Jane Armour BHSI (T & SM)

'The Horseoneship Clinician'
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Newsletter Tips
 
What your horse's breathing tells you:
 
1. The horse's respiratory rate is around eight to twelve breathes per minute at rest.  If you know what is normal for your horse, you will know if your horse is unwell or stressed.  Remember the respiratory rate increases with exercise. The quicker their breathing returns to normal rate the fitter the horse is.  
 
2. There may be a very slight discharge from the nose because a horse breathes in time with his stride.  If the stride is short and choppy, the horse will only use the top portion of his lungs.  If the stride is longer the horse will breathe more deeply and bring some of the mucus from the lower part of the lungs.
 
3. The horse will blow gently down through his nose to clear the mucus from his nasal passages.  
___________________
 
Signs of relaxation
 
1. The ears will flick back and forwards gently when the horse is listening to the rider.  When the ears are pricked forwards, their attention is on something other than the rider.  When lungeing the horse should turn his inside ear towards the handler. 
 
2.  The horse at halt will stand in a relaxed fashion.  He/she will be aware of what is going on, but will not show any desire to flee.  Flight is the natural reaction of a horse when they are afraid.  Seldom will a horse stand and fight if they have the opportunity to run away.
 
3.When moving his/her tail should swing from side to side in a relaxed way.  Check to see if the horse carries their tail to one side.  This indicates a tension/stiffness in the back, as the tail is a continuation of the spine.   
Successful Schooling
Using Simple School Movements
Part Two 
 
In this tight economy more riders either need to or want to be more involved in schooling their own horse.  This is a great way to learn how to ride.  But before embarking on schooling your horse on your own, consider the following points:
 
What are your goals?
What facilities are there where you keep your horse?
What is your horse's temperament and fitness level?
What support do you have if you have problems or questions? 
 

 
If you feel safe and can ride accurate movements,
 you can school your own horse.
 
In last months article I discussed the importance of riding accurate movements in order to develop suppleness and flexibility in your horse.  We looked at various changes of direction where the rider changes the aids, the bend the diagonal and lastly at a convenient moment the stick.  I talked about the importance of maintaining the rhythm throughout the changes.
 
This month we are looking at simple loops and serpentines. 
 
FIVE METER LOOP DOWN THE LONG SIDES
 
Ride a good corner leaving the track as your horse's hind quarters get to the marker making sure you maintain the rhythm and an even bend throughout the whole of your horse's body. Ride in to the 3/4 line straightening your horse before reaching the EB line.  Ride the same number of straight strides either side of the EB line.  Change the aids, bend and diagonal before riding out to the quarter marker, repeating the change of aids, bend and diagonal before making another good corner.  Your horse's nose should touches the quarter marker and you should be onto the track as your shoulders get to the marker maintaining the rhythm.   
 
VARIATIONS

1. The more supple the horse is the longer you can maintain the straight line. 

2. Ride your loop without changing the bend so that the steps back to the track are leg yield steps.

 

LOOPS DOWN THE CENTER LINE 
 
As you make a turn at the end of the arena continue riding an arc past the center line.  Ride across the center line riding the same distance that you went on your first arc.  Change the aids, bend and diagonal to ride a loop back across the center line again before continuing out onto the rail.  You will have ridden three loops.   
 
VARIATIONS  

1. Increase or decrease the number of loops depending on how your horse maintains his rhythm.

2. Ride the loops at the canter to do counter-canter.

 

 

 THE SERPENTINE
 
Ride around the corner of your arena and then make a turn straight across the arena.  While crossing the center line make a change of aids, a slight change of bend and then your diagonal.  Ride a turn at the track and then another turn across the arena repeating your changes.  Make sure that your loops are even.
 
VARIATIONS

1. Vary the number of turns.  You can ride three, four of five loops.

2.  Increase the change of bend across the center line so that you are riding a flat 'S' shape.

 

ADDITIONAL TIPS
  • Walk the movements before riding them. 
  • If you have a friend to ride with watch each other. 
YOU CAN SCHOOL ON YOUR OWN.

These tips are taken from my free newsletter 'Horseoneship'. 

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