As told to Tilly Berendt. Photos: Jon Stroud. With thanks to Champion for their help with this feature, championhats.co.uk
In this feature. . .
Our expert
Lucy Pincus has won a number of regional, national and international dressage titles, and was selected as team reserve for the Young Rider Europeans in 2016. She’s based at her family’s Sheepcote Stud in Herefordshire.
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➤ Solve
common schooling problems
In the saddle
➤ Create
an even rein contact ➤ Give his walk the wow factor
A change for the better However diligently and correctly you school your horse, there’ll be times when things don’t go to plan. Dressage rider Lucy Pincus has the answer to overcoming some common schooling problems
I
f you’re experiencing a schooling issue with your horse, don’t panic. While it’s frustrating, it’s a normal part of the training process and something that happens to everyone, no matter how experienced a rider they are. Although there are no magic fixes for your flatwork, there are ways to navigate problems and get back on track, whether you’re struggling
to master a movement or you feel you’ll never make it to the next level. What you need to do is identify the cause so you can work out the right solution, which could TOP TIP mean brushing It’s a good idea to revisit up on your your schooling basics on a horse’s skills or regular basis, making sure your your own. horse works forward with implusion, and that he’s straight and has correct bend on circles. This will cement his training so far and fix any Refine your aids bad habits that may have Many riders focus too much on getting set in. their horse to work in an outline, but a true,
correct contact can take years to develop. At the lower levels, your horse won’t have the same consistency as a more advanced dressage horse, but you can take a step in the right direction by always ensuring he’s on your aids. This means he immediately reacts to your requests to go forward, come back or move sideways. So, right from the start of your warm-up, make sure your horse is listening to you and responding, and keep checking he stays that way throughout your schooling session.
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In this feature. . .
➤ Improve
your showjumping technique
Words: Kelly McCarthy-Maine. Photos: Bob Atkins
A clear approach Improve your chances of jumping a stylish clear round with showjumper Holly Smith’s effective exercises
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f you want to be successful in showjumping it’s all about the detail, and being accurate and precise will give you the edge whether you’re an amateur rider or compete at the highest levels. For example, landing in balance on the correct canter lead in a jump-off can make all the difference between first and second place. This level of accuracy can be established through careful training, where you refine
your skills, develop your horse’s strength and confidence, and forge a strong partnership. You don’t need to spend hours schooling over large fences, though, and you can develop these technical skills using simple exercises and even poles on the ground. Here are some of the techniques I use to prepare myself and my horses so we go into a showjumping arena ready to ride a competitive round.
Ready for take-off
I was taught that the last three strides on the approach to a fence belong to the horse. It’s my responsibility to present him to the fence on the best line, in the appropriate speed and balance, but once we’re three strides out it’s up to him to figure out how to jump it. It takes discipline to be quiet and still in the last few strides, and it forces you to make early decisions about your canter and judge the distance to the fence from a long way off, which is all good practice for course riding. The last stride into a fence creates the shape of your horse’s jump – it’s where he
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needs to get his hocks right underneath his body. If you push or shorten in this moment, he’ll flatten over the fence.
In the saddle
➤ How
V-poles can help ➤ Change your canter lead over a fence
Our expert
Holly Smith is an international showjumper who has represented Great Britain on Nations Cup teams and came second in this year’s Hickstead Derby riding Quality Old Joker. She has also won Puissance classes at Horse of the Year Show and Olympia.
A winning warm-up
TOP TIP
Good jumping technique needs a bold canter to encourage your horse to push with power off the ground. An underpowered canter makes it hard for him to bring his hocks underneath him on the last stride into a fence.
After warming your horse up on the flat, pop over a few poles on the ground before attempting any fences. This is a gentle introduction to leaving the ground, and will get him thinking about where to put his feet and how to scale his effort to match the challenge in front of him. When I’m ready to introduce a fence, I’ll approach a small upright in a balanced, rhythmical canter. I want to maintain a consistent contact and position on the approach, over the fence and on landing to encourage my horse to hold his canter lead. Focusing on maintaining the canter rhythm is key to this. Approach the fence on both reins, each time aiming to maintain your canter lead. Horses often prefer to land on one lead and it’s consistent training that will give him confidence in his ability to hold his canter lead over a fence.
