Equine Online August 2016 by Equine Online NZ

nz's fr ee o n li n e m agazi n e fo r h o rse lovers!

Equine Online your horses your stories

august 2016

our guide to

ruggi n g you r h o rse

i m prove you r h o rse's balan ce

"i'd rather go naked"

kiwi riders stripping off for a good cause

breed profile: the friesian

JULIE & STEINYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

dressage

road to rio

EDITOR

Yvette Morrissey

CONTRIBUORS

Jacqui Van Buuren, Freya Thompson, Claire Madden, Jess Land, Marie Gordon, Senara Caddy, Grace Gray, Brooke Burns, Jana Kruyshaar, Ellie O’Brien.

FR O M TH E ED I TO R

COVER IMAGE

Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten. Image taken by Libby Law Photography.

CONTRIBUTE!

July was a huge month for me- I was lucky enough to attend the CHIO World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany.

The atmosphere was incredible, and the show jumping

We are always on the lookout for new contributors. If you are interested in becoming a part of New Zealand’s first free equestrian e-magazine, send us an email: editor@equineonline.co.nz

We would love to hear from you. Send us an email: editor@equineonline.co.nz

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arena buzzed as though it were a Rugby World Cup final. It was especially great to see our New Zealand Olympic dressage representative, Julie Brougham, compete among the world’s best riders and horses. Julie did New Zealand proud, qualifying for round two and producing two solid tests. There were a few New Zealanders there for support, but the majority of supporters were there to support the German team and the other teams. It got me thinking- wouldn’t it be fantastic to have a New Zealand team at a show of that caliber? Perhaps now is the time to start broadening our minds as riders and working even harder, aiming even higher, such as Julie has. You can read our interview with Julie on page 18. This month we also have a guide on how to rug your horse, part II of the Kaimanawa Stallion Challenge diaries and our other regular sections. One more thing- GO TEAM NZ! Yvette Morrissey

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Editor

AUGUST

contents 6 | NEWS

20 | WILD AT HEART: PART II 22 | PHOTO SPREAD: TURITEA PONY CLUB WINTER FUN SHOW 25 | SERIES: RACEHORSE RECYCLING PART V 28 | COLUMNS

NEWS

GET NAKED FOR HEAD INJURY AWARENESS By Yvette Morrissey Horse riders across New Zealand are being encourged to ‘get naked’ this month to raise awareness for concussion and brain injuries. The campaign, called The Naked Challenge, asks riders to post quirky but tasteful photos on social media bearing the slogan ‘I would rather go naked then not wear a helmet.’ Campaign organiser, Elizabeth Charleson, says she encourages people to take part in the challenge to become a brain injury awareness campaigner in their own right. “Each person is potentially saving the lives of their friends and loved ones by taking part in the challenge as it will hopefully get people talking about the issue of concussion, compounded concussion and brain injury.” To take part in the Naked Challenge 2016, visit their Facebook page for more information. Sheridan Subritzkey would rather ride naked than without a helmet

TOP HATS BANNED IN RIDDEN COMPETITION Top hats are no longer allowed to be worn in dressage and eventing disciplines, following an announement made by Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) in July. The decision was to improve rider safety across all disciplines under ESNZ. “This is a major step forward for safety of riders competing in New Zealand and is accompanied by the ESNZ recommendation that helmets should be worn at all time when handling horses” said ESNZ CEO Vicki Glynn. “Horses can be unpredictable and we know that riding is a risk sport so we must do everything we can to make our equestrians safe” she says. “Sadly we can no longer allow the use of the top hat in competition but the design and elegance of the

contemporary safety helmet makes them a worthy replacement and safety must come first.” Accordingly, and with immediate effect, the new European standard VG1 is approved and any helmet bearing only EN1384 will no longer be approved from 31 July 2017. This will give riders time to purchase new helmets if necessary, and is aligned with the New Zealand Pony Club Associations time frame for meeting the same standards. This will give riders time to purchase new helmets if necessary, and is aligned with the New Zealand Pony Club Associations time frame for meeting the same standards. The other approved standards which some equestrian sports use remain unchanged. For more information, visit the ESNZ website.

