Drill Teams and Driving

NARHA SPRING 2010

A Special Interest Newsletter VOLUME 9 • NUMBER 1 Drill Teams and Driving

By Anita Sepko

ooking for a new saddle in a routine, you can activity for your do while put to music. The Ldriving students? choreography is usually the Why not consider having most difficult part. You them work together on a want to make it challenging driven drill routine? Just as without adding a huge drill work helps riding stu - degree of difficulty. Driving dents with sequencing, figures can be tedious and memory and precision, it difficult, but when you put also helps your driving those figures to music— students. And as an added and have a partner to bonus, it is fun! boot—it becomes fun. Costumes can be fun in a driven drill, as these “convicts” Be sure to initiate your The first thing to do is found out while drilling to “Jailhouse Rock.” select appropriate music. horses to driving closely to It is good to find music that has a 1/2 beat (for the 1/2 beat one another to music prior to allowing the students into the of the trot) but that varies in tempo. The variances in tempo vehicle. You should know the routine, and feel comfortable allow for walk, trot, working trot and strong trot all within driving it, before you attempt to do it with your students. It the same song. Find a song that has a short introduction is also very important that your Able-bodied Whip is extra where the turnout has to wait to enter the arena. This is a cautious on the join-up sections of the routine as you cer - great place for your students to work on standing quietly, tainly don’t want to lock wheels. even though they and the horse are anticipating moving for - ward. STAND can be practiced very well here, safely and Continued on page two with a concrete reward for both the student and the horse. Examples of music I have selected are “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley and “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. We have also driven to “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley In this issue... and the Comets, “She Drives Me Crazy” by The Fine Drill Teams and Driving ...... 1 Young Cannibals and “Beer for My Horses” by Toby Keith. Any sassy, fun tune with a good beat will work. Just ask Just Do It! ...... 3 yourself, “Can I dance to it?” If the answer is yes, chances Training Your Interactive Vaulting are you can also drive to it. Equine Partner ...... 4 You can add various figures to drive in your routine. You don’t just have to go around the arena. For example, A Look at NARHA Standards and serpentines, circles, 1/2 S and diagonals can all be incorpo - Guidelines as an Instructor ...... 8 rated into the drill. You can drive them side by side, oppos - ing and so forth. Basically, most of the things you do under

Costumes are as fun in driven drill as they are in ridden NARHA Certification drill. Half blankets on the horses can become customized to whatever the music dictates, and of course your students will Committees enjoy dressing the part too. On “Jailhouse Rock,” we all dressed as convicts, and for “Ghostbusters,” we wore official Ghostbuster costumes, and the horses were dressed as ghosts. Certification It was great fun for everyone. Oversight You can pick up lots of pointers and direction on setting Committee up a drill team. Just remember that those tips aren’t limited to just the saddle horses. Apply them to your driving horses as Marny Mansfield, OT, well. You will find you have opened up a whole avenue of fun Chair for you, your students and your horses. Trot on! Patti Coyle, Co-chair Jacqueline Tiley Anita Sepko is one of a few NARHA Joelle Devlin Driving Level II instructors and is Gisela Heimsath- also the NARHA Certified Riding Rhodes Instructor at Riding Unlimited, a Lee Morgan NARHA Premier Accredited Center Memree Stuart Vaulting in Ponder, Texas. She is the center’s Ann Alden Certification head instructor. Anita has a varied Subcommittee background in both riding and driv - Riding Certification Liz Harris, Chair ing. She was a 4-H Horse Activity Subcommittee Elizabeth Capalbo Leader for 15 years. Anita has Terrie Knauer shown both Icelandic and Friesian Joelle Devlin, Chair horses at Equine Affaire in Marsha Anderson, Dale Perkins Alison Plaza Massachusetts and Ohio, in the Carolina Classic Horse Expo Co-chair and many other trade shows. She has been on the board of Gail Pace Darleen Lafontaine Gisela Heimsath- directors of the North Carolina Dressage and Combined Sue Adams Training Association. Marci Bender Rhodes Lorna Young DJ Jesser Jenny Nell, Advisor Equine 2010 Vaulting Workshops Driving Certification Specialist Subcommittee Certification and Certifications Subcommittee Kristen McGraw, Chair Workshop is held the first three days; Lee Morgan Memree Stuart, Chair the certification is held on the last day Anita Sepko Debbie Anderson August 26-29, Riding to the Top, Windham, ME Jennifer Lindskoog Susan Brooks (207) 892-2813 • [email protected] Susan Grant Amanda Hogan Corie Brooks Joseph Callan Tina Bennett, Advisor Pebbles Turbeville Driving Workshops and Certifications Workshop is held the first three days; NARHA Certification Staff the certification is held on the last two days Tara McChesney, Certification Coordinator June 1-5, Horse Power, Inc., Temple, NH [email protected] (603) 654-6308 • [email protected] To register please contact the host site. Spaces are filled on a first come, first served basis from complete applications only.

