Classic Eventing Nation

Test Your Jumping Position: An Excerpt from Wendy Murdoch’s ’40 5-Minute Jumping Fixes’

By on Jan 31, 2024 9:37 am -

This excerpt from Wendy Murdoch’s 40 5-Minute Jumping Fixes: Simple Solutions for Better Jumping Performance – In No Time has been published with permission from Trafalgar Square Books.

Photo courtesy of Wendy Murdoch.

Many riders love to jump but feel insecure in the saddle. Learning to jump or improving your current position by developing a more functional seat is more effective, safer, and allows your horse to perform his best. 

When jumping do you:

  • Jump “up” at your horse?
  • Get left behind?
  • Get pulled out of the saddle?
  • Lose  your stirrups?
  • Land hard on your horse’s back? 
  • Become fearful? 

With a secure seat you adhere to the horse and become unified with him as one body. When this happens, the horse can rely on you to remain with him over a jump, which makes him feel more confident and secure.

A good rider adheres to the saddle—therefore to the horse, too—because her seat, hips, and knees are supple, allowing her to absorb the horse’s movement. In order to jump a fence, the ridden horse must raise both his own weight and that of the rider. When the rider stiffens, braces against the stirrups, and bounces on the horse’s back upon landing, she exerts an external force that can greatly interfere with the horse’s performance–and attitude toward work. A seat that is unified with the horse’s movements not only diminishes those external forces, but also provides reassurance to the horse through consistency of action that will develop confidence in his rider and in his own ability to jump.

This 5-Minute Fix can help you find out if your jumping position is safe, secure, and functional.

TEST YOUR JUMPING POSITION IN THE SADDLE

Many riders love to jump but feel insecure in the saddle. Learning to jump or improving your current position by developing a more functional seat is more effective, safer, and allows your horse to perform his best.

When jumping do you:

  • Jump “up” at your horse?
  • Get left behind?
  • Get pulled out of the saddle?
  • Lose  your stirrups?
  • Land hard on your horse’s back? 
  • Become fearful? 

With a secure seat you adhere to the horse and become unified with him as one body. When this happens, the horse can rely on you to remain with him over a jump, which makes him feel more confident and secure.

A good rider adheres to the saddle—therefore to the horse, too—because her seat, hips, and knees are supple, allowing her to absorb the horse’s movement. In order to jump a fence, the ridden horse must raise both his own weight and that of the rider. When the rider stiffens, braces against the stirrups, and bounces on the horse’s back upon landing, she exerts an external force that can greatly interfere with the horse’s performance–and attitude toward work. A seat that is unified with the horse’s movements not only diminishes those external forces, but also provides reassurance to the horse through consistency of action that will develop confidence in his rider and in his own ability to jump.

This 5-Minute Fix can help you find out if your jumping position is safe, secure, and functional.

EXERCISE On the Horse

  1. Have an assistant stand in front of your horse and pull on the reins. Make sure she is slightly off to one side in case the horse tosses his head.
    Caution: Some horses can be very reactive. For safety, the assistant should stand to the side of the horse’s head. Stop if the horse gets upset.
  2. Assume your current jumping position. Once there, have the assistant steadily pull on the reins (not jerking or pulsing). She should pull hard enough to challenge you and give you time to feel what is happening, but not too hard or too quickly. The intent of the exercise is to see if your position is secure, not to rip you out of the saddle! Are you easily pulled forward? Can she pull on one rein more than the other? Do you pivot over your shoulders, knees, or feet? How difficult is it to stay in position? What happens to your breathing? Do you grip with your inner thighs or brace against your stirrups? When your position is secure, the assistant will pull you into the saddle, not out of it. Your upper body and arms stay in place without shoulder tension, while your hips are free of tension and sink slightly into the saddle. This unifies you with the horse so that as the assistant pulls, the force goes through you to him, allowing her to move him forward instead of you. You will feel like you are not “working” to hold your position. It is a good idea to rest your knuckles on the neck when being tested. This way you can feel how the pull goes through your body into the horse.
  3. Observe how your horse reacts. Does he toss his head in the air, pin his ears, or drop his back? If so, ask your assistant to pull slower and with less force to see if his agitation is reduced. Maybe it is a saddle issue: if the horse is distressed he may be getting hit in the withers as your weight comes forward. When this happens while he is just standing still, it is most likely happening when he lands after a jump! (It is very important to have this checked and resolved.)
  4. Experiment with your assistant. Intentionally tense your shoulders, brace against a stirrup, or hollow your back as she keeps a steady pressure. What happens? Try different variations like holding your breath, looking down, or turning your knees out. Feel how each variation affects your overall stability. 

