When people ask me what it’s like to “go fast” on a horse, I often find it’s quite hard to actually describe. Even for me, a more timid rider than some, there really is nothing to replace the true freedom felt on the back of a horse. This clip from Cambox’s Instagram is probably a good replacement for the words that I can’t ever seem to find!
Want more helmet cam action? I collected a few more clips to enjoy:
Cambox is currently on sale for up to 30% off! Click here to score a deal.
A total of 29 youth athletes participated in the inaugural Adequan/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge Aiken on March 25-27, 2021, at Stable View Farm in Aiken, S.C., representing Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8.
A new USEF Eventing program launched in 2021 as an evolution of the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC), the Youth Team Challenge (YTC) mimics the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series by offering youth athletes between the FEI ages of 14-25 the opportunity to compete for their Areas in selected short-format competitions throughout the season, culminating in a long-format Final in the fall on both coasts.
“We were thrilled with the strong response from athletes across seven different Areas to make the inaugural Adequan/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge Aiken such a success,” said Jenni Autry, USEF Managing Director of Eventing. “The feedback from athletes has been very encouraging, and we will continue to seek ways to promote, grow, and expand this program in its pilot year and beyond. Creating team opportunities for youth athletes is a vitally important component of the Eventing Pathway, and the Youth Team Challenge provides a format for us to facilitate these opportunities.”
CCI3*-S Team and Individual Results
The Area 2 team of Sydney Solomon, 23, (Dayton, Md.) and her own and Leslie Solomon’s FE Mactan; Meg Pellegrini, 16, (Wayne, Pa.) and her own RF Eloquence; Isabelle Bosley, 23, (Cochranville, Pa.) and her own Night Quality; and Calli Lipping, 19, (Bethesda, Md.) and her own Wild Affair topped the YTC CCI3*-S podium on a final team score of 148.5. Two double-clear show jumping rounds around Chris Barnard’s tough track ultimately boosted the team to victory.
Area 4’s team of Greta Schwickert, 22, (Kasota, Minn.) and her own and Jane and Kent Schwickert’s Matchless; Kristine Burgess, 22, (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and her own Twoggeron; and Caitlyn Ruud, 17, (Franksville, Wisc.) and Light Speed Equestrian’s Up to You de Lorage took second place in the CCI3*-S team results. A scramble team of Area 2’s Vanessa Stoltzfus, 22, (Lancaster, Pa.) and Teddy Sarc; Area 5’s Kit Ferguson, 19, (Tulsa, Okla.) and Cilbhrid Tom; and Area 4’s Caitlyn Ruud and MGH Heartbeat finished third.
In the individual CCI3*-S YTC standings, Area 2’s Isabelle Bosley and Night Quality took the top podium spot on a final score of 32.9, which placed them third overall in a large field of more than 50 combinations. Bosley said her clear round inside the time on Capt. Mark Phillips’ cross-country course stands out as a highlight of the competition.
“My goal was a good run to prep us for the bigger shows later in the spring. He did a good dressage test and felt super in show jumping. By that point, I knew we were in a competitive spot and thought we would go for the time on cross-country. He was really bold cross-country and gave me a great feeling all the way around. I was thrilled. I wanted to get a good confident run, and it was a cherry on top to have the result we did,” Bosley said, adding that she enjoyed competing in a team environment.
“I work for and train with Lillian Heard. The Area 2 team consisted of my coworker, Calli, and Meg and Sydney, who are both students of Lillian. We are all close already, so it made it really fun that we were all able to compete together. It gave the weekend a bit of a special of feel to it. It’s really fun to have the team environment, and it makes the whole show more exciting and makes you more jazzed for all phases because you want to do the best you can for your teammates.”
The YTC Aiken was Bosley’s first team experience, as she had not previously participated at NAYC.
“Previously I had never applied for NAYC because it wasn’t as affordable and realistic for me, as I needed to be able to work and couldn’t be away from home for so long. With this new format, I was able to groom and work for Lillian while competing in the Team Challenge, so it makes it much more accessible for me. NAYC didn’t fit in with my schedule and my life, but this is something that can definitely work for me.”
