IN THE NEWS
DVD review of Lungeing for Longevity written by Mary Daniels.
In a fresh way, Jane Armour, a British Horse Society Certified Trainer, explains the classical European method of longeing to enhance a horses way of going. I liked her safety-conscious, low-tension way of introducing longeing to horses. (She spells it “lungeing.”)
Longeing is an art, Armour says, rather than just a way to let a horse blow off steam before you mount. This DVD certainly expanded my ideas of longeing tactics. She explains what she prefers in tack and how to fit it. “Always a bridle,” she says, “so the horse can work forward into the contact.” She shows how to fit the cava son over the bridle and the proper length of side reins. She prefers leather ones over with a donut and a cotton lunge line, which she advises to hold the way you would a ridden rein for an elastic following.” Stand in a position where you are driving the horse forward using the lunge whip as a leg.
From the initial steps of te horse on the longe, she begins assessing him. She looks at his balance, the strength of his muscles and hind legs. "The idea is to improve the natural self-carriage," she says, by building muscle strength, expecially the long muscles in the back, which support the rider and creates as beautiful topline. Correct longeing also creates trust and a connection with the horse which is shown in moments of submission when the horse licks and chews.
In her clinics, particiapants "see how in two or three days of correct longeing their horses show a dramatic improvement." But if you can't make it to one of those, this DVD is the next best thing.'
Article 'Longeing Logic' written by Sharon Biggs.
"You lunge the young horse to get him used to the saddle and the weight of the rider, but later on, longeing helps you to evaluate how his training is progressing so you can see how his muscles are developing from the judge's point of view, which helps develop your eye." Armour says. 'You can improve transtions and observe whether your horse is falling onto his forehand, if his hocks are stiff, or if he's flattening his back. It also helps to teach him to lengthen and shorten his stride by engaging his hind legs on the arc of a circle."
Longeing is an efficient training technique that can improve your horse's balance and supleness if done correctly.
Santa Barbara News Press - March 2009
By Frank Newton
She uses a structured teaching program that helps people achieve their riding goals and care properly for their horses. “I can take a person from whatever riding level they’re at,” she says, “and help them achieve their goal.”
But Jane’s passion about horses makes her want to do much more. Her aim is to help people improve themselves and their lives. Her dream is to impact as many people as possible so they can become more complete through their connection with a horse.
“Connecting with a horse is something emotional, even spiritual,” Jane explains, “and that can have tremendous benefits for a person. You cannot lie to a horse, and that makes you be more honest about yourself. You can lose your personal hang-ups while with the horse. And as you ride and nurture the horse, the two of you become one. It’s truly amazing!”
Flying Changes www.flyingchanges.com
January, February and March
January's article leads of the three-part series on lungeing with 'How to Make the Most of Your Horse's Time on the Lunge' . This articles covers where to lunge, what equipment is needed and how to get started. February's article 'Exercises to Relax and Improve your Horse' covers the use of side reins, transitions and some horse faults and the corrections. The March article overs exercises like spiralling and the positioning and use of trot poles to improve jiont flexibility.
Meeting You Where You Are and The Importance of 1% Improvement
By Shelly Moore
Jane Armour was recently in the Eugene, OR area teaching a three day riding clinic followed by a one day instructor and coaching clinic. Many of you may be wondering who is Jane Armour and what does she teach. I think a better question might be what doesn’t she teach?
Jane is originally from Scotland and came to the U.S. on an extraordinary ability visa as a “trainer of trainers”. She trained with the British Olympic Dressage Coach and has been teaching and judging for over 35 years. She was a Chief Examiner for the British Horse Society, as well as a Dressage Judge and Registered Show Hunter Judge with the Irish Shows Association. Since coming to the U.S. in 1997 Jane first trained staff and students at the Millbrook Equestrian Center in New York and more recently has been offering clinics, seminars and workshops across the country. She is working on a variety of educational materials and has produced two DVD’s and one book. Her next book is due out in the summer of 2007.
In the three days that Jane was here teaching, mentoring and coaching many people saw or experienced dramatic improvements in themselves and/or their equine partners. We had riders from all levels participate and some of the things that changed during the lessons were as simple as a better rider position, improved attitude and development of a work ethic on the horse’s part. In some of the higher level horses we saw things that were complex physical challenges or training issues start to resolve. Jane’s lessons are remarkable. She assesses each horse and rider pair individually making positive recommendations. The result was that the riders developed more confidence and the horses began to trust and listen to them. The horses started to move in a better self-carriage, which Jane indicated would lead to a longer working life and greater soundness.
Jane repeated many times through out the whole weekend that building a strong foundation of relaxation, rhythm, contact, suppleness and flexibility is where we are today, using our 1% improvement scale we will soon be practicing straightness, impulsion and collection.