In this feature. . .
➤ Gain
control of your horse’s body
p o h s y d bo The
Y N O M R A H T C E IN PERF
As told to Tilly Berendt. Photos: Jon Stroud
much easier to o s e r a ts n e rt School movem uence each pa fl in n a c u o y n perform when ly. Trainer Da te ra a p e s y d o ’s b of your horse xplains how Greenwood e
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ocusing on one section of your horse’s body at a time in your schooling sessions is the best way to make sense of challenging movements and exercises. Once you begin to think about and influence each part of his body independently, you’ll find you no longer muddle through tricky movements, but ride them methodically, thinking about how each part of his body should be positioned throughout. That’s what dressage comes down to – it’s all about putting each part of your horse’s body in the right place and riding him positively once he’s where you want him to be. Over the last few issues, I’ve shown you how to influence your horse’s torso, head and neck, and quarters. Now it’s time to put together everything you’ve learnt to refine your skills and really see your dressage scores improve.
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In the saddle
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Maintain his balance ➤ Introduce advanced lateral work
Our trainer
Dan Greenwood is a dressage rider and trainer. He’s won many national championships and ridden for Great Britain at Small Tour level, as well as coaching up to Grand Prix.
Our model
Dan rides Lukien von Tespe, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Jo Handman. As a five-year-old he became the British Dressage Preliminary National Champion. He’s currently competing at Prix St Georges level.
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In this feature. . .
➤ Use
poles to perfect turns and transitions
As told to Kelly McCarthy-Maine. Photos: Bob Atkins. With thanks to Lucinda Fredericks for her help with this feature, lucindafredericks.com
POLE
position
Poles are a brilliant way to refine your skills and improve your horse’s paces. Lucinda Fredericks shares her favourite exercises
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orking with poles is not only great fun, it has many benefits for you and your horse, whatever discipline you enjoy. They can inject quality and energy into his paces, and they’ll encourage you to be more accurate and disciplined in your flatwork, too. And whether you’re going around them or over them, even the most basic polework exercises can lend structure and purpose to your schooling session.
Our expert Don’t let the weather stop play
Lucinda Fredericks has won some of the world’s toughest four-star events, including Burghley, Badminton and Kentucky, all on her 15.3hh chestnut mare, Headley Britannia. She now competes Brit’s offspring.
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My arena’s nestled at the foot of Salisbury Plain, where we get some pretty fierce weather as well as the soundtrack of nearby military training. Rather than letting weather or noise disrupt my training plans, I use poles to get quick results out of short, focused schooling sessions.
In the saddle
➤ Improve
your straightness ➤ Add energy to his canter
EXERCISE 1 Tramlines for better turns
Being able to ride an accurate turn is important for all aspects of your riding and your horse’s schooling, and is essential if you want to compete in dressage or jumping. Poles can help because they improve your ability to control your horse’s shoulders and they encourage him to bend around your inside leg. Here’s what to do... 1. Create tramlines by placing two poles on the ground, 1.5m apart. You can put your tramlines anywhere there’s room to make a turn into them, such as down the centre line, across the centre of the school or on the diagonal. 2. Go large in walk and, as you approach the point where you want to leave the track, ride a half-halt to prepare and balance your horse. 3. Turn towards the tramlines, using your outside aids to guide your horse, rather than pulling him round with your inside rein. To do this, hold your outside rein against his neck and apply your outside leg just behind the girth. Back up these
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Track your progress
Poles are a handy way to measure how your horse’s training is progressing. If you use the same distances and ask him to do the same exercises on a regular basis – for example, once a week – you’ll be able to tell what he’s finding easier or identify any ways he’s trying to evade his work.
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aids by opening your inside hand slightly to show him where you want him to go and placing your inside leg on the girth to create bend and stop him falling in. Once you’ve made the turn, maintain a contact with your outside leg and hand to straighten him up, then ride positively into and through the tramlines. When your horse understands the exercise in walk, you can have a go in trot and canter.
EXERCISE 2 Tramline transitions
It’s easy to fall into the habit of riding transitions when it feels right, rather than at a particular point. However, this doesn’t prepare you for dressage tests, where you’ll need to perform good transitions on demand. Using a tramline of poles to frame your transitions can help you perform goodquality, accurate changes of pace... 1. Start in trot and, as you approach the tramlines, ride a half-halt to prepare your horse. 2. When you’re between the poles, wrap both legs around your horse’s sides, and still your seat and hands to ask him for a downward transition to walk. 3. Keep your shoulders back and look up – if you collapse forward, your weight will be over his shoulders, which makes it even more difficult for him to achieve a good-quality transition. 4. Ride forwards and focus on establishing the rhythm and balance of the new pace. 5. Ride through the tramlines a second time and make an upwards transition to trot. Then come round again and ask for a transition to canter. 6. Now use the tramlines to return to trot, then walk. 7. Change the rein and repeat the exercise.
uire r transitions, but it does req This exercise will improve you nice a in is capable of working practice. Even if your horse h if he lacks the strength to pus cult diffi outline, he may find it to y bod his ugh thro wiggles from his hindlegs and usually e the poles will prevent him aus bec ier, eas ns sitio make tran oked, it’ll show up in this cro or k doing this. So, if he’s wea consistency he’ll be able to exercise, but with time and throughout changes of pace. maintain a consistent frame
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HORSE&RIDER 43
legs Look after his
Don’t let unexpected lameness put a stop to your riding plans. Here’s how you can help keep your horse’s legs in great shape
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Words: Tilly Berendt
ery few horses have perfect, unblemished legs and many have old lumps, bumps, scars or windgalls. While many of these are harmless, your horse’s legs are complex structures made up of ligaments, tendons and bones, and if the health of even one of these is compromised, his soundness could rapidly deteriorate. Therefore, taking care of his limbs is important for long-term soundness.
There’s lots you can do to ensure your horse’s legs stay healthy and wellsupported, no matter how demanding his workload is, and it’s as simple as sticking to the four Rs... • recognise what’s normal • ride conscientiously • regulate the influence of outside factors, such as heat and concussion • rehabilitate appropriately after exercise
By getting to know what’s normal for your horse, you can spot any problems early on
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Management know-how
TOP TIP
You can support your horse’s legs from the inside by feeding a good quality joint supplement, but you don’t need to wait until he has a joint health issue. A supplement can be more beneficial if you start feeding it before joint damage occurs.
CHECK IT OUT
TOP TIP
Different swellings should be interpreted in different ways. Ordinary filling is the result of fluid build-up and always occurs in pairs of legs. Isolated swelling should be treated with more concern.
By getting to know what’s normal for your horse, you can spot problems early on and seek veterinary advice as necessary, helping to prevent them becoming a serious issue. Every time you groom him, take a minute or two to run your hand down each of his legs and familiarise yourself with them. Take note of… ● any lumps and bumps Are they hard and cold? Old injuries such as splints or spavins can leave behind benign lumps which, when healed, may have no lasting impact on your horse’s soundness. If, however, they’re new, warm or he reacts when you put pressure on them, you should consult your vet ● swellings Some horses are prone to minor swelling, which can appear after a period of immobility. If your horse has puffy legs in the morning that decrease naturally with movement and have been cleared by your vet, this shouldn’t cause alarm. If, however, he isn’t prone to swellings, their appearance should provoke further investigation ● heat can be an early indicator of a number of underlying concerns, from sore shins to a tendon injury
? DID YOU KNOW ellings that
ny sw Splints are hard, bo e splint bone. They th to e ag m da indicate ide or outside of can appear on the ins d can be caused an your horse’s lower leg ound or direct gr rd ha on ing by work k. trauma, such as a kic
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