Personally, it was a thrill to watch dressage superstars Totilas and Edward Gal perform their winning Grand Prix ride, and to be in the stadium when the top show jumping duo of Hickstead and Eric Lamaze jumped clear. And as an eventing fan, it was exciting to watch my idol, Mary King, gallop by. Other highlights for me included watching the endurance horses trot by with their ears pricked at the vet gate after their first loop, and being inspired by the amazing para-equestrians as they headed down the centerline.

So when I received an invitation to travel to France to see where the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy will take place, I jumped at the chance.

The Biggest Horse Event in the World

The Games will be held Aug. 23 to Sept. 7, 2014, and Alltech, title sponsor of the 2010 Games, is once again lending its support to the biggest horse event in the world. If you’re a horse owner, there’s a pretty good chance that your horse’s feed bag includes ingredients developed by Alltech, one of the world’s leading animal health and nutrition companies.

I’ve been to Paris several times but hadn’t ventured northwest of the capital to visit the area that the French consider the “Land of the Horse.”

Unlike in Lexington, where all of the competitions were located at one site, the 2014 Games will take place in several locations around Normandy. Caen, the region’s capital, will be the heart of the Games. The city, which is a two and a half hour drive from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris or a slightly shorter train ride, will host seven of the competitions, including show jumping, dressage, para-dressage, reining, vaulting, driving and the stadium jumping phase of eventing. The endurance competition will be run an hour or so away and pass by the scenic Mont-Saint-Michel, a famous abbey perched on top of a rocky island off the coast. The eventing dressage and cross-country phases will take place at one of the area’s national stud farms, Haras du Pin, deep in the countryside.

This year, two exhibition sports have been added to the Games: polo and horseball. These events will take place in Deauville, a popular seaside resort.

The Land of the Horse

After spending just a few days in Normandy, I can see why the region was picked to host the Games. It’s a very horsey area. As we drove down winding country lanes and in and out of quaint villages, I spotted lots of healthy and happy-looking horses grazing in lush green fields. I learned that there are more than 700,000 riders in Normandy and that around 4,000 equestrian events, including horse racing on the beach, take place there each year. The region has two national stud farms and 21 racetracks where both Thoroughbred racing and harness racing take place.

My first day in France was spent in Trouville-sur-Mer, a small fishing town on the coast. Within five minutes of walking around, I saw several people at the local outdoor market wearing breeches, and I spotted a two-horse trailer being towed by a Volkswagen Golf. Yes, folks, a Volkswagen Golf.

I walked by a riding stable built on the beach, and watched a French Trotter being exercised on the sand in harness. I also saw several billboards advertising a Congres des Chevaux, a horse expo that was taking place the next week.

Getting Ready for the Games

The next day I visited Caen so that I could see where the bulk of the competition will take place.

The Prairie racecourse, smack dab in the middle of the city, will be the location of the para-dressage and driving competitions. Driving obstacles have already been built, and there are billboards posted around the city explaining to the locals what preparations are being made for the Games.

One of the goals of the organizers of the 2014 Games is to engage the local population and encourage them, horsey or not, to come out and enjoy the event and learn more about equestrian sports. The organizers have promised that tickets to the different events will be moderately priced so locals will be eager to attend.

The show jumping, eventing show jumping and dressage will take place in the town’s soccer venue, the D’Ornano Stadium. The vaulting will take place in the Zenith indoor arena, a theater in the round where everyone will have a good view of the action.

Caen will also be the site of the exhibition center, home to hundreds of trade stands, restaurants and exhibits. The organizers plan to offer an inexpensive day pass for people who just want to shop or watch demonstrations.

Visitors to the competitions taking place in Caen will be able to walk from one venue to another fairly easily, but for people who need help getting around, there will be regular shuttle buses driving between the sites.

