The best for your horse Part 9! October 2014 TRACK TO HACK Lateral Movements CONNEMARA PONY Wobblers SYNDROME Foaling: What to Expect LAMINITIS & Treatment Prevention Lynn Palm Western Dressage more inside...
A jump ahead with Jen Hamilton Part 4 - Improving your horse s technique Photos by Sophie Barrington Artwork by Cristina Wilkins Canadian NCCP Level 4 Showjumping Coach Jen Hamilton is a passionate dedicated coach who travels the world imparting clinics to riders of all ages abilities - from pony club to FEI level. With a committment level of energy that is difficult to equal, Jen makes her lessons work for every horse rider - to create positive outcomes - through strategic purposeful exercises. During a recent visit to Queensl, Horses People arranged exclusive sessions for Sales Manager Karen Lyon, who kindly volunteered herself her young Warmblood stallion, Kinder Surprise, to illustrate bring you Jen s unique effective coaching style in a series that is set to challenge your discipline desire to learn. Until last month, Jen focussed on getting to the jumps,, in this Part Four, she begins to work on improving your horse s jumping technique. Page 58 HORSES PEOPLE Phone: 07 5467 9796 admin@horsespeople.com.au
JUMPING SERIES The rider s leg gets the horse to the jump. The rider s h - softening - allows the horse to jump. Improving the jump Once the horse can jump individual jumps, gymnastics increases the horse s education. Gymnastic exercises (also known as grids or gridwork) are an essential part of the rider s horse s education. By definition, a gymnastic exercise is a series of poles /or jumps in a row. The type the height of the jumps, as well as the distances between the jumps, vary according to the skill being taught or refreshed. New skills can be taught more easily because of continued repetition of the same exercise. The ideal bascule The horse s shape (how he uses his body) over the jump is the direct result of three things: The type of jump (vertical, oxer, triple bar, etc.), the ride to the jump (correct balance, rhythm, straightness),, the rider s position. The highest point of the horse s arc should be over the highest point of the jump. In theory, the horse s body should form a perfect half circle over the jump (which is termed bascule ). Unfortunately, however, not all horses know the theory, nor do they conform to our ideal. Fortunately, with planned progressive training on the flat over jumps, we can improve develop their jumping technique. www.horsespeople.com.au HORSES PEOPLE Page 59
Gymnastic exercises promote: A forward, calm straight canter. Confidence in both rider horse. Correctness of the rider s positions horse s technique over the jump. The horse s agility, straightness strength. The gymnastic I use the most is what I call the cookbook gymnastic (See illustration below). It is simple to build, doesn t require much equipment, it is non-threatening to both rider horse. For horses, place three trot-poles at a comfortable distance for the horse s stride (approx. 4.6 feet apart). At a distance of 9 feet from the last trot-pole, build a cross rail then an upright 18 feet from the first. The last jump is an oxer built between 19 21 feet from the upright. For ponies, it is best not to have any trot-poles canter into the gymnastic. When building the gymnastic, always use a tape measure both sides of the jump, then go back check the approach line to make sure everything lines up. Especially with beginner riders green horses, place guide poles near every jump stard (wing) (See illustration on Page 62) to encourage the horse to stay straight jump over the centre of the jump. There is no need to teach the horse or rider there is a track that goes around jumps! Gymnastic exercises are good for both riders horses. Once the horse understs the gymnastic exercise, he will always find the correct distance (take-off point) - as long as it is an appropriate exercise it is measured correctly. The related distances allow you, as rider, to focus on your position. In gymnastics, horse rider can jump bigger jumps without fear of having to get the striding correct. Purpose For the rider: The gymnastic should be set so that you, the rider, are comfortable non-threatened. When both you your horse are relaxed, the gymnastic example shown is an excellent exercise to work on: Establishing rider confidence. Positional corrections. Eye control. Jumping releases - mane, crest automatic (See explanation on next page). For the horse: Improves the horse s canter by establishing a rhythm. Helps to promote trust between horse rider. Teaches the horse jumping technique. Teaches the horse that the jump takes over from the rider s h (the horse learns to balance off the sight of the jump without the rider s intervention). Strategy Trot forward straight, maintaining a calm rhythm over the poles. Beginner or less confident riders should ride the poles in a 2-point position. More experienced riders can ride the poles in a rising trot. Your eyes should always be looking forward straight - with conviction! Once in the gymnastic, your horse will jump the cross rail - take, one stride to the vertical one stride to the oxer. Through the gymnastic, you are to maintain your position the soft release - following the motion allowing the horse to use his body over the jumps. If the horse begins to wer or drift sideways, use an opening rein to guide it back to the track. If the horse is getting quick or it doesn t begin to collect (shorten) its stride, place poles in the middle of the 18 21 distances. These poles will teach the horse to slow down start to collect its stride. 4.6 feet 4.6 feet 9 feet 18 feet Page 60 HORSES PEOPLE Phone: 07 5467 9796 admin@horsespeople.com.au