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BREED PROFILE: FRIESIAN

By Grace Gray Friesian horses are a well-known breed, yet are becoming incredibly rare with less than 1000 in the United States and Canada. Friesians are one of Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest horse breeds and they used to be ridden into battle thousands of years ago by medieval knights. They originated in Friesland in the Netherlands. The exact time they originated is unknown, but there is evidence that that they may have existed as far back as 1000 BC. They have an average height of approximately 15.3hh (ranging from 14.3hh to 17hh) and are known for their black coats and long, thick, curly manes and tails. Friesians once came in chestnut and grey colours but very early on the breed almost died out completely and now every Friesian horse can be traced back to one purebred black stallion, hence why all Friesian horses known today have a black coat. Another feature about the Friesian is their naturally incredible movement, making them popular dressage and carriage horses. Friesians both look and move incredibly, and to top it off they have an incredible temperament.

By Grace Grey

! FUN FACTenced

ian influ any The Fries ent of m m p lo e v ing the de ds includ s, e e r b r e h ot ponie nd Dale a ll e F e the h t orse, and h e ir h S the rger. Oldenbu

TOP 5 TIPS

bringing your horse back into work

By Brooke Burns We are almost through with winter which means it’s time to start thinking about bringing your horse back into work. Here are some helpful tips when bringing your horse into ridden work so you’re prepared for a great show season ahead.

Take it easy. There is no need to rush- so for the best introduction back into work start off slow. Remember your horse will be unfit and could possibly misbehave. Begin with lunging or hacking to shake off the cobwebs.

Keep it consistant. Horses like routine, so make sure you have a consistant ridden and feeding regime. Aim for three rides a week until you see an improvement in fitness. Also bear the weather in mind- the end of winter and the start of spring can be tricky so plan your riding days when the weather is less likely to interfere.

3 4 5

Variety is key. Avoid constant schooling in the beginning. Add a weekly hack to your routine, remember it’s got to be refreshing for not only you but your horse as well. Your horse will be more focused and willing to cope with different types of work. Feed right. Your horse’s dietary needs may have changed over winter. With added work, your horse will be burning more fat and energy and may need more protein or a general bulk feed. It is important to monitor what your horse is fed as this is what gives your horse fuel to cope with exercise. Base your feeding program on the level of work he is currently taking part in.

Make the transition from winter-wooly to competition star a whole lot easier with these tips. Photo credit: Clicked Equine Photography.

Check your gear. If your horse was rested over winter it’s likely he will have lost some muscle, which means his gear may not fit correctly when brought back into work. Get your saddle fit checked by a professional saddle fitter to ensure a smooth transition back into work. This is important as ill fitting gear can cause soreness issues which can affect your horses performance.

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HORSE OF THE MONTH Sponsored by

WHAT MAKES YOUR HORSE SPECIAL? Tell us and be in to WIN a pair of XL dressage boots valued at $45 from Pique Equestrian NZ! Nominate a horse you think deserves to be Equine Online’s ‘Horse/Pony of the Month’ and tell us their story- it can be funny, inspirational, sad or plain strange! *Entries should be under 300 words and emailed to editor@equineonline.co.nz

pique

EQUESTRIAN

Our July Horse Of the Month winner is Bobby, who was nominated by Lisa. Bobby is now the lucky new owner of a pair of exercise boots from Pique Equestrian. “This is Bobby who is also known as Whistledown Double O Seven. He is a 12.1hh, eight year old welsh pony bred at the Whistledown Stud. We have had Bobby since he was a weanling and he is my eight year-old daughter, Elisha’s, main man. This little fellow is a one in a million pony and the more we ask of him the more he gives. In April, Elisha finished the pony club season just beginning to ride off the lead rein and she has recently hunting him (off the lead). This might sound like a silly thing to do to your eight year-old, but this little pony looks after her with his life and he is an ace on the field. He is more than happy to canter along in a group and doesn’t fuss if he gets left behind. Elisha’s riding has come so far in the short hunt season due to the nature of this amazing little pony. Elisha has big goals for Bobby including doing some show jumping and a one day event this season. She would love a pair of boots for Bobby as they begin their jumping careers together.” Pique Equestrian is located in Queenstown, Central Otago and are stockists of bridles, browbands and boots.

bobby

*Entries are accepted from those living in New Zealand only. For full T’s and C’s email editor@equineonline.co.nz.

pique • Bridles

Browbands

EQUESTRIAN

Stockists of

• Boots

• Bridles

• Browbands

EQUINE ONLINE MAGAZINE AUGUST 2016

ADVICE

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ADVICE

Rug right your horse

By Jana Kruyshaar Having a properly fitted and comfortable rug can really make a difference to your horses’ general wellbeing. In New Zealand many horses are covered during the colder months and sometimes all year round. The reasons to cover or not to cover your horses are vast and varied, but if you do decide to cover then your horses’ safety and comfort should come first when choosing a rug (or sheet) for them to wear.