Versailles for Horses

If you plan to watch the eventing dressage and cross-country phases, you must make your way to Haras du Pin, near Argentan, about 45 miles south of Caen. The stud farm, spread out over 2,500 acres, is the perfect place to host the cross-country jumping. Often called “Versailles for Horses,” Haras du Pin is the posh home of French stallions of every shape and size. Munching on hay in their stalls you’ll find burly Percherons, with legs as solid as tree trunks, Thoroughbreds, French Trotting Horses, Arabians, Lipizzaners and Selle Francais.

Every Thursday from June to September, visitors can watch a parade of the stud’s stallions, mares and foals. More than 100 equestrian events take place at Haras du Pin each year, making good use of the stud’s several outdoor arenas and grass training track. Haras du Pin also features a museum, a horse and pony care workshop for kids and a gift store.

Memories of D-Day

After visiting Haras du Pin, we headed back to the coast for a bit of sightseeing. Normandy is home to Omaha Beach, the site of the historic D-Day invasion in World War II. Since 2014 is the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the area is planning several large celebrations; it’s likely that President Obama will make a trip to France to honor the thousands of Americans who died in battle on June 6, 1944.

A tour of Omaha Beach had been arranged for my group with D-Day Academy—a company that advertises itself as a “Museum on Wheels.” We whizzed along the coastal roads between memorials in Jeeps and supply trucks from the 1940s. Riding in an old truck was pretty bumpy, and I suspect my truck’s driver had dreams of being a Formula 1 race car driver because he was a bit of speed devil, but it gave me a taste of what American soldiers must have seen and felt in 1944.

The visit to Omaha Beach was quite an emotional experience for everyone on the tour, and it’s a detour I recommend if you attend the Games.

Before we could hop out of the Jeeps, our guides from D-Day Academy whisked us to a nearby château where we sipped Calvados, an apple brandy made in the region. We were able to look at and touch some of the actual rifles, guns, helmets and equipment used by soldiers who fought on D-Day.

Abbey on a Hill

My final destination was Mont-Saint-Michel, the site of the endurance competition. Mont-Saint-Michel is about 75 miles away from Caen. Walking on the causeway on the way to the tiny town and abbey perched high atop a rocky island, I was able to see where one loop of the endurance competition will take place.

Mont-Saint-Michel is a spectacular place to have lunch, high above the gray sea, but you have to be fit to walk around the island—there are a lot of steep stairways to negotiate!

A Destination for Horse Lovers

More than once on my trip I thought about how wonderful it would be to ride around this beautiful area. I discovered that the Normandy Tourism Board’s website has several links to farms that offer trekking holidays, rides through the countryside and gallops along the beaches. When I return to Normandy, a ride with Mont-Saint-Michel as a backdrop is on my must-do list.

If you’re thinking of attending the Games, now is the time to book your hotel rooms. Caen has many different types of hotels near the Games’ site, or you could consider staying in a château in the countryside that surrounds the city. I stayed at the gorgeous Château de Sully, a small hotel and restaurant in Bayeux, a historic town known for the Bayeux Tapestries, near Caen.

There are other housing options available too. What about renting a gîte, a private country cottage? Booking a gîte is a great idea if you plan to attend the Games with friends. There are also plenty of chamber de hôtes, French-style bed and breakfasts in Normandy. Looking for an even cheaper option? Camp out! There are many campsites in the area, often near the seaside, that offer mobile homes, caravans and even yurts to rent.

After spending just a few days in Normandy, I found the area to be a great destination for horse lovers. If you plan to go to the Games, build a few free days into your schedule so you can make the trip to Omaha Beach, visit a Calvados distillery or ride through the quiet lanes that meander through villages and along the River Vire.

There’s plenty to see and do in Normandy. Start planning your trip of a lifetime now!

Click here to see all the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 Normandy news from Horse Illustrated.

This article originally appeared in the January 2014 issue of Horse Illustrated. Click here to subscribe.

The post A visit to Normandy, France appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

If you have taken a few lessons and have decided that you’re going to stick with it, now is the time to invest in some safe riding gear. You don’t have to run to the tack store and purchase all the most expensive riding clothes right away. While a brand-new riding helmet is a necessity, you may be able to save money by buying second-hand riding clothes and boots.