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Everything in
BALANCE Riding is a hobby that requires a lot of time and financial commitment, so fitting it into an already packed schedule can be tricky. Here are some easy ways to restore your horse/life balance
Photos: Jon Stroud
H
as your horse taken over your life? Between riding, yard chores and competitions, it’s easy to find every minute of your spare time, including your quota of annual leave, eaten up by all things equestrian. Most of us are perfectly happy with this arrangement, but there are times when it can become a bit overwhelming, particularly if your other half regularly moans that your quick trips to the yard end up taking most of the day. But what can you do to keep everybody happy? Alternatively, you may be suffering from the opposite problem, where it feels as though your horse hardly gets a look-in because the rest of your life is so busy. When you’ve also got your job, your family and your social life to factor in, it can leave you feeling guilty about whether he’s getting the exercise or attention he deserves. Think about how much time your horse realistically needs and how you can factor that in. Don’t forget, all the areas of your life need to work well together. 60 HORSE&RIDER
Let sleeping horse owners lie You know you’re a horse owner when your idea of a lie-in is a time that other people might describe as disgustingly early. While your non-horsey friends are sleeping off the night before, you’re stifling the yawns as you pull on your wellies. But does it have to be this way?
Short answer? No. If full or partlivery aren’t an option, there are changes you can make to your management routine that mean you’re less in demand first thing in the morning. You could consider switching things round so your horse goes out at night, rather than during the day. With all that grass to munch on, he’ll have plenty to keep him occupied while you enjoy a couple of extra hours in bed on a Sunday morning. During the week, why not come to an arrangement with a fellow livery where you take it in turns to do the early shift? This will allow you a few mornings where you can catch up on some extra zzzs or have a less frantic start to the working day.
Mind matters
TIP
TOP t everything in you can fi se nt Just becau . It’s importa n you should th al he l ca si doesn’t mea hy ental and p m t, ur yo lf se ke to ta g your ou ion – stressin at ng er ti id et ns g t co into and no shing around ur constantly ru mental to yo ri et d l al e ar p ee sl enough eing. overall wellb
Friends like these
Horse ownership can be a hugely social pastime. Between livery yard solidarity, Riding Club membership and friendly competition rivalries, it may be that the majority of your friendship circle has come about due to riding. This can make it tricky to get away from horsey situations, but why not organise a night out or relaxed meal, which might spark some non-horsey conversation so you can find out what other things you have in common? You may go away even better friends than you were before.
Away from it all
Can you remember the last time you went on a proper holiday? And no, taking your horse to the beach for the weekend doesn’t count – we’re talking bikinis, pina coladas and air travel. Even if you do manage to get away, do you then spend most of your break preoccupied with what your horse is getting up to? Many of us will admit to having a touch of the control-freak when it comes to our horses. This means you probably find it difficult to contemplate time away from him, even if it’s just for a week or two. As much as you’d like to believe otherwise, though, he probably won’t be that bothered about your absence as long as he’s still having all his needs met. Besides, no news is good news – before you start texting your horse-sitter for updates every few hours, keep in mind that they’ll let you know if there’s a problem, so relax and enjoy your time away. A proper break will do you the power of good and you’ll come back refreshed and ready to tackle whatever your hectic lifestyle throws at you.
Best of both worlds
If your other half is always moaning about the fact they never see you because you’re always at the yard, there’s a simple solution – bring them along! It’s easier than you might think to get them involved... • if you’re going for a hack, encourage them to join you on foot or on a bike. You could even make an outing of it by stopping at the pub or a horse-friendly tea room • enlist them as a groom at your next competition. Even a non-horsey person is capable of giving leg-ups, adjusting warm-up fences and running to the burger van • find them some odd jobs to do around the yard. There’s always a leaky gutter or broken fence that needs fixing – and it’ll save you time, too • let them spend some quality time with your horse. You never know, they may end up loving him at much as you do – at least, that’s what you can tell yourself!
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