Spring 2010 2 The Instructor Voice Just Do It! The benefits of holding a Registered Level On-site Workshop and Certification

By Sue Adams

emember putting your foot in If you don’t have an indoor or cov - willing to guide you through it all and the stirrup for the first time? ered arena, there is probably one close answer all your questions. You can even RRemember going over that first by that would love the media attention give other programs who already host jump? How about that first horse for assisting a great cause. If you don’t the OSWC a call and they can talk you show? Each ‘first’ made you a bit nerv - have program horses that would work through it and tell you what works best ous, but you took that leap of faith for the riding test, why not get a local for them. Once the OSWC begins, the because you had the knowledge and pony club or show circuit association lead faculty takes over the paperwork the know-how to try something new. involved and ask to use their horses. and gets it all back to the NARHA And I bet a great person taught you What an opportunity for them to shine office. how to prepare for all your firsts. by showing off their great horses. You The bonus is the best of all. Your Holding a Registered Level On-site might even get a few new volunteers! program can make hosting a registered Workshop and Certification (OSWC) Need more riders to hold the teaching on-site workshop and certification part can be just as rewarding and another segment of certification? Why not ask of its fund-raising efforts. Education for great first to consider for you and your another program if their riders would all interested (the workshop can be program. There are so many rewards consider a ‘free’ lesson or two during audited for continuing education), a when hosting an OSWC. Your volun - certification to help you out. They could means to begin or complete registered teers can watch, assist and learn what provide the rider information needed for level certification and raising needed is new in the therapeutic horseback rid - the candidates and, voilà, a new partner - dollars for your program: sounds like a ing industry. Instructors-in-training ship is formed. And parents love freebies win-win-win situation for everyone. (ITs) have the opportunity to take the when it comes to riding sessions. So, visit www.NARHA.org and workshop segment right in their local What about the cost of travel for look up the Host Packet. Talk to the area while gaining their education and your faculty/evaluators? So many of NARHA staff or call other programs that working on their teaching hours for them may travel quite a distance from already host the Registered OSWC. Ask registered certification. And those who your programs, and 58 cents a mile all the scary questions you have. Let are ready can test for their certification. builds up. But, have you checked out the them talk you through it, give you ways Or, the brave at heart can take the cost for flights lately? With the right air - to streamline the paperwork and set you workshop and certification all at the line, it may be cheaper to fly your peo - at ease. Then, pull together your group same time. The major advantage is ple in than to have them drive them - and go over the process with them. Two location, location, location. The more selves. And how about those reward or three people make light the work of programs that offer one or the other or points from the credit card your program one. Then, take a few big breaths, smile both components, the less expensive it uses to pay bills and buy supplies? Use and … JUST DO IT! is for ITs to begin the certification those reward points for the flights and process. Imagine that–more options, it’s a snap. Not a penny out of pocket! Sue Adams is a less expense. (What? Not using a credit card yet for NARHA Cert- There are so many options to con - reward points?) ified Advanced sider when making the decision to host Meals can work the same as the Level Instructor, an OSWC. If you have a small pro - indoor usage. Ask local restaurants to Certification gram and not enough horses for the sponsor lunches for your candidates and Committee, riding test or not enough riders for the faculty. Give them signage in your facili - Faculty/Lead teaching part of the certification, why ty or barn for a year. Pizzas, salads and Evaluator, not just offer the workshop? There are wraps … mmmmm! Accreditation more and more ITs who want the edu - You are probably thinking right now, Committee, cational component first, take all the but what about all the paperwork? It Lead Visitor information home to digest and prac - may look overwhelming at first glance, and is the Executive Director/Founder/ tice and then go for the certification but once you have taken a deep breath or Mentor (1988) of the Atlantic Riding testing down the road. More time, less two and have the system in place, it’s a Center for the Handi-capped in New stress. snap. And the staff at NARHA is so Jersey. She has a B.S. in Education.