Area 8’s Alex Baugh,19, (Lexington, Ky.) and Altorac Farm’s Mr. Candyman finished second in the YTC CCI3*-S individual standings and 11th overall on a final score of 42.0. Area 2’s Meg Pellegrini and RF Eloquence finished third in the YTC standings and 16th overall on a final score of 45.3.
CCI2*-S Team and Individual Results
Weather delays did not stop the Area 1 team of Elizabeth Gill, 18, (Wellesley, Mass.) and her own Opportunity Knoxx; Libby Scruton, 18, (Elizaville, N.Y.) and her own One and Only; Ayden Schain, 17, (Bradford, Vt.) and Dawn Barclay’s Fernhill Hole Shot; and Jack Curtis, 17, (Beverly, Mass.) and Betsy Curtis’s Luska Candy Clover from leading the CCI2*-S team competition from start to finish. The team delivered three double-clear cross-country rounds to finish on a team score of 96.4.
The scramble team for Areas 3 and 4 of Katarina Midgley, 18, (Franklin, Tenn.) and her own Ditch; Mya Poulos, 16, (Barrington Hills, Ill.) and her own Sir Duke; Carly Blank, 16, (Alpharetta, Ga.) and her own Connacht Dinin; and Rebecca Roth, 16, (Malone, Wisc.) and Stephanie Roth’s Chapter Two took second place on a score of 134.3.
Rounding out the top three teams was the scramble team for Areas 5 and 2 of Anna Pierce, 20, (McGregor, Texas) and her own and Diane Pierce’s Obiejohn; Mikayla Cutler, 19, (Annapolis, Md.) and her own Reverie; Kenna Jensen, 17, (League City, Texas) and her own Gowiene; and Vienna Allport, 14, (Rockwall, Texas) and Darren Allport’s DHI Zatopek B.
Area 1 also swept the CCI2*-S individual standings, with Ayden Schain and Fernhill Hole Shot taking top honors, finishing on their dressage score of 30.9 to place the combination eighth in a competitive division of more than 60 horses. This was the first FEI competition and first team competition for Schain, and she said the pressure of the team environment changed the feel of the competition.
“[Fernhill Hole Shot] had some of his best work in the dressage, so I was really pleased with him. He’s a really nice moving horse, so the dressage comes very naturally to him. He’s like a dancing partner, and that’s been fun for me to feel. The show jumping was foot perfect. He’s a bigger horse at 17.2, so the jumps aren’t super big for him and he’s pretty scopey. On the cross-country, he’s really come a long way since I’ve had him. It was a great confidence-boosting round for us. He’s gotten really brave, and to feel that over the last year has been fun. I felt like it all came together on course,” Schain said.
“Normally when I compete, I am really competitive, but I know I’m only competing for myself and against myself. But with the team, I felt like every time I went in the arena or left the start box, the pressure was on. It was a different feeling, but I really liked it knowing that the team score was on the line. I was last to go out for the team on cross-country and everyone before me had clear rounds, and I knew I had to jump clean and I had to go fast. I hadn’t made time with him yet, and I made time at Stable View. Knowing the pressure was on made me really push for it.”
Looking to the rest of the YTC CCI2*-S standings, Jack Curtis and Luska Candy Clover finished second on the individual leaderboard and ninth overall in the division on a final score of 31.0. Libby Scruton and One and Only rounded out the top three in the individual YTC standings and placed 16th on a final score of 34.5.
The YTC also offers a new opportunity for athletes between the FEI ages of 14-18 to participate at the CCI1* level. While no Areas brought forward teams for the CCI1*, Area 1’s Crockett Miller, 15, (Ellerslie, Ga.) and her own Mr. Panda added only one rail in show jumping to their dressage score of 32.6 to top the individual YTC CCI1* leaderboard and finish second overall in the division.
Barry Olliff, owner of Stable View Farm, was thrilled to add the YTC to the venue’s spring FEI competition, which also hosted a CCI4*-S in addition to the other FEI levels.
“Stable View was very proud to have hosted the first Youth Team Challenge,” Olliff said. “Apart from some heavy rain, which was great for cross-country, the three days went very smoothly and the competition went well. This is a great format for the future of U.S. Eventing.”
