to the next without extra bits in between or interruptions in the movement?

- Are you showing the movement that is required?

- Are your movements accurate according to the test being asked?

- Is your technique over a fence perhaps lacking? (Video yourself over some fences and have a look for yourself – be critical – the only way to improve is to understand what you are doing wrong!)

- Is your rhythm exact and flowing?

- How was your turnout?

- Did you enjoy yourself?

Equitation is a wonderful sport for bringing along talented youngsters and teaching them to ride correctly. Many of our top Showjumpers today came through the ranks as talented junior equitation riders. It is possible to achieve great heights with lots of work and focused schooling at home. Get out there and go ride!

Improve Your Equitation Part One

Equitation: Improving Your Skill and Scores
Renee Swanepoel N Dip Equine Science SANEF Level 1 Instructor

Equitation can be defined as the art and practise of horse riding, or may be called the skill and technique of riding and jumping any horse correctly and with effective aids. I like to think of it as Dressage for Showjumping – not only a rider being tested over a set of jumps but also being able to show a correct position, understanding of showjumping technique and being able to ride various horses at a proficient level. Although the way in which the horse goes will ultimately be an indication of how well the rider has schooled at home, ultimately it is the rider being judged and not the horse. This makes Equitation an ideal chance for any rider, who may not have access to an expensive and highly schooled horse, to still ride well and take part in competition.

Often riders will achieve average marks at a competition, but never quite crack the good scores that are achieving the high placings. I will attempt in this article to explain not only the principles of the sport, but the details that will often be a deciding factor when placing at shows. I will also include a few exercises that the rider can try at home when schooling that will improve position, skill and will ultimately be the difference in riding a good test, and a winning test!

“Introduced into SA in 1970 by Mrs Charlotte Stubbs after a visit to the USA and in consultation with Mr George Morris, American coach and Olympic rider; the goal of equitation has always been to educate, set a standard of correct horsemanship nationally and to give exposure at a grass roots level to as many instructors and young riders as possible. This goal is achieved by continuing to encourage the improvement of effective and correct riding by means of seminars, novice competitions, capacity building clinics, equitation rallies and so on. Regional equitation committees hold competitions from Pre Novice upwards each month and the SA Pony Club holds its own equitation competitions annually in every region.
The most important thing about equitation is that you don’t need a pony or horse that excels at jumping or dressage!

Equitation remains committed to GOOD RIDING. You, the rider are judged and when you ride well, your mount performs better and you are doubly rewarded with a good performance for your effective riding ability!” SANEF Website (www.horsesport.org.za)

1. RIDER POSITION

When I work with any new rider, I like to spend a good deal of time during the first few sessions focused only on position before we even look at the horse and any more technical aspects of jumping. A correct position is vital and not only means the rider can progress through the levels unhindered, but also makes it easier for any horse to excel at jumping and do what is being asked of him. Position can be divided further into two aspects – the rider’s position on the flat as well as the position over a fence.

On the flat, we expect the rider to maintain the correct basic position, as illustrated below:



When looked at from the side, there should be a straight line running from the ear, through the shoulder and hip and touching the heel. This has the effect of balancing the rider over his center of gravity, and places him in the best possible position to absorb the horse’s movement and enable the horse to maintain his own balance and center of gravity under the rider. It allows the rider’s body and hands to function independently of one another and one will not hinder or impede the use of the other.
The second line we look for is the line that runs from the rider’s elbow, through the hand, to the bit. This line is important because it allows the rein aid, via the hand and arm to be applied correctly and effectively. When this line is interrupted, the pressure applied to the bit and mouth is changed, and the horse’s acceptance of the bit and rein aids will be influenced.



When looking at the rider from behind, there should be a straight line running down the spine, bisecting another line running from one hip to the other. The line running from hip to hip should be parallel to the ground. In this position, there is equal weight bearing by the horse on both sides and the seat aids can be used most efficiently. It also means that the horse is balanced across his body and is not trying to compensate for a crooked rider. A very common rider fault is to drop one hip or twist to one side. When that happens, this line is interrupted. (see rht)
Some of the most common faults we see in equitation riders are:

TOO LONG/TOO SHORT STIRRUPS
When viewed from the side, the rider’s body can be divided into the arms of a “W”, as pictured left.




The angles found in this shape influence the weight bearing properties of the seat. In Dressage and Western Riding, where great emphasis is placed on the seat in contact with the saddle and minimal body movement, the stirrups are carried in such a way that the angles are opened up. This allows the maximum amount of weight to be carried in the seat. The weight/seat aid becomes vital in imparting cues and aids to the horse. In Western riding, where the rein is held very loosely and a neck rein aid is used more than a cue in the mouth and where the seat is just as vitally important, a longer leg is also encouraged.


