The tack room is a perfect place for an afternoon nap.
Stephanie Rhodes Bosch Jenkins is expertly managing parenthood with her teaching and training business, and sometimes that means your kid has to take a nap in the tack room. I don’t have children, but I’d call this a parenting win. You know where they are, they have somewhere comfy to sleep and you can finish your barn chores.
When we think of large horse show venues such as HITS Ocala, we often think of International Hunter Derbies and large, Saturday night Grand Prix classes. Some of our favorite classes here at JN, however, are the always adorable pony classes! From big bows to tiny braids, these ponies and their jockeys always seem to make us say “awwwww.” Check out some behind the scenes shots taken by Jumper Nation’s talented Dominique Gonzalez!
Horse showing= a lot of hurry up and waiting. Photo by Dominique Gonzalez
We are a sucker for a cute grey. Photo by Dominique Gonzalez
At the in-gate. Photo by Dominique Gonzalez
Show ring preperation. Photo by Dominique Gonzalez
Best friends. Photo by Dominique Gonzalez
This pony made us all go “squeeee!” Photo by Dominique Gonzalez
Pats for the best pony. Photo by Dominique Gonzalez
Watch and learn — literally. Watching talented riders is an underrated tool for improving your own skills. As a visual learner myself, I take a lot away from videos at top events because it shows me just what to emulate. So if your winter season has a lot more snow than horse shows, grab a few take aways from these incredible riders:
An easy start is with the cross country queen herself, Jonelle Price. Here’s the cross country ride that won her Luhmühlen aboard Faerie Dianimo:
This post would not be complete without the inclusion of Michael Jung. Watch him go at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event with fischerRocana FST:
Michael Jung & fischerRocana FST finish Cross-Country just one second over the optimum time in 11:04. They sit on a score of 27.5 headed into Stadium Jumping tomorrow at the 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. #BestWeekendAllYearWatch all of #LRK3DE live and on-demand on USEF Network: https://broadcast.usef.org/coverage/2018LRK3DE/
Team Great Britain roll deep with cross country prowess. Ros Canter picked up individual gold and lead the group to team gold as well, but even more impressive is that all team members went double clear across country.
Doug Payne is one rider who knows how to shave off seconds. He and Vandiver were the only pair to make the optimum time at the Cloud 11-Gavilan North Carolina International.
Chris Burton has had many, many cracking cross country rounds. A memorable one being at Blair Castle last fall to win the 2018 Event Rider Masters Series Title with Graf Liberty.
Budweiser has earned itself a reputation that will take many years to fade away in regards to its Super Bowl commercials: the “golden age” of Budweiser Clydesdale mini-movies seemed to take place from 2005-2015ish, (one exception being the incredibly moving 9/11 tribute). When they started pre-releasing these things on social media a few weeks early, I for one was grateful, because then I would know in advance to excuse myself from the room at whatever Super Bowl viewing party I was attending so I didn’t ugly-cry in front of friends and family.
And then in 2016, Budweiser’s marketing strategy shifted — perhaps actual beer sales to weeping horsewomen weren’t the target demographic after all — and the Clydesdales took a bit of a backseat, at least as far as emotionally-gripping storylines and heart-wrenching music was concerned. The 2019 ad, just released as of this morning, appears to be following in that vein: no anthropomorphism, no riveting storyline… just those big, beautiful horses, doing what they do best.
The post was originally featured on our sister site, Horse Nation.
We were happy just to get out and ride the other weekend in a bit of sunshine despite mid-winter weather. Photo from CJ Millar.
These days, safety is always a topic of conversation, especially when it comes to eventing. We talk about everything from jump safety, safety for our equine partners, rules that help ensure we’re as safe as possible when competing in our inherently dangerous sport, and so much more. So let’s take a minute and talk about our brains and head safety.
Wearing a riding helmet is a no-brainer (pun intended) for most of us these days, and of course it’s required at any show and almost every riding facility. But many people don’t wear a helmet all the time, and even those of us that do (yes, I’m a more recent convert to the helmet-every-ride believers) aren’t all aware of the ins and outs of helmet ownership that include how to wear, store, when to replace and more so here goes.
Quick riding helmet tips!
Make sure your helmet fits properly. An improperly fitting helmet won’t protect you correctly in the event of a fall or impact. How to know if your helmet fits? It should be snug with the chin strap securely under your chin but not so tight it is uncomfortable. It should be snug around your skull and sit just above the eyebrows, which should wiggle if you move your head. If you turn your head upside down without the chin strap buckled, the helmet should stay on snugly, and it should fit evenly around your entire head.
For best protection, your hair should be worn down and not tucked in or folded under your helmet – this is especially important with longer haired riders because having your hair inside your helmet not only affects fit, but adds another layer between your skull and your helmet that can move and shift when you ride! I know, I know…my former hunter eq trainers would be rolling their eyes at this one, but in the words of one of those very trainers, “form follows function not fashion” and in this case, those words are ever so true!