Weigh in on the right rug Keep in mind that your horse may wear his rug for long periods of time and a poorly fitting, inappropriate rug has the potential to do more harm than good. When choosing a rug, first check that the sizing and fill weight is suitable for your needs. Horses can generally cope with cold quite well but have fewer options to cool themselves if they’re too warm. Fill weight generally ranges from 100 grams (light warmth) to 400 grams (extra heavy warmth).

EQUINE ONLINE MAGAZINE AUGUST 2016

ADVICE

Measure up Horses come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and what works for one may not necessarily work for another. Like horses, rugs come in many shapes and sizes, differing with different rug manufacturers. It’s a good idea to measure your horse to compare against different rug types when you’re shopping. Rugs that are too loose tend to cause more rubbing and pressure than tight fitting rugs, which can restrict movement. These factors can lead to muscular dysfunction over time.

Style is everything A rug may be the correct size but still not be a good fit, so you also need to think about the style of rug. This may require some trial and error, but it’s well worth it for the horse’s comfort. You may notice signs from your horse that his current rug is not very comfortable. He may pin his ears back and try to avoid being covered, show sensitivity in areas like the wither, breast and croup, or you may see evidence of rubbing, usually on the shoulders but also the mane, withers and hips could be affected. Think about the position and size of gussets, seams (often on combo rugs), the neck rug design and the cut of the neck when choosing a new rug.

EQUINE ONLINE MAGAZINE AUGUST 2016

ADVICE

Style is everything Another matter to consider is the strapping. Always make sure that you have about a hand’s width of room between the horse and the straps. Hardware is usually designed to break to reduce the risk of injury if the horse gets a leg caught, so expect to replace some straps or buckles at some stage. Always get your rug properly repaired and avoid using twine or rope as a substitute for straps. Not only is this dangerous but rough materials can be irritating to the horses’ skin.

Let the good times roll Finally, while a well-fitting rug can really make a difference to your horses’ daily comfort, they will appreciate some naked time on calm and sunny days. So be sure to take those rugs off and let them have a roll in the dirt whenever you can.

EQUINE ONLINE MAGAZINE AUGUST 2016

YO U R S TO R I E S

Making her mark Words: Hayley Clarke Photography: Race Images Some of you may have heard the name Jessica Young around the equestrian circle before but you probably wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how she is making a name for herself these days.

Jessica grew up around horses due to her father, Paul, being a harness racing trainer and driver. Although she had been brought up around racehorses all of her life, it was the sport horse scene that she was first interested in. Jessica competed up until age 17. After her final year of competitive riding, she went to Horse of the Year and then ended up selling all three of her ponies which marked the end of an era as she changed her seat from a saddle

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YO U R S TO R I E S to a race cart. Although she misses the sport horse scene, she realises times change and is now more accustomed to the harness racing instead. “Mum would say, ‘It doesn’t matter what the float looks like, it’s about what comes off it,’- I always got the horses that no one else could ride and I had to sort them out.” A talent that you could say is in the hands for her success both riding and driving horses. The 25 year old attended Ashburton College until 2008 when she took up a job with trainer Dean Taylor until 2010. Jessica’s parents Paul and Barbara wanted her to get a degree behind her before she carried on working in a stable, so she moved ro Dunedin where she completed a four year degree in Pharmacy, followed by one year working in a chemist. Jessica made the decision to try her hands at driving thanks to a horse called Triple X. The gelding intrigued Jessica and around this same time her Dad had an accident leaving her to get the chance to drive the horse. “We couldn’t get a regular driver and I loved him and it made me angry that one driver wouldn’t stay on,” she

says. “The more I went to the races the more of a drug it was.” Accordingly, Jessica went on to drive her first winner, Xterminate, a half-brother to Triple X. Xterminate was bred, owned and trained by Jessica’s parents, which made the moment even more special. “I got the win on my ninth drive and I had the trail the whole way. I got my licence to drive for Dad and I had