In a forward seat (as above) the stirrup is shortened so that most of the weight bearing surface is now the thigh and knee. The weight of the seat is then transferred slightly off the horse’s back, but note that the rider does not stand in the saddle – that would open the angles of the ‘W’ instead of close them, causing the rider to become most unstable in the saddle. More weight is simply borne in the leg. This position is useful when schooling young horses, to encourage them to lift and round their backs and to allow them more freedom of movement under the saddle. In the forward seat, the ear-shoulder-hip-heel line now becomes an ear-shoulder-knee-toe line, as the shoulder is brought slightly forward and more weight is placed on the knees, not the fleshy part of the buttock. The forward seat becomes even more so when the horse moves over a jump, where the rider wishes to allow him freedom of the spine and back and must not impede the horse by being behind the movement. Important in the forward seat is the independence of the lower leg – it should be able to maintain its position regardless of the position of the upper body and seat. The most extreme version of the forward seat is that adopted by the jockey. Stirrups shortened to maintain only a single point of contact with the horse in order to free up his movement and enable the horse to move underneath the rider, using the back and extending himself fully.


We often see riders that either shorten the stirrup too much, forcing the seat out of the saddle and often turning the entire leg outward in an attempt to stay in the saddle, or they do not shorten enough, which makes the lower leg unstable and it will tend to swing around when jumping. By not shortening the stirrup to a correct length, the shock absorbing effect of the knee and ankle is reduced, creating a stability problem in the seat which will mostly manifest itself over fences.

RIDER SITTING ON THE THIGH
When we look at a jumping seat, there is an allowance made for the toe to turn out slightly away from the horse. This allows the back of the calf to be placed more against the horse and means that the leg is anchored. The toe should never turn out more than 45° though – we often talk about the ‘ten to two’ foot position. The problem that we often see with this leg position is that the rider, instead of securing with the calf, rotates the entire leg outward from the hip joint and sits on the thigh, with minimal contact by the knee.


The effect of this is a very insecure leg with the knee open which means that the rider grips with the calf to maintain position over a fence instead of using the knee as a soft pivot around which the horse bascules. Often the leg will swing forwards and backwards because the rider does not have the strength to hold the position with the calves. Aids to the horse are then often confusing because the rider is in a constant state of gripping and squeezing and is unable to relax the leg and give a correct aid when required.

I have also found that sometimes the saddle encourages this type of position – especially if it is very flat in the knee roll or has the stirrup bar very forward. Synthetic saddles can become slippery over time and they too will cause the rider to turn the leg out and grip for fear of slipping around.

An exercise we use in every lesson to teach the rider to turn the leg forward from the hip and secure the calf is to pick up the canter and then stand in the saddle. When standing, the leg is then rotated in and the foot should turn in a little too. In this position, the rider will be able to bring the knee against the saddle and create a proper point of contact. This exercise is a great warm up tool, as it also allows the horse to round his back and stretch which in turn warms up the muscles for work. When standing, make sure that the rein is loose and that the rider is not pulling himself up with the arms but is using the leg instead.



FOOT TOO DEEP IN STIRRUP
This is very commonly seen in competition – the rider being tense has allowed the leg to grip slightly which causes it to rise and the stirrup slides up the foot. This means that weight is now not going down into a relaxed low heel. One of the first things the judge will look at and comment on in a test is often the position of the foot in relation to the stirrup and the heel position. This can also be due to incorrect stirrup length, so care should be taken to make sure it is correct. Standing in the saddle at all gaits will again be beneficial to the rider in this case. Sometimes we see riders with very strong leg muscles that grip – especially the hamstring group. The effect of this too strong leg is often that the rider locks the leg into a position and the foot never rests down properly into the stirrup. That makes the foot slide through the stirrup and this is often paired with a very stiff hip that will not fold softly. Interestingly, these riders are quite able to jump without stirrups because their legs are so strong they keep the rider clamped into the saddle. (often causing the horse to buck after a fence!)

STANDING UP OVER FENCE


This is a very common fault we see in riders over a fence. Instead of folding over a secure center of balance, the rider stands up in the saddle and usually hovers over the shoulder when the horse jumps. Combined with this, the hand will usually stay fixed on the neck and the lower leg may or may not swing back over the fence. To illustrate to riders how insecure this position is, I have them take up a “jumping two point seat” and show them how to stay down in the saddle, with a secure lower leg and hands off the wither. I then push them over from the side and they feel how difficult it is for me to push them off! I then tell them to stand up in the saddle and again push them over and they easily realise that when standing it is much easier for me to push them over. A standing seat opens the angles of the knee and hip joint and loses the absorption of the flow of movement over a fence of horse and rider. Combined with set hands, the rider is in no control of the horse and often it will take two or three strides for the rider to regain a position after a fence. Work over fences without stirrups is of benefit to these riders, as it helps them keep their seats lower in the saddle and prevents the standing. Combine the work without stirrups with jumping lanes with no reins as well, and getting the rider to put the arms in various positions – this has the effect of loosening the upper body and encouraging the rider to not use the hands as a base of support. I also instruct my riders that when they fold over a fence, they should ‘poke out the back door’ – that is to say they should feel for the back of the cantle with their seats. This encourages the centre of gravity to stay over the horse’s back.