If you are riding at a lesson barn, look around for a bulletin board advertising used jodhpurs, breeches, gloves and boots. Another rider who has outgrown her clothes, upgraded, or switched disciplines may be selling her old riding apparel at a great price.

If you’re starting your riding wardrobe from scratch, it’s time to visit the local tack store. If you don’t have a tack store nearby, you may have to order riding gear from a catalog or an online shop. Your instructor or other riders at the barn may offer advice about which stores or catalogs to shop.

Here’s the basic gear you will need if you plan to ride regularly.

A Riding Helmet

A safety helmet is the most important item of riding gear. You should wear one every time you get on a horse. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to wear one while grooming or tacking up. Horses are unpredictable creatures and taking a simple, extra safety measure could save you from injury.

It’s best to visit a tack store so the helmet can be properly fitted by a tack store employee. Try on several brands to see which one fits the best. Some brands suit oval heads, while other brands are better for round heads.

Look for a helmet with a label in it that states it is ASTM/SEI approved. This means that it has met the tough standards of safety set by the American Society for Testing and Materials and the Safety Equipment Institute. The helmet should have a fixed leather or nylon chinstrap that cannot be removed.

Put on the helmet and adjust the strap under your chin. Move your head up and down and side to side. If the helmet moves or falls forward, it is too loose and you must look for a smaller size.

There are many types of helmets available. The most economical helmet will probably be a simple schooling helmet—these look like bicycle helmets. They are lightweight and have vents to keep your head cool. They come in all sorts of fun colors and styles and can even be dressed up with a velvet cover for shows. Velvet helmets are traditionally used in the hunter and jumper rings. Jockey skull caps are used by jockeys and eventers (people who jump over cross-country fences). Most riders opt to pair a skull cap with a hat cover with a flexible brim.

There are also western-style schooling helmets decorated in leather, and they come in natural colors like beige and brown. There are also western hats and derby-style hats with safety helmets hidden inside them, but they tend to be bulky and have not caught on with competitive western or saddle seat riders. However, riders in those disciplines may choose to wear regular helmets in competition without penalty.

Don’t try to save money by buying a used helmet. You may not be able to tell if it has been dented or damaged. And after a few years of use, the foam that lines many helmets becomes flattened and it won’t protect your child in a fall.

Footwear

Riding footwear should have low heels (½” to 1″) to help prevent your feet from slipping through the stirrup. Riding boots are designed to be safe and functional in the saddle. If you will be riding English, invest in a pair of paddock boots. Paddock boots are short, ankle-high boots made of leather or a synthetic material. If you ride western, look for a pair of well-fitting boots with a small heel and a semi-round toe.

If your area tends to get muddy in the winter and spring, you may want to spring for a pair of inexpensive, tall rubber riding boots. They look similar to the leather tall boots seen in the English show ring and you can rinse them off with a hose when they get dirty.

If you ride English and would like to compete, you will need to invest in a pair of tall boots. There are two main types of tall boot: dress boots, which are plain; and field boots, which have laces up the front. Dress boots are usually worn by riders who do dressage. Hunters and eventers tend to wear field boots.

Riding Pants

Jeans or long pants are acceptable for English riding lessons, but it’s a good idea to invest in a few pairs of breeches, jodhpurs or riding tights. Because they are stretchy, riding pants won’t rub your child’s legs like jeans will in an English saddle.

Jodhpurs are long riding pants that go down to the ankles and they are worn with paddock or jodhpur boots boots. Kentucky jodhpurs are worn by saddle seat riders and are usually made of polyester or a cotton/polyester blend. Breeches are shorter and fasten between the calf and ankle. They are worn with tall boots or half chaps and short boots.

Riding tights can be worn with tall or short boots. They are usually pull-on style, and they are very comfortable. They come in a wide variety of colors and in cooler fabrics for summer or insulated for winter. Bootcut tights are a newer option for the fashion-conscious and are generally worn over paddock boots.

If you think your child may show at some point, invest in a pair of plain beige jodhpurs or breeches so she can wear them when she competes.

