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DECEMBER 2012 THE RIDER /43


Finding Your Horses Happy Place By Kathy Farrokhzad.


23 Ways to Solve a Riding Problem


Got a horseback riding prob- lem?


Here are 23 ways to solve it.


Admit it - you’ve tried at least a handful of these in your time! (So have I... trust me, I have the T-shirt for many of these “solu- tions”!)


I’m also quite sure you can think of many other ways to solve the problem.


The message here is not that we shouldn’t try some of the strategies above. Of course we should make sure that the equipment fits the horse and there is no underlying physical problem.


We should definitely acknowledge that our horse prefers one bit to another. With- out a doubt, you might need the help of a friend or a professional throughout the course of your ownership of the horse.


But in the midst of fiddling with the small things, we end up missing out on the bigger pic- ture:


changing ourselves.


The unfortunate part of having to develop our skills is that it takes time. The learning process is slow, strewn with


mistakes and less-than-perfects, and at times, even discouraging. In order to make a true change, we have to dig deep and change our very way of interact- ing with the horse.


Forget instant gratification and prepare to stay for the long haul. This is not the stuff that happens in a day or two. As we become better riders, we begin to run into obstacles that were previously unnoticeable. Invariably, there comes a time when the simple becomes complicated. Without warning, riding becomes more than just the various gaits and transitions, more than a turn with the hands. The original walk that once felt adequate is no longer satis- fying. That wonderful canter is now not quite balanced enough. We discover nerve endings where there were none before, and we are inspired to reach for new heights thanks to energiz- ing “feels” emanating from an enthusiastic horse, confirming more than ever that you are on the right path.


The joy that went along with the simplicity of riding is gone. We approach days of con- fusion, questions, and ultimate- ly, frustration. We wonder why there seems to be so many details, so many little nuances that change sometimes on an even daily basis. And we begin to wonder: why is riding so dif-


But there is more!


Aside from the environ- mental factors, riding is an espe- cially difficult sport because of the physical balancing require- ments inherent to moving in space on a living, breathing ani- mal.


We must learn to differen- tiate between too much, too lit- tle and just enough; between too early, too late and just in time; between resisting, energizing and being plainly passive.


When is the horse going too quickly, too slowly, too enthusi- astically, too lazily? What do we do in each case? How do we combine all our aids to commu- nicate the right message at the right time? How do we not only refrain from interfering with our horse, but also learn to improve the horse to become better than his original state?


ficult?


This is when we have to persevere, make mistakes or try something new. We must step out of our comfort zones and use new muscles - physically and mentally. We read and study and watch and discover that there is so much more to each gait, more to each turn, and more to the joys of riding. The quick and easy (not necessarily simple) answer is


that riding horses is about com- bining many and varied details into one – nothing can be achieved in isolation. Everything matters: - the mood of the horse - the weather


- the horses around you - the regularity of the exercise the horse gets - the type of feed - the riding environment


The path to the solution might be different than we origi- nally thought.


Aside from the physical growth, we discover that we have to develop our internal characteristics. We learn to let things go and to forgive both our horse and ourselves. We become more humble, less demanding and more persistent. We understand all about devel- opmental stages, both within ourselves as well as our horses. We grasp what it feels like


to try, try, try and try again. Pack it in one day, and start all over again tomorrow. Discover- ing how to change muscle mem- ory and developing a blueprint takes time, dedication and repe- tition. Each time we change the ‘rules’ on our horse, we should be ready for a step backward before a further step can be reached. There is no other way. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we discover what it feels like to stay the course and really struggle with something difficult, seeing our way through the problems to finally finding the solutions.


Only then do we become empowered in the understanding that if we can “find” the change we need within ourselves, the horse will reward us with a pos- itive response.


And by that time, we will be startled to realize that the problem no longer exists!


© 2012 Horse Listening


Bio: Kathy Farrokhzad is an EC coach and writer of the blog, Horse Listening. If you liked what you read here, check out her blog for many more articles about horses, riding and life in general.


Ritchie Feed & Seed Inc. Launched as Alltech Official Partner of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy


[Toronto, ONTARIO] – Ritchie Feed & Seed Inc. has become an Alltech Official Partner of the All- tech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Nor- mandy.


This partnership pro- vides Ritchie Feed & Seed Inc. with a wide range of partner benefits, including


exclusive marketing rights. They will activate a num- ber of marketing and pro- motional campaigns across their range of equine feeds, giving their customers throughout Canada and internationally an opportu- nity to be involved in the excitement of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian


Games™ 2014 in Nor- mandy.


Speaking at the launch, Robin Johnston, Ritchie Feed & Seed Inc., said, “We are delighted to be a Canadian Alltech Offi- cial Partner for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Nor- mandy. We are looking


List your 2013 events for free! Our next deadline is December 17th


forward to continuing our close relationship with All- tech, through the continued inclusion of the Alltech Equine Advantage in our feeds, on nutritional research and product devel- opment and on bringing the various exciting marketing campaigns to our cus- tomers.”


ward to an exciting partner- ship.”


The Alltech Official Partner Program is a strate- gic sales and marketing partnership with leading horse feed and animal and health nutrition companies


At the launch McLaughlin Clydesdales owner, Ray McLaughlin joined Alltech and Ritchies to celebrate the partnership and display their magnifi- cent six-horse hitch at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. The McLaughlin Clydesdales Hitch feeds a custom formulated Ritchie’s Equine feed to their champion Clydesdales powered by Alltech tech- nologies.


Commenting on the sign- ing, Ty Yeast, Canadian Director said, “We are delighted that Ritchie Feed & Seed Inc. is a Canadian Alltech Official Partner of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. We look for-


throughout the world. It enables these global part- ners to differentiate their feed with the Alltech Equine Advantage and also provides them with the right to use Alltech Official Partner brand marks linked


to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. This exclu- sive program allows part- ners and their customers to share in the excitement of the world’s most celebrated equestrian championships.


(Pictured From left to right) Robin Johnston, Ritchie Feed & Seed Inc., and Ty Yeast, Canadian Director in celebrating Ritchie Feed & Seed Inc. as an Alltech Official Partner of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. In the background, McLaughlin Clydesdales magnificent six-horse hitch at the 90th Royal Winter Fair.


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