32/ JULY 2021 THE RIDER


The Science of how Horses Think & Learn Brakes. Keys to a winning stop. Part 1.


in the exact imaginary box of your choosing, not just in a general, geographic region. In horsemanship (western eq- uitation), stopping ten feet outside the designated point is a major error. In a dressage test, your halt must be at, not just around, X. Resistance. A gapping mouth, a poked out nose. Both signal a horse giving his rider “push back”. Conversely,


I fre-


By Lindsay Grice. Equestrian Canada coach, horse show judge, specialist in equine behaviour.


Reliable brakes – not just for reiners! Anyone


ever been thankful for a horse who had a braking safety feature installed? An accident averted, an equitation class won, an opportunity to re-group before things got “out of hand”? I’ve been thankful for horses that know “whoa”


before they step on the reins, unseat a novice, or bump into another horse in the warm up ring. A nifty tool in training when a horse’s tension is rising, and BEFORE he hits flight mode! In this issue, let’s look at some common brake


malfunctions - errors, I circle on my score card when I’m judging. Location, location. Your horse should be able to stop


quently see a horse stub his toes into the dirt as he dives onto the forehand and hides his nose behind the vertical. Avoidance, but also resist- ance. Crooked. Your horse should stop with all his train cars in line – nose, shoulder and hip. Any part that pops out of alignment will result in a poor, unbalanced stop. Fizzle. On approach


to the marker, this horse loses steam with each stride. Each stride gets flatter and often he breaks down to the next gait - a major fault. Aim to have lift (impulsion) and energy. Your horse should feel light on his forehand and every stride should mirror the one before in lively rhythm.


Next issue, we’ll


cover three points toward straight, crisp stops.


imaginary box of your choosing, not just in a general, geographic region.


Your horse should be able to stop in the exact


Life lessons learned from horses: Speaking of brakes, who doesn’t wish we’d put the brakes on our tongues from time to time? An oppor- tunity to re-group before things get “out of hand”? A nifty tool in talking, texting or tweeting, when emotional tension is rising, and BE-


FORE the hearer hits their flight mode!


Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wher- ever we want by means of a


small bit in its mouth. … in the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes


About Lindsay Grice.


“Is it me or my horse?” Horse show judge, certified riding coach,


trainer and specialist in equine behavior and learning. Lindsay Grice loves to help riders solve their horse puzzles, prepare for competition and enjoy the process of riding, not just the result! Lindsay enjoys teaching clinics and travel-


ling to Ontario farms as a freelance instructor. She’s taught the science of equine behavior and learning for horse associations, courses for Uni- versity of Guelph and therapeutic riding facili- ties.


Lindsay judges multiple disciplines and


breeds, holding judging certifications with AQHA, Equestrian Canada. She’s a provincial Hunter/Jumper and dressage judge and also judges multiple breeds and Extreme Trail/obsta- cle events. She loves to share her own insights and sto-


ries learned from 25 years as a competitor and horse trainer.


“Why do horses do what they do?” Lindsay says, “In the horse world, our tra- ditions and the evidence sometimes collide.


I


love to communicate the WHYs behind the HOWs of riding. “Equitation Science” – it makes life better for horses when we speak in a language they understand!”


The Mighty Grabber By Ingrid von Hausen, New Hamburg, 2021


Let me introduce you: This little tool has many uses. I bought my first


one for less than $30.00 at the local hardware store. The price has since gone up, hasn’t everything? I found an- other more expensive one and maybe sturdier one this week in our local drug store. Now I have different styles. I now have several for indoor use, one for outdoors & a few in the barn. It is rather delicate: it is not capable of heavy lift-


ing. It can not bear the amount of weight a cane can. However, if you just need steadying, it will do thus ad- mirably. I broke one by trying to dislodge a huge icicle a few winters ago. I bought it originally to save my back. When I


walk on our country property, in town or where ever, I like to pick up trash as I meet it on my walks. I collect


this , put it in a plastic bag which I always carry in my pocket. This trash I later sort into, recyclicables, tt com- post or true trash. Indoors;


the grabber is useful for picking up


dropped stuff & for reaching stuff from high or low shelves. Also useful for picking up clothes that fall on the floor and to empty front-loading washing machines. When I cracked my knee I found it helped me


dress, put on socks, panties. It can pick up really small things: cigarette butts,


dimes, paper. I use it in the backyard to pick up dead twigs that are always blowing down after a wind storm. You can also use it to break off those unsightly dead twigs from your trees.


Its also useful for picking up clumps


of grass if you don’t have time to rake the lawn. I find it really useful in the barn. I use it to direct


horses, prod them gently to get them to move, pick up horse apples or quids.


For subscription or advertising information please


contact (905) 387-1900 or email barry@therider.com Visit our website at www.therider.com


Big Creek Saddle Club


offers a full day of horse showing for all ages. Our family oriented shows are fun and competitive. With two beautiful show pens


we offer classes for a variety of disciplines in- cluding games riding, western pleasure, and english pleasure.


Find out more on our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/groups/2744211299/ or email bigcreeksc@gmail.com


Dates: August 15th, September 12th Rain Dates: October 3rdWhere: Paris Fairgrounds


great boasts. Wise words from the Bible.


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