Always replace your helmet after a fall or impact – this includes if the impact is you dropping your helmet, tripping over it, and then accidentally running it over with your tack cart while unloading your trailer after an event (this may or may not be based on a true story…). Helmets are designed to take one impact, and when it comes to your brain, it’s not worth the risk of assuming “it was just minor.” With your brain, nothing is minor!
When not riding, store your helmet out of direct sunlight or extreme heat or cold, preferably at room temperature. That means don’t leave it in your trailer all year, and especially try to avoid extreme humidity. I once had a helmet shell separate entirely from the protective layer due to being exposed to heat and humidity. My answer back then was to buy some heavy duty double-sided tape and stick it back together because I couldn’t afford to replace it then. Years later, with ongoing neck and head issues that have lead to a slew of problems (migraines are just the tip of the iceberg), I look back on that and cringe!
Keep your helmet clean. Just like anything else, dust and dirt can build up and make it grimy – but also can impact your willingness to wear it (who wants a stinky head?) and lead to the protective materials breaking down sooner than the standard timeframe.
Speaking of, what IS the standard timeframe for which a helmet is expected to last? Most brands say between 3-5 years from point of purchase without being involved in a fall. For people who ride regularly including myself, I recommend the 3 year rule. Yes, helmets are expensive. But your brain is priceless!
So there’s 6 quick tips on riding helmets. Just realized that your helmet is more than 3 years old and suddenly panicking that you need to replace it? Uvex equestrian USA is doing a special promotion through 2/15 where you can get $50 off when you trade in your old helmet (any brand) for a new uvex helmet. Talk to a uvex equestrian USA retailer for details, but most importantly ride in a helmet – ANY ASTM/SEI equestrian approved helmet – that fits YOUR head and is comfortable to you. The best helmet in the world is no good if it doesn’t fit you properly or you don’t wear it, so I like to say the best helmet really is the one you’ll actually wear.
This picture was taken at 5:17 PM yesterday. You know what that means? It wasn’t pitch black by the time I got to the barn after work yesterday! Winter is about small victories – and this is one of them.
Forgive me for what might seem like a digression from your regularly-scheduled eventing chat, but I couldn’t resist the innumerable charms of this remarkably British video showcasing the heyday of showjumping.
The Hickstead Derby is arguably the most iconic showjumping course in the world, and in the 1960s, it was in its infancy, gaining in immense popularity after Hickstead owner Douglas Bunn sought to create his own version of the course he’d so admired in Hamburg. Mixing the best elements of top-level showjumping and cross-country prowess, it’s fast, it’s furious, and no matter which decade you watch it in, it’s always brilliant fun. These days, horses are chosen and developed as Derby specialists, but back in the ‘golden era’ of the sport, horses would tackle the Derby alongside running the gamut of showjumping classes. Follow along as Bunn chooses his next superstar and prepares him for the competition, and then spend the rest of the weekend speaking the Queen’s English, darling. Pip pip, cheerio!
Are you an ammy-adult eventer who struggles with motivation during the winter months? Madison Givens feels your pain. She is embarking upon her own winter fitness and accountability journey, and taking EN along for the ride. Check back weekly for updates, encouragement, camaraderie and tips to help you come out swinging this spring!
Photo by Madison Givens.
Hi everyone, and welcome back for week 2!
I want to start off by thanking everyone for all the positive feedback on last week’s edition. I am so humbled by the community’s response to my first article and it warmed my cold little heart knowing I wasn’t totally alone out there. (Not cold in personality, but cold because I am currently freezing my arse off in this weather. Like, seriously guys, I have a pretty big butt, and I am genuinely concerned it’s frozen off.)
Now having said that, let’s jump into this week!
I will say, it was very hard for me not to cry and complain this week about the weather. Apparently I got a little too too excited last week in my expectations of riding this winter, or at least blocked out how bad Iowa winters like to play with your emotions. The temperatures and weather dropped so much that I pretty much had to take it day by day whether I could even go out and see my horse, much less try and figure out how to ride. I am pretty sure the winter gods read last week’s article and were so offended by the idea of trying to be productive that they are now refusing to allow the temps to rise above 10 degrees.
Screenshot via Accuweather.com.
I almost gave up, filled Finn up with extra cookies and waited for the next week to roll around. But I made a promise to myself that I was going to be more productive. No, this does not mean that I was able to ride everyday. But it does mean that I was able to ride one more day than last week. It means that I tried a few new things to help mix up our routine. And it means that I admittedly suffered defeat at least twice at the hands of winter’s wrath. I chose to let the winter winds whisper sweet nothings into my ears, draining me of all motivation and desire to ride twice this week.
