In this feature. . .
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➤ Perfect
your course riding technique
In the saddle
a rhythm between fences ➤ Create an adjustable canter
ON COURSE for success Build one course of fences, then try Lucinda Fredericks’ 10 brilliant exercises to improve your horse’s jumping technique
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hen you’re schooling at home, it’s easy to get into the habit of popping over a few fences, then pulling up for a rest, but this doesn’t prepare you for the demands of a competition, where you’ll need to complete a course that could consist of 10 or more obstacles. Schooling over single fences has its benefits, but practising course riding is important, too. The challenge set by the course builder at a show isn’t just
the fences themselves, you need to be able to maintain a rhythm between the fences and adjust your canter to suit the different types of obstacle. Linking a number of fences together also helps improve your own and your horse’s stamina – it’s no good running out of puff half-way round. The exercises here combine the best of both worlds – they’re designed to help you practise and refine your skills over individual obstacles and combinations, then test them around a course.
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Our expert
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.
Our models
Emily Young-Jamieson worked alongside Lucinda for nine years before setting up her own yard where she produces and competes event horses.
Gortmore Tommy T (Ted) competed in eventing up to two-star level with Emily and is now a schoolmaster for a young rider.
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As told to Kelly McCarthy-Maine. Photos: Bob Atkins. With thanks to Lucinda Fredericks for her help with this feature, lucindafredericks.com
➤ Maintain
In this feature. . .
➤ How
to impress the dressage judge
Our judge
Sarah-Jane Prew is a List Three British Dressage judge and an accredited trainer.
C
The view H from Performing a high-scoring dressage test is all about perfecting your horse’s way of going. Sarah-Jane Prew invites you into the judge’s seat to learn more
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ave you ever wondered what the judge is thinking as you ride up the centre line? What exactly are they looking for and how can you make sense of the scoring? The marks aren’t awarded at random, there’s method behind the madness and sometimes all it takes is a greater understanding of what judges prioritise. To help you make sense of it, we’ll take a look at the training scale and how you can use it to tick all the boxes in your warm-up, create and maintain a correct way of going, and earn yourself some valuable collective marks.
In the saddle
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Maximise your collective marks ➤ Ride perfect transitions
Understanding the scale
The training scale is an outline of the basic phases of a horse’s education and they should form the foundation of his training from his earliest rides under saddle, all the way through to the top level of the sport. There are six components... • rhythm • suppleness • contact • impulsion • straightness • collection By working through each of these in turn, you’ll create a balanced, correctly-produced horse who can perform an accurate test and demonstrate one of those important, but elusive, qualities – throughness. Because dressage is, at heart, a test of the quality of your horse’s training, these factors are prioritised by judges at every level.
Appropriate marks
Although all the components of the training scale should be followed by every horse and rider, judges don’t expect combinations competing at Preliminary level to have the same degree of contact or collection as a Grand Prix horse and rider. Each of the skills is judged in a way that’s appropriate for the level, with some taking priority at certain levels – for example, young or inexperienced horses competing in Prelim or Novice tests are required TOP TIP to show an even rhythm, The training scale can help you prepare lateral suppleness and a your horse for a test, but don’t abandon consistent contact. it when you get home from a show – keep a mental checklist when you’re schooling to make sure your sessions are productive.
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Dressage is a test of the quality of your horse’s training
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Conquer
CABIN FEVER
Does the thought of your horse being on box rest fill you with dread? Behaviourist Anna Haines reveals what you can do to help keep him happy while he’s confined Our expert
Anna Haines is a Clinical Animal Behaviourist and a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, and has been a freelance Equine Behaviour Consultant since 2012. She has a BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour, and an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare, specialising in equines.
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T
hose two words you hope your vet will never say – box rest. While it’s a necessary evil to help your horse recover from illness or injury, it can be a particularly difficult time for both of you, particularly if he gets stressed easily or is used to spending lots of time in the field. Horses are herd animals who are designed to live in social groups, travel many kilometres each day and graze almost continually, and being stabled for long periods takes away their ability to carry out these natural behaviours. However, there are lots of things you can do to minimise the stress he might experience during a period of box rest.
Mind matters
Spread it out Plan of action
Talk through your horse’s diagnosis and his treatment plan with your vet and let them know ult. if you think he’ll find box rest particularly diffic if worse made be can s injurie or Some illnesses st sugge may vet your so ed, stress es becom he other options.
DID YOU KNOW?
There’s an increased risk of behavioural problems developing during a period of box rest because of the heightened stress levels your horse may experience and the restriction of his natural behaviour.
Since your horse isn’t able to graze in the field while he’s on box rest, make sure you provide him with enough suitable forage so he can spend up to 18 hours eating a day. This may mean you need to provide him with more forage than normal. If you’re worried about him gaining weight, consider mixing some good-quality barley straw into his normal hay or haylage ration to bulk it out. Always speak to your vet if you have any concerns, particularly if your horse’s illness is related to diet in any way. There are also a number of slow-feeding solutions and small-holed haynets you can try to make his ration go further.
TOP TIP
Some companies sell compacted bricks of fibre, which can be another way to provide forage, and encourage different feeding and foraging behaviours, helping to reduce boredom and provide variety in his diet.
Spoilt for choice
If your horse has bucket feeds, consider how you provide them. As humans, we like things to be neat and tidy, so we usually provide our horses’ food all mixed up in one bucket, but this doesn’t encourage natural foraging behaviour and also reduces the amount of time it takes your horse to eat it. Instead, consider sprinkling his feed on a clear area of his stable floor so he has to forage for it more naturally. If he has a straw bed, you can even hide some in there. If you prefer not to do this, perhaps try scattering chopped-up fruit and vegetables instead to give him some extra mental stimulation.
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TOP TIP
Most of us give carrots and apples to our horses, but there are many other types of fruit and vegetable that are safe for them to eat, including swede, banana, watermelon and parsnip. Experiment by giving your horse different ones each day to see which are his favourites.
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