40/ DECEMBER 2013 THE RIDER


half-circle right to “M.” You are now tracking right (don’t forget to change your diagonal), and you will proceed down the long side, keeping contact, where you will make a half-circle at “F” onto the center line again. Go down the center line, but this time at “G” do a half-circle to the left to “H.” Repeat this exercise several times, and then go on to some- thing else.


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Dressage Training for All Breeds and for All Disciplines, Part 4


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address the third level of the dressage training pyra- mid: “contact.” Although it is only the third rung on the six-rung pyramid, it is the final concept that training level riders need to be con- cerned with and it is a very important concept in any riding discipline. A horse must accept contact with the bit through the reins to the rider’s hands without pulling for progress to be made in any discipline of riding. The USDF Glossary of


cept to explain as it must be felt, and it is not an easy thing to master for a begin- ning rider, so do not get discouraged. As always, it is best to work with a rid- ing instructor; but, if you are not able to do so, Sally Swift in her CENTERED RIDING book devotes Chapter 9 to the subject of hands and the role they


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from the correct develop- ment of the horse’s pushing power. The rider’s appro- priate driving aids cause the horse to step into the hands with confidence. With correct contact, the rider follows the natural movement of the horse’s head, maintains the quality of elasticity, and strives to have equal contact in both reins. Contact must never be obtained by pulling back with the reins. This is not an easy con-


Dressage Judging Terms describes contact as: Contact must result


By Lynn Palm In this article, we


foundly dependent on a good seat, one that is soft and deep. Unless the motion of the horse is largely absorbed by your hip joints, knees, and ankles, your shoulders will jump and your head will bob. When this is the case, the rough motion will be reflected in your unsteady hands. ‘No seat, no hands’ is a true statement!” When you are learning


play in correct contact. The third paragraph of that chapter stresses a most important point: “Good hands are pro-


Rhythm, Suppleness and Contact


your horse learn to accept the contact without pulling. At the same time, you must allow him to stretch to the contact by allowing your elbow joints to open and close gently to accommo- date the action of his head and neck. You set the parameters, but you always give your horse a little bit of space so that you feel as if you can ride his hind legs into that space. He then stretches toward the bit and reaches out of his withers.” Exercises to Improve


how to achieve proper con- tact and you hear that it must never be obtained by pulling back, do not make the mistake of thinking that this means you let the horse do what he wants with his head and the bit. Maryal Barnett with Mar- garet Freeman, in their arti- cle in the January 2006 issue of USDF Connection, used a good image to keep in mind: “It’s so important that


are making progress on the long sides, try riding straight on the center line. This is not as easy as it sounds, but the secret is hitting the center line dead on as you make the turn onto it from the short side. Somehow mark your center line as a guide—if you are riding on grass, mow a straight center line or use flour or colored sand in a dirt arena. Tracking left, at “E” look ahead to “K” because you will start a half-circle just after “K” onto the center line. You need to hit the center line exactly or you will have to weave onto it, and points will be deducted for that in a dressage test. Look ahead to “C” and ride straight to “G” where you will make a


concept of contact on the long sides of the large arena at the working trot or jog trot. The materials you have used for the sides of the area will help you maintain a straight line. Try to maintain the correct bend in the corners, but definitely keep contact. Do not forget to practice all exercises to both the right and the left. As you ride the long sides, keep your horse between your legs and your hands with equal contact in both the left and right rein. Once you feel like you


Riding Straight on the Long Sides and on the Center Line Start practicing the


Serpentines Serpentines of three


equal loops are a challenge. Starting at “C” at the work- ing trot and tracking left, look ahead to a point a half meter beyond “H” where you will touch the track before starting your bend toward “B.” You should cross the center line exactly one-third of the way down from “C.” As you cross the center line, you should start your right hand bend, and you will touch the track exactly at “B.” Do not for- get to keep the horse’s body correctly bent and to change your diagonals each time you change the bend. As you change the bend at “B,” look ahead to a point on the center line that is exactly two-thirds of the distance from “C.” This is where you will cross the center line and change to a left hand bend as you ride to a point one half meter from “H” where you will touch the track and begin your bend toward “A.” Do the serpentine two or three times in both directions and then move on to something else. It will make things easier if you can somehow mark the points where you should cross the center line.


to go over a dressage test in the next article, remember that tests are secondary to the training and are simply a way to find out how you are doing against a set stan- dard. You have been prac- ticing the circles, half-cir- cles, and serpentines pri- marily to build your horse’s athletic ability and improve his rhythm, sup- pleness, and contact. For more information


www.lynnpalm.com or call 800-503-2824.


Wellington And Kentucky Join Bromont/Montreal With Bids For Fei World Equestrian Games™ 2018


ted the required documentation and did not need to resubmit. Candidate cities for the FEI World Equestrian


until today (15 November) to return signed bid applica- tions and questionnaires and both US cities have met the deadline. The Bromont/Montreal bid had previously submit-


tucky and Bromont/Montreal in the bidding process for our flagship event,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar de


Bureau at its in-person meeting in June 2014. The host city for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 will be announced after that meeting. “We are delighted that we have Wellington, Ken-


Games™ 2018 will be announced on 2 December fol- lowing review of the applicant questionnaires by FEI Headquarters. The deadline for submission of completed and signed Host Agreements is 31 March 2014. Candidates will present their final bids to the FEI


have both submitted their formal bid applications and questionnaires to host the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 and now officially join the Canadian bid from Bromont/Montreal. Applicants bidding to host the Games in 2018 had


The two US cities – Wellington and Kentucky -


Vos said. “All three locations have strong equestrian tra- ditions so it will be fascinating to see which of the bid committees produces the most compelling reasons why they should be allocated the Games in 2018. It’s going to be an interesting process.”


were hosted in Stockholm (SWE) in 1990. Since then the Games have been staged in The Hague (NED) in 1994, Rome (ITA) in 1998, Jerez (ESP) in 2002, and Aachen (GER) in 2006. The first Games to be organised outside Europe were the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky (USA) 2010. The seventh edition of the FEI’s flagship event will be held in France next year, with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Nor- mandy running from 23 August - 7 September 2014.


four years, in the middle of the Olympic cycle. The seven FEI disciplines - Jumping, Dressage and Para- Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining - are all included on the competi- tion schedule. The inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games™


The FEI World Equestrian Games™ are held every


about training courses, edu- cational materials and more,


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