Learning the basics is as important to the growth and development of riders and horses as the alphabet and numbers are to a child in preschool. Fundamentals such as good balance, independent movement and basic response to cues should be emphasized in the beginning and reinforced over time. Imagine how difficult it would be to learn higher math if you never learned the sequential order of numbers. Learning to read would be impossible if you could not recognize and sound out the alphabet. How are your basics? Ask your horse to halt as you try the following exercises. Can you stand in your two-point (or jumping) position without leaning on the horse’s neck and hold the position easily for longer than one minute? Next, try stand in your stirrups while holding the mane lightly in one hand for two minutes. If you can accomplish both positions at the walk without loss of balance, try them at the trot and canter. The ability to easily do both of these exercises requires a rider to have the flexibility in the shock absorbers (hip, knees and ankles) that allows for slight balance adjustments, the skill to have independence of movement in the body and the capability to keep communicating to the horse that forward motion is desired. How are your horse's basics? Does your horse readily move off of your leg longitudinally (forwards or backwards) and laterally (to the left or right)? Does your horse change speeds and stride length when asked? Can your horse maintain the same rhythm while traveling around the ring, changing directions and over poles or a course of jumps without you having to correct with your hands or arm every few strides? Do you remember how you learned the alphabet and numbers? More than likely you practiced with exercises that involved repetition until you learned the basics. Riding and training are similar. The problem is, reinforcement of the basics is not glamorous and often not very exciting. Riding lessons and training rides are filled with repetition. The duplication of movements trains muscle memory. Think of all of the things that you do in a day from muscle memory. The key is to make exercises that are not boring yet give both the horse and rider the feeling that they can accomplish the tasks and continue to build upon the work being done. I first learned the following exercise at a James Cantwell clinic when I was in college. Mr. Cantwell called this the Bow Tie and it has been a main part of my teaching and riding for 23 years. Try This Using the long side of your arena begin with a halt along the rail halfway down the long side. Walk forward a couple of steps and circle making sure to return back to the rail where you started and halt again. Allow for both you and your horse to exhale during the downward transition, pause long enough for there to be enough stillness but not so long that your horse's energy is halted too. Walk forward, down the rail to complete the long side and then through the corner. Then walk a half-circle and return to the rail halfway between the spot you halted and the corner of the ring and walk back down the long side. Halt at the previous spot and then proceed back to the walk and onto a circle returning to the same spot to halt. Walk forward and halfway between the halt and the corner turn away from the rail and walk a half-circle in reverse. Complete the exercise by walking down the rail and to the halt. From this basic pattern you can add anything you want. It can be easy in that you walk the circle and trot the rest or exchange the halt with a downward or upward transition. For more advanced horses and riders, cantering a half circle and holding the lead to a sitting trot circle and then on to a canter departure and holding the counter lead through the half-circle in reverse back to a sitting trot circle is challenging, but beneficial. Keys to Success Always repeat the exercise 2-3 times focusing on repeating similar commands and keeping your aids simple and clear. As you add changes in gaits focus on adding elements that will build confidence and trust with your horse. This exercise is an example of how you can set up a repetitive track that allows the horse and rider to anticipate in a positive way. Slight adjustments to gait change, addition of movements, poles or even jumps allows for modifications that allow for variations within the structured track. Make every ride count. Be responsible for your actions or inaction and continue to strive to do your very best for yourself and for your horse. Set goals that are practical and attainable for both of you. Most of all, have fun while practicing your way to better basics.
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Megan Taylor
Horses were my first true love and two bay horses stand out as having a significant impact on my life. As a student, rider, owner, trainer and coach I have had the opportunity to experience horses from every side. These experiences have shaped my training system for riders and horses that creates a positive working relationship between both. Archives
August 2018
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