Horses Hate Surprise Parties. Teaching Stop, Go and Turn to Young Riders. Dr Portland Jones EA Level 1 - Sustainable Equitation

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2 CONTENTS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS... 3 Session Notes... 4 Session 1 - Mixed Ability Coaching... 4 Session 2 - Horses Hate Surprise Parties... 5 Session 3 - Teaching Stop, Go and Turn to Young Riders... 5 Session 4 - How Children Learn... 6 Session 5 - Introduction to Simple Showjumping Course Building... 8 Session 6 - Fit Ball and Falls Training Session 7 - Solving Showjumping Problems Session 8 - Tent Pegging Session 9 - Paces and Footfalls Notes:... 20

3 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS SATURDAY 11 th FEBRUARY 2017 Time Session Location 8:00 am Registration KEP Club House 8:25 am 8:30 am Welcome and Introduction State Coaching Panel Members and CEO Nicole Kerr Mixed Ability Coaching How to manage varying levels in a lesson Philippa Collier EA Level 2 KEP Club House Under Cover Arena 10:00 am Morning Tea KEP Club House 10:30 am am Horses Hate Surprise Parties Dr Portland Jones EA Level 1 - Sustainable Equitation Teaching Stop, Go and Turn to Young Riders Dr Portland Jones EA Level 1 - Sustainable Equitation KEP Club House Under Cover Arena 1:00 pm Lunch KEP Club House 1:30 pm How Children Learn Skill acquisition and creating a simple, fun and safe environment for learning Jon Pitts - Ride Smart KEP Club House 3:30 pm Afternoon Tea KEP Club House 4.00 pm 4.45 pm Introduction to Simple Showjumping Course Building Fred Freeman Fit ball and Falls Training Ride Smart Team KEP Club House and Showjumping Oval KEP Club House 5.30 pm Informal Social Networking Event KEP Club House SUNDAY 12 th FEBRUARY 2017 Time Session Location 8.00 am Registration & Sign in KEP Club House 8.30 am Solving Showjumping Problems Nellandra Henry EA Level 2 Jumping - Benell Park am Showjumping Equipment Pack Away by All Participants Showjumping Oval 10:30 am Morning Tea KEP Club House Tent Pegging am KEP Club House Equipment, Video and Demonstration and Grounds Don Hawkins EA Level 1 12:00 pm Paces and Footfalls Philippa Collier EA Level 2 1:00 pm Feedback & Finish Please complete your feedback form so we can meet your needs in KEP Club House

4 Session Notes Session 1 - Mixed Ability Coaching Philippa Collier EA Level 2 - How to manage varying levels in a lesson Things to take into consideration: Safety Manageability of different size of horses and ponies Learning level, age and capability of both horse and rider Certificate Level Previous knowledge of both horse and rider Facilities available These should form the basis of your lesson plan and what can be asked of the horse and rider combinations Summary of Syllabus requirements for flatwork. D* Certificate C Certificate C* Certificate B Certificate Position Transitions on command Trot and canter at various speeds Change diagonals Ride with reins in one hand Position Knowledge and correct use of natural aids Change directions at all paces Work without stirrups at walk and trot Increase and decrease pace in both trot and canter Footfalls Know and use correct diagonal Recognize leading leg and be able to canter on nominated lead. Position Recognise that driving aids play a part in establishing and maintaining contact. Maintain consistent contact through the reins, horse accepting contact. Work with confidence without stirrups at walk trot and canter. Recognise leading leg and diagonals by feel without looking down. Sitting trot and rise on correct diagonal. Turn on the forehand Accuracy whilst performing transitions at markers. Position and application of aids Ability and understanding of warming up, assessment of horse, understanding of movement and footfalls Ability and understanding of accepting the bit' 'on the bit', straightness and impulsion Lengthen strides covering more ground Explain and ride turns on forehand, leg yield There is a common thread that runs through all certificates. Knowing the syllabus gives the coach the ability to develop a lesson that can facilitate different levels.