“I always got the horses that noone else could ride and I had to sort them out.” three wins for him in my first season, it was awesome,” she says. Little did Jessica know, just three months after her exciting victory she would experience one of the worst rides of her life. On July 11, 2009 Jessica was tipped out at the start of a race when the horse beside her swung round and knocked her cart over. As she got thrown from the sulky, her foot was left caught in one of the cords which resulted in her being dragged for quite some distance. “I couldn’t let go because my foot’s stuck and there was no way I could hold him,” she says. Jessica managed to pull her boot off and get free around the back straight. She was very lucky to escape with

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YO U R S TO R I E S just some bruising. The incident didn’t put her off racing. Jessica cannot speak highly enough of her families support and involvement in her harness racing dream. Her Dad gave up driving completely so that he could help her race. “Mum and Dad, they’ve been through a lot. I did a lot of silly things when I started out, Dad would put me on rough horses to persuade me not to do it. I got criticism from him and Mum would

say, ‘it’s alright you’re doing good’.” So what does the future hold for a young talent like Jessica Young? “Ideally I thought I would have a couple of horses with Dad, whether I go into partnership with him, I’m not sure but I’ll own a couple and train a couple and that will be it.” “I love what I’m doing but I don’t know if I could do it my whole life. I would want a family and that’s why Dad cut back on the driving. Having a family is a bit more important to me than going

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all over the country driving horses. I get more of a kick out of driving horses I work and the ones that Dad owns”. For now Young is going with the flow. There are moments when she feels like giving up, but a reminder from her Mum to keep going is all she needs to get her focus back on track. “I love being out there in a race, that adrenalin rush you get, nothing beats that, especially when you’re sitting behind something and you’re absolutely bolting.”

QUOTE/UNQUOTE

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing better than achieving your goals, whatever they may be.

- ARISTOTLE

INTERVIEW

julie brougham

journey to Rio

The

Yvette Morrissey caught up with Julie Brougham at her biggest show to date- the World Equestrian Festival at CHIO, Aachen. Julieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next focus is the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio. Here she chats about her performance at CHIO, and why we need to get more New Zealand riders competing on the European circuit.

Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten competing at the 2016 Horse of the Year show

EQUINE ONLINE MAGAZINE AUGUST 2016

INTERVIEW How did you feel your first test went? To be honest I was really happy with the test. I thought his piaffe and passage was very good. I was also pleased with his half passes in the trot, and we also got all our changes. The halts cost us some points, and I made a mistake in the canter zig-zag, which was entirely my fault. I felt I was unlucky with the judging- five judges marked me really well, but the other two didn’t mark me so well which pulled my score down. I hoped even with the errors I would get a higher score, around 68-69%. It was great make the cut into the next round and to perform the freestyle which that gave me another chance to improve things. Were you happier with your second performance? We showed that Steiny’s power in the passage is improving. His canter pirouettes weren’t as good as usual. I played it safe and probably made them a bit big, but I know next time around they’ll be better. I was at a bit of a disadvantage because I didn’t have anywhere to practice my Grand Prix Kur, so I was winging it. You did a great job for just winging it! Steiny was a lot more settled in that test. Our warm up wasn’t so great

for the first test because it was raining very hard so we elected to do a very short warm up. Had we ridden during the day when the weather was clear, I think we would have added another 2-3% to our score. Fortunately the weather improved for the second test, so we were in a much better mind-set going into it in spite of being number one to go.