The Instructor Voice 3 SpSripnrgin 2g0 0 290 /1 30 Training Your Interactive Vaulting Equine Partner By Alison Plaza

orking with horses is indeed a passion; training them is Longeing the result of methodical and W Collection If you are to enjoy the benefits of patient daily routines. Training your interactive vaulting, your horse must be interactive vaulting equine partner can Impulsion an expert on the longe. Longeing is be a journey that will enrich your life Straightness easy and fun but will require lots of and help your horse better understand Contact practice for both the trainer and the what is required of him. horse. If you are not an experienced Begin by choosing your partner Suppleness longeur, it would be wise to learn and wisely. Are you mostly serving a popu - practice on a trained horse before you lation of younger kids? Are you teach - Rhythm attempt to train a horse yourself. If you ing at-risk youth? These questions will The Pyramid of Training are an experienced horseman and have better help you identify which horse or longed trained horses, you will be suc - pony in your herd is best suited for cessful at training your partner if you your interactive vaulting program. follow the basic principles of longeing Temperament and conformation are and take the time your horse will your next concerns. A kind and patient- Getting Started require to learn. tempered equine will guide your stu - Begin by threading the cavesson of dents through the games and exercises Having the right equipment will the bridle through the rings of the snaf - that enhance every interactive vaulting simplify your training experience. You fle (Illustration No. 2) and proceed to lesson. Your horses or ponies are best will need the following equipment: buckle it but not too tight. This is a suited if they have short and broad technique that I learned from Peter backs, have solid bones (are sturdy) See Interactive Vaulting Standards—V4 Dyrness, our barn manager at Pegasus and can comfortably accommodate a Therapeutic Riding Center and who in vaulter as she performs even the basic compulsories. A horse that naturally • A longeing whip (preferably the carries himself and places his weight telescopic type) Continued on page five slightly off the forehand will be a plus. • A longe line 35’ long When the horse is carrying himself, his • Gloves center of gravity moves closer to the • Snaffle bridle vaulter, helping the student improve • Side-reins balance and posture. Through training • Vaulting surcingle you will strengthen your horse’s • Vaulting pad hindquarters and teach him how to • Vaulting barrel engage from behind. It is also important that your horse Before you begin training, you will is sound. A horse that is uneven in his need to choose an appropriate site. The movement is communicating pain. As interactive vaulting area should have vaulting instructors, we promise to do good footing, be clearly defined and no harm to our participants, and so we free of any obstructions or props you must also promise to do no harm to our will not be using in your training or equine partners. lessons. Illustration No. 2. From Modern Riding by S.R. Kulesza, print 1966 by See Interactive Vaulting Standards—V1 See Interactive Vaulting Standards—V10 A.S. Barnes & Co., Inc.