5 Session 2 - Horses Hate Surprise Parties Dr Portland Jones EA Level 1 - Sustainable Equitation HORSES HATE SURPRISE PARTIES This is the first book for young riders about the science behind horse training. It offers simple explanations of the principles of Equitation Science and offers an evidence-based insight into how the horse thinks, learns and behaves. It is full of useful training exercises and fun facts and is highly recommended for all young (and not so young) horse lovers. Horses Hate Surprise Parties is the first Equitation Science book for young riders. There are many books for young riders about rider position, saddlery and grooming but this is the first book that will teach them the scientific principles of training their horse. Riders of all ages will appreciate the insights this book offers into horse behaviour and how to correctly use learning theory. The exercises are progressive, easy to follow and clearly explained. ABOUT THE CHARITY Did you know that there are many thousands of working elephants in Asia? Some of them work in the timber industry or in national parks looking for poachers. HELP is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to improve the welfare of these elephants by implementing evidence-based training strategies very similar to the ones that you have seen in this book. HELP provides training advice and supplies training manuals for elephant trainers in India, Thailand, Myanmar and Nepal. Just as in horse training, when the welfare of the elephants improves, so too does the safety of the handlers. This makes HELP s work very important. Part of the proceeds of Horses Hate Surprise Parties is donated to HELP to assist with the ongoing work that they do. If you would like to learn more or buy a copy of the elephant training manual please go to ABOUT EQUITATION SCIENCE Equitation Science emerged as an academic discipline at the beginning of the 21 st century. Drawing on a range of scientific disciplines, it aims to objectively examine the interactions of horses and humans as a way of improving equine welfare and achieving greater efficiency in horse training. Equitation Science uses an evidence-based approach to understanding the ways in which horses and humans interact and has, since its inception, illuminated much that can be improved in modern horse management and training. One of the most important contributions that Equitation Science has made to equestrian endeavour is to demonstrate the close link between evidence-based training, improved rider safety and horse welfare. That is, research has shown that when used correctly, the scientific principles of learning will help keep riders safe and optimise the welfare of the horse. Session 3 - Teaching Stop, Go and Turn to Young Riders Dr Portland Jones EA Level 1 - Sustainable Equitation For more information see the Sustainable equitation website

6 Session 4 - How Children Learn Jon Pitts - Ride Smart Confidence in Riding I am often asked about the psychological side of riding horses and what we do with the elite riders to help them cope with the pressures of riding. It is safe to say that competitive riding takes the mental skills of the sport to the next level in terms of brain function and it is important firstly to remember that getting on a horse is something that we re simply not designed to do! Whilst I ve been lucky to use technology to understand the best, I m really keen to stress that what I have learned is just as applicable, relevant and important to the wider riding public. Since I ve been talking more about confidence, and promoting the message that actually it s perfectly normal to feel nervous or anxious on a horse at times, the floodgates have opened with many equestrians from the wider ranks almost relieved that it is ok to accept this. I think this is another area that we can chalk up to the traditional thought processes developed over the years. I m still hearing phrases such as kick on and it ll be alright, and these seem to be linked to a mindset that we must not be seen to be admitting that all is not well. The trouble with this is that we re not working with a machine and so there is always a degree of unpredictability that we have to deal with. More importantly, we also know that the horse is aware of our anxiety, but essentially we are sat on something that spends most of its time looking out for what it is going to eat. I m a firm believer, though, that in a sport that is inherently dangerous and where injuries can be life changing or even fatal, we must now challenge this naïve, traditional mindset. The potential is a better, safer and more enjoyable pastime that also improves the welfare of the horse, something I m trying to convey through my Fit to Ride scheme. Photograph by Maria Wynne Paul Tapner competing at Badminton It is important to establish some very simple facts about riding that I ve discovered through my years of research: Every rider, even the biggest names in the sport, experience a physiological response when they leave the ground and get on a horse. Your memory has clear examples of how and why the potential for danger has increased (falls), and so we experience a slight fight or flight reaction. In elite riders this is very slight, and as we broaden the spectrum the response can become clearer and more exaggerated. If you think about it, at no stage are the mental demands of riding really touched on in learning to ride, and yet this is a pastime that the majority of the world s population would never be brave enough to do! This is perfectly normal, depending on the scale of reaction. Your brain is fundamentally designed to protect you and instigates this. There aren t too many riders out there who have never experienced a fall, and your brain uses