“Rider’s have got to show they have the drive and determination to do it. Most of the time you’re knocked down and you have to keep getting up again and again.” How many competitions have you entered in Europe? CHIO was my sixth event. There’s nothing quite like competition to make you accountable for your training. Coming from New Zealand the judges in general do not know who you are unless you have been here for a while. Therefore, one of the many reasons for

Julie and her team of supporters at CHIO, Aachen

coming to Europe after Horse of the Year was to present myself and Steiny to the judges. Their opinions are important and they are taken into account when we are training. What have been some of the harder aspects of competing on the European circuit? Being isolated and not having a car or a truck to take Steiny out. In New Zealand I make use of Tielcey Park quite a bit, but I didn’t know anyone here to ask if I could ride Steiny in their arena. Because Steiny is the type of horse to react to different environments he does need to be exposed to different atmospheres. I was at a bit of a disadvantage not being a part of a team at CHIO. It would be great to see a New Zealand team here in the near future. I agree. What do you think needs to be done to make that happen? The riders have to say ‘I want to go’ and they have to do everything they can to make it happen. Once they do this, that is when people will get behind them. At the end of the day, we have to push our own barrow. Rider’s have got to show they have the drive and determination to do it. Most of the time you’re knocked down and you have to keep getting up again and again. The next stop for you is Rio. How has Steiny coped with traveling so far? He is amazing. He is the most phenomenal traveller! What’s your goal for Rio? To do a clean test and one that myself and my fellow New Zealanders are proud of. I’m not going to aim for a certain percentage because that’s in the judges hands. Sure I’d love to do a 70 per cent plus test and get into the next round, but I have to look at what I can control which is our preparation to get in that arena.

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PART TWO

Wild at heart Ellie O’Brien from Finesse Equestrian Training is one of six trainers that has been selected to take part in the 2016 Kaimanawa Stallion Challenge. Her stallion, Tama, was sent to her after this year’s muster. In part II, Ellie teaches Tama his table manners and makes progress on a sensitive topic. In this six part series, we will follow Ellie and Tama’s progress from wild stallion to trusty stead. Watching Tama out in the pasture with his two paddock mates, Sterling, my Friesian sport horse stallion, and Stan, a warmblood gelding, gives me great respect for this tiny-in-comparison pony. In his calm and confident way, there are no questions about who is boss. Sterling, who is young and like to push the boundaries, wears a few ‘reminder’ marks for crossing the line. Little by little, Tama is growing his confidence in me. At the beginning, if I had too much energy of if my body language was too big, it would have been enough for him to leave the conversation. Now I can talk, move more casually and even jump around. I can walk up to him in the pasture, run a plastic bag flag all over him, and put a saddle pad across his back. I even managed to put a rope halter on him for the first time. One major obstacle for Tama was feeling confident about feed time- feeding both hay and hard feed. He would swing his head from side to side with his ears pinned back as if to make sure no one was coming to get his food. He’d dive in for a mouthful before returning to his protective posture. Now it would be easy to mistake this for naughty behavior and growl

him, but I knew it was simply his way of expressing his vulnerability. As the saying goes ‘hurt people, hurt people’. We could easily rephrase this as ‘hurt horses, hurt horses/people’. I want Tama to feel confident and accepting of me being in his space, not fearful or threatened. It wasn’t safe for me to be close to him when he was eating, so I began with the approach and retreat method with my flag- something that he knows well from our other exercises. At the beginning even the flag was too much, I had lots of ear pinning, a couple of threatens to bite, walking away and a leap into the air. After 10 minutes Tama was not concerned at all by the flag all over his body. A few sessions later, he is happy for me to groom him while he eats without feeling threatened. As it seems with many of the Kaimanawas, touching their face seems to be a big hurdle – the biggest for Tama anyway! As I write this, I can now rub gently under his jaw all the way down to his chin; he loves being rubbed just below his eye and gets those gorgeous ‘bliss eyes’

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PHOTOGRAPHY: HENNAH Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;BRIEN

every time. The tricky part now is having him accept my hand on the front of his face. I have found that if I slowly slip my hand further around each time and simply lay it still, he grows in confidence. Two attempts is our lucky number. Push for three and he has had enough. This is a great reminder to aim for 1 per cent better than last time and then move on to the next thing. I love that Tama really makes me work for his trust,

but I have this feeling that when we get there, he will definitely be that pony who is worth his weight in gold! You can follow Ellie and Tamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey by clicking here and liking their Facebook page. You can also follow the other rider and stallion combinations by joining the Kaimanawa Stallion Challenge Facebook page.