Spring 2010 4 The Instructor Voice Continued from page four guage and point the whip toward his your horse to change gaits in downward shoulder to guide him back out on to transitions and are especially helpful to turn learned it from his teacher and the larger circle. signal your horse to prepare for the mentor Severyn R. Kulesza, instructor Once your horse is comfortable at canter. A smooth trot to canter transi - and commanding officer of the Polish the walk on a large circle in both direc - tion will be the joy of your vaulters. Cavalry School. tions, you may introduce the trot and Increasing and decreasing the size Next, attach the longe line to the later on the canter. Use your body, your of your circle when schooling on the ring on the near side of your horse. longe line and your whip to create a tri - longe will improve both your horse’s Lead your horse at the walk while angle and stay in the center of your cir - longitudinal and lateral suppleness. Ask holding the longe line and whip so he cle as your horse draws the circle your horse, through the use of 1/2 halts, may get accustomed to the equipment. around you. (See Illustration No. 3.) to spiral in, slowly decreasing the size As you lead on straight lines, 1/2 cir - It is best to train the vaulting horse of the circle from the larger 60’ diame - cles and circles, try to increase the dis - to transition from one gait to the next ter to a smaller 30’ diameter. Then, tance between you and your horse by using the whip. In order to ask your point the whip toward his shoulder to without losing the contact on the longe horse to move forward, use the whip in guide him to spiral out onto the larger line. Remember that you will need to a forward swinging motion at his circle again. Remember to always teach your horse to longe on both reins hindquarters. If you are asking your school all exercises on both reins to so you may develop both sides of your horse to transition downwards, you can strengthen both sides of your horse horse equally. bring the whip under the longe line and equally. Continue your training daily until in front of the horse to signal him to Practice makes perfect, and your horse is ready to walk on a large slow down. Use the longe line as if it longeing your horse at all three gaits circle. He may at first try to come in were an outside rein (when riding), and often will strengthen the bond between off the circle line toward you. Be quick teach your horse also to respond to 1/2 you and your horse and prepare your with reading your horse’s body lan - halts. Half halts are helpful to signal horse for his new job. Schooling at the

Illustration No. 3. From Modern Riding by S.R. Kulesza, print 1966 by A.S. Barnes & Co., Inc.

The Instructor Voice 5 Spring 2010 Continued from page five

walk can be done daily. Once you begin with the trot and the canter and introduce the side-reins, I recommend no more than three times per week and for a duration of 30 minutes or 15 min - utes in each direction.

See Interactive Vaulting Standards—V3 Mandatory d

Side-reins l

When your horse is comfortable a r e

longeing on a large circle, at all three g z t

gaits, you may introduce the side- i F

reins. You will not need to thread the e n i

cavesson through the rings of the snaf - t s i fle. The side-reins will keep the bit r h C from sliding through as you use the y

b longe line to connect to your horse

o through the use of 1/2 halts. Side-reins t o

must be placed so that the horse is P comfortable and on the vertical or Full flag slightly in front. If the side-reins are too short, the horse will transfer his weight to the forehand. If they are too long, the horse will not be balanced on your staff or volunteer, who under - jumping in place and around the circle the outside rein and will position his stands how to approach horses when until your horse is used to the move - head and neck to the outside of the introducing them to new things. Bring ments and sounds and continues work - circle, placing his body weight on the into the arena the cones, hula-hoops ing on the longe in good rhythm and inside shoulder. Side-reins must be of and some of the toys your students following your commands. equal length so that the horse will will be playing with during class. Teach the compulsories to your test travel on the circle with a good contact Introduce one element at a time and be pilot on the barrel. Once your test on the outside rein and a lighter feel patient if your horse takes a while to pilot is proficient, begin training your on the inside. get used to the musical instruments or horse to accept the compulsories while Now that your horse is an expert other toys such as balls and rings. at walk, then trot and, finally, depend - on the longe at all three gaits, it is ing on your horse and test pilot’s abili - time to introduce the games! See Interactive Vaulting Standards— ty, at the canter. V6 See Interactive Vaulting Standards— Bring in Your Test Pilot Begin your longeing session as V7 & V8 Mandatory At this point it is time to bring in usual. First warm up on both reins at your test pilot and desensitize your all three gaits. Then put on the side- horse to the movements and sounds he reins and begin to work on transitions. Bring in Staff and will experience during an interactive While you are longeing your horse, Volunteers vaulting lesson. Make sure your test your test pilot should begin to walk Now it is time to enact a true inter - pilot is wearing a helmet and clothing around the outside of your circle active vaulting lesson with the help of that is comfortable and snug. Vaulting clockwise and counter clockwise. staff and volunteers. Choose two peo - shoes are best, but canvas shoes, aqua Then she should begin to play one ple for the first class, then increase to socks or gymnastic shoes are also musical instrument at a time, throw four, six and finally to eight. Make acceptable. Your test pilot should be the rings in the cones, play ball and sure your interactive vaulting crew is an experienced horse handler, a part of finally begin running, skipping and dressed appropriately. Your horse will

