Stall and Stable s1

RIDING – B2 Instructor’s Guide

Focus is not on how but on associated terminology and purposes

Part I – Riding on the Flat Purpose 1. Be able to describe the required movements at your level including their purpose, common problems and corrections (shoulder in, half pirouette at walk, simple changes through walk, collected trot and rein back) Teaching Suggestions 1. Students may or may not have covered this material in their riding lessons 2. Be sure they clearly understand what each movement is and why it is performed

Shoulder In Definition  horse is bent around the rider’s inside leg (uniformly from head to toe MH 65) USAB 77  looking away from direction in which he is moving  shoulders are brought about half step inside the track of the outside hind legs  outside shoulder is in front of his inside hind leg  angle between horse and the straight should not normally exceed 30 degrees which allows the horse to move in three tracks (MH 66)  inside legs cross in front of the outside  inside hind leg reaches diagonally forward under his body  3 tracks (inside fore/inside hind and outside fore/outside hind) Purpose  supple and straighten the horse USAB 78  develop his muscles and carrying power of his hind legs  improve engagement and collection  counteract shying and other disobedience  increase collection (NZ2 162)  increase rider’s capacity to place, control and correct horse (NZ2 162) Results of riding damage his training incorrectly create resistance USAB 78 cause him to twist his hind legs as he moves Possible problems Problem Correction USAB 80 1. falling out through the outside  use a correct inside rein (avoid shoulder and bending in the neck indirect rein) only  rider error  use outside rein to control bend  use outside rein to keep shoulder in front of inside hind leg  use outside leg to keep hind leg moving forward and prevent drifting or stepping sideways 2. quarters escaping to outside (NZ2  move inside leg forward 164)  provide support with outside leg 3. horse coming out of track (NZ2  straighten rider 164)  coordinate timing of aids to maintain direction 4. uneven rhythm, variation in angle  may be asking too much too soon of the horse (NZ2 164)  find a balance between leg and hand (MH 68)

Riding (B2) – Instructor’s Guide -- 1 5. losing impulsion, coming off the bit  improve balance and/or (NZ2 164) coordination of aids

Half pirouette at walk Definition  horse’s hind feet are lifted and set down nearly on the spot as the horse turn USAB 84  the forelegs make a larger circle around the hind legs’ very small circle  executed in a collected walk or canter  hind legs should be raised and set down in the regular rhythm of the gait  a half pirouette goes 180 degrees around (MH 70) Purpose  increase engagement and carrying power of inside hind leg USAB 84  improve balance and control for jumping turns at the canter Possible problems Problem Correction USAB 84 1. backing up  check balance between hand and leg (NZ2 49)  use both legs (try using them in rhythm) (NZ2 49( 2. losing the rhythm of the gait  lack of impulsion or from tension (MH 72) 3. pivoting on the inside hind leg  lack of impulsion or from tension (MH 72) 4. uneven, hurried or irregular steps 5. failure to bend in the direction of the turn 6. too much neck band  check that you are sitting straight and supporting with the outside hand (NZ2 49) 7. turning on centre, quarters swinging  use outside leg more firmly (NZ2 49)  make use of the side of the school or a fence to help control quarters (NZ2 49)  check the inside hand is not pulling back or crossing over (NZ2 49)

Simple Changes through Walk Definition  horse is brought back to walk for two or three steps, then restarted into the canter on the opposite lead USAB 72  require good balance, straightness and timing

Purpose  obedience  coordination of aids Problems/  as for transitions corrections

Rein back Definition  left hind and right fore together followed by right hind and left fore together MH 46  USAB states it is four beat with the legs moving “nearly together” with forefoot being raised and lower fractionally before hind (USAB 66)  steps should be straight and of good length  feet picked up and put down cleanly with horse maintaining his correct outline and remaining on the bit MH 46

Riding (B2) – Instructor’s Guide -- 2 Purpose  put more weight on hindquarters USAB 67  increase flexion of hindlimbs  improve engagement and balance  can overstress back, hocks and stifle joints Possible problems Problem Correction USAB 67 1. horse anticipating, resisting or  improve rider aids hurrying  lighten seat 2. resisting or evading the bit  improve balance 3. moving crookedly  use supporting leg aids 4. backing with inactive or dragging  do not lean forward front or hind legs

Part II – Riding over Fences Purpose 1. Know the common causes of jumping problems in the horse 2. Know how to jump into water 3. Know how to ride cross country combination fences Teaching Suggestions 1. Discuss their experience in riding in these situations.