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PHOTO SPREAD

tUritea pony club winter fun show Turitea Pony Club put on a fantastic winter event with flat classes and show jumping at Tielcey Park on June 26. Here is some of the action from the show jumping classes. Photography by YK Stewart Photography

PHOTO SPREAD

PPHHOOTTOO SSPPRREEAADD

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PHOTO SPREAD

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TRAINING

RACEHORSE RECYCLING

Part V. This month we have two updates from Claire and Jess. Jax is still recovering from her injury, and Yvette has given Bomba a holiday while she went on holiday herself.

TRAINING

CLAIRE AND OUCH This month Claire discusses sportsmanship, and how she finds this in the Standardbred ring.

RIDER: Claire Madden LOCATION: Kumeu, Auckland OCCUPATION: HR Assistant HORSE: Major Ouch (Ouch) AGE: 8 HEIGHT: 15.3hh DAM: Ouch La Fe Fe SIRE: Art Major STARTS: 32 WINNINGS: $30,390 DISCIPLINE: Showing

Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on the way things used to be? The environment that you live in now compared to when you were younger? The people you surround yourself with? The attitudes of yourself and others to people, situations, competitions and competitors?

playing up, or you were unsure about competition times, where the event caravan was located people were always happy to help. I even had friends lend me their spare horse when mine went lame days before an event. These days I find many people less inclined

All too often these days I hear about peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horses being tampered with, whether it is rugs being removed overnight through to horses having their tails chopped off the night before an event and it made me stop and think how the horse world has changed in the 20 years I have been riding and competing. Either that or my mother did a damn good job of hiding this side of the horse world from me. As I grew up if you got to a competition and you had forgotten an item of gear, your pony or horse was

to help, more judgemental, and freedom of speech is often used as an excuse for people just being down right rude and tactless. I am not saying this is true of everyone but there are definitely pockets of these people dotted throughout

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the horse world. I am lucky that I compete in a breed ring that is friendly and supportive of each other and are friends inside the ring as well as out of it.

TRAINING

JESS AND SHAKEY This month Jess begins free-jumping Shakey to improve his jumping technique.

RIDER: Jess Land LOCATION: Christchurch OCCUPATION: Owner of Jess Land Equestrian HORSE: Metalworker (Shakey) AGE: 5 HEIGHT: 16HH DAM: Andalan SIRE: Kings Chapel STARTS: 9 WINNINGS: $4,375 DISCIPLINE: Eventing and showjumping

Shakey has been having an easy month to give him time to let down and fill out since he has come off the track and over this time he has really settled down. He has become more relaxed in his flatowork and is quickly becoming more

through the wither. He found it pretty hard to begin with, and although he has always jumped he made some interesting mistakes along the way - I’m not sure I’ve ever seen legs go in as many different directions before! I’m very

consistant. We have been working on getting him soft and moveable in the contact while still keeping the forward momentum. He loves his hacking as well and I can now take him out on a loose rein. We introduced lunge jumping this month as a way to get him more relaxed about his jumping and to get him to use his body a bit better as he was a little inclined to throw himself at a fence rather than waiting and then popping up

happy with his frame over a jump now and I can’t wait to see his progress over the next couple of months. We’ve got plenty of outings planned for the next month and we’re hoping we can fit a show jumping training day or two in as I’d like to expose him to the show atmosphere as much as possible but in a more relaxed environment.

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C O LU M N : H E A LT H A N D F I T N E S S

squatting for strength This month columnist and personal trainer Freya Thompson discusses the holy grail of exercise and how it can help you to build strength and improve your position. Follow FREYA on Facebook

The squat is an exercise that is used in all types of programs for weight loss and strength. However it is also an exercise that is done wrong frequently, combined with the common rider imbalance of stronger adductors (inner thigh) compared to abductors (outer thigh). Done correctly the squat will work your glutes, hamstrings, quads, and postural muscles. How to squat: Stand with your feet hip-width apart and ensure they are facing forward. Pull your shoulders back and engage your core. Lean slightly forward as you lower yourself down. Drive through your heels and squeeze your abdominals as you lift yourself back into an upright position. TIP: Visualise this: you are out running, you are busting to go to the toilet, but the only toilet nearby is a grotty public toilet. When you gotta go you gotta go, right? So you go, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t touch the seat.

Things to watch for: 1) toes

Check your knees run the same line as your

2) Check your knees do not go over your toes (TIP: place a box in front of your feet so your knees stay back) 3)

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Ensure your back stays straight.

