48/ FEBRUARY 2014 THE RIDER
2013 Edition of L’Année Hippique Now Available
The 2013 edition of L’Année Hippique is now available for purchase directly
from the publisher, Best Communications and Management (BCM). Now in its 63rd year, L’Année Hippique provides a detailed look back at the past year in equestrian sport. The in-depth articles and stunning colour photography make this hardcover book the perfect keepsake for any equine enthusiast. Included in this year’s edition is complete coverage of the Rolex FEI Word Cup
Show Jumping season, the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage season and the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Series. Also featured are the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, a ‘Goodbye to the Stars’ and the annual L’Année Hippique Best Event and Best Rider of the Year awards. With more than 44,000 copies distributed to over 80 countries, L’Année Hip-
pique is the premiere annual equestrian publication and a true collector’s item. It makes a perfect gift and is an ideal way to thank clients, sponsors and suppliers for their support. Published in English, the 2013/2014 edition of L’Année Hippique is available
for €77.50. Discounted prices are available for orders of five copies or more. Current subscribers to Horse International will receive a complimentary edition. To order your copy, or to purchase one as a gift, contact Inge van der Net by
phone at +31-40-844760, or via email,
i.van.der.net@
bcm.nl. Orders can also be placed online by visiting
www.horse-international.com/order-yearbook.
By Anne Gage
Expert Author Anne Gage There are three healthy frames
www.davisfeed.ca
that your horse can be ridden in - long and low, level and on the bit (high headed with lifted back). For more information about the impor- tance of your horse’s frame, read my article “Horse Training - The 3 Most Important Riding Frames for Any Discipline”. In this article, I will focus on the three important, but often misunderstood, training com- ponents that affect your horse’s abili- ty to work correctly in these frames:
Impulsion Engagement Collection These 3 training components
www.themorningfeed.com
are phases of similar movements. Each phase takes the movements to a deeper level. For your horse to devel- op true collection, he must first have impulsion and then engagement of the hindquarters. For low levels of showing, trail riding or pleasure rid- ing, having the first phase, impul- sion, will benefit and strengthen the important chain of muscles through the back, abdomen and hindquarters that will enable him to perform his job well and comfortably. Perfor- mance horses that train for higher levels of competition in any disci- pline need to develop more muscle strength through engagement to develop true collection. Impulsion affects your horse’s
ability to move forward willingly with elasticity, suppleness and roundness in his back and joints. Impulsion is not speed. It’s pushing forward powerfully from the hindquarters that gives the horse the ability to cover more ground with each step as his frame lengthens from poll to tail. When the horse has impulsion, his step becomes longer as his hind legs step further under- neath his body. Without impulsion, the horse pulls himself forward with
Horse Training - Why Your Horse Needs to Develop Impulsion, Engagement and Collection
his front legs, has a choppier step, and no suppleness in his back. Test to see if your horse has
impulsion by using 2 visual markers (i.e. fence posts, trees, rocks or ground poles) that are about 4 to 6 feet apart. Walk or trot your horse over the poles or past the markers and count his steps between them. Next time around, ask your horse to lengthen his stride by increasing the push from his hindquarters. Increase the push from your seat and legs in time with your horse’s natural move- ment. Count the steps between the two poles or markers again. If you have impulsion, your horse will lengthen his stride and put fewer steps between the two points. If your horse puts in the same number or more steps between the markers, then he has not developed the strength in his muscles to create impulsion. Your training program needs to focus on developing the strength in his hindquarters. Engagement of the hindquarters
lifts the horse’s weight off his fore- hand as he naturally lowers his hindquarters and lifts his back caus- ing his centre of gravity to shift back towards the hind legs. As his hindquarters reach well underneath his body his hind leg joints have more flexion and his abdominal mus- cles work harder to lift the back. Impulsion becomes engagement when the pushing force of his hindquarters’ is contained by correct contact of the reins. The contact col- lects the energy created by the impul- sion so that the movement becomes less forward and more upwards. The rider feels more lightness in the front end and more lift in the back. True collection happens when
the horse’s frame shortens and becomes “rounder”. His stride short- ens without losing energy. He comes on the bit with his poll slightly high- er than his withers and his back lift- ed. His centre of balance shifts back as the hindquarters naturally lower. The correctly trained horse coming into this true collection will be light in the rider’s hand. The energy that is created from the hindquarters flows softly through the horse’s supple back and poll and is received by the rider’s supple hands, arms, hips and spine.
Collection done incorrectly
causes training problems such as falling on the forehand, hollowing the back and going ‘’behind the bit” (the nose is pulled and held more closely towards the chest). These shapes result in physical and mental stress and trauma as the horse’s natu- ral movement, balance and confi- dence are impaired, and pain is caused in the neck, back, poll and jaw. His field of vision and airways can also be restricted. Horses who have been trained in this manner
have poor muscle definition in the hindquarters, weak or sore backs, and often exhibit uneven rhythm or unsoundness. The horse can only come into
true collection when he is mentally and physically relaxed. Any tension, imbalance or bracing from the rider causes tension and bracing in the horse, which limits his ability to lift his back and prevents him from bringing his hindquarters underneath him. In order for the horse to be relaxed, the rider must be relaxed and supple in all her joints (neck, shoulders, arms, hips and legs), have a following seat and consistent, fol- lowing contact. Because true collection depends
upon the correct muscle development and suppleness there are no short cuts to creating it. You must focus on developing both impulsion and engagement for your horse’s ability to come into collection to develop naturally. Regardless of the discipline you
ride, true collection when done cor- rectly benefits the well-being of all horses by developing a strong, sup- ple and balanced frame of body and mind without tension, stress or force. A horse ridden for pleasure, trail rid- ing or at schooling level competition will do quite well with a basic level of collection. Having the ability to shorten his stride slightly without losing impulsion or balance will help him to safely and comfortably handle tight obstacles, a sharp curve or a steep incline on a trail or cross-coun- try course, a tight distance between jumps on a low level hunter or jumper course, or to create more ele- vation for a basic dressage test. To keep your horse healthy and
sound in mind and body work through each of the three training phases - impulsion, engagement and collection. He will not only develop his athleticism but can be your will- ing partner for many years.
Anne Gage is a Gold Level trainer certified in the Chris Irwin method of horsemanship. She teaches adult rid- ers to confidently work with their horses, improve their riding skills and bring the joy back into their rid- ing experience. Her training and coaching methods are based on building mutual trust & respect between horse and human. Anne coaches and trains clients out of High Point Farm near Orangeville, Ontario, Canada and also travels to other locations giving one & two day clinics, workshops and private ses- sions. For more information, visit her website
http://www.annegage.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=An ne_Gage
Winter storms in Horse Country
has been hit by some serious winter weather recently. Horse owners have added concerns dur- ing such events. Headwaters Equine Leadership invites horse
Headwaters Horse Country
owners and caretakers to com- plete our 2013 Ice Storm Survey and share your experiences. You are welcome to share
photos from the recent storms. Send your photo and a brief
description of the location to
Vicki@thehillsofheadwaters.com
http://survey.constantcontact.com /survey/a07e8slz457hqfa0f3j/a00 fhr9gzcs8/questions
Send us all your coming events!
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