40/ NOVEMBER 2013 THE RIDER Palm Partnership Training™ Building a Partnership with your Horse
Dressage Training for All Breeds and for All Disciplines, Part 3
ation have been achieved when the horse moves with even, swinging steps, swings through his back; is loose through the poll; chews quietly and lightly on the bit; can be posi- tioned easily to both sides and makes smooth transi- tions from one position to the other; chews the reins out of the rider’s hands correctly; can be driven forward on long or “given” reins; releases tension and shows relaxation by blow- ing out through his nose; allows a supple rider to sit comfortably; and shows a pendulously swinging tail.
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unschooled horse, or even a trained horse that has been allowed “to just get by,” you probably noticed that he “fell in” when you rode the corners of the arena—the exercise from the last newsletter. This probably is because he is stiff and not supple. Mov- ing with the correct bend will supple the spine.
How to Achieve Supple- ness or Relaxation/Loose- ness in Your Horse If you have an
USDF Glossary of Dres- sage Judging Terms, sup- pleness/relaxation is: Looseness and relax-
look at the second level of the dressage training pyra- mid, which is suppleness or relaxation/looseness. As defined by the
By Lynn Palm This month, we will
your horse around the arena several times to the left, using the correct bend in the corners. To do this, you will keep your inside (left) leg in light contact on the horse’s barrel at the girth, and the outside leg (right) applied lightly behind the girth to bend the hind quarters around the inside leg. The inside (left) rein lightly positions the horse’s head in the direc- tion of the bend, and it is supported by a yielding outside (right) rein. To position the head with the inside rein, slightly rotate the inside hand as if you were turning a key or open- ing a doorknob, and slight- ly open the rein in the direction of the bend to position the head. After you have
walked around the arena several times and you are approaching the letter “B,” prepare to start your first 20 meter circle to the left at the walk. As the arena is 20 meters wide, the circle will be the full width of the
way to supple your horse. For this exercise we will use the large arena (60 x 20 meters or 66 x 22 yards), and start our circle at the walk at letter “B.” For dia- grams of the large and small arenas, go to
www.ridinghabit.com/guid e/geometry/
arenas.html. To warm up, walk
Riding a Circle Riding a circle is great
unmarked points are on the long sides and not on the center line of the arena. Keep the image in your
walked several circles beginning at “B,” walk down to “C” and start a 20 meter circle there. When you go to ride a 20 meter circle at “C” or “A,” you will notice that
the
arena. The first quarter of your circle will be ridden from “B” to an imaginary point on the center line about two-thirds of the way between “X” and “I.” You will then ride the second half of the circle to “E,” and then ride the third quarter of the circle to another point about two- thirds of the way between “X” and “L.” You will complete the circle by rid- ing back to “B.” This may sound confusing, but if you are looking at your diagram of the large arena, it will make sense. As you pass the letter “B,” you immedi- ately should look ahead to that unmarked spot on the center line where your first quarter circle will end and the beginning of your sec- ond quarter circle will begin as you head for the letter “E.” Always look ahead to the next point on your circle and keep the correct bend throughout the circle. Put a cone or some colored flour on the ground at “X” (the center of the circle) if that will help you to keep your circle round. After you have
tered the 20 meter circle at the walk in both directions, try it at the posting trot for English riders and at the jog for Western riders. It probably will be harder to keep your circles round at the trot, but our focus is on keeping the correct bend anyway. Precision of fig- ures comes with practice, and judges give more lee- way with this at Introducto- ry and Training Level than they do at higher levels.
the world to supple a horse will not be worth much if the rider is stiff and/or unbalanced. A balanced rider is critical to the sup- pleness and relaxation of the horse. One of the sim- plest ways to improve your riding form immediately is by looking up and ahead of the horse. A rider who is looking ahead will align her back straight with her shoulders square and down. This enables her back to stay straight and better absorb the horse’s move- ment. In turn, the horse will move more loosely and responsively because the rider can move with him.
www.lynnpalm.com or call 800-503-2824.
Time is running out to apply for an OEF Youth Bursary
14 and 17, don’t miss your opportunity to apply for an OEF Youth Bursary. The deadline closes Friday, Dec. 6
If you’re a junior OEF member between the ages of
training or competition fees, continuing education and any other activities that assist the recipient with achiev- ing their equestrian objectives. “This program is inclusive of all equestrian disci-
plines,” says Graham. “No matter what type of activities you enjoy doing with horses, we want to help you be your best.” For more information about, or to download an application form, visit
www.horse.on.ca
young horse people of all disciplines who are OEF mem- bers and full-time high school students. The bursary pro- gram is intended to assist young equestrians who may have difficulty reaching their equestrian goals due to financial constraints or personal hardship. The bursary funds can be used for riding lessons,
with,” says Dianne Graham, executive director of the Ontario Equestrian Federation. “We know that it can be challenging to find the funds to get to where you want to be as a rider or driver, which is where the OEF Youth Bursar\y program comes in.” The OEF Youth Bursary is aimed at supporting
porter of young equestrians and proudly offers a mini- mum of five $1,000 youth bursaries each year to help the next generation of equestrians reach their goals. “This is such a rewarding program to be involved
at 4 p.m. The Ontario Equestrian Federation is a strong sup-
about training courses, edu- cational materials and more,
please visit For more information
figure that is a bit more dif- ficult and one that will pre- pare you for riding the ser- pentines and loops that we will go over in the next newsletter, try riding linked 10 meter half circles from “E” to “X” and then “X” to “B.” Tracking right this time, leave the track at “E” and ride a half circle to “X” where you will take one or two strides straight on the center line before you start your second 10 meter half circle to the left from “X” to “B.” While you are tak- ing those couple of straight strides, prepare to change the horse’s bend from right to left. All the exercises in
Linked 10 Meter Half Circles If you want to try a
head of riding four quarter circles around a center point, and you will be able to keep your circles round. Once you have mas-
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