As a secure position becomes clearer in your mind and body, you will find more ease and confidence in your riding and in your horse. Once you have determined that you would benefit from some changes to your position, work through the various Fixes in 40 5-Minute Jumping Fixes, then return to this test to see how you progressed.


For more information or to order this book visit the Trafalgar Square Books website at HorseandRiderBooks.com.

 

Wednesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties

By on Jan 31, 2024 4:47 am -

Last weekend eventers went indoors at Saumur in France, and who can blame them given the quite frankly hostile weather we’ve been having this winter. I know that we all love cross country proper, but there’s a lot to be said for indoor activities at this time of year. Watch the full class in today’s Video Break.

Also in today’s news, it’s Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, and, after winning the rodeo when my horse decided he fancied trying his hand at being a bronc the other day, I’d appreciate being wrapped up in the stuff next time I pony up.

And in another (kind of) relevant official day, let’s take a minute to celebrate our horses’ stripey relations for International Zebra Day. Although not technically from the same family – zebra are actually more closely related to donkeys than horses – there’s no denying that they’re still pretty cool. Check out how the two species compare here.

As always, go eventing!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Galway Downs 2024 Kickoff H.T. (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Sporting Days Farm February Trials H.T. II (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Three Lakes Winter I H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Wednesday News and Reading

We’ve had some – admittedly, tentative and fleeting – signs of spring over here in the UK which can mean only one thing: Badminton approaches. Find out how things are coming along on site in Jane Tuckwell’s Director’s Blog.

Skipping out on your groundwork? You’re doing both you and your horse a disservice. As a new horse owner, if I had $1 for every time I’ve been told that groundwork is the key to all the niggles I’ve been experiencing, I could rest easy at night knowing my horse could be well fed for at least the next year. It’s all well and good enjoying your time in the saddle, but the real work begins on the ground, and if you put the effort into building a good foundation, you’ll reap the rewards in every other way you spend time with your horse. Australian Grand Prix dressage rider Nicholas Fyffe explains why groundwork is so important and shares three handy exercises you can work on right away.

We all know that what we put into our horses’ feed buckets comes out as poop, but that’s not all… Whenever I go to my feedstore I’m overwhelmed and perplexed at the vast array of different sacks stacked floor to ceiling. So many choices. But taking a pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey kind of approach to picking out a feed isn’t an option – not just nutritionally, but in terms of the massive impact feed can have on behavior too. Here’s a handy guide to what ingredients do what.

All that time at the barn adds up to some pretty neat transferable skills. From cleaning stalls and braiding manes to first aid and being handy with a power tool or two – here’s a look at what trainers think are the most useful barn skills they’ve picked up in their day-to-day activities.

Got yourself a smart cookie? Not sure if your equine pal’s a straight A kind of customer or a class clown? Put them to the test with this fun intelligence test for horses. Apparently I’ve got an Albert Einstein on my hands, which is obviously great when I want him to remember something good, but tricky when it means he’s got the brain capacity to plot multiple ways to use his smarts against me.

And finally, a tale about a horse and a girl. As a first generation horsegirl from a totally non-horsey family, I’m so envious of people who feel that horses are in their blood. For sure, I have horses in my heart, which I’ll take over not having horses in my life at all, and I know that moving forward, my daughter (and potential future grandkids) will be of the horsepeople breed. There’s just something about the love we find at the end of a leadrope, and if you’re looking for a heartwarming read to enjoy with your breakfast, this is for you. (Spoiler alert: it’s a tearjerker so perhaps have a tissue handy.)

Sponsor Corner

Come home to Ocala luxury! This gorgeous home is located on 4+ acres situated in an equestrian community just 4 miles from the World Equestrian Center. Check out this reel from Ocala Horse Properties to get the inside scoop.

Video Break

Here’s Saturday’s indoor eventing from Saumur for your enjoyment. The commentary is in French, so a chance to brush up before Paris, but let’s face it, horse is a universal language, n’est-ce pas?

Remembering Bendigo

By on Jan 30, 2024 9:30 am -

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Shelby Allen.

EN reporter and 5* rider Ema Klugman announced this week the passing of her veteran partner, Bendigo, following complications from colic surgery last week. The Saddlebred/Thoroughbred gelding was 22 years old.