If your child is going to ride western, jeans are the preferred riding attire. Just make sure they fit well so they don’t bunch up around the stirrup fender. Some riding jeans are made without inside leg seams, so you will be more comfortable in the saddle. Avoid low-rise jeans for riding, as you will often find that the rise gets even lower when mounting or sitting in the saddle.

Chaps

Chaps are leather leggings that are usually worn over jeans for casual riding. They fasten with side zippers. Western riders wear them in competition, but they aren’t allowed in an English show-ring. Chaps are great for winter riding because they help keep your legs warm. Some riders will zip up chaps over their shorts in the summer months.

Chaps can help prevent your legs from chafing, but they must fit snugly or they will rub the legs and cause painful sores. Buy them slightly tight because they will stretch a bit.

Half chaps are usually worn with breeches or jeans. They are made of suede, smooth leather or synthetic materials. They fasten over the lower leg with a zipper or hook and loop fastener. Many riders prefer them over tall boots for schooling because they are quick and easy to put on, and they help you to get a good grip on her horse’s sides.

Gloves

Whether your child rides English or western, investing in a pair of riding gloves is a smart idea. They protect hands from blisters and they give a firm grip on the reins. Leather gloves are nice for showing, but inexpensive cloth gloves with rubber grips will do the job for everyday riding. Insulated gloves are available for cold weather riding while crochet-back gloves are ideal for summer.

This article originally appeared in the 2008 edition of Horses USA

The post Getting Started with Horses: Riding Apparel appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

If you’re like many riders, you probably don’t have a jump crew on the ground every time you school. Since it’s not particularly safe to jump by yourself, working over poles is a great way to keep your horse tuned up without actually jumping any fences.

Pole work also helps to sharpen your riding skills because it teaches you how to maintain a steady rhythm in the trot and canter. If your horse is poking along like a snail or galloping around the arena at warp speed, he’s going to step on some poles or fall on his face, and it won’t be pretty.

The poles you use should be solid and heavy so they don’t roll or split if your horse kicks or steps on them. Avoid using plastic plumbing pipes as poles because they may shatter if your horse steps on them. You can make your own poles out of inexpensive 8-foot wooden landscaping poles purchased at a home improvement store. To set up several exercises in the arena at once, you’ll need around 14 or 15 poles. It will be easier for your horse to see them on the ground if you paint them white and some other dark color, like red or black.

Here are a few easy-to-set-up ground pole exercises you can do with your horse.

Place several single poles randomly around the arena and incorporate them into your flatwork sessions. Start by walking over the poles. If your horse is young or green and hasn’t seen a “scary” pole before, be prepared for him to jump 10 feet over it. Take a deep breath, relax, soften your hands and continue walking over the same pole until your horse gets bored and steps over it properly instead of leaping into the air. Once your horse has mastered the first pole, move on to the other ones scattered around the arena. Once he walks calmly over all of the poles, you can move up a gear and pop over them at the trot and canter.

Single Poles

Don’t get into jumping position as you approach a pole; if you’re trotting, continue posting, and if you’re cantering, keep your seat lightly in the saddle. Always aim for the middle of the pole. Don’t let your horse wiggle around in front of it or run out. Get him back on track by using leg-yielding aids. Try not to look down at the poles because doing this affects your balance in the saddle; keep your head up and look over the poles into the distance.

Work the poles into circles, serpentines and figure-eights. Try to keep your horse’s pace and rhythm the same as he approaches and travels over them. Keep your reins even, your contact steady and your legs touching his sides, ready to urge him forward if needed. Don’t fuss with your hands to try to help him get the right stride over the pole. Your main job is to ask your horse to quickly respond to your leg cues so he moves forward freely and with energy. If your horse is really lazy, you may need to carry a crop and use it once or twice behind your lower leg if he ignores your aids. Remember to always approach poles from both directions so your horse doesn’t become one-sided and bored.