7 these memories to build a recognition process that becomes stronger as we gain experience and age. In fact, we become increasingly aware of our mortality as we get older, and the application of your mental handbrake gets stronger! I m perfectly happy to accept many theories (and I ve heard some pretty wacky ones!) as to how the horse is aware of our anxiety. From my perspective, I can confirm three measurable ones tested in situations. Firstly, we know that there is a response connection between horse and rider: using heart rate monitors on both horse and rider we can artificially scared both, and in each case have seen an anxiety response in the other simultaneously. The horse is capable of feeling three human fight or flight responses, firstly through tension in our legs, and secondly through a change in our breathing pattern via our seat bone pressure and finally often through heart rate in our inner thigh. Given how strong and powerful the horses are underneath us, it is relatively easy for us to pick up on it! The horse is inherently a creature of flight, and is wired up to be ready at the moment s notice of possible or imminent danger. It always interests me to see how horses are described, and in this case the use of the word spooky amuses me. There are plenty of spooky humans in this world too, and there are various reasons as to why this happens: the brain is a very complex thing, but the protection mechanism is a very primal thing. It is important to establish that psychology or confidence in sport is not just about repairing problems, but can actually be far more proactive in building far stronger skills. I ve been lucky enough to work across many sports, and nowhere is this statement more appropriate than in riding. I m risking a backlash here when I say that some of the standards of coaching I ve seen in the equestrian world are far behind other sports. This is quite a global statement, and I ve seen some very good coaches too, but we need to understand how skill acquisition works in order to achieve the aim of helping a rider improve. This isn t an attack on knowledge, because there is so much out there. I am looking at this from how the brain works and how we communicate, learn and develop skills. Jon Pitts is a leading Human Performance Coach. To find out more about how you could benefit from the Fit to Ride Programme or become a Fit to Ride Coach through our Coach Training Programme please see the website at or marketing@fittoride.org

8 Session 5 - Introduction to Simple Showjumping Course Building Fred Freeman TABLES OF DISTANCES AND USEFUL CONVERSIONS PONIES Over 13.2 and up to 14.2 hh FIRST FENCE Over 12.2 and up to 13.2 hh FIRST FENCE Under 12.2 hh FIRST FENCE SECOND FENCE Upright Parallel Upright 7.30 m 7 m Parallel 7.60 m 7.30 m Staircase 7.90 m 7.60 m FOR TWO STRIDES ADD 3 m SECOND FENCE Upright Parallel Upright 7 m 6.70 m Parallel 7.30 m 7 m Staircase 7.60 m 7.30 m FOR TWO STRIDES ADD 2.70 m SECOND FENCE Upright Parallel Upright 6.70 m 6.40 m Parallel 7 m 6.70 m Staircase 7.30 m 7 m FOR TWO STRIDES ADD 2.40 m STRIDE CONVERSIONS Single Strides Related Distances 3 m - (10 ft) 3 strides m - (48 ft) 3.30 m - (11 ft) 4 strides m (60 ft) 3.60 (12 ft) 5 strides m (72 ft) 3.90 m (13 ft) 6 strides m (84 ft) 4.20 m (14 ft) 7 strides m (96 ft) DISTANCE IN COMBINATIONS One Strides Two Strides Two Strides 7 m (23 ft) 10 m (33 ft) m (37 ft 3 ins) 7.10 m (23 ft 3 ins) (33 ft 3 ins) m (37 ft 6 ins) 7.20 m (23 ft 6 ins) m (33 ft 6 ins) m (38 ft) 7.30 m (24 ft) m (34 ft) m (38 ft 3 ins) 7.40 m (24 ft 3 ins) m - (34 ft 3 ins) m (38 ft 6 ins) 7.50 m (24 ft 6 ins) m (34 ft 6 ins) m (39 ft) 7.60 m (25 ft) m (35 ft) m (39 ft 3 ins) 7.70 m (25 ft 3 ins) m (35 ft 3 ins) 12 m (39 ft 6 ins) 7.80 m (25 ft 6 ins) m (35 ft 6 ins) 7.90 m (26 ft) m (36 ft) 8.00 m (26 ft 3 ins) m (36 ft 3 ins) 8.10 (26 ft 6 ins) m (36 ft 6 ins) 8.20 m (27 ft) m (37 ft)