Team Results
Individual Results
Thank you to Adequan for their title sponsorship of the Adequan/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge, and to Attwood Equestrian Surfaces for donating a cooler to the top-placed individuals in the CCI2*-S and CCI3*-S.
Learn more about the Youth Team Challenge and future competitions on the USEF Eventing website at usef.org/eventing.
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With Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton virtually on lock to represent the U.S. at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, team selectors have issued a call for a third Ameristralian to round out the squad.
“Our preference is that the individual actually be from Australia,” says U.S. Eventing Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander, who represented Sweden at the 1992 Olympics and coached Japanese, Swedish, and New Zealand teams before coming stateside. “If they already live in the U.S. — I’m looking at you Ryan Wood, Dom Schramm, Clayton Fredericks — great, but preexisting citizenship isn’t a prerequisite. We would welcome and fast-track a green card for Chris Burton, Andrew Hoy, Sam Griffiths, Shane Rose, Bill Levett … the list goes on and on.”
Erik notes that being male is not necessarily mandatory, but having an Australian accent is.
“The accent is of paramount importance,” Duvander explains. “An Australian accent isn’t something you can just train into riders. They either have it, or they don’t. We’ve been trying for years to train an accent into otherwise would-be Olympians and it rarely takes.”
For instance, he says, they’ve had Liz Halliday-Sharp in twice-weekly sessions with a voice coach. She is also required to eat every other meal at Outback Steakhouse. “At this point, though, the clock is ticking,” Duvander says. “If only Liz could say ‘I’ll have the shrimp on the barbie with a side of bloomin’ onion, mate’ to a server as well and convincingly as she rides, she’d be a shoo-in for the team. But with only four months left before Tokyo, to have any shot at a podium finish we have to explore other options.”
Since title sponsorship of the U.S. Eventing Team, formerly held by British automaker Land Rover, was taken over by Vegemite last month, the team’s reinvention of its brand identity from American to Australian is more imperative now than ever.
“Vegemite is actually a really apt metaphor for our team,” says Jenni Autry, USEF Managing Director of Eventing. “Like, what is Vegemite, even? Nobody knows. Nobody cares. Nobody is thinking, when they sink their teeth into a slice of toast slathered with Vegemite, I wonder where this meaty, salty goo came from. You don’t get all existential about it. You just eat it. You embrace the mystery.”
“As long as the mystery is from Australia,” Duvander adds.
Happy April Fool’s!
Doing my eventing duty and loving a beach day!
Posted by Suzanne Adams on Saturday, March 27, 2021
Beach day, indeed! Well, minus the fog at Stable View the other weekend. Honestly though, I’d prefer fence judging over hanging out at the beach any day. There might still be a risk of sun burn if you don’t get a nice shady fence to look after, but it’s much more socially acceptable to wear long sleeves and pants and you (probably) won’t get sand in weird places.
There are three events this weekend that are still in need of volunteers, with fence judging and a bunch of other jobs still available. Sign up and pitch in!
We’ve compiled some resources on volunteering with COVID-19 regulations in mind. We’ll reference this list each week in Volunteer Nation, so take a few moments to familiarize yourself with what’s new and different.
COVID-19 Resources for Eventers
Volunteers Adapt to the New Normal
Volunteers Weigh In on New COVID-19 Protocols
As always, you can earn merit points when you donate your time through the USEA’s Volunteer Incentive Program. Registering to volunteer through EventingVolunteers.com makes it easy and seamless to both find a job and shift as well as learn what your role will entail.
Event: The Fork at Tryon 2021
Dates: Thursday, April 1st through Sunday, April 4th
Address:25 International Blvd, Mill Spring, NC
Positions Available: Vet Scribe, Dressage Warm Up, Dressage In Gate Steward, Dressage Score Runner, Dressage Scribe, XC Crossing Guard, XC Finish Timer, XC Jump Judge, XC Jump Videographer, SJ Scorers, SJ Warm Up
Event: Pine Hill Spring Horse Trials
Dates: Saturday, April 3rd
Address: 1720 Hwy 159 East, Bellville, TX
Positions Available: Dressage Warm Up, XC Crossing Guard, XC Jump Judge, Event Takedown – XC
Event: Rocking Horse Spring H.T.