COLUMN: RETURNING TO RIDING

taking it up a notch After 30 years, adult rider and columnist Marie Gordon is back in the saddle. This month Marie attends her first in-hand show with Dandy, and reflects on the confidence troubles she encountered along the way.

Generally people are quite intrigued that I have taken on this activity as a ‘geriatric’. I am not always sure whether they think I am mad or courageous but I am nearly always asked “what level do you compete at” and “do you have a horse float?” Initially I had no plan to enter any type of horse related competition. I just wanted to have a horse and ride, but 12 months ago I decided I did want to complete after all. I decided to enter a green horse in-hand show. The whole idea of competing completely freaked me out. I didn’t know what you had to do to, what to take, what to wear, how the horse would handle it and if I could handle him if it all went pear shaped. The deadline to enter came and went and my entry never made it. It wasn’t so much “whew got out of that one” but more “my fear has helped me fail at the first hurdle”. I decided to attend the event on foot. I found it immensely useful to watch and learn from both what was happening outside and inside the various rings – what the judges asked for and said to the contestants, what people wore and how the horses were turned out, and how long each assessment took. With some education in my pocket the next opportunity for me to brave up came about in autumn this year. This time

I delivered my entry form early, I spent time practicing the walk, trot, turn, and park with Dandy, we took a few trips to new places to see how he handled the experience, I made lists of what I needed to pack for the day, and a programme of things I needed to do leading up to and on the day. I needed to be able to do everything on my own so over preparing was preferable to winging it. As we got called into the ring and the steward gave us instructions I felt more and more relaxed and elated. The elation came from Dandy being so easy amongst the other horses, and more than that we were actually doing it! We were in a show, we were cool as cucumbers, and Dandy was relaxed and obedient just like we had practiced. The steward called Dandy and me in to the centre and then a number of other combinations. Still in my L plate state I thought it was so the judge could inspect us. I was stunned when a red ribbon appeared and went round Dandy’s neck. We completed 6 classes that day and came away with enough points to win the section overall. We didn’t scoop the champions ribbon in the final round but that seriously didn’t matter. We came, we competed, and frankly we conquered!

EQUINE ONLINE MAGAZINE AUGUST 2016 29

COLUMN: COACHES CORNER

is your horse WELL-BALANCED? Columnist and BHS riding instructor Senara Caddy discusses the horses balance this month, and shares an exercise that will help to balance your horse. Follow senara on Facebook

In the last issue I talked about rider balance and how to identify if you are balanced or not. In this issue itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the horses turn. Lots of people talk about the horse needing to learn to balance himself, but he already knows how to do this. Watch any horse in the paddock, they gallop and turn sharply this way and that showing perfect natural balance. With the rider on board, the horse has to learn to balance with the extra weight and interference. Horses are built with more weight at the front and naturally carry most of their body weight over their front end rather than their back end. For this reason any young horse or horse that is not established with carrying a rider may need to be regularly re-balanced. As the horse matures and becomes stronger he will be able to maintain his balance for longer and the rebalancing becomes increased collection. Increasing collection means that the horse is learning to carry more weight on his hindquarters rather than on his forehand which in turn will allow the horse to perform gradually less on the forehand and eventually be able to perform more advanced movements. There are many exercises you can do to improve your horses balance. A simple exercise is changes

of pace within the pace. Firstly, the exercise must be introduced in walk and trot but it is particularly effective in the canter. One was you can do this is by asking for a few forward strides on the long, straight side of the arena, and shortening the stride on the shorter ends of the arena. Make sure your horse is moving forward in a straight line before asking for the larger pace. He needs the full benefit of his hind legs coming up and underneath him. If his hind legs are deviating to the side then power will be lost. If you are unaware of this or find it hard to identify or correct then use poles to help. Lay the poles in a line on both sides like a channel so that you can ride through them. The width will depend on your riding skills and horses level of training. Moving the horse forward on the straight line allows the horse to elevate his stride. Tip: Steady the horse back before he loses the quality of the pace. An example would be if he starts to run and collapse on his forehand. At first this may mean only going forward for a few strides at a time. Once your horses balance is improved he will be able to maintain a steady rhythmical pace on circles, shapes and changes of rein without relying on the riders hands.

EQUINE ONLINE MAGAZINE AUGUST 2016