Because of the fluctuation in weather, and my growing frustration with not being able to ride consistently or in the daylight, I reached out to my local equine massage therapist for some ideas on how to keep Finn feeling comfortable on the days when riding just wasn’t going to be an option. I wanted to do something to help Finn stay comfortable without having to worry about her becoming a statue in the cold.
A little background:
Supple Equine Sports Massage is run by Chloe Lansing. Chloe has helped me reassess Finn’s entire workout plan by giving me more insight on where she tends to get sore and tight. Finn specifically struggles mostly through her lower back and into her SI. It’s hard for a little downhill-built Quarter Horse to learn to sit down and place more weight on her hind end. Chloe has been wonderful in providing me with various exercises on the ground and in the saddle to help Finn build strength and help prevent her from getting sore.
I recommend giving Chloe’s Facebook a peek. She is constantly posting all sorts of great articles on the muscling of the horse, various stretches and some downright hilarious photos of some of her client’s horses yawning and stretching after their body work is finished.
Photo by Amber Garthwaite.
I would recommend stretching after your horse has had the opportunity to warm up. Generally, when it is too cold to do any solid riding, I place poles ALL over my arena and so some bareback walk work, sometimes throwing a cooler on Finn while we ride to help her muscles warm up more quickly. For 10-15 minutes, we will spend time moseying around the arena. Sometimes on the bit, sometimes relaxed with my hand on the buckle. We change directions constantly and walk over the poles at all sorts of different angles. I really just wanted to get her moving after she had been standing with her butt to the wind all day. Because Finn will stock up in her hind legs if she really hasn’t moved for a while, I try to keep her moving until they look a little better. After Finn has had a chance to warm her body up a bit, we will begin our stretches.
Photo by Madison Givens.
Chloe’s suggestion on getting started: “I would suggest stretching after every ride, but if that is too intimidating to start with, a great place to start is three times a week. If it is possible, each stretch should try to be held for 5 seconds, and can be repeated 2-3 times per position of the stretch. Remember not to try and force the stretch, the horse should develop elasticity naturally, and the more you practice these stretches, the easier they will become. Doing stretches correctly on a regular basis, paired with a proper warm-up, can be a great way keep your horse comfortable and allow them to develop more correct muscling. Through correct stretching, you will help prevent muscle, ligament or tendon damage caused by tension and stress that may build in the horses body over time.
DISCLAIMER: If you suspect that your horse may have any musculoskeletal issues, please consult a vet before beginning any sort of stretching program.
As a point of reference for our stretches:
Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Carrot stretches! We have all heard of some form of them. They are GREAT for your horse and simple to do. Don’t fret if your horse isn’t super bendy or relaxed. It will take time to become more flexible. The more you do these stretches, the easier it will become. Here’s a carrot stretch cheat sheet from the University of Tennessee Equine Hospital to get you started.
Butt tuck: This is Finn’s least favorite stretch. She is very weird about things touching her butt. But I mean, I get it. I would be super weirded out too if someone came and started randomly trying to make me stretch my butt. (PSA: If your horse is ultra sensitive, sore in any way, or just downright hates having his butt touched, be very careful, you are at risk of being kicked when doing this.)
Benefits of doing butt tucks:
Flexion of the thoracolumbar spine
Flexion of the lumbosacral junction
Abdominal muscles engage to life the back
Hard to reach iliopsoas muscles are recruited
Here’s a video courtesy of Supple Equine Sports Massage, Darci Lorensen and her wonderful mare Athena:
Pelvis tucks demonstrated! ⚠️ This can be irritable to some horses and they may kick. Proceed with caution. Additionally, please consult with a vet before starting a stretching program if you suspect any muscular skeletal problems.
How?
Stand behind or slightly to the side of the hindquarters. Position your hands so one is on either side of the spine at the top of the hindquarters, use your fingertips and gently apply pressure on each side and move down toward the hind legs. This should result in the horse arching his back. If your horse doesn’t respond to pressure from your fingertips, you may need to use the backside (flat side) of a hoof-pick. I’ve encountered horses that will not do this exercise.
What are the benefits?
⚡️Flexion of the thoraco-lumbar spine
⚡️Flexion of the lumbo-sacral junction
⚡️Abdominal/core muscles engage to lift the back
⚡️Hard to reach iliopsoas muscles are recruited
Perform this regularly 4-5x/week for 3 months (it takes time to see results!), then you can back off to 3x/week.
To get the most out of this stretch, it should be performed 4-5 times a week over 3 months, after which you can back off to 3 times a week.
Belly-up: Great to do if you have a horse struggling with its topline. Try repeating this stretch a few times, building up to them holding their belly up for a few seconds at a time.
