 26 February 2009 Clinic: Points to Remember ALWAYS BE SAFE I would advise you to always wear a helmet to ride. Regularly check your tack. Pay special attention to the reigns and cheek pieces on the bridle, the girth and stirup leathers on the saddle. Old, dry leather can break. RIDING IS ABOUT RHYTHM A good rhythm is crucial. A ridden walk should be active but not rushed. The same can be said for the trot. A horse that gets repeatedly rushed in trot, will end up just running rather than work. The canter with a showjumper is very important. Your canter is productive if your rhythm allows you to turn and jump a fence at any time. TRY TO STAY RELAXED To stay relaxed on the horse you must remember to breath as normal as possible. Don't stop breathing as you are approaching a fence. It is important that you don't freeze on your approach to the fence. You need to feel what is going on under you to react accordingly. STRENGTH COMES FROM A GOOD POSITION Since the head is the heaviest part of your body it can be hard to control it, but it is extremly important that you carry your head high. Don't look down, always look where you are going. Always carry your hands, don't rest them on the horse's neck. Strength to "hold" a horse should not be coming from your arms but from your lower back. Your lower leg should be positioned just behind the girth. Keep your heals down and don't turn your toes out. PRACTISE EXTENSION AND COLLECTION To have success in the ring it is important that your horse can lengthen and shorten its stride. ALWAYS WARM UP PROPERLY AND COOL OFF WELL Always give your horse a fair chance to warm up at home as well as at the show. Use the time in the warm up well. Make sure your horse got warmed up on the flat thoroughly before you start to jump.Cooling your horse off well is just as important as warming it up well. Never put your horse back into the stable or lorry if it is still blowing. Giving your horse time to cool down well with a walk will prevent your horse from pulling out stiff the next day. ALLOW YOUR HORSE TIME TO STRETCH Sometimes one can try too hard and too long to succed with a particular exercise. It is often more productive to give your horse and yourself a little breather and than to try again. If your horse has done something well a stretch can be a nice way to give your horse some praise. LEARN HOW TO FIT TACK A draw reign, a side reign, a gogue or a chambon can be used to stop a horse to carry its head to high, but any of these aids should never be used to force the horse’s head down. Once a horse drops its head any of these aids should be loose. PRACTISE FITTING AND USING SPURS Should you decide to wear spurs to ride your horse make sure you wear them at a 90 degree angle to your heel. Your spur should never face up the way. Your spur should not touch the horse constantly. That means: If your leg is relaxed the spur is not touching the horse. To touch the horse with your spur you simply turn your toes out and your spur should touch the horse without you having to lift your heel. REMEMBER TO ENJOY YOUR RIDING!!!! Send To A Friend » | |||
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