INCORRECT HAND AND ARM POSITION
I tend to get raised eyebrows from other trainers when I talk about crest release, as it is not a concept officially taught here, however I feel that it is nomenclature for something we do teach parts of here and I have adapted the theory behind crest release when training my equitation riders as it gives them an awareness of where their hands are over fences – a fact often neglected by some trainers. The crest release was a concept campaigned by George Morris in the US, although it had been in existence long before that. There is much controversy about using the system, many feel that it encourages poor riding and poor position, however I see it merely as a tool in achieving the final goal, which is an aware, soft hand that gives with the horse and stays balanced and quiet. Basically put, the rider would place the hands on the sides of the neck of the horse depending on their level of proficiency – long, short and automatic releases. What I do like about the release, is that it keeps the hand neatly against the neck, still giving but is tidy and presents a good picture. We teach the rider an automatic release, which means that the rider follows the head with the hand against the neck – this means the horse is not given too much rein or pulled in the mouth. The way in which we make the rider aware of hand position is by tying a brightly coloured ribbon to the mane and having the rider touch the ribbon as they go over the fence. We also move the ribbon around a little up and down the neck which makes the rider more aware of what the hand is doing and also helps them become aware of the hand position without having to look down. One of the most common problems we see with riders is a fixed hand. Riders don’t know how to follow the movement of the horse’s head with the arm and so either fix the hand at the horse’s wither or they throw their hands wildly forwards in an attempt to give and end up losing contact completely.

FEEL FOR THE COURSE
This one is a little tricky to pin down and explain with examples and exercises but I wanted to include it because very often a rider has a good basic position and a fantastic horse but somehow the picture still just does not look right! What makes a really good equitation rider is feel – feel for the track, the fence and the striding and knowing how much to push and how much to hold back and an understanding of the principles behind the test they are riding. It is not only important that riders learn how to jump a fence, they need to understand what tests are being asked of them and how to put all the elements together to present a neat test and show the judges they understand what is being asked. This kind of feel comes with time and practise and show experience. There are some things that you only learn in the show-ring – no amount of practise at home can drill show savvy into a rider! The often forgotten part of equitation training is the tests themselves. I expect my riders to not only learn their tests, but understand how to lay them out in the arena and what elements are being tested. Once they lay out a test, we change the elements such as direction, first fence or move the arena completely. In that way they quickly learn to adapt their test accordingly and still keep it correct and neat. Courses are practised regularly – striding, approaches, pace and impulsion and smoothness are important. My riders are expected to be able to stride distances, and at home we practise striding plus altering strides – knowing how many strides your own horse is comfortable with over a certain walked distance and how you would have to adapt your approach depending on the course builder’s distance between fences. We practise dog’s legs and related distances so that it becomes second nature and to train the rider’s eye so that fitting in a 5 stride, for example, becomes second nature to both horse and rider. This is one area where a good coach is invaluable – equitation training is not about jumping fences day in and day out – we train technical aspects of the sport and educate riders on the principles of the tests which makes them better riders.

2. THE HORSE

I want to include a short piece about the horse. The goal of equitation is to give any good rider a chance to compete on any horse or pony – not just an expensive one! While this is true, as the rider progresses up the ranks, the horse does become important. A better quality equitation horse will make the rider’s task easier and will also influence rider position and the quality of the test. A good rider should by all accounts be able to ride any horse well and make it look its best and in the higher levels of equitation riders swop horses and are scored on their ability to ride a strange horse over a course of jumps. When choosing a horse for equitation, however, pay special attention to things such as temperament, rhythm of the horse (all important) and conformation as well as the jumping ability. A good horse need not always be the most expensive one but needs to be one that will make the rider’s job easier. A special note as well about children that progress to junior ranks – often parents will choose a horse for their child that is still in need of schooling up the ranks or they buy a mount that is very advanced for the level their child is currently competing at. What then happens is the child who has a mount that needs a year or two of schooling will run out of time by the end of juniors and the horse will perhaps only start showing the best tests right at the end of its junior career, often the rider will lose interest or become disheartened, especially if they have had a very successful career in the pony rider division. Alternatively, with a horse that is above the child’s level of riding, especially when not under careful guidance and instruction, will become bored or pick up poor habits, or the child will just not physically be able to ride the horse correctly and then horses become naughty or playful and children become scared. This is especially true if the child has gone from riding a small pony, and moves to a very large horse without having the actual physicality that is sometimes required to ride the bigger jumpers. In time they grow into the horse, but it can happen that they lose their confidence along the way. Choosing a junior horse is a very important process that should be done slowly and carefully – as mentioned before – the most expensive horse is not always the correct horse.

In the next part of this article, I will use a set test as an example of what to look out for and how to approach and ride a test that will give you insight into what judges are looking for in a test.

Coming Soon! Equitation - Improving Your Scores!

Often riders will obtain average marks at a competition but never quite crack the good scores that are achieving the higher placings. I will attempt to explain, not only the principles of the sport but also the details that will often be the deciding factor when placing at shows. I will also include a few exercises that riders can try at home when schooling that will improve position, skill and ultimately, will be the difference between a good test and a winning test!