Dates: Friday, April 2nd through through Sunday, April 4th
Address: 44200 S.R. 19 N, Altoona, FL
Positions Available: General Help
Michael Jung on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW
Photo Taken by Cindy Lawler
Breaking news, EN! We’ve just received word from a special source all the way in Germany that a certain German will be loading a certain German horse onto a plane in a few weeks’ time and heading to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. If you guessed Michael Jung, you’d be correct. Nevermind that a shutdown of FEI events has all but stalled competitions all throughout Europe this spring. Nevermind that he retired his legendary champion, La Biosthetique Sam, in 2018. And never mind that he’s already got two Kentucky wins under his belt — he’s coming back for more, and he’s bringing Sam, now 21 years young, with him.
Though the winters in Germany aren’t exactly tropical, La Biosthetique Sam, like the eventing king he is, knows how to keep a certain level of fitness. Michael is never one to underprepare his horses, so you can trust that Sam likely has lost little fitness in his “retirement.” As shown below, he and fischerRocana tend to keep up their own trot sets — rain, shine or snow.
Preparations for a five-star begin well in advance, aiming to peak both horse and rider fitness at precisely the right time. The stalwart campaigner Sam also understands the importance of recovery, as exemplified here:
Photo via Michael Jung.
Michael didn’t respond to request for comment — though we’re certain if he had, he would have told us that he has a “very good feeling” regarding his upcoming trip to Kentucky and that he’s packed both of his Rolex watches as good luck charms.
Happy April Fool’s!
Honey, we’ve all been there. Photo by Kayleigh Taylor.
I’m a big podcast person, in fact I consume them at an unreasonable rate all day every day. Like horse movies and television shows, it’s hard to find horse podcasts that are accurate, informational, and entertaining without being annoying. Recently I’ve been really digging the Journey On podcast with Warwick Schiller, and highly recommend it for anybody who is interested in thinking about our relationships with horses in a little different light. So often we are just consumed with our achievements and competition results, but there is so much more to horsemanship and alternative modalities within the equestrian world, I personally find it fascinating!
U.S. Weekend Preview:
The Fork at TIEC: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Pine Hill H.T.: [Website] [Volunteer]
Rocking Horse Spring H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
International Preview:
🇬🇧 Aston-Le-Walls Elite: [Website]
🇦🇺 WAYER International CCI: [Website] [Entries]
News From Around the Globe:
Why is winning a certain event not necessarily as “big a deal” as winning another event? Winning Aachen is not the same as winning some of the other CCI4*-S events. Winning Badminton holds a special prestige because it’s not the same as winning some of the other five-stars. One of the reasons why winning one competition could be considered more satisfying than winning another has to do with field strength. Who is coming to these events? Who are you beating? The EquiRatings Eventing Elo points us to the most-competitive CCI4*-S, CCI4*-L and CCI5* venues in the world. [The World’s Most Competitive Events]
If you’ve ever felt frustrated that you weren’t born with killer confidence in the saddle, fear not: confidence is a skill like any other, which means you can learn it. By using some relatively simple practices every day and at competition, you can train your brain and your body to feel and act more confident. Constantly reliving mistakes can dent your confidence by continuing to keep you in a negative space, but focusing on the positives takes work. [Confidence Training]
Does your horse have bit lesions? Bruises and open sores from bit use are common even in competition horses, although many riders are unaware they’ve occurred. In a study carried out at national and international cross-country events, researchers found more horses with bit-related lesions than horses without—and most of the riders had no idea. Out of 208 horses examined after cross country, 52% had at least one fresh lesion, meaning it was new and probably just happened. About 39% of the all the horses had bruising, and 19% had one or more open wounds. Lesions were mild in 22% of the horses, moderate in 26%, and severe in 4%. [Bit Related Lesions Common in Event Horses]
The Kentucky Horse Park opens Wednesday for its spring season. Everyone is excited to open on time this year and bring back some activities they couldn’t hold during the pandemic. Along with having the theater, museum and barns open, this year’s spring season means the return of some activities that weren’t held last summer, like trolley rides, which begin in May, and getting more time with horses. Don’t miss the mares and foals in the Clydesdale barn! [KY Horse Park Reopens]
Did you know that Ecovet is the only insect repellant that improves insect related skin sensitivity? Nothing is worse than waking up and realizing your horse rubbed half his tail out overnight, or scratched all his mane out on the fence. Ecovet lasts all day, and provides insect repellant like you wouldn’t believe. It’s truly worth the hype. [Ecovet Fly Spray]
After the longest of winters, it’s beyond exciting to usher in the start of England’s eventing season – a few weeks later than normal, perhaps, but better late than never, right? Though the British Eventing membership at large will get to stretch their legs this weekend, the last couple of weeks have been all about getting elite riders – those preparing for five-stars and championships – out on course. And boy, oh boy, has it been fun to see some of the very best horses and riders in the world doing their thing.
