Something funny !!

Training and management tips for the new year 2013

Confidence coaches and techniques can improve your mind-set and anable you to see a situation more positively. But if you are nervouse because your horse has training issues or is wrong for you, you'll just end up frightened angain the next time you ride. Carefully consider your situation and the reason for your nerves, then think how you can practically address them:

• If your horse bucks, bolts or naps, have his back, teeth and tack checked to ensure pain is not causing the behaviour.
• Be realistic and ask yourself whether he is too much or unsuitable for you - unfortunately not every horse-and-rider-partnership ist going to work and a different mount could be the only answer.
• Would things change if the horse has more work and his feed was changed? Some equines are calmer when they are ridden more often, while incorrect feeding can result in over-exuberance.
• If you are more effective in the saddle, you'll be able to control your horse better, so invest in some lessons with an good instructor. It is also reassuring to have someone in the arena with you.
• Some horses could benefint from professional schooling, especially if you don't have the right experience.
• If you are scared to hack out alone, ask a fellow livery to go out with you. If you only want to walk, tell them so they don't launch into a gallopp. Getting a friend to to walk alongside you can also help.

Merry Christmas !!

BOOK TIP

 

"Rider & Horse Back to Back" Establishing a mobile, stable core in the saddle by Susanne von Dietze and Isabelle von Neumann-Cosel

 

 To anyone whishing to stay healthy while riding, and determined that any weakness of their part does not impigne on their horse, this book is a revelation. Achnowledging that all riders are built differently sets the scene, followed by the importance of perception, awareness and motion. If you already suffer from back pain, there is a chapter to pinpoint the particular type - but prevention is better than cure. This book is designed to help readers to avoid riding-induced back pain altogether.

 Back-friendly ways to ride and carry out horse-related tasks are reminders we can all use. Riding with back health in mind leads to a correct position. Photographs illustrate the unintentional punishment we can give our backs, while suggesting ways to minimise damage. This book will help you not only with your riding, but in erverything you do. I also tried some exercises and it works - for you and your horse.

Seven ways to get the most out of morning lessons

1. Booking lessons at crazy o'clock is the only option for many of us. Good instructors will put in the effort if you do, but don't be late or they won't come back.

2. If you have to get up at 5:45am, you might as well get up at 5:30am - your horse should have warmed-up in the walk before your trainer arrives.

3. No-one looks great first thing in the morning, but nobody needs to know - a baseball cap covers many sins.

4. Don't find yourself without a tissue - your nose an eyes will stream if it is chilly, and you don't want your instructor to think they have reduced you to tears.

5. Wear thin layers. You may be freezing at 6am, but 100 transitions later you'll be sweating more than your horse.

6. Establish the night before if the school could be frozen in the morning, and rearrange if necessary.

7. Leave a note at the yrad saying your horse is not to be fed. If a keen bean arrives earlier than you and feeds, you'll be gutted to have to miss your lesson while neddy digests.

Something about...
                ... Charlotte Dujardin

Charlotte left school at 16 and after achieving success pony showing - she won at the Horse of the Year Ahow four times and Hickstead three times. She went to work for dressage rider, trainer and FEI judge Judy Harvey. In early 2007, Charlotte visited Carl Hester for some lessons, he asked her to help out for 10 days and she never left. Now based at Carl's yard, she says the best thing about the yard is, "the amount of chocolates, cakes and biscuits people bring along when they visit! And everyone is alwys so supportive and they all really care for the horses. We all work hard, but then we all have a really exiting year ahead of us." Her horsey partner for the Olympics was Valegro, stable name Blueberry, a 16.2hh KWPN gelding co-owned by Carl Hester and Rowena Luard. Charlotte describes him as "happy, easy-giong and easy to please." Stephen Clarkks says: "Valegro is one of the most exiting horses at the moment. He's such a fabulous horse, with no weaknesses and many highlights." This year Charlotte and Valegro won gold at the Olympics.

Charlotte Dujardin & Valegro at the Olympics

BOOK TIP

Enlightened Equitation by Heather Moffett

In this revised edition of Enlightened Equitation, classical instructor Heather Moffett shows how riders can achieve better harmony with teir horse. She covers all aspects of flatwork, from perfecting balance and position, to using transitions, turns and lateral work to improve how you and your horse work together. The exercises are accompanied by steb-by-step photos showing the correct movements, plus common errors.

Thorough and informative, this is a great read for dressage enthusiasts, or those who simply want to improve their riding. I also read the book and tried some exercises with my horses. It works and i really advise the book to you.