First Place In Hand 1st Gauteng Nrth Qualifier

We spent most of the time trying to stay dry, trying to stay clean (impossible!!) and trying to keep six feet on the ground (again... impossible!) but man he is just gorgeous! My face looks like I walked into a door, but no matter - all eyes were on him!

Show Pics

Some pics of our show this weekend - we did well considering. Me not taking him to more away shows caught up with us a little and we had some rearing and bucking in the classes but still managed a respectable 2nd and two 4ths in big classes. With horror I realised that I had forgotten to put up his tail plait before going in, so that cost us a bit on the turnout score! Talk about feeling like a fool! I guess it happens some time or another! He is looking great and we still managed to have a fun day out. Will take him on a few outings for fun away from home before our big event late this month just to get him settled away from home!

2010 News

Despite all attempts to sit down and actually write for the blog, I have been kept very busy with not only work, a divorce and a move... but also trying to show my boy and teach pupils on top of it. The showing is taking a front seat at the moment, as we are working our way towards the big classes at Pretoria Show in late August. Pee Wee is going superbly - he looks amazing and now we only have to try and keep him lookg and feeling as great as he does right now. Our Pre-Pretoria sow is coming up this weekend, and we will be doing our best to win the In-Hand and Show Hunter classes so we can go into the big event next month on a high note.

I have been focusing a lot on fitness with the boy, being a big heavy Warmblood, they tend to be a lot less fit than their TB or TB Cross counterparts and it shows in the ring. So he has been going out for gallops 3 times a week, plus one big ride of about 15km every Sunday, with big uphills and varied terrain. It is paying off for sure, as he is now fitter and more energetic than ever before and he is looking wonderful! He has dropped a lot of weight as well, which is making the jumping easier and his Dressage is looking great - he is using his body when working which is amazing to sit on.

After always joking when asked about his heritage - "he is half Elephant" - I was tickled pink to find out when I got his papers the other day that his mother is, in fact, called "Jumbo"! It all makes sense now.... :-)

I promise an update soon - will let everyone know how our show goes this weekend and hopefully will have a pic or two to post!

If anyone has questions they want answered, or something they would like me to write about - shout! I am happy to do so.

Wise Words from Erik Herbermann- cause I love them so much!

"Beginners are not bad riders, they merely lack experience. The only truly bad riders are usually 'experienced' in the poorest sense of that word; those who blatantly and ignorantly bully their horses."

"In the truest sense sense of the word, the bit must remain the mediator between horse and rider, upon which neither one may pull (neutral territory)."

"An experienced rider does not need to use severe bits, an inexperienced rider certainly shouldn't use them."

"Armed with theory, practise becomes meaningful... through practise, theory becomes fulfilled."

"All that glitters is not classical riding..."

"The challenge of Dressage is not necessarily in having the best moving horse, but rather to get every horse we ride to move as well as it possibly can."

"The hands are only ever as good as the seat."

"The rider can sit over the horse, on the horse or in the horse. The last of these is the ultimate goal."

"Through incorrect, direct use of the inside rein the rider attempts to:

- pull the horse onto circles with it
- pull the horse through corners with it
- pull the horse onto shoulder-in with it
- do turns on the haunches with it
- make the horse leg-yield with it
- generally keep the horse from cutting in by pressing the inside rein against the neck (instead of using the inside leg)
- bend the horse soley with the inside rein without the use of the other, more important elements"

"Only when the rider becomes quiet will the horse be able to hear the whispers of the finer aids."

"Never ambush or surprise your horse with any aid."

"When training the horse do little and repeat frequently."

"If the horse is trained by force, force will be required to ride it."

"When in trouble - do less! Neutralize. Let the horse settle down and find itself before making new demands."

"Correct transitions are the proof of the pudding"

"Advanced work sonly ever as good as the basics."

"Be gentle while grooming, the horse is not a carpet! Remember, true horsemanship starts on the ground."

Congrats to Star Riders for Making Regionals!

Congrats to Lize and Manefique for making the Gauteng North Team - wow girl - you are a pleasure to teach! Made me proud! Prelim Dressage and Showing - way to go! Look forward to seeing you in action in the Regional Finals....


Kristy and Bijou - as always you guys rock! I can't wait to see you guys in action again - it has been a while! Looking forward to seeing you guys demolish the competition again.... can't wait for those awesome turns and that face that shows how hard you are concentrating!



All this teaching and competing is keeping me from the blog - but it is all worth it!

The Show Parent's Survival Guide

THE SHOW PARENT’S SURVIVAL GUIDE!
RENEE SWANEPOEL
N Dip Equine Studies, SANEF Level 1

Having been to countless shows with pupils, friends and otherwise, I have had a chance to observe riders and their parents and the influence that their personalities and interactions have on the eventual success or failure of the outing. Parents often do not know how to help their children do their best at shows and also often do not know where to start or what to do when things go wrong! In this article I will try to help parents understand what their children may be going through at shows and how to best help them do their best and enjoy the day! (I have focused on shows in the Gauteng area; however, your local Show Body will be able to assist you with shows in your area!)