Even though her schedule’s suddenly a whole lot busier, queen of the vlogosphere Piggy March has still found time to document her first competition back, giving the broader eventing world a chance to experience this special behind-closed-doors competition. Sit back, relax, and head to the Midlands to get to grips with Oasby Elite Horse Trials. It’s good to be back.
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For over 1,000 accepted trainers in this year’s unique blend of 2020 and 2021 competitors, the journey to the Retired Racehorse Project’s 2020/2021 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, is underway! The event, which combines entries from 2020 with 2021 due to the cancellation of the Makeover last year, will take place at Oct. 12-17 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Between now and then, several eventing trainers will be blogging their journeys, including their triumphs and their heartbreaks, successes and failures, for Eventing Nation readers. To read other blogs from this year’s Road to the Makeover, click here.
In her first blog, Lindsay Gilbert, a young professional and owner of Transitions Sport Horses based in Georgetown, Ky., outlines the characteristics of a good re-trainer. Lindsay is an advocate for the OTTB and has been participating in the Thoroughbred Makeover since 2016. She has successfully competed on the hunter/jumper, dressage and eventing circuits and brought along dozens of OTTBs for success in multiple rings.
Heading into my 4th (er, maybe 5th?) year of participating in the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover (things are starting to blur together a bit – thanks 2020), I’ve taken a step back to think about what a journey this has been. From that first year of acceptance, a brand new transplant to Lexington, I stood cleaning a stall at a hunter barn when my I felt my phone buzz with that first “Congratulations! You’ve Been Accepted” email. And now, I own a farm full of boarders, sales horses and training clients. There are more horses to ride than hours in the day and I fully attribute the crazy journey I’ve been on the last 5 years to that first Makeover experience.
Yes, so much has changed but a lot hasn’t. Like the feelings I had reading that first acceptance email and how I still battle those same thoughts every day when I step into the stirrups; be it on a fresh off-track Thoroughbred or a fancy warmblood I could never afford.
Over the years, I’ve also grown. As a rider, as a trainer and as a business-woman. My seat has gotten more independent, my hands steadier, the jumps a bit higher and my eye for a nice horse more refined. As my business grows, there are days I feel I’ve hit my stride in finding those diamond-in-the-rough types, polishing them up and making them into upstanding citizens that make their new riders extremely happy. There are also days I dump a whole wheelbarrow of muck on myself or can’t canter a circle of poles – but more on that later…
But just last week, as I loaded one of my sales horses on a trailer, heading out sight unseen after just a few days on the market, I wondered to myself, as I have so many times before, “Why did no one else take a chance on this horse? How did so many others prior to me let this horse pass by?” Maybe they didn’t see what I did, maybe they know something I don’t, or maybe it was just dumb luck on my part. Whatever the reason, being able to spot a nice horse and take the steps to develop them is what I’ve built my business on – Thank you again, RRP!
And since the first step in everyone’s Makeover journey is choosing the right mount, I’ve decided to share my secrets with you.
Three characteristics of a good re-trainer:
1. A Sense of Humor
Using your imagination and having a sense of humor: priceless! Photo courtesy of Lindsay Gilbert.
