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AUGUST 2010 THE RIDER /41


Building a Partnership with Your Horse


“Rider Position” Part 7 Exercises on the Longe Line


This article will con- clude the series on exercis- es to improve the rider’s position. If you have been practicing the exercises from the series, your bal- ance and relaxation, as well as confidence while riding, should have improved. The exercises in this article will


By Lynn Palm


be done on the longe at the canter. If you do not feel that you are ready for them now, keep practicing the exercises from previous articles until your balance and relaxation improves. Once again, you will need a consistent, well- schooled horse tacked up with saddle, a halter with


longe line properly attached, and leg protec- tion. Your helper should know how to longe a horse. Do exercises on the longe in a large enclosed area such as a paddock, corral, or arena to give you and your horse more security. Remember the key words from the previous lessons: Do each exercise SLOWLY. BREATHE because it encourages relaxation. Think “CEN- TER-SQUARE-BAL- ANCED.” STOP if you experience any pain or have medical conditions that could be complicated by doing any of these exer- cises.


Warm up yourself and your horse by doing exer- cises at the walk, jog or trot, and extended jog or trot. As before, I will explain these exercises as if you are riding in a Western saddle. Your reins are knotted and the knot is looped over the saddle


horn. Remember the rider is responsible for keeping the horse out on the circle and for speed control through the use of her seat, leg, and voice aids. Work- ing at the canter will be more challenging. At the same time she is perform- ing theses exercises, the rider must effectively use her aids to keep her horse from breaking from the canter to the trot.


before you begin the fol- lowing exercises.


Arm Extensions:


When you and your helper agree that you are prepared for longe work at the canter, prepare your aids and ask your horse for an upward transition from the trot. You should stay relaxed with hands down at your sides as your horse strikes off into a canter. You should not hold your horse with your knees, but rather keep your legs “soft.” Your body needs to stay centered. Do a few cir- cles at the canter to give yourself a feel of riding this gait without reins


Tomorrow’s Success Starts in September


By Barbara Sheridan


A total of 466 Thoroughbred yearlings are set to take centre stage at this year’s Canadian-Bred Year- ling Sale, representing over 130 top North American sires.


Long-regarded as the premiere source of Canadian-Breds, the Selected Session will be held on September 7th with 225 yearlings offered and the Open Session on September 11th with 241 yearlings. Both sessions begin at 2 p.m. at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion at Wood- bine Racetrack in Toronto.


Featured on this year’s cata- logue cover is 2004 Yearling Sales graduate Society’s Chairman, winner of the Grade 3 Appleton Stakes at Gulfstream and placed in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland in 2010. Bred by Errol Bailey of Ontario, the seven-year-old son of Not Impossible (IRE) sold in the 2004 Yearling Sale for $40,000 and currently has career earnings of $508,983 U.S.


Over 130 top sires are repre- sented in this year’s sale, including:


Last year alone Yearling Sale graduates earned over $23 million at the track. Commonly referred to as “the best kept secret” in racing, the Sale represents both an excellent return on investment and the oppor- tunity to purchase an Ontario-Bred and take part in Ontario’s Thorough- bred Improvement Program (TIP) worth $20.9 million.


“This is a great opportunity to see some of the finest Thoroughbred yearlings in Canada gather in one location,” says Julie Coulter, General Manager of the Ontario CTHS. “It’s always an exciting event for buyers


Afleet Alex, Bernstein, Bob and John, Broken Vow, Candy Ride (ARG), City Zip, Discreet Cat, Dixie Union, Dixieland Band, Exchange Rate, Fusaichi Pegasus, Giant’s Causeway, Grand Slam, Holy Bull, Langfuhr, Lawyer Ron, Lemon Drop Kid, Limehouse, Lion Heart, North- ern Afleet, Rockport Habor, Quiet American, Silver Deputy, Stormy Atlantic, Thunder Gulch, and several leading OSS sires, such as Bold Executive, Old Forester, and Where’s the Ring.


and horse enthusiasts alike.” Other highlights of this year’s Sale include $1,000 airfare rebates and special rates at hotels just min- utes from the Sales Pavilion. Nation- ally acclaimed equine artist Linda Shantz and Sovereign and Eclipse Award winning equine photographer Dave Landry will be exhibiting their artwork during the Sale.


The 2010 Canadian-Bred Year- ling Sale catalogue can now be accessed online at www.cthsont.yearsales.php. Cata- logues will be available early August. Parking and admission to the Sale are free. For those unable to attend, the Sale will be broadcast live via the CTHS website.


For further information, please contact the CTHS office at 416-675- 3602 or email cthsont@idirect.com. The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division) is a non-profit organization representing breeders within Ontario by promot- ing Canadian-Bred/Ontario-Foaled Thoroughbreds, both nationally and around the world.


