The Training Solutions from Top Riders forum on Friday afternoon featured Oliver Townend, Phillip Dutton, Becky Holder, Karen O’Connor, Amy Tryon, Buck Davidson, and Allison Springer answering training questions from the audience. In the opening, Karen jokingly offered to give anyone tips on show jumping and the lighthearted mood carried on throughout the discussion. The riders offered some great tips, and the crowd seemed to enjoy it.
Before we get to the actual discussion, I’ll say that I don’t think that anyone has been more critical of Oliver’s decision to compete Carousel Quest so much in 2009 than me. But, that being said, I was really impressed with how Oliver handled himself today. He was charismatic and funny, and he offered a lot of great training tips. In one surprising moment when Oliver was asked about event scheduling for horses he said “I’ve obviously made mistakes in the past and learned from them.” Accountability like that is what makes me a fan of riders. Buck also had a fabulous response to one question, and you will know which one I’m talking about when you read it.
Here is a montage of some of the questions and the riders’ responses. The answers I have provided are neither comprehensive nor direct quotes. Josh Walker of the USEA took video of the entire session and that will be a great watch–we’ll link to it when Josh uploads it. The answers are in first person.
Q: Do you teach students to look for a spot or teach the quality of the canter?
Oliver: It’s more about getting the right canter and riding the right line. Looking for the perfect stride makes rider pull back, and then when they get to the jump they don’t have any power and they aren’t at a good spot anyhow. Remember also that the horses can do it better without us.
Buck: Ride the horse not the fence. If you have the appropriate pace and the appropriate balance you will always get the right distance.
Amy: One of the big fallacies is that everyone can see a distance–only a few people in the world can do it every time.
Karen: Horses typically start with only one good canter. It is our responsibility to give them a variety of canters that they are comfortable with.
Phillip: The thing that I work on mainly for my eye is to make it so the jump holds the horse. I try to teach young horses about a deep distance so then I can give them the rein and let them hold themselves from the fences. Horses are an animal of habit, so you have to ride them the same every time.
What do you think is a nice yearly amount of horse trials a year for each level?
Phillip: I’m a big fan of sometimes doing two weeks in a row for the young horses and the lower level courses are not demanding on the horses. For the upper level horses it depends on a variety of factors.
Becky: It depends on many things, including age of horse, soundness, availability of events, travel to events, etc. It’s very individual.
Amy: Always set a goal for your horse and make your schedule accordingly.
Oliver: I’ve obviously made mistakes in the past and learned from them. It depends on the horse and the level. Money also is a big factor. It’s balancing the welfare of the horses and the money. For a big yard we have one of the lowest injury rates in England. It’s easy when something goes wrong for other people after an event to say “I knew that would happen.”
Allison: Be in conversation with your vet and instructor because every horse is different.
What would you do about a horse who over-jumps on landing?
Karen: That’s a footwork question. An elevated rail on landing will have more impact than a rail laying on the ground. 6 verticals 18 feet apart will teach a horse to wait.
Do you have any exercises or suggestions for making horses balance themselves on XC when the rider sits up?
Karen: I want to hear that from Phillip
Phillip: It’s practice. Riders, including me, don’t practice enough galloping fences at home. The horse must be in front of your leg in a good self carriage. The jump must hold the horse. There aren’t too many exercises other than practice. You teach the horse to hold from the jump himself by getting to a good deep distance without holding his face. [John’s note: Consistently getting deep without holding is one of the hardest things to do in riding and Phillip is better than anyone at it. It teaches his horses to back off the fences themselves and it’s why he can ride so quickly on the XC.]
What is the one thing individually that has made you a great rider?
Allison: I think I’m just really determined, and it’s my love for learning.
Buck: I have a ways to go before I’m great.
Oli: I always want to make myself better.
Amy: My love for horses
Karen: All of that and all the people around me who have helped me and provided me with horses.
Becky: Someone told me I wasn’t any good at it.
Phillip: Great isn’t the right word, it’s ‘how did we get here?’ True Blue Girdwood was a horse who helped me get to where I am now and everyone usually has one horse who helps them get to the top.
When and how should kids start eventing?
Allison: I started riding when I was 6, we didn’t know anything but Pony Club was lifesaving–it taught me everything.
Buck: You don’t need to spend crazy money on a big time trainer early on. Find someone to teach the kid to love horses and just how to ride–it doesn’t have to be discipline specific.
Oli: I think they should beg for at least a year before they get to start riding.
Amy: Don’t be too structured early on.
Karen: I was that kid who begged, and I didn’t get a pony until I was 11. Diversity early on was huge for my riding. You have to learn to love horses and you have to learn horsemanship.
Becky: I agree with Karen
Phillip: Get your child involved in a fun situation with horses–make sure they enjoy it.
One good piece of advice from the riders to the audience:
Oli: Keep it simple, keep trying, and keep enjoying it.
Buck: Have fun
Karen: If you don’t have it before the competition don’t expect to get it at the competition.
Amy: Enjoy the process
Becky: Enjoy the relationship with your horse and keep at it
Phillip: Always appreciate your bond with your horse
Go eventing.