This one is pretty self explanatory because, you know, #horses. When I chose this year’s Makeover mount, ItsTheBourbonTalkn, my sense of humor appreciated his name and I will fully admit that I took him home for that reason only. But when I first met the 8-year-old gelding by Tale of the Cat, I had to giggle a bit. The ad I responded to showed a sleek and fit gelding with a nice shoulder, kind eye and just a bit of chrome. Here’s what came home with me:
In this industry there can be so much stress and the pressure of the Makeover’s timeline just exacerbates that. If you can’t laugh at yourself, your horses and the situations you find yourself in, it’ll be a long, hard road. So grab a beer (or a bourbon), laugh off the lost shoes, make friends with your vet so you enjoy the times you see them, and realize that all the ridiculousness now just makes for a good story later. (If you see me at RRP, ask me to tell you about the time I dumped an entire wheelbarrow of muck on myself in front of Robbie Murphy.)
2. A Good Imagination
Luckily for me, I was able to see photos of Bourbon on the track before I brought him home. I could tell what was underneath his winter fluff and had no problem imagining him well-groomed, properly muscled and as the athlete he is. But that’s not always the case. More times than not, it’s up to us as trainers to be able to visualize what could be – a little muscling here, a little fat there, a pulled mane and a healthy sheen to their body. It’s amazing what a little imagination can do.
Take my $300 craigslist pony for example —
These photos were taken roughly two-and-a-half years apart. Looking at her in the first photo, it’s no wonder I was able to buy her for pocket change off a craigslist ad. But when I watched her move (despite the fact that she was running away from me in the field), I knew I had to have her.
3. Patience
Photo courtesy of Lindsay Gilbert.
Last, but certainly not least, is a healthy does of patience. Yes, it took two-and-a-half years for the horse above to grow, develop and blossom into the stunning mare she is. And it’s not uncommon for the process to take years, especially if you’re on a tight timeline (that’s why we start with a sense of humor).
Almost every horse in my barn needs me to be patient at the beginning of our relationship. When Bourbon arrived, he had come off a year-long layoff, wasn’t used to being brought into the barn and had no idea what I wanted from him. He learned quickly, but that also meant he quickly learned how to get out of the things. Like refusing to be caught or breaking the cross-ties every. single. time I walked out of sight. Nevertheless, I persisted in my patience, and here we are, 5 months later, he’s the biggest puppy dog and my daughter’s favorite horse to ride.
Please excuse the mud and rain rot. Did I mention this is a process? So have some fun, laugh it off, imagine what could be and be prepared to practice your patience. I guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised. See you in October!
In this excerpt from her book Beyond the Track, Thoroughbred Program Director for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program Anna Ford explains the four things you need to consider before beginning a retraining program for your off-the-track Thoroughbred.
Photo courtesy of New Vocations Racehorse Adoption.
Before you begin to work your new horse it is essential that you seriously think about what you expect of his future now that you know him better. It would be ideal if there was a set training program for every Thoroughbred that retires from racing, but each horse is an individual that requires a system specifically tailored to his needs. Each horse progresses at his own rate, according to his history, temperament, intelligence, and the quality of training.
Keeping this in mind, there are four questions you should ask yourself as you develop a plan:
1: What are my goals for this horse?
You should have specific goals in mind when you adopt or purchase an OTTB, and with those goals in mind, you should choose a horse with the potential to perform in the discipline you are interested in pursuing. Now that you have your horse home and are getting to know his personality and physical capabilities, it is time to reexamine those goals. Are they still realistic?
If you took your time researching and finding the right Thoroughbred, they should be—but now they need to become more specific (for example, “I want a lower-level event horse” should evolve into “I want to compete at Beginner Novice by the end of next year”). Break your goals down to weekly, monthly, and even yearly objectives: defining your goals will give you something to aim toward and focus on. And, identifying attainable goals as a series of stepping stones will provide the framework for a progressive training plan.
Unless you merely want to trail ride or hack out, your horse’s training will eventually be geared for one discipline or another, but try to remember that not every horse fulfills his owner’s initial desires: an event prospect could actually turn out to be better suited to the hunter ring if he begins to show a dislike of cross-country jumps or dressage work. An athletic horse that gets quick and nervous over jumps might be happier in the dressage ring. Stay flexible and be willing to modify your plan as you go along.