9 DISTANCES (FEET/METERS) FEET/METERS 1 STRIDE FEET/METERS 2 STRIDES FEET/METERS 3 STRIDE 22 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = FEET/METERS FEET/METERS FEET/METERS 59 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 30.50

10 DISTANCES (FEI, Art ) The distance is measured from the base of the obstacle on the landing side to the base of the next obstacle on the take-off side Examples: But: 1. Distances need accurate analysis of speed and distribution of strides 2. Only the measured distance in meters together with the obstacle types in sequence and their dimensions, footing, slope, position, speed, etc, give a distance quality (little, long, short, normal etc.) General recommendations for START/FINISH LINES Open and wide (generous) Must clearly refer to first and last obstacles Should not be source of surprises and faults Line 90 to middle riding way Course Distances Min Max Distance START line to Outdoor 6 15 the first obstacle Distance FINISH line Outdoor 6 15 from the last obstacle Indoor 6 15 Examples of proposition of Strat and Finish lines.

11 Distance Metres TIME ALLOWED CALCULATOR 300 m per 325 m per 350 m per 375 m per minute minute minute minute m per minute

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13 Session 6 - Fit Ball and Falls Training Ride Smart Team The following article is provided to complement the information provided in the session. The complete article is available from :

14 Session 7 - Solving Showjumping Problems Nellandra Henry EA Level 2 Jumping - Benell Park Rider Problems e.g. rider ahead of the movement, rider behind the movement, tight reins, rider too quick in the air, sitting IN the saddle, leaning to left/right over a fence. Most rider position problems can be solved by having a good understanding of the 2 point and 3 point positions. Three Point position (from page 16 of the C Manual) Riders need to be able to be balanced in both positions and easily maintain balance changing between the 2. This is where I find that most people struggle. Exercises: Transitioning from 3 point to 2 point and back over a set number of strides in walk, trot and canter Practice over poles/cavalletti. Horse Problems e.g. rushing, losing impulsion, running out, refusing, jumping to 1 side. A good jumping session should increase the rider s awareness of the importance of flatwork and improve their flatwork skills. The stop, go, balance, tempo, line and use of half halts (yes, they are used in jumping!) are essential for a good jumping round. All faults should be fixed by breaking down the issue into its most basic form, is it an issue with stop, go, balance, tempo or line and addressing that away from the fence and over poles before reintroducing the jump. Rushing is predominately a stop issue so I introduce lots of halting into the round, anywhere that the horse doesn t listen to the half halt it should be halted. Losing impulsion is basically a horse not trained to go forward from the leg, before jumping lots of transitions are required, where the horse must immediately go forward from the leg. The rider will likely need to learn how to correctly use the whip behind the leg to reinforce this. Running Out is a combination of rushing and not being able to control the line. If the rider is unable to ride the horse to the middle of the fence, we cannot expect the horse to jump it. Many ponies take advantage of this with their small /inexperienced riders. Slow the pace down to whatever the rider can control. The

15 horse must stay in the middle of the fence, once a pony/horse thinks that they can go past the fence they will continue to try. IF they are going to duck out it is better to make them stop in the middle of the fence and maintain the control of the line and the pace. Refusing - probably a more difficult problem to solve as it can vary greatly from horse to horse. Most commonly this is caused by lack of confidence on the horse and riders behalf, other common causes are bad line, not balanced, greenness, spookiness, rider rushing or pulling up and Soreness/Lameness. Starting low and rebuilding confidence is essential. Drifting - most drifting is caused by the rider not riding a straight line over the fence, the rider must first look up and train to ride straight. Further horse drifting can be assisted by the use of crosses, poles/cones creating a line and V poles on the jump. Make your life easier as a coach always build up the exercises from poles, it is much easier to fix issues at this stage. Rather than after they have caused bigger problems at a jump and having to come back again. Especially with mixed abilities in a class poles/ small fence exercises can be just as challenging for someone jumping 60cm as 1m. It will keep your lessons flowing and build everyone s confidence.