Common causes of jumping problems NZ2 77 ** Note that MH 83 list is less complete ** Problem Correction 1. Riding Faults 1. getting left behind and hurting the horse’s back and/or loins and mouth 2. reins too long, too short, not allowing sufficient freedom over the fence, dropping the horse and other contact faults 3. poor presentation – not looking and thinking ahdead, not getting straight or riding a good track 4. lack of nerve, decision or determination 5. poor judgement – over riding or over restricting a keen horse, or sitting passively on one who is unsure or who has no intention of jumping. Over- facing 6. lack of appreciation or understanding. Asking horse to jump when tired or off- color, over jumping. or asking more of the horse when he has already done his best 2. Pain 1. saddlery – ill fitting or uncomfortable, especially saddle coming down on withers or spine or too severe a bit 2. bad riding 3. lameness or soreness 4. sharp teeth (MH 83) 3. Fear 1. pain 2. over-facing 3. loss of confidence due to bad riding, slippery going, badly built fences, incorrect distances 4. hitting rails, falls 4. Lack of or 1. wilful disobedience incorrect 2. stiffness and lack of balance, making obedience difficult, uncomfortable of training impossible 3. excitement, loss of mouth and manners when jumping 4. inability and/or unwillingness to lengthen or shorten the stride when asked 5. Temperament 1. excitable or impetuous 2. nervous, lacking in courage or confidence 3. sluggish

Riding (B2) – Instructor’s Guide -- 3 6. Conformation 1. poor natural balance 2. lock of scope often due to poor front, upright shoulder etc. 3. an exceptionally long or short stride making it difficult for the horse to adjust to normal combination distances 7. Poor horse 1. lack of fitness management 2. unsuitable feeding – too much concentrates for the hot-headed, not enough for the sluggish or stuffy type

Jumping into water Notes  horse can’t judge the depth of the water he is jumping into or see the bottom  USAB 147 must be ridden positively to the fence and not allowed to drop his head or get behind the legs  landing in water exerts a sudden, strong drag on the horse, slowing him suddenly  if you enter too fast while sitting forward this effect is magnified and can send you over horse’s head  horse must make strong effort to recover his balance and stride in the water  often feels like a buck How to ride  ride in strongly USAB 147  keep your balance during the drop, landing and recovery  reorganize the horse in time to jump out safely  secure seat and good timing Drop into water  approach and seat about the same as for large drop USAB 147  heel well down and leg in front of girth  safety seat  stay back as you descend and land  keep your balance in the center of the horse with feet still a little in front of you  regain your reins as quickly as you can

Riding cross country combinations Notes  you can build all sorts of these out of stadium course materials to practice USAB 144  break them down into there components and don’t put them together until horse can handle them all individually  you know your horse’s tendencies  chose what he is good at 1. he might have good scope but not be too handy so chose the maximum height fence 2. he might be handy but limited in scope so chose the trappy turn instead of maximum fence size  chose options that will make the most of your horse’s talents Evaluating  consider the factors that tend to make a horse lengthen his stride (slight USAB 144 downhill grade, long gallop beforehand) Riding 1. balance USAB 144 2. impulsion (usually a bit more than you need is better than not enough) 3. rhythm 4. straightness 5. imagine you are riding a gymnastic as you approach the first element

Riding (B2) – Instructor’s Guide -- 4 RIDING – B2 Homework Key 23 marks total

1. For each of the following moves, provide a description (2), purpose (2) and two common faults (2)

Shoulder in Definition  horse is bent around the rider’s inside leg (uniformly from head to toe MH 65) USAB 77  looking away from direction in which he is moving  shoulders are brought about half step inside the track of the outside hind legs  outside shoulder is in front of his inside hind leg  angle between horse and the straight should not normally exceed 30 degrees which allows the horse to move in three tracks (MH 66)  inside legs cross in front of the outside  inside hind leg reaches diagonally forward under his body  3 tracks (inside fore/inside hind and outside fore/outside hind) Purpose  supple and straighten the horse USAB 78  develop his muscles and carrying power of his hind legs  improve engagement and collection  counteract shying and other disobedience  increase collection (NZ2 162)  increase rider’s capacity to place, control and correct horse (NZ2 162) Possible problems Problem USAB 80 1. falling out through the outside shoulder and bending in the neck only  rider error 2. quarters escaping to outside (NZ2 164) 3. horse coming out of track (NZ2 164) 4. uneven rhythm, variation in angle of the horse (NZ2 164) 5. losing impulsion, coming off the bit (NZ2 164)

Half-pirouette at walk Definition  horse’s hind feet are lifted and set down nearly on the spot as the horse turn USAB 84  the forelegs make a larger circle around the hind legs’ very small circle  executed in a collected walk or canter  hind legs should be raised and set down in the regular rhythm of the gait  a half pirouette goes 180 degrees around (MH 70) Purpose  increase engagement and carrying power of inside hind leg USAB 84  improve balance and control for jumping turns at the canter Possible problems Problem USAB 84 1. backing up 2. losing the rhythm of the gait 3. pivoting on the inside hind leg 4. uneven, hurried or irregular steps 5. failure to bend in the direction of the turn 6. too much neck band 7. turning on centre, quarters swinging

Rein back Definition  left hind and right fore together followed by right hind and left fore together MH 46  USAB states it is four beat with the legs moving “nearly together” with forefoot being raised and lower fractionally before hind (USAB 66)  steps should be straight and of good length  feet picked up and put down cleanly with horse maintaining his correct outline and remaining on the bit MH 46

Riding (B2) – Homework Key -- 1 Purpose  put more weight on hindquarters USAB 67  increase flexion of hindlimbs  improve engagement and balance  can overstress back, hocks and stifle joints Possible problems Problem USAB 67 1. horse anticipating, resisting or hurrying 2. resisting or evading the bit 3. moving crookedly 4. backing with inactive or dragging front or hind legs

2. Describe five points for riding a drop into water (5)

 ride in strongly  keep your balance during the drop, landing and recovery  reorganize the horse in time to jump out safely  secure seat and good timing  approach and seat about the same as for large drop  heel well down and leg in front of girth  safety seat  stay back as you descend and land  keep your balance in the center of the horse with feet still a little in front of you  regain your reins as quickly as you can

Riding (B2) – Homework Key -- 2 RIDING – B2 Student’s Guide

Part I – Riding on the Flat Purpose 1. Be able to describe the required movements at your level including their purpose, common problems and corrections (shoulder in, half pirouette at walk, simple changes through walk, collected trot and rein back)

Shoulder In Definition USAB 77 MH 65

Purpose USAB 78 NZ2 162

Results of riding incorrectly USAB 78

Possible problems with shoulder in Problem Correction 1. falling out through the outside shoulder and bending in the neck only  rider error

Riding (B2) – Student’s Guide -- 1 Problem Correction 2. quarters escaping to outside (NZ2 164)

3. horse coming out of track (NZ2 164)

4. uneven rhythm, variation in angle of the horse (NZ2 164, MH 68)

5. losing impulsion, coming off the bit (NZ2 164)

Half pirouette at walk Definition  horse’s hind feet are lifted and set down nearly on the spot as the horse turn USAB 84  the forelegs make a larger circle around the hind legs’ very small circle MH 70  executed in a collected walk or canter  hind legs should be raised and set down in the regular rhythm of the gait  a half pirouette goes 180 degrees around (MH 70) Purpose  increase engagement and carrying power of inside hind leg USAB 84  improve balance and control for jumping turns at the canter

Riding (B2) – Student’s Guide -- 2 Possible problems with half pirouette (USAB 84) Problem Correction 1. backing up (NZ2 49)

2. losing the rhythm of the gait (MH 72

3. pivoting on the inside hind leg (MH 72)

4. uneven, hurried or irregular steps

5. failure to bend in the direction of the turn

6. too much neck band (NZ2 49)

Riding (B2) – Student’s Guide -- 3 Problem Correction 7. turning on centre, quarters swinging (NZ2 49)

Simple Changes through Walk Definition

USAB 72

Purpose

Problems/ corrections

Rein back Definition MH 46 USAB 66

Riding (B2) – Student’s Guide -- 4 Purpose USAB 67

Possible Problems with Rein back (USAB 67) Problem Correction 1. horse anticipating, resisting or hurrying 2. resisting or evading the bit 3. moving crookedly 4. backing with inactive or dragging front or hind legs

Part II – Riding over Fences Purpose 1. Know the common causes of jumping problems in the horse 2. Know how to jump into water 3. Know how to ride cross country combination fences

Common causes of jumping problems NZ2 77 ** Note that MH 83 list is less complete ** Problem Correction 1. Riding Faults

2. Pain

Riding (B2) – Student’s Guide -- 5 Problem Correction 3. Fear

4. Lack of or incorrect training

5. Temperament

6. Conformation

7. Poor horse management

Jumping into water Notes USAB 147

Riding (B2) – Student’s Guide -- 6 How to ride USAB 147

Drop into water USAB 147

Riding cross country combinations Notes USAB 144

Evaluating USAB 144

Riding USAB 144

Riding (B2) – Student’s Guide -- 7 RIDING – B2 Homework

1. For each of the following moves, provide a description (2), purpose (2) and two common faults (2)

Shoulder in Description

Purpose

Common Faults

Half-pirouette at walk Description

Purpose

Common Faults

Name: Riding (B2) – Student Homework -- 1 Rein back Description

Purpose

Common Faults

2. Describe five points when riding a drop into water (5)

Name: Riding (B2) – Student Homework -- 2