Set up a line of five or six poles, placing them parallel to one another. If you’re riding a horse, set the poles up about 4 1/2 to 5 feet apart. For a pony, set the poles about 3 1/2 to 4 feet apart.

Trotting Poles

Walk through the poles once or twice and then try them at the trot. Ask your horse to trot around the arena at a steady, active pace before you approach the line of poles. He should have a spring in his step. Keep your upper body tall and centered on your horse’s back, and concentrate on keeping your arms and wrists supple so you can follow his head movement. You don’t want to have a death grip on his mouth as you head toward the trotting poles, as this will affect his approach. Allow your horse to stretch his neck and head down if he wants to on his first approach or two as he figures out the exercise.

Give your horse plenty of room to approach the poles. Don’t yank him toward the poles at the last second. Steer him to the middle of the poles and keep your hands quiet; you shouldn’t be using them to help you keep your balance. You can post the trot over the poles or lift your seat slightly out of the saddle and get into a half-seat to get off your horse’s back and allow him to work his back muscles.

Do your best to maintain the same pace and rhythm over all of the poles—a lazy horse may need a tap of the whip behind your leg while you’re trotting the line. When you trot over the last pole, ask your horse to continue with energy around the arena. If he’s particularly pokey, he may slow down the second he clears that last pole. Keep him moving forward!

After one or two trips through the line, your horse should figure out where to put his feet if the poles are properly spaced. If he keeps tripping or is still having trouble after several tries, hop off and adjust the distances between the poles to be shorter or longer depending on his stride; the distance should match his stride length. Trotting poles should be a confidence-builder for your horse, not a negative experience.

Place four poles on a 20-meter circle at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock. Walk over the poles first and think about bending your horse slightly to the inside using the standard aids: inside leg at the girth, outside leg slightly behind the girth, your inside hand slightly away from your horse’s neck and your outside hand just brushing his neck. Maintain a light contact on the reins and ask him with a light squeeze of your legs to stay forward and engaged with his hind legs.

Poles on a Circle

Once you’ve walked over one pole, look to the next one. Ask your horse for inside bend all the way around the circle. Walk the circle in both directions. Most horses, especially off-the-track Thoroughbreds, are stiff on one side and need to be worked constantly in both directions to become more supple. Once your horse has mastered the circle at the walk, try it at the trot. Ask for a nice, rhythmic trot and keep your contact steady. Don’t let your horse drift outside the poles to avoid trotting over them. Maintain the inside bend by squeezing the inside rein, and keep your horse on the circle with your outside leg.

Once you’ve mastered the circle in both directions at the trot, try it at a canter. At first, canter over two poles and then go around the remaining two. Once your horse canters nicely over two poles, add the other two. Your first few tries may be a bit awkward—those poles come up quickly at the canter! Your horse may trip or try to jump the poles, but if you ask him for a nice, collected canter, he should be able to canter over the poles in stride. Depending on the size of your horse, you should get three forward canter strides or four regular strides between the poles, but you may find your horse taking more or fewer strides as he tries to work out where his legs go. It’s important to stay as quiet as possible on his back and to not yank him in the mouth as you canter over the poles.

Although it may seem difficult at first, try to do at least two fairly balanced circles before you slow down and change directions. The better your horse gets at this exercise, the more in control and balanced he’ll be when you’re cantering around a jumping course.

If you’ve got six poles, you can set up two canter-pole exercises. Set up three poles 18 to 24 feet apart for a one-stride exercise, depending on your horse’s stride; it may help to start with the poles set at 20 feet and space them tighter or wider if needed. Next, set up three poles 9 to 10 feet apart for a bounce exercise. The one-stride exercise will be easier for your horse, so try that first. It’s essential that you pick up a collected canter before you head toward the poles to help your horse get over the first pole in stride. If he takes off too far in front of the pole or too close to it, he’ll struggle to pop over the rest of them smoothly. If your approach is steady and collected, your horse should be able to take off at the right distance, land, take one stride, and then canter over the next pole.

Canter Poles

If your horse handles the one-stride layout successfully, try the 10-foot bounce exercise, where your horse jumps the first pole and takes off again with no stride between the poles. Be prepared—the first time you try a bounce, your horse may try to leap two poles at once, so stay secure in the saddle and be giving with your hands if he jumps big.

Give a small half-halt with your outside rein to balance your horse a few strides out from the first pole, then soften with your hands so you don’t yank him in the mouth if he stumbles or jumps awkwardly. As with all of these exercises, remember to do them in both directions.

Incorporating pole work into your everyday schooling sessions is an easy way to improve your horse’s balance. When you get the chance to raise the poles and actually jump them, you should see an improvement in your horse’s jumping style.

Here are more resources on improving your training routine:
4 Fences 7 Ways
Help Your Horse Jump Better with Trot Poles

Special thanks to Bridget Bellocq and Never Ben Kissed for assistance with these photos and video.

This article originally appeared in the August 2013 issue of Horse Illustrated. Click here to subscribe.

The post Better Jumping with Ground Pole Exercises appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The North American Racing Academy was launched by famous jockey Chris McCarron. Chris won the Kentucky Derby twice: on Alysheba in 1987 and Go for Gin in 1994. Chris wanted to create a college where aspiring jockeys could learn not only race riding, but the care and management of racehorses as well. And he wanted his pupils to earn college degrees, too. The academy is affiliated with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and the jockeys will graduate in two years with an associate degree in Applied Science in Equine Studies.

Anna’s mother heard about the Academy and she suggested that Anna take a look at it.

“When I was younger, I took lessons at a hunter/jumper barn. And I read Young Rider!” says Anna.

The opportunity to learn how to be a jockey and to get a college degree at the same time appealed to Anna so she applied to the program.

Applicants to the jockey academy have to be at least 18 years old and they must have a high-school diploma or a GED. They’ve also got to weigh no more than 114 pounds and be no taller than 5’6”.

Anna was accepted to the first class of the academy, along with 11 other students: four women and seven men. But not all of the future jockeys were experienced riders like Anna. In fact, a few of them, like Jason Truett, had never even been on a horse. This didn’t bother Chris McCarron. Applicants to the jockey academy didn’t have to know how to ride. Chris planned to teach them!

The students began taking riding lessons on the Kentucky Horse Park’s group of Mustangs, but soon moved on to riding Thoroughbreds. Some of the students hit the ground more than once, but no one gave up.

Young Rider spent a morning with Anna at the Academy. The students have to be up early because they have to be at the Kentucky Horse Park by 7.30 a.m. for the classroom section of their course. They spend two hours sitting behind desks learning about horse management, equine science and physiology. They also learn about eating healthily so they can stay strong and fit.

“I really enjoyed learning about horse reproduction,” says Anna. “We went to horse farms and saw mares giving birth.”

After their class work is finished, the students pile into cars and drive to the Thoroughbred Training Center a few miles away from the Horse Park where they meet up with their instructor, Chris. Each student is assigned two Thoroughbreds at the Training Center to care for. Most of the mounts are ex-racehorses that have been donated to the academy.

Anna takes care of Tux and Polo. From 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. Anna mucks out their stalls, grooms them and tacks them up. The students don’t always ride the horses they look after though. Each morning, Chris writes down on a chalkboard which horse they are assigned to ride.

“Polo is pretty easy going. I like to ride him,” says Anna. “Tux can be tough sometimes.”

Then the students slip into their body protector vests and put on their helmets. It’s time to ride! They hop onto their horses and begin warming them up by walking them around the shed row for about 30 minutes. When Chris hops into the saddle, the jockeys know that it’s time to head out to the track.

Chris wears a headset with a microphone and all of the jockeys wear earpieces so Chris can communicate with them while they’re galloping their horses. “It’s so Chris can tell us what we’re doing while we’re riding,” explains Anna. “Sometimes he’ll tell us that we’re going too slowly and that we need to speed up.”

At the beginning of the program, the jockeys galloped around the track in pairs. But as they grew more experienced they rode in bigger groups.