Bendigo was the type of horse that was quickly written off as “not much” but “safe enough” when Ema first found him when she was just 14, with help from coach and mentor Packy McGaughan. 10 years old at the time, Bendigo had done some show jumping but was for all intents and purposes a diamond in the rough, and a horse Packy figured would be suitable for his student to do her first events and move up through Preliminary on.

Hold my beer, said Ben.

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“He’s full of surprises,” Ema told me ahead of her 5* debut at Kentucky in 2021. “He doesn’t have the scope or the raw ability of a horse like (Marilyn Little’s 4* winner) RF Scandalous or (Liz Halliday Sharp’s five-star horse) Deniro Z, so he kind of has to make his way. He just has a huge amount of heart.”

It’s a story we’ve heard many times, and it’s one that — speaking for myself, at least — we can find in our memories when asked why we love eventing as much as we do: The horse that wasn’t supposed to amount to much, but continued to surprise.

This was Bendigo.

We #BelieveInBendigo! Photo by Elena Perea.

He didn’t love dressage, but when Ema cantered down center line for the first time in Rolex Stadium, he was with her. He pulled average scores on the flat, but you could almost always count on him to jump right up the standings with his skills across the country and over the show jumps. Ema, as any other rider with a horse moving to 5* for the first time, was ready to learn whether or not she’d created a 5* horse over the better part of a decade.

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Sally Spickard.

I was positioned on cross country on the back third of the course. The question was two open corners at the top of a hill, following a long pull up from the famous infield section at Kentucky. I was nervous, as one is for a friend on cross country. Would Ben look winded at this point — probably almost 9 minutes into this grueling cross country test — doing his first 5* at the age of 19? But then I heard it:

“Whoaaaa, Ben…easy, buddy…whoaaaa, Ben.”

I heard it before I saw them, and nearly before I could focus my camera lens, Ema and Ben were through the combination and galloping away, the horse on the bridle and on the bit, ears flat and stride long. I shouldn’t have worried.

I know Ema would have wanted to finish what would be Bendigo’s final 5* at Maryland that year, but at the final water complex just a few questions from the finish, she pulled him up. He would have kept jumping and galloping, and they could have finished, but Ema made a decision in the moment. He owed her nothing, and he had begun to tell her he was tired. It was an anti-climatic finish on paper, and certainly a disappointment for any competitor, but that decision will continue to live in my brain as an example of what it means to finish with integrity — whatever that may mean on that day.

After he was retired from upper-level competition, Bendigo went on to teach other riders. He competed at the Area II Championships and the American Eventing Championships with amateur rider Julie Bigham at Training level.

He even took me for a flat ride last fall, thanks to Ema’s generosity.

I watch the video of myself riding Ben often. It was nothing major. I am very rusty, and it was wet outside. We worked on some basic canter pirouette work, and as I went back out to the long side, I could hear Ema on the other side of the camera, her voice full of fondness.

“Good boy! Good boy, Ben!”

We will all miss you, Bendigo.

My words are just mine. You can read some of Ema’s reflections on Bendigo’s career here. An excerpt from Ema feels like the most fitting ending to this tribute:

“The best way I can describe Bendigo is that he has imposter syndrome, ADHD, anxiety, stage fright, and probably several other unnamed demons that he had to overcome to become the horse he became for me. He was never “meant to be” a 5* horse, or even a four- or three-star horse for that matter. He is half-Saddlebred, after all! He (and we) attempted to go beyond who he was meant to be -— and he did that not for himself but for me. I won’t ever meet a horse with more generosity of spirit.”

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Jan 30, 2024 7:15 am -

 

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How great is this Accidentally Wes Anderson promotional image for the Paris Olympics? Who knew Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class (or at least, that’s my best guess at the horse and rider used) would look so pretty in pink? The closer we get to the Games, the more I realise that I’m probably on the cusp of losing my head completely and going full Emily in Paris this summer. Watch this space, folks. It might get weird.

Events Opening Today: Ram Tap National H.T., Pine Top Spring H.T., Ocala Winter II, Carolina International CCI & H.T.

Events Closing Today: Jumping Branch Farm H.T., Ram Tap H.T., Ocala Winter I

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

We all scour the labels on feed bags to ensure our horses are getting what they need (right?? It’s not just me doing this, is it?!) – but when it comes to hay, it’s not that straightforward to check the nutritional content. That’s a big issue, because forage is the largest part of your horse’s diet, but there’s good news: you can get the lowdown on your hay supply by getting a hay analysis done. Here’s everything you’ll learn, and how the process works.

