Magazine for the Intelligent Horsemanship Association
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The Listening Post Magazine for the Intelligent Horsemanship Association SUMMER 2010 2 The Listening Post Letter from Kelly Advertisements Page 2 Letter from Kelly Page 3 Dear IH Members A Bit in Hand! Page 4 Perhaps it’s silly (or High Hopes Page 5 anthropomorphic if you Fur, fabric and feathers Page 6 want to be scientific about Pro-Am TREC Championship it!) but it occurred to me at Royal Windsor 2010 Page 7 that Pie could feel a little Equus Online University less ‘special’ when the new IH Garden Party announcement Page 8 youngsters arrived. People Your Letters Page 9 have asked me “So what New Course Perfect Confidence does Pie think about you in-hand and under saddle Page 10 having these other Ask the Experts Page 12 horses?” and I couldn’t help The ethics of modern dressage Page 14 feeling a twinge of guilt. IH Charity update & RA Sandra Williams works with the RSPCA Page 16 Happily my mind’s been put at rest over the last couple of months though when it’s IH Special Offers Page 17 quite clear that Pie seems to have reached a whole new Getting to Yes Page 18 level of satisfaction and purpose with his new role as ‘Uncle Raising the goal posts Page 20 Pie’. For humans, there is no better way to get some short Lightening the forehand Page 21 cuts to knowledge than having the right mentor. For horses, Introduction to Intelligent the steadying influence of an older horse is just as Worming Page 22 invaluable. The Rounding Reflex Page 24 Equine Behaviour Forum Page 26 In just the last few weeks Pie has taken the leading role (literally) in ponying one youngster around the country Understanding colonic ulcers Page 27 lanes to introduce her to traffic, taking part in a pairs hunter Gillian Higgs book & DVD reviews Page 28 trials to enable Banksy to go clear over tyres, up and down banks, over ditches and through water. He’s also taken a I’m Shy Boy Page 29 responsible role in herd management when they are turned IH clothing Page 30 out together. Rehoming Harvey Page 31 Equine first aid Page 32 Although Pie isn’t the slightest bit concerned about the Contents Where are they now? Page 33 heaviest traffic, brass bands or going on stage at the Spotlight on RA Jo Bond Page 34 National Theatre with giant puppet horses, he does have a disconcerting habit of spooking at the most unlikely Lessons learnt from Rio and Julia Fisher Page 35 objects. I was therefore, a little concerned when I watched him leading the youngsters in a canter around the field and encouraging them all to spook at the hedge! I suppose Do you have a contribution for the Listening Post? nobody’s perfect?! Do phone, email or send your carrier pigeon to the IH office! Intelligent Horsemanship Office: Address: Lethornes, Upper Lambourn, Hungerford RG17 8QP Phone: 01488 71300 Fax: 01488 73783 Email: [email protected] Website: www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk On the cover: Cover shot by Simon Palmer www.into-the-lens.com The Listening Post 3 A Bit in Hand! Achieving that illusive contact, Part 1 By Elaine Sutcliffe MRPCH of www.whiterose-equestrian.co.uk An Introduction For my stage II project last year, I chose a twitch it off, and in our riding, we are right to thoroughly and efficiently move up subject that I spend most of my time working all the time to achieve maximum it, without cutting any corners. You start at helping other people with – bits and response from very light aids. the bottom and aim for the top. If you miss bitting! What I love about this job is the Yet sometimes it one out, the goal above will not be as good. transformation I can get by just changing a doesn’t seem to matter Contact is 3rd after Rhythm (or Relaxation) horse’s bit. Every horse is different however how we ride, our horse and Suppleness. I use the word Relaxation and every rider is different and what suits will still resist the alongside Rhythm, as a horse that is not one combination may not suit another. contact. The ‘evasions’ relaxed will be less likely to travel with a So what am I – and what should you be - can be very extreme, rhythmic gait. looking to achieve? such as the mouth It is this relaxation that I see missing in Well, whatever you choose to do with your opening, the tongue many horses where the rider is struggling to horse we all aim to have a horse that is hanging out, running achieve a good contact. willing, responsive, understanding of what through the bit, So what is a contact? This is the definition we ask