Your child has been begging you to go to a show for weeks and months; her instructor says she should go… NOW WHAT! Most parents are thrown into turmoil at the mention of shows, and most have no idea where to begin or what needs to be done. Often they stand on the sideline, watching their children perform with no idea of where they themselves fit into this hectic picture. After a bad class, they are often left holding the reins, their child sobbing or ranting and the experience can be very traumatic!

There are three main types of shows that are available to the younger rider, depending on the level of competition and the objectives they are trying to achieve.

1. Training Shows:

Training shows are exactly that – a chance to familiarize yourself with the sport and help your horse learn his job without the added stress of competing for points or a place on the school team! They are usually privately organized by the yards concerned and often rules such as dress are relaxed slightly to give kids the chance to compete and see if they enjoy a particular discipline before investing in expensive equipment and clothes. Often a rider will be allowed to finish, even though they have made mistakes that would otherwise eliminate them in ‘normal’ shows. Training shows can also be very useful in between more competitive shows to practice elements that need work or to keep the horse sharp or just introduce enjoyment to the sport without the pressure of performance. Young horses and inexperienced riders benefit greatly from training shows. There is no need for the horse or rider to be registered with any Show Body and there are often ‘fun’ classes incorporated into these shows that are not found elsewhere. To find out about training shows in your area, visit your local tack store, where Riding Schools will advertise. (A training show entry form will often say something like ‘An Open Training Show’ or something to that effect.) Training shows are also a great way for a rider to try new disciplines and see which ones they might be interested in pursuing.

2. SANESA Shows (now SANEF SCHOOLS) :

There has long been debate about serious riders not being able to get credit for the hard work they were putting into their horse-sport at their schools. Riders wanted to get recognition for their achievements in the arena and schools wanted to embrace the riding community and the pupils who were doing so well. Thus, the ESL (Equestrian School’s League) was born. Riders now had the chance to ride competitively for their schools and schools had the opportunity of competing with each other under the banner of an official organisation. School’s League took off. After the initial birthing pains, a new need arose for riders who were competing officially for points under the THS banner to not only ride for their schools, but earning valuable grading points as well. THS and SANEF were approached by schools and parents who wished to have an equestrian schools league that operates within recognized and approved structures. SANESA (South African National Equestrian Schools) was recently established to service this need. Recently, the original body (ESL) and SANESA have decided to join forces and create one body under which shows will run. They are also finalizing the rulebook and a temporary committee has been elected. Equestrian Sport at school level will only go from strength to strength. Riders and horses need not be registered with THS, but those that are may earn points on their grading at the appropriate level. School’s league is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in shows. For more information, visit their website (www.sanefschools.org.za) or approach the school to find out if they have registered and get involved in the School Team. Something to know about these shows is that in my experience, the stress of riding for their schools and in front of their friends can be immense, and it may take a few shows to get the nerves under control!

3. THS Shows:

From their website:

“The Horse Society (THS) is the governing body of competitive Equestrian Sport in its region for the disciplines of Dressage, Driving, Equitation, Eventing, Showing, Showjumping and Vaulting.
Previously known as the Transvaal Horse Society, THS was founded in 1946. Approximately 25 years ago THS moved its offices from Milner Park to Kyalami Equestrian Park, situated at 1 Dahlia Road, Kyalami, Midrand, in the heart of the Equestrian community.
THS falls under the South African National Equestrian Federation (SANEF), which formulates the rules and codes of practice for competitors and officials. SANEF, in turn, falls under the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), which governs the sport internationally.
THS is run by an elected Executive Committee. Each discipline is run in turn by an elected Discipline Committee. Committee members and officials are all volunteers who work freely for the benefit of the sport. The THS administration (comprising the THS office and Kyalami Equestrian Park) is under the management of the THS General Manager.
THS is a non-profit making voluntary association which exists for the benefit of its members and seeks to serve the equestrian community. Nevertheless, THS is a substantial undertaking, which requires effort and commitment for all concerned to ensure its continued success and growth.
Competitors are divided into three categories Pony Riders, Juniors and Adults. At present there are approximately 2,900 members and approximately 2,600 horses registered for competition.
Equestrian sport is one of the few where men and women compete on equal footing without any discrimination.
THS and its affiliated bodies run competitions to cater for all levels from the less experienced competitors to international competitors. Shows are held throughout the year in its various THS regions, which are run by trained judges and officials who give up their time on a voluntary basis.

The THS vision is:
- To improve and maintain standards in all disciplines, while encouraging riders at all levels to enjoy fair competition in safe and attractive surroundings, both at Kyalami Equestrian Park and the venues of the THS Affiliated Bodies.
- To raise Kyalami Equestrian Park to an international standard.
- To promote and develop equestrian sport in all communities, providing assistance through the Equestrian Training Scheme to disadvantaged equestrians.
- To promote and hold top class competitions.

Contact THS at (011)702-1657 or visit us at Kyalami Equestrian Park, 1 Dahlia Road, Kyalami, South Africa

E mail address: thsinfo@iafrica.com” from their website

THS shows provide the opportunity for horses to gain points on a grading system and climb the ladder to top levels in South Africa. These shows are well run, standards are high and great care should be taken to adhere to the rules of the various disciplines.