Jump Canada Hall of Fame Inductees Announced for 2010


Toronto, Ontario – Jump Canada is proud to announce this year’s inductees into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Induc- tion Ceremony and Gala, presented by BMO Financial Group, will be held on Sunday, November 7, 2010, at the Liberty Grand in Toronto, ON. The Jump Canada Hall of Fame was created in 2006 to recognize out- standing contributions to hunter/jumper sport. To date, 31 champions have been welcomed into the Hall of Fame. This year’s cele- brated inductees will be:


dian Pony Club Builder (Organization) – Cana-


Hunter Horse – No Limit, owned by the Firestone family Jumper Horse – Cagney, ridden by Eric Lamaze, owned by Eddie Creed, and donated to the Canadian Eques- trian Team in 1997


Rider – Jim Elder, 1968 Olympic Team Gold Medalist Sponsor - CN


Official - Tom Michiel


“Now in our fifth year, the Hall of Fame has come to represent excel-


lence in our sport,” said Mark Samuel, Chairman of the Jump Canada Hall of Fame. “The commit- tee did a fantastic job sifting through dozens of worthy nominations. This year’s tremendous slate of inductees represents significant achievements across a broad spectrum of decades.” The fifth annual Jump Canada Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala will be part of a black-tie gala and dinner to be held at a new venue for 2010. The elegant Gover- nor’s Room at Toronto’s Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex at Exhibition Place is just steps away from the site of the Royal Agricultur- al Winter Fair.


Ceremony are $200 per person and can be purchased individually or in tables of eight. To purchase tickets, please visit the Jump Canada Hall of Fame website at www.equinecana- da.ca/halloffame/index.php?lang=en- GB. For more information, please contact Jennifer Mahoney, Equine Canada, at tel: 613 248-3433 ext. 101 or e-mail: jmahoney@equinecanada.ca. The Jump Canada Hall of Fame committee is comprised of Mark Samuel (Chairman), Jennifer Anstey, Evie Frisque, Muffie Guthrie, Dalene Paine, Jennifer Ward and Nancy Wetmore.


The Hall of Fame Gala has quickly grown into an annual favourite and has been a sell-out in each of its first four years. Friends and associates will be on hand to pre- sent the distinct Hall of Fame awards, making for a very special evening recalling the sport’s greatest memories.


Tickets for the Jump Canada Hall of Fame Gala and Induction


While at the canter, extend one arm and then the other so that both are straight out in front of you at should height with the palms facing downwards. Hold them in this position for several strides, and then open your arms so they are extended out to your sides. Hold this position for a few strides. Now bring both arms back to the starting position in front of you. Tip: Be sure to keep your chest up, open, and shoul- ders back. Do not slump! Keep looking ahead while doing this exercise.


Four-Point Arm Circles: You have done this one before at the walk and trot. Start in the same posi- tion as in the Arm Exten- sions with arms extended straight ahead at shoulder height. As you keep the left arm in the starting position, rotate the right arm with the palm down so it extends overhead. Rotate the shoulder so that the arm makes a big circle until the arm is behind you. Contin- ue the arm circle by bring- ing the hand down to your side. Finish with the right arm back at the starting position. Do the exercise with the other arm. Do these arm rotations slowly.


Behind Your Back:


Place both hands behind you on the small of


your back. Do several strides of the canter in this position. Now bring your arms above your head, keeping the elements of your form in proper posi- tion. Finish by bringing the arms back down to your sides. Remember to breathe and relax!


Straight Arm Swings: Hold the left arm down at your side. Slowly swing the right arm for- ward in front of you with the palm down and elbow straight until it is at shoul- der height. Next, slowly swing the arm back behind you. After you do several repetitions, change arms.


Bent Elbow Swings: Hold the arm that is toward the inside of the longe circle down at your side. Bend the elbow of the outside arm in a 90-degree angle. Slowly swing the bent arm forwards and backwards. Look to the inside of the longe circle as you do this exercise. Do several repetitions. Switch arms, and look toward the outside of the longe circle while working the inside arm.


To finish the exercises at the canter, untie your reins without looking. If riding Western, bring both reins into the hand that you normally use to hold them. By putting more weight in your seat and using leg and voice aids, bring your horse back to the trot. Keep your shoulders back and


weight in your seat to make the transition to the trot. Trot a couple of circles and ask for the downward tran- sition to the walk. Then halt.


Exercises on the longe at the walk, trot, and canter are fun and extremely ben- eficial to build relaxation and to improve your riding form and balance. Use these exercises as often as possible in your daily schooling or in a warm-up before a competition. Be creative and mix and match the exercises to develop your personal warm-up and flexibility routine. Remem- ber to do them in various gaits and varying speeds within each gait.


Note: In order to benefit from these exercises, you must have a horse that is quiet and reliable. You cannot learn the exercises if you always are worrying about your horse. You need to be able to concentrate on yourself. If you are unsure about your horse or if he gives you any problem while doing theses exercis- es, move to a more enclosed area like a round pen.


For information about my book, Head to Toe Horsemanship and my visual series, Dressage Principles for the Western and English Horse and Rider, as well as other training products, visit www.lynnpalm.com or call 800-503-2824.


DAVIS FEED & FARM


SUPPLY LTD. 15770 Mountainview Road, Caledon


Livestock Feed • Custom Horse Mixes • Shavings Pet Foods • Water Softener Salt • Grass Seed (Bus.) 905-584-2880 (Res.) 905-584-2118 www.davisfeed.ca


Visit Our Showroom HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm


Jump Canada is the committee of Equine Canada responsible for all hunter, equitation and jumper activi- ties in Canada from the grass roots to the international level. Jump Canada is governed by a board, the majority of whose members are elected by the stakeholders in the sport. For more information regarding Jump Canada programs and activities, visit http://www.equinecanada.ca/jump- canada/.


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