OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2010 THE RIDER /49
Building A Partnership with Your Horse
Communicating with Your Aids - Keys to Success, Part 2
By Lynn Palm
This month’s article is the second in a series based on a section of my visual series, “Dressage Princi- ples for the Western and English Horse and Rider.” This series is titled “Com- municating with Your Aids…Keys to Success” because I believe that it contains the lessons every rider needs to create a responsive and willing horse.
you more advice on how to mount safely.
A horse that does not stand still for mounting can be a safety problem! If he jigs around when you want to mount, he may be think- ing too fast and walking away in anticipation of your cue to go forward once you are mounted. More likely, however, he is trying to catch his balance because you are not mount- ing him properly.
Last month, I dis- cussed the importance of a horse that stands still while the rider mounts and the rider’s responsibilities dur- ing the mounting process. In this article I will give
I suggest that you start using a mounting block. These are inexpensive, plastic step-like platforms made to give a rider an ele- vated surface from which to mount. Because the mounting block will put
Toronto CADORA Continued from Pg 48.
Southern Ontario has reached well beyond the club’s boundaries and is worthy of this recognition. Even well into his 80s he continues to help riders at all levels achieve their dressage dreams.” Also being honoured at the banquet is Eliza- beth Robinson, 2010 recipient of the Toni Thomp- son ‘Spirit of Dressage’ Award. Elizabeth is being recognized for her long-term volunteer efforts above and beyond the call of duty for Toronto CADORA and as Chef d’Equipe of Canada’s para- lympic dressage team.
you higher off the ground, it will be easier to swing your leg over the horse to mount. Mounting blocks also decrease the stress put upon the horse’s back from riders who pull themselves up into the saddle. They also are helpful for smaller riders when they are mounting a large horse. To reinforce the mounting lesson, mount your horse in the same location every time you ride. Choose a spot where you can position the horse between a fence and the mounting block. The fence will help him stay straight and focused. Ask him to stand “square.” This means positioning him so that his weight is equally distribut- ed on all four legs and his hooves are like the four corners of a rectangle. Ask your horse to “whoa,” and step up on the mounting block as if you were going to get up on him, but do not mount. Because you will be stand- ing above his topline, he may need some time to accept you in this new ele- vated position. He also may move, anticipating that you will be mounting and that he will need to balance himself. If he moves, calmly reposition
him and repeat this step. Take time for this step, and do not proceed until he is relaxed.
Practice the mounting procedure using the block, and, at the same time teach your horse that mounting does not mean for him to move forward. Position him in the mounting spot and ask him to “whoa” by putting a slight tension on the reins. Place the reins over his neck, being careful to maintain the same amount of tension in each rein. Riders have a tenden- cy to pull on the left rein while mounting, causing their horse to circle towards them. This makes getting on even more diffi- cult.
To prevent pulling on the reins, keep your hands in front of the saddle. If the horse wants to move as you attempt to mount, avoid walking him in a circle to get back into position as this will only reinforce that mounting means it is okay to move forward. Instead, stop him and back him up to the block or reposition the block next to him. Once your horse is in position, step up on the block and gather up the reins by sliding your left hand on the horse, starting
RA and sent to Toronto CADORA, c/o Sue Pallot- ta, Treasurer, 2130 Reg. Rd. 6, RR 5 Sunderland ON, L0C 1H0. Inquiries may be made to
events@torontocadora.com
Toronto CADORA is a non-profit dressage group dedicated to promoting sound and horse- friendly practices and the benefits of the classical riding system to all equestrian disciplines through fun and informative educational forums, including clinics, seminars, workshops, demonstrations and social activities.
Inductions and presentations will take place at the Toronto CADORA Hall of Fame Banquet, November 20 2010, at the Premiere Ballroom in Richmond Hill. The evening has a 1970s theme and will feature a cocktails, a five-course meal, open bar, dancing and entertainment, a silent auction and, of course, the Hall of Fame induction. Tickets are $80 per person and may be purchased online via PayPal or by cheque made out to Toronto CADO-
Driving Continued from Page 48
Camille loves to do her photography and also snowboards in the winter.
When asked how you create a good team, she explains, “It sure helps to have happy leaders. A happy good-natured leader passes that feeling to others. You can usually hear Bill and I laughing from a distance - and people actually comment on it. When there is friction, I am the diffuser. I won’t allow fighting or arguing - they have to talk it out. We also know what the triggers are that set each other off, and we work around that. It is all about respect and support for each other and having fun! Of course winning helps, but if we are having a bad day, usually someone in the group steps forward, cracks a joke and all is well. It’s also important that everyone on the team has a job, and we all know our jobs. And the fact that the girls compete in dif- ferent divisions helps to keep the peace. They are very competitive, so Courtney drives horses and Kylie drives ponies. Kylie will now be Eventing and Courtney will be moving on to Pairs.” Some may wonder what drives (pun intended) a family to invest so much of their time, ener- gy and money into horses and Driving. Well mostly, Pam says, they set out to have fun. They enjoy their time as a family, hav- ing tons of laughs, making memo- ries and collecting photos. Some horse shows are hours away with lots of time spent together in
trucks and even then, they get along. Sometimes all that practice and hard work earns a win, but whey always enjoy the experience and have pride in their children and horses.
Pam would like to thank the coaches who have provided a wealth of knowledge over the years, Combined Driving coach, Gerard Leijten in Belgium, Eventing coach, Margie Godson of Myrd- din Stable in Georgetown, and Pleasure Driving coach, Jeffrey Kohler.
at the buckle and moving up on the horse’s neck. While holding the reins, move your left hand so it is grasping the front of the saddle as you place your right hand on the saddle’s cantle. Put your left foot in the stirrup and start to mount, but just swing your leg halfway over his back, and then dismount. Praise your horse when he stands still. Do this several times. You may need to repeat this lesson over several days or weeks until he understands that mounting does not mean for him to move forward.
When your horse shows that he is willing to stand perfectly still for the half mount, swing your leg over his back. As you do, transfer your right hand from the cantle to the sad- dle’s pommel to help you balance. Then, sit down on his back as softly as possi- ble. Mounting in this man- ner, without pulling the saddle across his back, will encourage him to stand still.
“Both Elizabeth and Walter have had a major influence on dressage in our area and beyond, and we are happy to be able to recognize their efforts in this way.”
Use the mounting block until you build up the strength in your arms and legs that will allow you to mount from the ground. Most mounting blocks have two steps. Practice mounting from the top step, and then graduate to the lower step as your strength improves. Eventu- ally, you will be able to mount from the ground, but continue to use the same
mounting spot so that your horse understands to stand still.
In the next article, I will cover including a warm-up session in your
routine. For more informa- tion about Palm Partner- ship Training™, call 800- 503-2824 or visit our web- site at
www.lynnpalm.com.
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One Christmas, Jeffrey made them a hand carved and painted sign with their motto to hang in their barn. It reads: “We are what we repeatedly do ~ Excellence then, is not an act but a habit”. The family’s unique team qualities have not gone unnoticed. In 2009, the MacGillvrays were recognized by the OEF and given the “People Make a Difference” award; the first time a family has ever received it. This is one of their proudest accom- plishments, because they earned it as a family, as a team.
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