Riders have the option to register themselves as ‘Entry Level’ riders, which means that they are able to gain a taste of the disciplines at a lower level without gainaing points - horses do now have to be registered on this level, so it would be wise to contact the THS office or visit the website for all the details. This is a very good start because riders can ease themselves into the atmosphere of an official show without the pressure of having to earn points.

Once you and your child have decided which shows he/she will be participating in, as well as the disciplines you would like to try, it is time to enter!

Once entries have been made and the show date approaches, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your child is well prepared for the big day.

 Make sure that you have a copy of the rules of the discipline and go over the most important points with your child to make sure they know what is expected.
 If there are tests to be practiced, the instructor will often provide these, but parents can always help by ensuring that their children have learned them properly.
 You will need to liase with the instructor or yard to arrange transport to and from the show for the horses.
 Timetables and Schedules are usually provided in advance. Check your child’s number, riding times, arenas and entry details and make a note of them to take with on the day.
 The instructor should be able to advise on any equipment needed to prepare the horse or for the rider. Liase with him/her and make a list of things you will need.

With practise, show prep becomes easier, and roles become defined. The more prepared you, the parent are prior to the show, the more relaxed the day will be, which will help your child feel more secure.

On the big day, nerves will be running high, so try to remain as relaxed as possible. Your child will be reading your attitude and manner and if you start to panic, so will they. Approach any problem calmly and reasonably and always be a good example for your child.

In the US, 75% of athletes drop out of their chosen sport by the age of 13. The reason? It is no longer fun! If you, the parent, only remember one thing, this should be it. Focus on the fun, not the outcome! You should be placing emphasis on effort, rather than the results. When your child comes out of the ring, if you say ‘Did you win?’ you are placing emphasis on performance. Rather ask ‘Did you have fun?’ That teaches your child that he/she is there to have fun and enjoy their sport. Keep your sense of humour – if you are relaxed and smiling, your child will too. If you feel your child did not put in their usual effort, you could ask them something like ‘Are you feeling ok? You normally try so hard. Is there something I can do to help you?’ rather than tell them they are not trying.

I have found that parents and coaches will often pick the rider’s performance to pieces before the poor child has even had a chance to dismount. Give them some space, let them dismount and unwind and then talk about what happened when they are ready. If your child missed the finish, they know they did – and they probably will never do it again. There is no need to keep asking them why they did that – they know it was wrong and are sufficiently embarrassed! Don’t nitpick. Some days it goes well, and some days it does not. Teach your child to see failure as a challenge – something that should tell them what needs work on at home. Ask them what they think they could have done differently and let them figure out the answer for themselves. Show them by your attitude that you still love them and are proud of them regardless of whether they win or lose!

Children model their own experiences and attitudes after their parents. Badmouthing other competitors or judges does not teach children to love their sport. It teaches them to foul the sport when things don’t go their way – drag them down to your level to justify your own shortcomings! Gossip and storytelling has no place next to the show ring. Emphasize the importance of learning, hard work, self-discipline and commitment. Show interest in your child and ask questions, but also recognize that sometimes your child will need some space. If your child demands to give up half way through and go home, insist that they finish. That teaches them to stay committed and to push through.

Another issue I often encounter at a show is that the parent will take over the coaching from the instructor. What often happens is that the parent says one thing and the instructor another. Leave the instruction and motivation to the instructor. That is what they are there for. When there are too many ‘teachers’, it only confuses the child. When mom says one thing but the coach says another, who are they supposed to listen to? It becomes confusing and riders panic.

For those parents who ride or rode competitively, be very careful not to tell your child that you would have done it a different way or tell them about the 1st place you got in a class just like that one when they come in after a bad ride. You are building a pedestal for your child that they can never hope to climb and they will rather quit than be a loser in your eyes.

Children are all different. Some are naturals at shows and never get nervous and enjoy themselves no matter what. Others struggle to handle the pressure and never do well at shows despite doing very well at home. The key is to talk to your child – ask them what you can do to help them. One rider surprised her mom by saying ‘Please don’t come to watch, rather stay away.’ That child always did very well on her own and when her parents were not there she excelled. If her mother was there, the pressure of performing in front of her was too much, and inevitably, things went poorly. Your child will tell you what they need from you if you allow them.

If your child is involved in unacceptable behavior at a show, do not tolerate it and know when it may be time to take a break from shows until you feel your child is ready. If your child blames the horse, think creatively and tell them that ponies have bad days too just like people and maybe what he needs is a hug and some carrots!

Becoming a great showman takes time and the more shows riders attend, the better they get. With support and encouragement, your child will have the opportunity to partake in something they will love and enjoy. If your child struggles at shows but really wants to take part, it may be worth your while to take them to a sports psychologist, who can help them make their experience a much more pleasant one.


I trust this article puts parents a bit more at ease and makes their role seem more defined. The most important piece of advise I have for parents is this: Never do or say anything that will make your child think less of themselves or of you!