Channel your inner DQ this week and try out these simple exercises. They’ll help you improve your stability through your leg and body, and keep your stirrup and lower leg in the right place in all three paces – which will have the knock-on effect of increasing communication, because your aids will be much clearer. The result? A horse that goes really, really nicely. Huzzah!

Great news for Canada’s Paralympians: as of Paris, they’ll receive the same pay as their Olympic colleagues, thanks to an $8 million endowment fund from the Paralympic Foundation of Canada. Find out more about this fund, and what it means for para athletes, here.

Ever thought about what the most powerful letter in the alphabet might be? No, it’s not A or X – good guess, though – it’s P. Daniel Stewart explains why in his latest Pressure Proof column for US Eventing. Plunge into the piece here.

And finally, goodbye to Karen Nyrop, the 2023 USEA Ironmaster Award winner and a truly excellent vet. A stalwart part of the teams at Kentucky and Maryland, her love for eventing took her around the country, and she was always happy to volunteer her services and expertise. Read more about her inspiring life here.

 

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Sponsor Corner: Don’t let your horse’s weight slip away this winter. Keep an eye on your horse’s body condition! Remember, it’s twice as hard to put the weight back on. What’s your horse’s body condition?

Watch This:

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Monday Video: More Mustang Magic with Elisa Wallace

By on Jan 29, 2024 3:30 pm -

About four months ago, our favorite Mustang training five-star eventer Elisa Wallace began a journey with a new Mustang in preparation for the Mustang Magic competition that took place last weekend in Forth Worth, Texas. Elisa picked out a flashy little 2019 palomino mare from the Sheepshead Heath Creek HMA in Oregon and dubbed her Dior.

Elisa and Dior had approximately 120 training days together ahead of last weekend’s competition, for which they had to prepare a freestyle routine that would show off their training and partnership. Watch their routine above and you can catch up with Elisa’s training vlogs on her YouTube channel. Despite a little hiccup where one of their props got stuck on Dior’s girth, the pair finished the competition in 6th place.

And auction for all the participating horses is held at the end of the competition and Dior was purchased by a young rider who trains with some of Elisa’s old students in Florida. Serendipity!

Weekend Winners: Full Gallop & Rocking Horse

By on Jan 29, 2024 12:00 pm -

Another weekend, another edition of Weekend Winners! We saw Eventers competing at Full Gallop and Rocking Horse, from the Pre-Starter to the Intermediate.

Congrats to all on successful rides! Shout out to all of these Weekend Winners, with a special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Michael Nolan and Newton AK, who scored 23.6 in the Open Novice B at Rocking Horse!

Full Gallop Farm January H.T (Aiken, SC) [Website][Scores]

Training HT: Larkyn Hendren and Castle’s Boy (33.3)
Novice HT: Lauren New and Supernova (28.6)
Novice CT: Darci Phelps and FGF Tiebreak (29.4)
Beginner Novice HT: Jennifer Fox and Galloway (27.7)
Beginner Novice CT: Jacel Charles Galloway and Visionaries Protege (34.4)
Starter HT A: Stella McGuire and Lucky Clover (32.7)
Starter HT B: Sophia Simone Brady-Owen and FGF Saratoga Vintage (30.7)
Starter CT: Samantha Loomis and Worth the Wait (34.3)
Pre Starter HT: Darrelle Powell and Melody (64.6)
Pre Starter CT: Lillian Whitehead and Sweet Potato (36.6)

Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website][Scores]

