MARCH/APRIL 2011 THE RIDER /67
Though there are no guarantees, whatever you ask of your horse, prepare to follow through until you succeed. As a trainer, my aim is to never have to step back down the training staircase, so I ask in little
steps.
In the show ring, it may be impossible to fin- ish what you started and make sure your horse does what you’ve asked without disturbing the other competitors or disrupting the class procedure. Much training can be undone when a horse figures out an escape route because the rider can’t deliver on what she’s asked.
As a rule, don’t leave for your first field trip until your horse knows the language of adjusting the stride (extending and slowing each gait), lateral control (leg yields, bending, turns on haunches and forehand), and the basics of collection (yielding to the bit, traveling in a frame).
Before the show
Try and simulate some horse show situations at home. Ride right beside and behind other horses, making sure your horse keeps his mind on his job. Practise patterns, courses and obstacles tougher than you’re likely to see in actual competition. Have someone videotape you.
Ready for the Ring?
Q. “I can hardly wait to begin showing my young horse! He’s going well at home but he’s never been to a horse show. How do I know when he’s ready?”
A. Although it’s exciting to get our young prospects out to see how they mea- sure up to the competition, it’s important not to rush the process. Going out on his first “field trip” can be overwhelming for a young horse whose training foundation has not been completely “set”. I like to make sure my horse feels show ready in his home environment before I take him to a new place. If your pace, transitions, steering control, etc aren’t in place at home, chances are things won’t magically come together when you get to the show.
Can my horse speak the language? When you’re training a horse, you’re teaching him a language. You make requests - Slow down your pace. Give to the bit. Move your hip over. Lighten your forehand. Extend your stride.
At first he’s only guessing what you might mean. If your horse answers cor- rectly, you give him a “yes” and if he does not respond, you keep asking until he gets the right answer. After many repetitions he starts to figure out that certain pres- sures mean certain things.
The problem with taking a horse on the road that isn’t completely fluent in this language is that with all the added distrac- tions it’s harder for him to concentrate on what you’re asking. Imagine being parachuted into the heart of a bustling for- eign city without your friends or family. You’re unable to read the signs or speak the language to ask for help – scary!
How things go wrong.
As a judge and competitor, I’ve seen a lot of bad horse show experiences. From horses who begin to anticipate in the class to those who refuse to go in the gate. Rid- ers falling off and horses blowing up in accidents which could have been prevent- ed. Incidents in the show ring, warm up ring and around the trailers.
If training a horse is like climbing a staircase, many mishaps occur because riders try to skip a step, or even jump to the next landing.
Here are some hints to make sure you’re ready. Don’t ask for what you can’t win.
For more information on program sponsorship or participation please contact Marc Nicols at (705) 435-9229
Don’t plan on competing on your first few excursions. Just ride in the schooling area and get
into the show ring during the breaks. Make sure both you and your horse are comfortable in the equipment you plan to show with. When you actu- ally do compete, don’t be afraid to school in the ring, asking your horse the questions he’s learned at home. Just make sure you’re not getting in the way of other competitors or irritating the judge. Taking the time to follow through on every request you make of your horse may keep you out of the ribbons for a little while, but will pay great dividends later!
Lindsay Grice Bio
Coach, trainer, equine behaviour lecturer and judge, Lindsay Grice, has prepared horses and riders for wins at major horse shows in the US and Canada for over 20 years. Starting her career on the hunter A circuit, she continues to actively compete in both english and western events, specializing now in the AQHA circuit.
Lindsay teaches Equine Behaviour for several University of Guelph courses. She draws on the principles of equine psycholo- gy and sports psychology to bridge the communication gap between horses and riders. In her popular clinics she explains both the “hows” and “whys” of training
and showing.
Lindsay is an Equine Canada judge and AQHA specialized judge, as well as a certified Equine Canada and NCCP (multi event) coach. When asked what she loves about her job, Lindsay responds, “I love putting complex princi- ples of riding into a language that riders can under- stand. As someone who’s been there – forgotten courses, made training mistakes, listened to holler- ing coaches and still made it to the winner’s circle, I share with my students the keys I wish I’d known.” For more training and showing tips, visit
www.lgrice.com [xÑuâÜÇ ftÄxá
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