2: What will this horse require to be physically prepared for training?
A Thoroughbred, fresh off the track, needs time to let down from that extremely demanding and fast-paced environment. But, contrary to what you might think, the early phase of his transition can actually be stressful—despite the rest and quiet—because everything to which he is accustomed is changing. You must develop a plan to take care of his body—his physical needs—as it changes along with his lifestyle. So, concentrate on his nutrition, turnout schedule, shoeing program, and other aspects of his physical health. And, if the horse is recovering from an injury or illness, consult your veterinarian to ensure sufficient rehabilitation prior to beginning more serious training.
When your horse is sound, has a good appetite and a bright expression, and exhibits good body condition, then he is probably physically ready to start his new job.
3: What will this horse require to be mentally prepared for training?
Your new horse will need help to mentally adjust to his new life, as well. When he shows signs of stress or becomes unsettled, it is your job to find ways to help him relax. The first step is to provide a consistent, regular schedule so he feels comfortable and calm rather than anxious. Establish this with a daily routine that includes turnout time with at least one other horse, set feeding times that do not change erratically, and—eventually—training sessions at a regular hour of the day. If possible, it is also important to spend other non-riding time (the more the better) with your horse to best develop a relationship with him. Grooming and daily handling will help your horse get to know you and eventually develop a special connection with you. Thoroughbreds tend to seek human attention and form a quick bond with their handlers.
If your horse seems happy and at ease in his new home, and is no longer overwhelmed by simple tasks or fretful when tied, turned out, or being led, then his mind will likely benefit from the introduction of new stimuli via a training program.
4: Who can help me with the training process?
Turning a racehorse into a relaxed and happy riding horse is a challenging task. Unless you have a lot of experience training horses, I advise you to seek professional help, especially if this is your first time working with a horse off the track. You may not need a trainer every day, but once-a-week lessons can ensure you are doing right by the horse and give you help when needed. Even if you are a professional, it never hurts to have a set of eyes on the ground, or someone who can observe you and your horse together and make educated suggestions for improving your training program.
This excerpt from Beyond the Track by Anna Ford is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com).
Lucinda Green MBE certainly needs little introduction. A World and European eventing champion, multiple-time Badminton and Burghley winner, and an Olympic medalist, she can these days be found running the Lucinda Green XC Academy and teaching the next generation of event riders. In response to Ema Klugman’s recent opinion editorial on the safety of cross country schooling, Lucinda provides her perspective on how to best improve your cross country riding skills.
Photo by Samantha Clark.
Be careful not to price or place cross country training out of people’s reach – if Michael Jung trains his horses on cross country twice per week, then most of us need to do much more cross country training than we presently do.
If rules are put in place that make it so that we can’t go without an instructor, this will multiply expenses and make organisation more difficult – meaning less riders will be able or willing to go school as frequently as they need to.
It is such a difficult question as I see exactly where the problem is coming from – cross country education is hugely important – which is why I’ve started up the on line Lucinda Green XC Academy. But so is the 10,000 hour theory (promoted by author Malcolm Gladwell as the “magic number to greatness”): practice, practice, practice.
Killaire and Lucinda Green. Photo by Kit Houghton/Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.
In addition to more practice over cross country questions, the mindset also needs to alter: we should all seek out and embrace difficult ground in our daily hacks – or as frequently as possible for those who have to trailer to hack. Don’t be frightened to go “off piste” in the woods or at the edge of tracks. Take on bumps, steep banks (keep them straight), traverse deep tractor tracks,etc. – just be sure to watch out for rabbit holes, traps, broken bottles, and other hazards!
Give your horse his head and steer him accurately on a long rein with your legs and weight. Allow your horse to practice his “hand-eye” coordination which results in his sure-footedness.
So many horses never go on rough ground as they are so often on an arena or prepared ground. As a result of this practice, soon their natural elastic and instinctive brilliance at handling all types of irregularities without straining themselves, or falling over, will be evolved out of them.
Cross THE country in walk, trot and canter depending on how rough it is and look upon this as an important part of your cross country training and your horse’s soundness.