Hamstring stretch: This is one of my favorites for Finn. Because she is built so downhill, she will place a ton more stress onto her hind end when trying to collect. It’s great to really help your horse stretch and step underneath themselves.
Finn’s topline at the end of week 2:
Photo by Madison Givens.
For the Rider:
To follow in these week’s theme of stretching the horse, I recommend these stretches for riders.
Pigeon stretch: It’s one of my favorites considering I struggle with tight hips and lower back pain.
This next video is a little longer, but I am going to use it in place of some extra exercise this week.
I decided I needed a little zen in my life. I have found myself running circular arguments with myself as I ride, and as a result it gets taken out on Finn. She is so sensitive to my emotions that the more frustrated I become with myself and my own riding, the more anxious she becomes as a result. So after a lesson with a good friend of mine, I realized that I need to breath and take it easy. I hate to make this cheesy comment so early into our winter articles but “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Rather than fighting with my own self-expectations, I need to realize that it’s OK to have ups and downs.
So without further ado … equestrian yoga!
Notes from last week:
I would really love to start featuring ideas and comments from you guys! Please let me know how you are coping with this weather, and I will include it in next week’s article.
Thanks, Liz, for the suggestion on the painter’s mask! I never would have thought of picking something like that up for our dusty arena. Normally I just suffer through it and snot out dirt for the next three days.
For those of you who have been kind enough to read to the end, here is your reward! I threw a lot of different articles and examples at you this week, so I want to end on a fun note:
Once again, I can’t thank everyone for being a part of this with me. See you next time, when I am sure it will be even colder, and I will be considering a new career in indoor sports.
Tromping around the pasture trying to find lost shoes = a great way to get your steps in. Photo by Laura Harris.
Pre-season is starting. You don’t have an indoor. Outside riding area is being used as an ice-skating rink or for swimming lessons depending on the temperature. The trails have claimed Artax. You haven’t been in the saddle since … you’d prefer not to share when. That clinic/schooling show/lesson is coming up. How do you get in shape?
Stretch: Dig riding clothes out of back of laundry room and pull boots out from under the bed. REACH into the back corner!
Aerobics: That dance you do trying to get the breeches past your thighs. Like Zumba but with less cohesion.
Controlled Breathing: Hold your breath. Contort to fit the clothes that OBVIOUSLY shrank in the wash.
Dexterity Bonus: Flipping back and forth between sites of your bank account and a pair of new “unshrunk” breeches.
Warm-Up: Layering up to go outside and stay outside then realizing you look like Ralphie’s little brother.
Squats: Rearranging all your totes and gear in the trailer and the barn to re-sort what you need.
Steps: Get your steps in as you go back and forth between the house/truck/barn/trailer 5,000x as you forget and remember all the things you need to *gasp* ride!
Weighted Steps: Stomp out in the mud to feed the horses in the far field. Each. Step. You. Might. Lose. Your. Boot. Squish.
Cardio: Chasing after your horse trying to catch him. He knows what that halter means! He was stealthily hiding behind the half demolished round bale as soon as he heard the diesel roar up.
Resistance Work: Getting out in the wind and doing anything.
Calisthenics: Dodging your horse’s teeth whilst still trying to knock the mud off.
Stamina: Knock the cobwebs off the saddle and wipe off the mold! That leather needs to be cleaned, hydrated, supple, and most importantly, a non-embarrassment!
Stairmaster: Up and down the mounting block as you talk yourself in and out of riding 10k times.
Longing: Who’s longing who here?
Lifting: Pour a glass of wine, lift it to your lips. Repeat.
On today, National Florida Day, I will say that I actually wish I was down there. If I could be somewhere with less mud, less cold, less frozen ground, and more tan lines, I would totally be OK with that. Also, if somebody could put in a request for much less rain for the entirety of 2019, that would be totally OK with me too. I live on the side of a hill, and I would like to be able to safely walk down any hills someday soon.
If you’re interested in becoming an official in 2019, we got your back. In this video recap from the USEA Convention, USEF Director of Licensed Officials Alina Brazzil led a presentation detailing the different types of licenses, the separate responsibilities of the USEA and USEF in the licensing process, and the requirements for obtaining the different types of licenses. [How To Become An Official: Step by Step]
Curious about how top riders bring their horses back from winter vacation? In England, it’s customary to give horses a yearly winter vacation out in a field to chill out and recoup their minds and bodies. Top eventer Laura Collett says every one of her horses gets at least six weeks if not eight weeks of full vacation with shoes pulled and full turnout. They come back into work in January, and she shares her tips for bringing them back in this article. [Turning Horses Out & Bringing Them Back After Winter]
Don’t go another step without checking out the extraordinary USEF rule changes effective this year. From uses of the whip in different phases to tack allowed, no matter what level you compete, you’ll have to know about these rule changes. [USEF 2019 Rule Changes]