JUMPING SERIES In theory, the horse s body should form a perfect half circle over the jump - bascule. The highest point of the horse s arc should be over the highest point of the jump. Jumping releases explained: Mane Release - Used by beginners. The rider grabs the mane with both hs about a third of the way up the mane. This release helps the rider maintain position stay with the motion of the horse while jumping. It helps hold the rider from falling back grabbing the horse s mouth for balance. It is also a good release for experienced riders when riding green, unpredictable horses. Short Crest Release - The rider slides his hs up the horse s crest a few inches. The rider s hs (knuckles) are pressed into the crest of the horse s neck. This release provides support of the rider s upper body allows a good amount of control on ling from the jump. Long Crest Release - A more exaggerated, longer release than the Short Crest Release. The rider s hs slide further up the horse s crest - about half way. This allows the horse total freedom over the jump. It is a good release, combined with gymnastic training, to use on horses that are afraid to stretch open their bodies at the jump. In the gymnastic, because the rider has given away contact with the horse s mouth, the horse learns to balance off the jumps - the jump takes over for the rider s hs helps the horse to maintain balance. The real downside of the Long Crest Release is that it is over-used often creates floppy riders. Automatic Release - This is the most sophisticated release. The rider maintains a steady, soft elastic contact with the horse s mouth over the jump. The rider s hs follow the horse s mouth there is a straight line from the rider s elbow to the horse s mouth. This release affords more control communication with the horse, is used in competition. This release requires perfect rider position balance. For gymnastics, the mane crest releases are generally used. 19 to 21 feet www.horsespeople.com.au HORSES PEOPLE Page 61
Early Gymnastic Approach in trot Sample Gymnastics (all distances in feet ( ) inches ( ) Direction of travel 4 6 4 6 9 bounce 18 19 to 21 1 stride 1 stride Trot-poles Cross rail Oxer Approach in canter 20 1 stride 32 33 2 strides 2 strides Oxer Oxer Intermediate Gymnastic Direction of travel Approach in trot 4 6 4 6 9 bounce 17 6 1 stride 20 30 1 stride 2 strides Trot-poles Oxer Oxer Approach in canter 20 20 20 1 stride 1 stride 1 stride bounce Oxer Oxer 12 If the horse insists on drifting off the line through the gymnastic, move one of the guide poles closer to the center. It is a good idea to place guide poles on either end of the jump rail to encourage the horse to stay straight jump in the middle. If the horse begins to wer or drift sideways, use an opening rein to guide it back to the track. Guide poles Page 62 HORSES PEOPLE Phone: 07 5467 9796 admin@horsespeople.com.au
As we explained in detail in the previous articles, you must ride forward straight away from the last jump, ride your recovery time correctly, complete the exercise with a straight correct downward transition. Developing collection GOODWOODS OODS Spring Specials Combined with an effective flatwork program, gymnastic exercises will help keep a horse at optimum athletic condition - making the horse supple, strong, elastic soft. As well as helping to improve your horse s skill, technique, strength confidence, gymnastic exercises are the most effective way to incorporate collection into jumping. Horses must learn to collect their strides balance themselves on the approach to a jump on ling. Gymnastic exercises - set at tight distances - teach the horse to collect his stride then rock back on his hocks before leaving the ground. Through the repeated exercise of collecting the going back on the hocks, lifting the shoulder knees rounding the back, the horse develops not only the hindquarters - the back shoulder musculature required for jumping correctly - but also the habit of utilising these muscles correctly. Correct muscling through a correct exercise program (on the flat jumping) enables the horse to reach his or her full athletic potential. In this article we only discussed a simple gymnastic. There are as many ways to build grids or gymnastic exercises as there are reasons to use them. Spring 2014 Catalogue OUT NOW Online! $ 49.95 2 for $90 3 for $126 Airflow Summer Combo Airstream Mesh Combo Important considerations It is extremely important to have a ground person when jumping - for safety reasons, to help you assess your position the horse s technique. If your horse s jumping technique /or confidence starts to disintegrate, i.e., your horse starts stopping or leaving a leg behind, this is an indication that the distances are too tight or the jumps are too high. The ground person should increase the distances between the jumps or lower the jump. The purpose of gymnastics is to promote progressive positive skill development for both horse rider. If this isn t happening, re-think why you are doing a certain gymnastic to what benefit for the horse. The problem could be the rider interfering or not supporting the ride. OR The horse doesn t underst the skill being taught, doesn t have the strength or ability, the actual type of gymnastic is innapropriate /or the measurement is wrong, or the horse is just plain tired. You must learn to recognise when enough is enough. Always practice calm, forward straight, you won t go wrong! Next month, I will explain some exercises to improve your horse s performance /or correct some common problems, such as rushing, chipping-in, over-jumping, trailing legs knock downs. $ 29.95 2 for $55 3 for $75 $ 49.95 2 for $90 3 for $126 Crossover Ripstop Mesh Combo Mail Order Hotline Phone 02 9519 8844 SHOP ONLINE! www.goodwoods.com.au Postage All orders under $40 will only be charged $10.95 postage, when being processed.all other orders $16.95. Express Postage available on request, at an additional charge. www.horsespeople.com.au HORSES PEOPLE Page 63