MAY 2024 THE RIDER /31


a willingness before, during and after the rider’s com- mands. The rider should show invisible, light aids during all transitions.


REQUIREMENTS: Easiest to hardest task:


Tips to understanding how to do a Figure correctly


Palm Partnership Training™ Building A Partnership With Your Horse Part 2: How to do a Figure Correctly


Editor’s note: The column title last issue should have read: Cross-training with Western Dressage


by Lynn Palm


Let’s get ready to show & grow!


A Gentle Reminder . . . For this next series on


training, you’ll be your own trainer for 80 to 90 percent of the time. You will learn to find those remarkable feel- ings when both you and your horse come into bal- ance, regardless of disci- pline. Being in the Dressage Court (arena) will help you attain that balance. We all want those feelings with a horse, regardless of what saddle you’re riding or what breed of horse you swing a leg over. We all dream of moments of being in syn- chronization with our horses. These moments keep us hungry to learn more and achieve more dif- ficult tasks with our horses. Remember, this Western Dressage discipline will


*20 meter half circle at the working jog — E to B or B to E


The half circle is to be


10 meters from the line of E or B, in order to make the half size of 20 meters. I ride the half circle


making two points. Point 1, first quarter of the circle on the center line, and Point 2 at E or B completing the 1/2 circle. Meeting the 10 meter at Point 1 in the half circle will get you positive, accu- rate points. The horse is to show balance and an inside bend on the half circle. He should demonstrate straight- ness, regularity, and quality of the jog.


*Halt: 4 seconds Balanced in transition


to a square, straight halt. Horse should demonstrate immobility, willing, smooth transitions. He should show regularity and quality of the walk, and a willing, smooth and straight transition to the halt.


Western Dressage Free Walk


steal your heart and create a passion for riding in har- mony with your horse. Re- member, too, that dressage is simply the foundation to ride correctly, and for the horse to be confident and willing with whatever per- formance you choose!


Western Dressage Halt I’m looking forward


to the next several months, when I’ll share tips and guidelines for understanding the simplicity of learning (in written format, at least) Western Dressage training from Introductory Level to Level 5. Could be the start


of my new book! PART 2


INTRODUCTORY LEV- ELS:


Here’s a reminder . . . The horse should


*20 Meter circle at the working jog The importance of the


show smooth transitions and rider’s leg and rein aids.


Balance and Bend: the size and shape of circle with in- side bend; regularity and quality of the jog; straight- ness. Straightness is control- ling the horse’s body alignment


through the


Straightness is absolutely necessary to achieve bal- ance of the horse in order to show willingness, relax- ation, consistent tempo in the gaits, and movement which will be free flowing.


*Change rein at working jog


Balance and bend in


the turn and corners; straightness on the diagonal; regularity and quality of the jog.


*Free walk on 20 meter half circle Horse willing to freely


stretch his neck forward and down; relaxation; swing through the back; ground covering stride; straight- ness; willing, smooth transi- tion; regularity and quality of the free and working walks.


*One loop 5 meters off the track


Importance of balance


and correct changes of bend on loop; regularity and qual- ity of the jog; balance and bend in the corners.


TIPS ABOUT BASIC LEVEL GAITS & DEFI- NITIONS:


Free jog — This pace is two-beat of moderate lengthening of stride and frame compared to the Working Jog and is done without hurrying. The horse should stretch forward and down over the top line with relaxation maintaining bal- ance, tempo, and regularity of the jog on a loose rein. There should be a smooth, willing retake of the reins in transition to the working jog. The free jog may be rid-


Dedication to Pony Club


By Sommer Burrows Hi, it’s me, Sommer,


again. I wanted to touch on some more aspects of Pony Club. Let’s talk about our Pony club members. It would seem our members are lifers. They are some of the most generous people. Take Sandra Radcliffe & Krista Breen. They haven’t had children of their own in Pony Club for a couple of years, yet they are still run-


ning events, facilitating our education nights and lend- ing out ponies. I was fortu- nate enough to borrow Sandra’s pony, Pippin, and we did all the events to- gether, cross country, dres- sage,


le trec, and


off-property lessons. Sandra even took me on my first hunter pace at Conestoga where the water was so high I thought poor Pip would have to swim to get across, but he made it no problem


and kept me safe. I’m sure Sandra could have rode with a friend or one of her chil- dren, however, she made the time to take me out for the first time, I know I wasn’t the fastest, but we had a beautiful ride together and although we didn’t end up placing that’s okay we still had an awesome time. I can’t wait to go on another hunter-pace in the future! I believe this paragraph sum- marizes what Pony club is


all about, dedicating your time and energy to enrich the next generation of equestrians. The most valu- able thing you can give someone is your time. If you’ve ever won-


dered what it’s like to go to Quiz, I am here to tell you it’s fun! Sure there’s a test, but it’s full of really interest- ing questions, like what is the correct way to pick a horse’s hoof? Or odd tidbits of facts, like did you realize in a collected canter a pony covers less ground. The GPC Moms had a potluck for snacks, we decorated our table with ponies, balloons and glow sticks as well as our GPC colors with table cloths. I loved my experience


at Quiz it was held on Satur- day, April 6. Quiz is an event where you take tests and play games. This year they did skits and had a hobby horse obstacle course while they graded our tests. Everyone’s skits were so well done, I especially loved the Hamilton Hunt Club’s skit with the foxes, so clever. I studied really hard for the test with my mom. Our club met a few times


leading up to the event, thanks to Joan Connolly for hosting these education nights. She brought full tack bins and different bags of different types of feed. Joan is an amazing asset to GPC, the knowledge she shared with us was amazing. I am happy to report I placed 7th out of 21 Pony clubbers. I am going to sign off


for now with a joke, A horse walks into a bar, and the bartender says Hey! The horse says yes, please.


den posting or sitting. From Lynn: I like to see the rider post to the jog here, it feels as though it allows a light rider on the horse’s back to allow an easier stretch of the horse’s back muscles.


Working lope: The lope is a gait with three equal, reg- ular beats with time of sus- pension after the third beat. While maintaining the three beat cadence, the horse must go forward with even and elastic steps. The back must be relaxed and the shoulders free; there is an obvious push from the hindquarters and the hind legs step ac- tively up under the horse. The horse maintains light contact with the bit and his nose shall be on or slightly in front of the vertical in this level.


A note from Lynn: For the quality of the


lope the horse’s outline must have an uphill balance with the poll always level or higher than the wither at this level. The higher the levels, the poll will come higher for an uphill outline with cor- rect collection. This is es- sential to have the quality of the lope in a 3-beat at all times.


• Palm Equestrian Academy generalinfo@lynnpalm.com 352-362-7847 • Cyril and Lynn offer clin- ics throughout the country and abroad as well as online coaching. Join them on their teaching tours or their Palm Equestrian Academy Euro- pean Journeys.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48