16 Session 8 - Tent Pegging Don Hawkins NCAS Level 1 Tent Pegging Notes to Accompany the Tent Pegging Video 1. The first and foremost is the information needed in the initial training plan of how to develop the muscle memory used in tent pegging. This is done by instruction of how to handle the sword when riding the horse and the introduction of the sword to the horse to test for their reaction as we do not want one. We need the horse to take this in their stride and not be bothered when the rider leans down. Weapon handling instruction is given here such as when carrying the sword, it is carried at the slope resting on the shoulder or the carry position when riding part of the course. Emphasis is given encouraging the riders to rub their horse s neck with the sword to ensure the horse is okay mentally with this new task plus this assists the riders in handling the sword when they are not accustomed to it. 2. Instruction is then given on how to form a stable platform when leaning down to engage the ground within the tyre (one either side of the initial training arena that is only 40 x 15 m so lots of repetitions are done when walking and trotting) so that the horse is not pulled off line and the riders legs do not come on pushing the horse on at a faster pace when not wanted or as the rider is trying to engage the ground in the centre of the tyre or the peg. This is achieved by placing the hand with the reins in half way up the horse s neck and leaning on it lightly so that the rider s legs do not come on when leaning down. This is super important as it sets the rider and horse up later for more pace leading to the gallop ultimately. It also tests the horse rider combination as the rider lets go the contact the horse is not to just rush off but must remain in the same pace. The horses do learn to do this ultimately however some struggle as they have never been allowed to have no contact to test this. Riders can be encouraged to knot the reins so that the length of rein is not lost, or ride with the reins bridged, or ride with games reins so that they maintain some contact. 3. The next most important thing is the present marker prior to the peg or the tyre. This is paramount to starting to impart the importance of drill in this event. In the walk practices it will be closer to the tyre or peg initially (10 metres), but then taken out to the normal twenty metres prior for any trot practices or canter later. In the competition runs it is twenty metres prior to the peg so it is important that we commence early in the practices to ensure the riders know how it feels and where it will be constantly as this is part of the muscle memory they will rely on. 4. One of the most important things to practice from the very early stages is the present (not pronounced as in gift but emphasis placed on the sent part of the word so it shows determination and intent), of the sword straight out from the rider s shoulder at shoulder height. An aspect here is that the riders arm must be straight and thrust forward in a very forthright manner as this will determine ultimately the riders drill scores and if the rider strikes the peg. Extremely important and cannot be emphasised enough is the straight arm so no bend at the elbow as this will nine times out of ten determine if the peg is struck by the rider s sword or lance. 5. These drills are practiced until there is some demonstration by the riders and horses that they understood and completing the processes more easily. Once achieved canter runs can commence if there are no horse behaviour issues showing such as running off line from the tyre or peg. Once more proficient the tyre is removed and the peg only is in place so that this becomes normal and reality as they will expect this from then on. 6. The holding of the sword or lance is very important and always must be with the thumb on top to prevent any swaying of the sword or lance from side to side. When presenting the sword, the riders holding hand is turned so that the back of the hand is facing inwards. This ensures the sword is facing down and not up. If facing up the rider is making it more difficult to strike the peg. When holding a lance the rider will test to see where the middle balance point is and then hold the lance about one hands width down from that so that point of the lance will drop on its own when engaging the peg so the rider does not have to force it. In some cases, where the riders hand is small then this space could be made larger so the tip of the lance drops more easily.

