28/ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 THE RIDER Palm Partnership Training™ FOR SALE
Large, square bales, top quality, no rain or dust. 1st and 2nd cut Timothy, OG and Alfalfa Mixes. Delivery available in 20-30 bale loads.
Limited supply of Small 21 Bale Barrons. Also some straw.
Don Rowntree Via Pax E T Ltd., Georgetown
donrowntree@hotmail.com (416) 464-2373
Building a Partnership with your Horse Western Dressage: Understanding Basic Level Tests 3 & 4
By Lynn Palm Now that you are mov-
ing forward, let’s go into more detail about the gaits you and your horse will ride when competing at the Basic Level.
Working Jog - The jog is a two-beat gait of alternate di- agonal legs separated by a moment of suspension. The gait has ground-covering forward motion with energy. The horse is in an uphill frame with the head in front of, or on, the vertical.
Free Jog - This is a pace of moderate lengthening stride and frame compared to the Working Jog. Without hur- rying, the horse goes for- ward in a two-beat gait with clearly lengthened steps, with impulsion from the hindquarters and uphill bal- ance. The rider allows the horse to carry the head a lit- tle more in front of the ver- tical than at the Collected and Working jog. The horse’s neck is “out,” down and forward with the nose in front of the vertical. The rider has a loose rein and horse’s poll is at approxi- mately the same height as the wither, or level with the horse’s neck. The steps should be even and the whole movement balanced and unconstrained. The free jog may be ridden posting or sitting.
Working Lope - While maintaining the three-beat cadence, the horse must go forward with even and elas- tic steps. The back must be relaxed and the shoulders free. There should be an ob-
vious push from the hindquarters and the hind legs step actively up under the horse. The horse must maintain light contact with the bit and his nose must be in front of the vertical.
NEW requirements in Basic Level are: • 20-meter circle at the Free Jog • Loop Figure • Serpentine Figure
Here are my tips for
riding Basic Level Test 3: 1. Enter at the Working Jog and halt through the walk. Remember to walk about five steps before you halt at X. 2. 20-meter circle at E. This is my favorite 20-meter cir- cle at E or B. Starting at E, ride the circle to the center line six feet smaller then the imaginary line from V & P, tangent to the rail at B, cen- ter line six feet smaller than the imaginary line from R & S, tangent to the rail at E to complete the circle. 3. The loop from F X M is a new figure introduced in this test. You have to keep the correct bending of your horse with each of the three curves. Tip: straighten your horse just before the quarter line after F then after the quarter line, create your new bend, with X being in the middle of the curve. At the next quarter line, straighten your horse a few strides be- fore it and bend your horse for the last curve. Walk this figure to learn the accuracy before your ride it. 4. The Free Walk is short, so make sure that you lengthen your reins before the quarter
line. This way you will not have to hurry to address your reins before your reach F. 5. Your second loop is M X F. Ride this loop exactly the same as you did the first in the other direction. 6. Your Free Jog is at A. Make sure you are accurate with the 20-meter circle. Tip for your Free Jog: Lengthen your reins before you meet the first quarter of your cir- cle. Keep your horse for- ward at the trot to create the stretch and engagement of the hind legs. Take up your reins in the last quarter and don’t hurry. Remember your horse has to show accept- ance of the bit and your reins aids when finishing the Free Walk and Free Jog. 7. At the end you have to turn right at E and left at X. Make sure when you turn at E you are looking for C and ride to it. This way you will be on the center line per- fectly.
Here are my tips for
riding Basic Level Test 4: 1. You have a 20-meter cir- cle starting at B. Ride it ex- actly as you did starting the 20-meter circle at E. 2. Serpentine of three loops on the quarter line. Tips: Be- fore you reach A, you will have to find the quarter line. Your first loop is going left. After you pass the imagi- nary line of S&B, straighten your horse and create the new bend to the right, where the middle of your curve is between E and B. Straighten your horse before the imag- inary line of V&P and bend your horse back to the left to complete the figure at C.
The loops are small and I suggest you to walk this fig- ure several times to get your accuracy before you ride it. 3. The Free Walk is in the “V,” as I call it. I love this figure as I like to show that I can make the figure with my leg aids only. Loosen your reins and take up (ad- dress your reins) to the light contact at the second quarter line before you end the fig- ure. Make sure you reach X. 4. The second Serpentine is the same figure on the quar- ter lines just going the other direction with two left loops and one right loop. Walk this figure to get it accurate on the ground and then under saddle. When you get it correct at the walk, then proceed to the Working Jog. 5. Remember to leave the arena after your test in the walk with looped or long reins. I love to pet my horse to reward him for all that he tried in the test! I hope these tips will
help you. If you have any further questions about the Basic Level, don’t hesitate to write me at general-
info@lynnpal.com and I would be more than happy to answer your questions.
In addition, we love to
share our dressage back- grounds and knowledge with you and would love to have you come ride with us. You can join us at our farm in Ocala, Florida, or at one of our Ride Well Clinics on our USA Tour at a location near you. If you would like to
train with Lynn & Cyril at home with Western Dres- sage, take advantage of the following supportive train- ing materials: Books: Head To Toe Horse- manship Western
Guide to Take You to Your First Show A Rider Guide to Real Col- lection DVDs: “Dressage Princi- ples for the Western Horse & Rider” Volume 1 Parts 1- 5 “Dressage Principles for the Western & English Horse & Rider” Volume 2,Parts 1-3 “Let Your Horse Be Your Teacher” Parts 1&2 For more information
on these training materials and more, as well as clinics, please visit
www.lyn-
npalm.com or call us at 800- 503-2824.
OFA adds succession planning to member Benefit Program
ering farm families to have coura- geous conversations about the future of their family farm. Farm Life works with families across the province to build continuity of the farm through succession, transition and tax efficient estate plans. The company’s mission is to keep farmers farming and to work with families through the succession process in a way that protects family harmony. “Farm Life is a great addition to
our benefit partner lineup,” says Keith Currie, OFA president. “Many Ontario
Guelph, ON [January 22, 2018] – Farm Life Financial Planning Group (Farm Life) is the newest Ontario Fed- eration of Agriculture (OFA) benefit partner and offers a new farm manage- ment service to members – succession and continuity planning. Farm Life specializes in empow-
OFA members includes a complimen- tary consultation on the farm for qual- ified members, 10% reduction in succession planning fees, access to an annual workshop on continuity, tran- sition and farm finances, and a com- plimentary annual check-in for the first two years after a member com- pletes a succession plan with Farm Life.
vantage of membership, offering a wide range of services and promotions exclusively for OFA members that de-
OFA’s Benefit Program is one ad-
farms are multigenerational family businesses that are proud of their farming legacy. The services Farm Life offers can help farmers manage their businesses, keeping them sus- tainable and preserving proud tradi- tions.” Farm Life’s exclusive offer to
culture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, repre- senting 37,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representa- tion, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer.
liver value to Ontario farm businesses. OFA partners with 13 different com- panies that offer exclusive savings and programs on farm management, trans- portation, financial, communication, travel, farm publications and farm supply, hardware and clothing. The Ontario Federation of Agri-
Dressage—A
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