Improving the Canter - Part One

Renee Swanepoel
N Dip Equine Studies, SANEF Level 1 Instructor

Many of the questions I receive about horses have something to do with canter. “The horse won’t canter on the right leg; the horse just goes faster and won’t go into canter; the horse can’t maintain canter; the horse gets heavy in the hands in canter; the horse disunites behind; and so on and so on…..” I see the canter as a symptom of the rest of the horse’s work, be it at walk or trot, and it is very seldom that a horse has a big problem with canter but not with the other gaits. (In fact I would say it is unheard of!)
It is vital that the rider understand the gait and how the horse needs to use himself in order to correctly school the canter.

The canter is a 3 beat gait, with a moment of suspension. This means that at one point of the canter, the horse has all four feet off the ground. The most important thing to remember about canter is that the inside hind leg is very important in the strike off. There is some debate as to whether a canter starts with the inside hind leg, or not, however if you imagine that the horse will push with his outside hind leg to allow the inside hind to step in underneath his body thereby starting the canter process, it will suffice. Outise hind pushes to allow inside diagonal pairs to move together and finally inside fore leg. (Outside hind, inside hind and outside fore and then indise fore) This is completed with the moment of suspension and the whole cycle begins again. In a normal canter, the horse should lead with his inside fore leg. This means that the inside front leg looks like it is in front of the other front leg when it comes down. If the horse was cantering to the left, for example, he would start by bringing his left hind leg deep underneath him, then his right hind and left front leg (which is placed further forward) and lastly his right front leg before being suspended and starting again. If a horse canters with his outside leg leading, it is called counter canter and although it is a useful balancing exercise when ridden correctly, may lead to a stumble and fall of the novice rider and horse under the wrong circumstances.

Important in the canter is an elastic back, clean and regular beats and a steady rhythm on the correct lead. It is also important that the horse remains straight - that is to say his hind feet should land on or just in front of , his fore feet. Most horses will bring the hindquarter to the inside of the track as a way of getting out of work, and the rider should be made aware of this.
Often by bringing the shoulder slightly into the track, the horse can be improved. (ie Shoulder fore in the canter)

Important qualities in the gait, as in all other gaits are the following:

- Smooth and balanced transition
- Consistent rhythm and regular tempo (Rhythm: the actual hoof beats of the gait and should occur at equal distance and timing; Tempo: refers to the speed of the rhythm and can be slow, medium or quick. A common fault in canter is the ‘four beat’ canter where the inside hind leg touches the ground before the diagonal front leg – usually because the rider is too restraining in front.)
- Impulsion (Impulsion: thrust and NOT speed! It refers to how hard the horse is pushing with his legs and how much energy the gait has. A horse at piaffe can have great impulsion, yet not be moving fast.)
- Calmness and relaxation (All good athletes need a degree of physical relaxation in order move with ease, grace and coordination. Muscles need to be able to go through their normal cycle of contraction and relaxation in order to function properly. Tension blocks movement and wastes energy and can cause injury to the muscle tissue.)
- Balance (Balance: Having a rider on his back disturbs the natural balance of the horse and he needs to learn to adjust his center of gravity and carry his rider. Balance is split into vertical balance – head to toe – and lateral balance – left vs right side of the body.)
- Straightness (Straightness: Refers to the flight of each leg and the placement of the footfalls. They should not deviate left or right of each other and the hind legs should follow exactly the same track as the front legs – even when riding a bend! )
- Suppleness ( Suppleness: the ability of the horse to shift his balance smoothly forward and backward, as well as left and right without stiffness or resistance. It does not have to do with how easily the neck bends left or right, and often riders confuse this and as a result the horse ‘rubbernecks’ – ie beds from the wither to head, as opposed to through the entire body.)
- Freedom of movement (FOM: refers to the extent to which the horse can reach forward in movement from his hip joints and shoulders. A poorly fitting saddle often restricts shoulder movement and will be noticed not only in the gait, but by the lack of muscle just behind\ below the withers as is so often seen. Riders also too often try to ‘get the horse on the bit’ by sawing at the front end – they will often call it half halting – until the horse loses all forward movement, instead of allowing the horse freedom of movement and focusing on the impulsion coming from behind! The head is the last piece of the puzzle – when the other pieces are in place, the head just pops into position all on its own!)
- Lightness (Lightness: The horse’s ability to move with deftness, grace and agility and a horse that is light to ride is balanced and responsive. He does not require the rider nagging him constantly to keep him going correctly and waits for the next instruction with eagerness.)

Now that we know what kind of qualities a decent canter should have, let’s take a look at how one might achieve this!

The Canter Aid

Canter can be achieved from walk, halt and trot, depending on the level of training of horse and rider. In this instance we will look at a trot to canter transition as it is the one most often used by the novice and the basic principles will apply in every other canter transition.

The trot preceding the canter is almost more important than the strike-off itself, as it will determine the quality of the transition. The trot should be full of impulsion; the horse should be attentive and responding readily to the rider and in good balance. Good exercises that can be used to lead up to canter work include, serpentines (3 and 5 Loop, as well as with transitions on the centre line), voltes , trot to halt transitions, rein back, some sitting trot work, lengthening and collecting the trot strides, turn on the haunches and leg yield. These will shift the horse’s weight slowly onto his hind legs which as you will see is vital in achieving a good quality canter.

Every rider has been told to do a few strides of sitting trot before asking for canter but of course very few riders understand why this is important. If a rider was doing a walk to canter transition, the same principle applies – the rider should collect the walk slightly while at the same time creating more impulsion and sitting deeply in the saddle with a long, relaxed leg. When doing a sitting trot correctly, the rider is encouraging the horse to round his back a little under him and this causes the hind legs to step in under the horse a little more. From what we know about the first step in canter – that being that the inside hind leg needs to step in under the horse’s body deeply – it becomes apparent that by sitting for a few trot strides we are getting the horse to step in more under himself and that that will make the first canter step much easier for the horse as he is already stepping in more deeply under himself. It also prepares the horse mentally by telling him something is about to happen.

To ask for the canter strike-off, the rider:

 Sits deeply in the saddle
 Ensures that the horse is slightly bent in the direction of the canter
 Moves the outside leg slightly behind the girth
 Half halts the horse in preparation and
 Squeezes with the inside leg to ask for the canter

This is a very simplified list of aids – a more experienced rider will understand that more weight is born on the inside hip one and with the push into canter, it moves slightly forward. There is also a slight release on the inside rein at the moment of asking while restraining with the outside hand. For more Novice riders though, this tends to confuse them and they end up throwing the rein away while leaning over and forwards, which is of course not what we want.

The most common mistake when asking for the canter is that the rider leans forward and brings their weight out of the saddle. This will make the horse trot faster or collapse onto the forehand, making it physically impossible for the hind leg to step in under the horse and strike-off to occur. Weight in the saddle is vital if the horse is to shift his weight back and bring his leg underneath him.

When in the canter, the rider should be following the movement of the horse with the hips and lower back – this amounts to almost ‘wiping’ the saddle from back to front. I often tell riders to imagine they had a tail and that they should try and tuck their tails in underneath them with every stride. By following the canter in this way the rider is encouraging the horse to round his back with every stride, producing a better quality canter.

Observe the rider below:




Improving Canter


Instead of giving with her lower back and softening under the horse’s stride, she has hollowed slightly. Her left shoulder is also slightly in front of her right shoulder. Her saddle is too far forwards and her weight is thus placed on the front end of the horse’s back with her toe resting on the shoulder of the horse. Her weight is slightly off the horse’s back. She is gripping with her lower leg and this has resulted in the angle of her leg opening up from the hip, hence the toe pointing out. I would also venture a guess that she is rocking her upper body with every stride instead of absorbing the movement in the hips. Notice the effects of this on her horse – he is hollowing behind the saddle and this has caused his hind legs to trail out far behind him, in other words he is not tracking up well behind at all. See how he is not bringing his hind leg deep in underneath him? His tummy muscles are not working at all and you can see the big bulge underneath him. This will make him very hard to sit. His high neck carriage is as a result of his hollowing through his back. Her twisting has caused him to bend more in his neck and not enough through his back. See how the horse looks like he is running downhill? He is bearing more weight on his front end than his back end which will make a correct canter very difficult indeed and it is probably making the saddle slip even more forwards. I would guess that he is difficult to get a good transition out of and that once in canter, he runs along until he loses impulsion and breaks into a fast trot again. This is as a direct result of incorrect saddle placement and the rider not bringing her weight down onto his back and following his movement.

By contrast, this rider is faring better:






This rider is sitting tall with more weight on the horse’s back, following his movement, and it shows! See how he is working ‘uphill’ and you will also notice the much bigger step he has taken with his hind leg. His tummy muscles are contracting and he is much rounder behind the saddle which is what we need. His saddle is allowing more shoulder movement and is not restricting him as much as the previous horse. A canter transition would be much easier because more weight is carried behind and the downward transition will also not likely see the horse collapsing in front if the pair maintain this outline.

Another common fault is that the rider collapses one side in canter as in the following case:




As a result, the horse has dropped right down onto his inside shoulder. See how his hindquarter is tracking to the inside of his front end. The rider needs to sit right up, place more weight down the left leg and straighten the horse up behind.

When asking for the downward transition, the rider:

- Again sits deep with the seat and with a tall upper body
- Closes the leg around the horse into a slightly restricting hand to collect the canter and then restrict the hand further on the outside rein to bring the horse down into trot
- At the same time, brace the back (this entails ‘tucking your tail under you’ and sitting deep)
- The horse should drop behind into the transition and not drop in front
- Once trot is achieved, the rider should ride the horse actively forwards

Biggest problems encountered in the downward transition include the horse falling forwards onto the forehand, pulling the rider down with him; running on in the trot unbalanced and on the forehand ; or the horse flopping right down into walk or even halt without maintaining any forward movement. All of these problems can be attributed to either a rider problem, or a horse that is unbalanced and stiff and cannot carry himself properly through the movement.

In the next Part of this Article, we will look at the specific and targeted excercises that can be used to improve the canter.