17 7. Once canter practices begin and are established it is important to move to a full course layout as soon as is possible so we are only practicing what we intend to achieve. There is no point in going into gallop too early in this phase as needs to be done a number of times until the rider and horse are more confident on how this all fits together. If the horse is pushed too soon it could relate to issues developing which would have been resolved in the slower runs initially and so not too hard to correct. This part also relates to rider issues such as drill style and riding ability in this new regime. If the gallop runs are done too early, then the opportunity to correct the things showing are diminished and become harder to correct so it is important not to over-face horse or rider in this time but do try to achieve small goals initially progressing all the time. However, some combinations do need to spend more time than others to stabilise things so this time is best given now rather than trying to fix things later. The riders will tell you when they are ready to progress to the next level (normally although some do need more encouragement). 8. All the time that practice is done drill is reinforced over and over as it is important that this is firmly established to ensure rider success and therefore enjoyment in what is being done. 9. Some horses gallop is not as fast as others so it is important to see when the horse is actually galloping even though it is at a slower speed/tempo than others who may be very quick. It is important to note that when a horse is in full gallop they are a very stable platform, run straight, and are very flat with no ups and downs in their gait. This is what we strive for as all other gaits except for maybe walk give the rider this platform. The flatter the horse the easier it is to engage the peg. 10. When the horse is in full gallop it cannot go any faster so the chances of it speeding up just as the rider leans down is nil as it is already going its fastest. So therefore, when the rider leans forward with their rein hand up the neck for the ultimate stability the horse does not go any faster. This is very important to know for the riders some of whom may not want to lean down at full gallop to strike the peg. Plus, as said the horse will normally remain in a very straight line as it is difficult for them to change direction when in full gallop. 11. One last thing is that when introducing the horses and riders to the full course and doing their initial runs in canter I place the peg about one metre off the cone markers so that they have some idea of the line and how straight the horse is considering we are doing this in canter and not gallop. Later once more experienced the peg is taken to the competition 5 metres off the line of the cone markers or flags which ever are provided. 12. At the end of each run I always encourage the riders to bring the horse back to the start line on a long rein. This promotes horse and rider relaxation and arguably a much better result/relationship between horse and rider. This helps to preclude any tension build ups that may occur in the training which is important for longevity of both parts of the combination. It also gives the riders and horses time to digest what has happened and to think how they can improve next time. 13. When the riders first start their practices on the full competition course, no matter at what pace they intend to do I always insist that they proceed to the start line and line up like they would in a competition as that trains them to do this right from the start and so is not something introduced later. This is important for a number of reasons. They are practicing what will be part of the routine right from the start so it is familiar for them and easier to achieve when in actual competition. The salute is a vital part of the routine as it signifies to the judge/coach that the rider is focused on the peg and ready to commence the run. The salute is part of their drill and shows determination. The salute is carried out by thrusting the sword hand out to full arm s length in front of the shoulder with the sword pointing vertically to the sky. It also prepares the rider for the present later in the course prior to the peg. The judge or coach will then raise one hand to full arm s length towards the rider to signify that the course is clear and they are ready for the rider to commence their run. It is important that these signals take place between rider and judge or coach so that everyone is aware that the course is both clear and will be used soon so riders can stay clear. It is a risk management and communication strategy and keeps all in

18 shape and performing well. I instruct the riders when they line up once they have their horse on line to just sit softly and relax so the horse does not anticipate the run happening when they want and not the rider. This can be difficult for some but is part of the training so it is beneficial to them and the horse. Plus, it shows good control of the situation which is important I feel. When saluting with a lance it is usually held with the butt of it on the rider s boot. It is thrust straight forward from the shoulder with the butt staying on the rider s boot. It is then returned to the carry position after the rider adjusts their hand to the balance position on the lance which before a run is taken off the boot and just held vertically alongside the rider s body in a comfortable place. Of course, in this video we are only involved in using the sword so this will not be an issue. However, I felt best it was included so all is known. It is all part of background information that may be used later but we don t want to cloud the waters.

19 Session 9 - Paces and Footfalls Philippa Collier EA Level 2 Walk Trot Canter Left Canter Right Gallop Left Gallop Right Disunited Canter Left Disunited Canter Right Landing after a Jump Left Landing after a Jump Right

20 Notes: