The Professionals

By Jessica Gale

HOW OUR HORSES UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE ASKING

We spend a lot of the time with our horses, wanting them to do what we want them to do: stand still, go forward, come back, go sideways, jump this fence, go past the scary cows that are clearly breathing fire! But what makes the difference between them doing what we ask or doing the opposite?

Once you know how to ride a lot of the things we do are automatic and we do them because ‘it works’ or ‘it’s how I was taught’ or ‘it’s how everyone else does it’. But how do we actually teach our horses; how do we get them to understand what we’re trying to say and how do they know when they’ve done something right or wrong? A big part of this comes down to understanding. In my experience every time I have come across a horse that hasn’t done what I’ve asked it’s been for one of three reasons: they don’t understand what I’m asking them to do, I’m not asking them correctly or they can’t do it (whether that’s for physical or mental reasons). Our horses learn through a method called pressure-release. A lot of riders (nearly all really) use this method where the pressure is put on; the horse knows he’s got to do something and when he does it, the pressure comes off. Getting your horse to understand what specifically you want them to do is the hard bit. A lot of things are ingrained in a horse from a young age: leg means go and a pull on the rein means stop are two requests the majority of horses are very comfortable with. But what about if you want to teach your horse a new movement with new aids that they’ve never done before? How do you get them to know that this aid means leg yield or another aid means rein back. The answer – pressure and release plus a lot of patience and repetition added in! So, lets say for a leg yield, you put the pressure on by putting your inside leg behind the girth and you wait. Your horse knows he has to do something but he doesn’t know what so they will try different things and you just have to simply keep asking until you get the response you want –the horse stepping sideways. When you get that response, you release the pressure to say “yes that’s what I wanted”. And then from there you just repeat and, as long as you are consistent with the aids you use and the response you want, your horse should pick it up quite easily. So, the pressure-release method helps us to teach our horse what we want from them and, as long as we are consistent and the horse is physically able to do it, this method wont ever let you down. But a big part that I am yet to mention is about our horses wanting to do what we ask of them. I am of the opinion that if a horse that is happy and healthy, loves their job and wants to work they are far easier and more enjoyable to train. Its no surprise to me that when someone comes to me and says that their horse doesn’t like dressage, the rider also doesn’t like it either. It has nothing to do with the horse not liking dressage but more that the rider enjoys hacking or jumping more and therefore

JESSICA GALE IS A BDCC AND UKCC LEVEL 2 COACH WHO HAS COMPETED UP TO SMALL TOUR. JESS COACHES RIDERS UP TO SMALL TOUR AND RUNS DECOMPLICATING DRESSAGE, A SITE DEDICATED TO ACCESSIBLE DRESSAGE TRAINING AND INFORMATION. THE SITE INCLUDES PODCASTS, TRAINING ARTICLES, VIDEO INSTRUCTION AND CHALLENGES.

THE PROFESSIONALS An introduction to...

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“Hello! Some of you may have come across me already on Instagram and Facebook, but for those of you who don’t know anything about me, here is a little of my background. I’m one of those lucky people who grew up mucking around on hairy ponies and doing as much Pony Club as possible.

Eventually this transformed into the serious stuff of affiliated

Eventing, and more recently,

Dressage. In amongst all of this,

I trained first as a human

Chartered Physiotherapist, and then as a Veterinary

Physiotherapist.

By chance, I also became interested in Pilates, and trained in this at around the time that I became seriously keen on the

Dressage.

My own experience of training and competing up through the levels of Dressage – I competed up to Advanced in affiliated competitions and PSG in unaffiliated with my late boy

Baz – coupled with my Pilates, really made me acutely aware of the need to be in tune with, and

has more fun themselves so the horse has more positive experiences in those disciplines. LOUISE TOWL FOUNDER OF READY TO RIDE Rather than in the school when PHYSIOTHERAPY AND PILATES the rider doesn’t really know in control of, my own body inwhat things to try, gets bored, order to enhance my riding.feels uninspired and At the same time, I was aware order to move with our horse unmotivated so therefore the that many of my horse owner and apply subtle but effective horse feels bored and clients were struggling with the aids. unmotivated too. Now this isn’t time and cost of fitting in caring Everything I do is based on my me saying you can just not do for their own bodies. This whilst own experience, and this has led your flatwork because you don’t spending rather a lot of time me to developing two specific enjoy it. This is me saying to and money caring for their courses for pregnant and new make the things you find boring horses! Yet the horse-rider mum riders. Although very lucky more fun. Find some different partnership is 50/50, and can with my own fitness during exercises to try with your horse, only function and perform well if pregnancy, I found the whole or try seeing if you can teach both parties are in optimum post-natal body situation a your horse a leg yield or a flying condition. If the focus is huge shock, even though I had change. Pole work is also a great primarily on the horse, the rider treated numerous women at way to make dressage more fun is not only reducing the this stage of their life. Working and there are also loads of performance of the partnership, out what to do with my new flatwork or dressage clinics but also potentially creating body was a real challenge, at a around where you can go with problems for the horse by time when my brain was already your friends to make it more transferring their own rather full! Since then, I have social too. asymmetries (through injury, become increasingly aware of But what happens if you get a weakness and so on) on to the the significant lack of exercise response you don’t want from horse. guidance for women at these your horse? If they buck when With Ready to Ride, I am key times. Riders are affected you ask for canter or shoot bringing a variety of accessible even more, due to the often forward when you ask for a leg options to riders, so that they negative attitude towards riding yield, it’s more difficult to work can work to improve their own during pregnancy, and the lack out the cause of the problem. It bodies and therefore of understanding of the specific could be a training issue, it could performance, at the same time physical requirements of riders. be a saddle/vet/dentist/physio as their horse’s. I use all my The two courses I have produced issue or it could be simply that professional experience (scarily, I should go some way to rectify your horse doesn’t understand. have been a Physio for over this, and help riders combine This is where it can be so helpful twenty years now!) combined motherhood and riding to have a trainer who can help with my training and competing successfully. you work out the cause of the experience, to provide online, Within the next few editions of issue. Be careful though, that home exercise programmes that the Absolute Horse Magazine, you never take the pressure off, will help riders to improve I’ll be discussing ways that you walk and reward your horse balance, symmetry, strength, co- can help maintain your riding when he gives you a response ordination, and ultimately body fitness during pregnancy, and you don’t want. You can easily end up training your horse to do something you don’t want them to do. www.decomplicating dressage.com awareness. For me, good body awareness is key to effective riding; we have to know where our body is, what it is doing and how to use it in ” then regain it after having a baby. In the meantime, you can find out about my classes, courses and YouTube channel at www.readytoride.online 42

Kevin McNab introduces... TALENTED HUMPHREYS

Scudeira 1918 Humphreys, the striking grey Holsteiner stallion, has been part of the equine team on the McNab Eventing yard since 2018 and Kevin has high hopes for Humphreys, including aiming for Paris 2024 as part of the Australian Eventing Team.

Standing at 16’1hh, Osberton was the biggest win to date for 8-yearold Humphreys who has also had impressive results at Somerford Park 3*S and ninth place at Le Lion World Seven-Year-Old Championships. Humphreys is that rare find that is talented in dressage, showjumping and cross-country but is exceptionally smart when tackling the crosscountry phase. Said Kevin: “Humphreys is fantastic and really knows his job. The result at Osberton last year was all the more pleasing considering it was a massive field of 120 starters. An impressive dressage score of 27.60 got us off to a flying start and he just cruised around the cross-country course and didn’t touch a fence in the showjumping. “He has a lovely temperament and travels beside other horses but we do try to make his life easy as it can be as it can be hard for stallions competing with the constant distractions.”

www.robinsonanimalhealthcare.com

REWARDING ACHIEVEMENT WITH ACCESSIBILITY MARK

Accessibility Mark accredited riding centres are providing disabled riders with the opportunity to expand their knowledge through the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Proficiency Tests.

The RDA Proficiency Tests form part of the wider RDA Education programme which is a fantastic platform for learning in an engaging and fun environment. The tests offer a goal for Accessibility Mark riders to aim for whilst also providing the satisfaction that they have worked through the Riding and Horse Care syllabus and accomplished their goal, which is then rewarded with a certificate or badge. Incorporating activities such as the Proficiency Tests into sessions has increasingly been recognised for its educational benefits for those taking part. Staff and volunteers encourage participates every step of the way as the Grades increase in difficulty but are designed to be very much attainable for riders of all abilities. The tests help riders to gain useful practical knowledge but also work to provide a motivating tool that can really help to engage participants. Four Winds Equestrian Centre based in Lincolnshire runs a regular Accessibility Mark session where the riders are actively encouraged to participate in Proficiency Tests. Paula Leverton, owner of Four Winds Equestrian said: “We use the tests to give our riders a goal to work towards in their weekly lesson. They get a real sense of achievement when they get their award.” Accessibility Mark status is awarded to a riding centre that has been approved by the RDA following training and assessment. The close link with the RDA means that it can offer continuous support to the establishment to ensure it provides a first-class experience that aims to be hugely beneficial to riders of varying levels of disability.

www.rda.org.uk