Spring 2010 6 The Instructor Voice Continued from page six Save the d l Date! a r e g z t i 2010 NARHA F

e n i t National s i r h

C Conference

o t & Annual o

h P Meeting Warmups around the equine

need to get used to vaulters playing the Alison Plaza was born in Caracas, games on and around him. Only when Venezuela. In 1990, she moved to you feel that your horse is ready Ottawa, Canada, and became a should you begin with a small group Canadian citizen. In 2001, Alison of special needs interactive vaulting moved to Boca Raton, FL, where she students. joined Horses and the Handicapped of Remember to continue training South Florida as a volunteer. In 2002, your horse regularly so that he may Alison earned her NARHA Registered increase his strength and enjoyment of Level Certification and in 2007 her his new job! NARHA Advanced Level Certification. See Interactive Vaulting Standards—V2 In 2008, Alison became a NARHA Mandatory, V5, V6 & V8 Mandatory Interactive Vaulting Instructor and joined the NARHA Vaulting Committee. Alison holds a B.H.S.I.I. Certification, is currently Program Director of Pegasus Therapeutic Riding in Brewster, NY, and is pursu - ing her NARHA Master Level Certification. Alison is also an appren - tice evaluator for registered level certi - fications and vaulting workshops and certifications. Alison lives in Darien, CT, and can be reached at [email protected] with any questions.

The Instructor Voice 7 Spring 2010 A Look at NARHA Standards and Guidelines as a NARHA Instructor

By Jacqueline Tiley

s certified NARHA instructors and even if you are not currently at an ing if you would like to facilitate one of —whether we work at a accredited center, it might be accredited the specialty activities. ANARHA member center, a in the future. At most centers, all staff The fifth and final section including NARHA Premier Accredited Center or generally are involved in some portion standards is Field Test Standards. When teach on our own—we agree to abide of the accreditation process. there are standards being field tested, it by NARHA standards, and we annually Then we jump into the standards is to the benefit of all members and sign a code of ethics that incorporates themselves. The third section, section centers to give feedback on the effec - this promise. Principle seven of the C, houses all of the Core Standards. It tiveness of the proposed standards, NARHA Instructor Code of Ethics is important for you as an instructor to because they may one day become a states: “NARHA Certified Instructors understand not just the program and new core or specialty standard you will will promote public safety by abiding facility standards but also the adminis - have to abide by. As an instructor, you by NARHA Standards and Guidelines.” trative standards. As instructors we should always be aware of any new As an instructor, I personally wear many hats, and when reviewing proposed standards in this section. referred to the NARHA Standards for participant paperwork you should know The next two sections, Forms and Certification and Accreditation on a what needs to be updated on a regular Specialty Forms, are available to you as daily basis while I was the head instruc - basis and help remind your administra - resources. There are sample forms, such tor at Colorado Therapeutic Riding tor when you see something missing or as medical releases, horse health forms Center, Inc. The NARHA standards are out of date, such as a medical form. For and liability releases, to name a few. something that every instructor and example, it is possible for a participant There are also forms you can print or instructor-in-training should be familiar to have changes substantial enough to copy and send to NARHA if your facil - with. What many of us forget, though, make riding contraindicated but not ity needs to update its information in is that the standards manual is made up have told you because he or she loves the NARHA database and on the web - of more than just the standards. The to ride so much. site. As a center employee you may be manual should be a tool that you can The fourth section, Specialty asked to contact NARHA to make these use for more than just references to Standards, is for use not only by those changes. As an instructor, you are gen - standards that you must abide by. offering or piloting a specialty program, erally responsible for the daily use of The first section in the NARHA hippotherapy, driving, interactive vault - many forms at your center, so you Standards for Certification and ing and/or equine facilitated psy - should be aware of what is available in Accreditation is primarily an overview chotherapy. If you or your center is this section. and history. It can be useful if you are considering adding a specialty activity The Glossary section is something just starting a facility or need to know you should be sure to become familiar we should all know and use daily. We how to propose a change to a standard. with the specialty standards before should also refer others to this section The second section is an overview deciding to offer the new activity or to as well. This is the appropriate industry of center accreditation and the process pilot the program. I would suggest any - terminology we should be using in all for accreditation, including why a peer one interested in the specialty areas of our marketing and when educating review for accreditation is valuable. become familiar with the standards, the community, not just when we are Understanding the accreditation process because it will help you decide if you writing an article for NARHA. As an will help you as an instructor under - are qualified to become certified in that industry, we need to be articulate about stand why accreditation is important, specialty or if you need additional train - Continued on page nine

Spring 2010 8 The Instructor Voice able to ride or not? Or what is Spina professional competency, integrity, hon - Continued from page eight Bifida and is it contraindicated or not? esty, confidentiality, objectivity, sound Or a participant has been with you for judgment, public safety and profession - who we are and what we do, based on more than 10 years and has just begun al compliance. our scope of practice. having seizures; can he continue to It is our responsibility as instructors The Guidelines section includes ride? If you do not already know the to be knowledgeable about not only our information for helmet use, alternative answers to these questions, read the P industry standards but the guidelines helmet use, non-use of helmets in inter - & C’s. This section gives you informa - and tools that are available to help us active vaulting, what should be part of tion put together by experts in the field do our job as effectively as possible. your equine first-aid container, psy - (including therapists and doctors) to chosocial safety guidelines, backriding help you know when a participant’s Jacqueline Tiley guidelines and the ADA Act. The condition is contraindicated for riding is currently the guidelines section is very useful when a or therapy or when you just need to Executive question arises such as, “How can we proceed with caution. I have personally Director of the compete in interactive vaulting while used this section as a guide in what to American wearing helmets, since helmets inter - ask therapists and/or doctors when I Hippotherapy fere with the vaulting maneuvers?” feel a medical form doesn’t really tell Association. She The final section, Precautions and me what I need to know about a condi - has a B.S. in Contraindications, is a section I have tion in order to decide if the condition Equine Sciences became personal friends with. I have is contraindicated or not. from Colorado always had a current copy of this sec - After you read this, I hope you will State University tion in my top desk drawer. As an review your current NARHA Standards and is a NARHA Site Visitor, a NARHA instructor who has done many new par - for Certification and Accreditation , as Certified Advanced Level Riding ticipant evaluations, this is a great tool it is much more than just standards. It Instructor and a OSWC Lead Faculty. that can help you assess the appropri - is full of information that can help you She facilitated the first NARHA on-site ateness of a new participant or if the make decisions, educate others and workshop and certification outside continued participation of one of your become more effective in providing the North America in South Korea. She has riders is contraindicated or not. For best services possible as a NARHA cer - been working and volunteering in the example, if a doctor shares that a rider tified instructor. Re-member, we sign field of equine assisted activities and has a rod in her back, should she be an annual code of ethics that includes therapies for more than 12 years.

EQUINE FACILITATED MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION Equine Specialist Workshops (All dates are subject to change) Training designed for equine professionals, EAAT riding instructors, those who wish to enhance their abilities to work with professionals and their clients in the fields of mental health and learning.

August 20-22 Strides to Success in Plainfield, IN (317) 838-7002 [email protected]

Contact the host site for cost information and registration.

The Instructor Voice 9 Spring 2010