of it, and above all, safe and cantering with its head from the British Dressage Rule Book – enjoyable. The perfect partnership! on the ground. Or just a bit inconsistent, Appendix 10. When we ride a horse, we communicate dropping behind or above the bit, leaning, “The ideal contact is a light, even, elastic (establish a contact) using our legs, seat and tilting the head, a little resistant before feel in both reins and this is achieved by aids hands – and quite often our voice. A horse responding to an aid. from the legs and seat, not the hands. can only really We know that horses The legs are applied as a driving aid, the communicate with us “A horse can only really are prey animals. Their horse steps under more and works ‘through’ using body language, communicate with us using first instinct is to get those muscles along his top line – over the by resistance or body language, by resistance away from things they’re back, neck, through the poll and the rider relaxation. A short or relaxation.” not sure of (spooking, feels the energy thus created in the reins. stride or a limp might running through the bit). When the contact is established in this way indicate sore feet, bucking a badly fitting If this doesn’t work, they lean into pressure his outline and steps will be ‘round’ not saddle. When a horse resists the contact with (leaning on the bit, hard to stop). hollow, and in the trot and canter springy the rider’s hand, it is often indicating a So after you’ve checked the teeth, back, and not flat. The horse’s hindquarters and discomfort in its mouth. Unfortunately feet, saddle, etc, you’ll probably then blame forehand are connected by that band of nowadays, a flash noseband or ‘stronger’ bit yourself for not being a very good rider. Then muscles over the top line and the rider can is often used to try and prevent this. The bit you get to the point where your instructor is feel this in his hands as there will be a lively and tack we use should be an aid in the saying ‘don’t worry, you’re doing everything forward tendency in the reins. The horse is training of a horse and is no substitute for right, it will come in time’. Yes, it might do, then said to be ‘connected’.” skill, time, patience and good horsemanship. but imagine you’re riding without your Voila! Just like that! Have a think about that However, any resistance by the horse caused gloves and the rein has caused a blister on and decide whether that’s what you’ve got. by discomfort will slow down or even your finger. Where has your attention gone? You cannot force a contact. A good prevent its learning, leading to frustration for What’s the next thing you want to do? Yes, contact is when the horse accepts and both horse and rider. stop and take away the discomfort. responds to seat and leg aids while To quote the great master Nuno Oliveira: Horses are not the cheapest of hobbies maintaining a round outline with a mouth “The mouth of the horse is one of the most and it’s often easy to think that there’s a that is relaxed and accepting the bit. If there sensitive parts of his body.” We all know that short-cut to our goal. Many years ago, I was is any resistance at all in the horse’s mind a horse can feel a fly land on it and will introduced to classical riding and a man because of discomfort in the mouth, then called Alois Podhajsky. In his book, The the rider will never achieve that feeling of Elaine’s Intermediate Eventer Complete Training of Horse and Rider, he working totally WITH his or her horse, of competing in a Loose Ring having a true partnership. Plastic Bit, Cavesson Noseband states again and again ‘You have Time’. Well, and no martingale. unfortunately in this day and age, we often feel that we don’t have time. But there’s no Next Issue: short cut in schooling, whatever you What factors affect the contact and the ultimately intend to do with your horse. design of bit that we might choose? The Scales of Training Pyramid is used in the dressage world to show the goals to be achieved at each level in a horse’s training and are what a horse is judged on in competition. It is there for a reason and we have to have everything 4 The Listening Post High Hopes By IH Recommended Associate Joanna O’Neill swishing his tail because his owner is This is easy – incremental working! Each bringing his saddle across? Could he blow that ram gave to the dam made it a tiny associate that saddle with discomfort? bit weaker, so instead of wilting before a huge task, copy the ram and break it down “Just what makes that little old ant, into tiny chunks.