Intermediate Rider: Devin Robel and Gillou (31.4)
Open Intermediate A: Leslie Law and Lady Chatterley (31.6)
Open Intermediate B: Lexi Scovil and Chico’s Man VDF Z (31.8)
Open Intermediate One Day A: Bruce Davidson Jr. and Erroll Gobey (32.4)
Open Intermediate One Day B: Ava Wehde and Bonaire (26.8)
Intermediate/Preliminary: Anna Loschiavo and Fernhill One Too Many (34.2)
Open Preliminary A: Gabrielle Ruane and RHS Obora’s Goldwing (30.8)
Open Preliminary B: Madison Temkin and SH Just for Laughs (30.3)
Open Preliminary One Day: Lea Adams-Blackmore and Frostbite (26.2)
Preliminary Horse: Katie Malensek and Valeska (24.0)
Preliminary Rider: Beth Murphy and Jimba (29.4)
Modified Rider: Ella Hubert and Ardeo Dance Monkey (35.8)
Open Modified A: Tik Maynard and Kayan (28.5)
Open Modified B: Kendyl Tracy and Justified (25.5)
Junior Training Rider: Ava Applebaum and FE City Boy (26.9)
Open Training A: Madison Temkin and Fernhill Bertus (26.7)
Open Training B: Jane Stephenson and Rock Phoenix (25.8)
Open Training C: Sara Kelson and Hanslough Diamond (23.9)
Senior Training Rider: Lillianna Killpack and One New Moon (31.9)
Training Horse A: Chris Talley and Sky Moon (24.4)
Training Horse B: Jonathan Holling and Chaplain (29.7)
Junior Novice Rider: Owen Isrow and Wonderful Courage (31.4)
Novice Horse: Lindsay Bouscaren and SF Darc Justice (25.8)
Open Novice A: Robin Walker and Rock Island (28.3)
Open Novice B: Michael Nolan and Newton AK (23.6)
Senior Novice Rider: Liz Kast and Luftmann MWF (28.3)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Samantha Lovell and Bila-Shak (32.9)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Coco Fiorita and Oskar (26.8)
Open Beginner Novice A: Ava Vanselous and Nomorestorms (31.8)
Open Beginner Novice B: Sinead Maynard and Fernhill Nico (30.6)

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Jan 29, 2024 8:42 am -

 

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You know how I know it’s definitely an Olympic year? January’s still not over (seriously, how long is this month?) and several Federations have already hit the ground running with some seriously intensive, star-studded training. The Swiss are really leading the charge here: they’ve had Chris Bartle, Thomas Fuchs, Oliver Oelrich, and Laura Collett out to help them across the phases, and Bartle’s been a busy boy in Belgium, too, recently. I’d love to see either of these nations vying for a medal this year after the huge amount of work they’ve been putting in across this Olympic cycle.

National Holiday: It’s National Puzzle Day. My horse is always a puzzle to me, so I suppose that works.

US Weekend Action:

Full Gallop Farm January H.T (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Results]

Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

Could the ground jury benefit from keeping someone stationed in the riders’ tent on cross-country day? This is a question that was posed at the FEI’s Eventing Seminar last week by Chris Bartle, who pointed out that these tents, with their multiple screens, tend to fill up with riders and coaches throughout the day, offering up a huge wealth of knowledge in one small space – and, generally, straightforward commentary and opinions about what’s happening, both with the course and with fellow competitors. Most pertinently, keeping a ground jury member stationed there could, he posits, help officials make quicker decisions about pulling tired horses up. Find out more about why, and how, this could work here.

This week, in dispatches from the lesson barn: what happens when horses are snowed in, kiddos are snowed out, but the diary’s packed and everyone’s pre-paid for a semester of lessons? Online learning, of course, and the chance to focus on horsemanship. Honestly, sign me up immediately.

Thinking about taking up a working student position in 2024? Great – you could level yourself up as a rider and horseman in every single way, as long as you choose wisely when picking a program. Canadian dressage rider Gina Smith explains how her program works, and helps you to narrow down your choices, in this handy piece.

Keeping it calm is best while training horses – and that’s scientifically proven. Researchers at Nottingham Trent University in the UK conducted a study on horses’ ability to learn while in a state of arousal (that’s, um, the bog-standard elevated heart rate kind, not the freaky kind, don’t worry). Cognitive function, it was found, increased enormously in relaxed horses, which is a salient reminder that if a training session isn’t going well, getting frustrated yourself probably isn’t going to save it.

Morning Viewing:

Watch Boyd Martin ride under the tutelage of Danish dressage legend Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour in a masterclass at Dressage at Devon (and tune in for the whole show on Horse & Country TV!)

BEDE to Return to Ballot Entries System for 2024 British Eventing Season

By on Jan 28, 2024 12:17 pm -

Bubby Upton pilots Cola III around Thoresby’s spring CCI4*-S fixture. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

BEDE Events, which runs popular events including Oasby, the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby, the first British four-star of the season, Osberton International Horse Trials, and a roster of national events, can confirm a return to the standard ballot system for British Eventing entries.

Entries for will open on 29th January for Oasby (1), which takes place from March 7-10 in Lincolnshire.  As one of the most well attended fixtures in the early season calendar, competitors are urged to get their entry in ahead of ballot on the 6th February.

Of the decision, BEDE Director Stuart Buntine commented: “Despite our enthusiasm for change and to move areas of the sport forward, we will be moving back to a ballot system for entries as per the British Eventing rules.  We had hoped that changes to the BE entries systems would be in place for the start of the 2024 season, however this has not been possible and as we saw last year the system could not cope with the surge in volume for first-come-first-served entries.

“This will undoubtedly come as a disappointment to many who felt that the first-come-first-served system offered confidence in their entry and allowed them to plan in advance without the risk of either not gaining their entry or having the day of competition changed.

”We will continue to work with British Eventing to support the development of a more robust system, in order for a first-come-first-served approach to be adopted.”

Rosie Williams said, “Whilst the objective is to modernise our incumbent entries system, the complexity of eventing means it is a considerable technical challenge.  We rely heavily on the partnerships we have with our organisers and we look forward to continuing the work we have been doing with Stuart and others to achieve our aim.”

2023 entries for Oasby (1), which was later sadly abandoned due to snow, filled within 24-hours.  A significant entry is once again expected for the 2024 fixture, with BEDE opting for a reduced window for entries giving them increased time to plan the event for the relevant level of entries.

Oasby (1) will play host to three new BEDE Events leagues – the EcoVoltz League that focuses on horse/rider combinations and runs across all classes, the Agria BE100 league and the Arena Saddles Novice league.  Details for all leagues, and registration links, can be found via the BEDE Events website.

Further information can be found via www.bede-events.co.uk

Sunday Links from Etalon Equine Genetics

By on Jan 28, 2024 12:01 am -

Reason #8,122 in favor of developing a horse-girl-only city where every property has a barn and there are indoor arenas instead of shopping centers (Aiken, hit me up for more genius tips) — can we all just agree that we need more excuses to wear our perfectly-crafted and expensive show ring attire?

Hear me out: business meetings? Show coats and breeches. Formal events in Horse-Girl City? Tails and whites. Supplements, poultice, and pony treats are available in the grocery store next to the pharmacy; splint boots and saddle pads are across from the kitchenware. You can break in your new field boots at work or going to dinner. Seriously, let’s get on this.

U.S. Weekend Action

Full Gallop Farm January H.T (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Working with Young Horses: “Don’t Think About It” — Yeah, Right

Liz Halliday is cleaning up in the dressage rings at WEC

Speaking of WEC, there are even more changes coming to the World Equestrian Center in Ocala

A New Year’s Resolution: Put On the Breeches

Go figure: the more relaxed a horse is the better it is at learning new tasks, study finds

Sponsor Corner: This once orphaned Premarin foal found his family thanks to an Etalon Equine Genetics DNA test. Check out the full story of how one woman bought a Shire x TB off Craigslist only to discover years later that he was actually a well-bred Connemara.

Photo courtesy of Liz Hall.

Morning Viewing: Your horse is an athlete, just like you, which means their mental health is just as important as your own. In the above-linked Nottingham Trent University study on relaxed equine learning, lead researcher Louise Evans explains, “In their day-to-day lives, horses require behavioral flexibility, the ability to adapt to changing environments, such as different riders and handlers. However, we also need horses to have excellent cognitive control so that we can safely rely on them to give consistent responses to important commands such as ‘slow down’ or ‘stop.'”

Cognitive control and behavioral flexibility likely aren’t things we typically focus on in our weekly lessons, but in this video published by US Equestrian, Dr. Duncan Peters explains how social, nutritional, cognitive, and movement requirements can help us to more adequately maintain our horses’ mental health.

Try This Strength and Balance Drill for All Disciplines from Pippa Funnell

By on Jan 27, 2024 10:00 am -

In a true exemplification of the “never stop learning” adage, Rolex Grand Slam winner Pippa Funnell shared a training exercise that’s useful for all disciplines as we prep for another season. Using just a few poles set up strategically and a few small jumps, Pippa demonstrates a technical exercise ridden without stirrups to strengthen the rider’s balance and position.

You can see Pippa demonstrating the exercise in the video below (can’t see it? Click here to watch it on Instagram). Notice how she uses her seat, leg, and body to collect and execute downward transitions, using this change in balance to affect the horse’s stride without leveraging on the bit.

Watch, then try it for yourself!