Anna loves the time spent on the track. “Galloping the horses is exhilarating!” she says, but she can get nervous sometimes. “I might have a nervous day, but you just have to kick it out of your system if you want to be successful in this business.”

The students ride two horses a day. Occasionally they take the horses out in a big, grassy field so they can feel what it’s like to ride on a turf track. They also practice galloping out of the starting gate.

When they’re done riding, the students groom their horses again, clean tack and pick out the stalls for a second time. Then they have their lunch break.

At 2.30 p.m. the group meets at the training center again. It’s time to improve their fitness levels on the Equicizer, a machine that simulates riding a horse. It’s neck bobs and its barrel moves up and down so it feels like you’re riding a horse.

The students take turn riding the Equicizers.

“When I first started riding the Equicizer, I could only stay in the jockey’s position for about one minute,” says Anna. “It’s so hard. You have to have stamina to stay in the correct position. Now I can stay up for three minutes.

“When I rode hunters and jumpers, I could ride with my knees bent. In the jockey position your legs are straight. It took a while to get the hang of that. You just have to practice. Doing leg stretches helps.”

Now in their second year at the academy, the students are expected to walk around the training center and “rustle” up rides. This means that they ask trainers if they can exercise their racehorses. The students need to spend as much time as possible in the saddle because they will soon be heading out to spend a semester being interns in the racing industry. One student is going to exercise horses for Todd Pletcher, a top racehorse trainer. Another will stay at the training center and work as a freelance rider. Anna’s heading back to her hometown of New Orleans to ride for a trainer there.

Chris hopes that one day, he’ll see his students riding in races and his dream is to see one riding in the Kentucky Derby!

It won’t be long before the first class graduates from the North American Racing Academy. If you’re interested in learning more about the jockey school, visit this website: www.nara.kctcs.edu.

The post I go to Jockey School! appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Day two of the para-dressage competition at the 2010 FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games saw the Brits coming on strong once again. Yesterday current world champion Lee Pearson had one of the highest scores of the day and today 20-year-old Brit Sophie Wells won the Individual Championship Grade IV test on Dr. Jackie Walkers’ lovely chestnut Pinocchio with a score of 71.677.

Grade IV is the level for riders with less severe disabilities.

Sophie competed this year as a member of the British able-bodied Young Riders dressage team and has also proved herself internationally as a para-equestrian.

Americans Robin Brueckmann, Susan Treabess, Jennifer Baker and Mary Jordan also competed in this tough class. Breuckmann finished in sixth place with her horse Raison d’Etre with a score of 65.871. Treabess and Baker tied for ninth, both scoring 64.839.

Treabess rode Moneypenny, a 16-year-old KWPN mare owned by Katy Peterson.

The fact that Jennifer Baker was actually competing at WEG was nothing short of a miracle. She has only been riding Akiko Yamazaki’s 18-year-old KWPN gelding Kranak since August. Yamazaki owns Steffen Peters’ mount Ravel.

“I’ve been through three horses in the past year. My mom used to teach Shannon Peters, Steffen’s wife, and she called her to see if she knew anyone that had a horse for me to ride at WEG,” explained Baker. “Shannon sent around a few e-mails and Akiko offered me Kranak as he had just been retired from Grand Prix competition.”

“He is the perfect schoolmaster. I’ve only been working him for about six weeks. He’s so perfectly trained. Riding him is like going to Harvard. I just had to learn which buttons to push.”

Baker was looking forward to her freestyle class later in the week.

“It’s going to bring a smile to your face. It’s going to have U2 in it!”

She also had a few words of motivation for other para-equestrians.

“Never give up. I was in two motorcycle accidents and the doctors wanted to remove one of my legs,” said Baker. “And then they said I’d never ride again. I didn’t ride for 10 years, but I’m here now.”

German rider Hannelore Brenner on her own Hanoverian mare Women of the World was the victor of the Grade III individual test with a score of 72.400. Americans Wendy Fryke and Erin Alberda finished up in 8th and 11th respectively.

Click for larger image. Wendy Fryke and Lateran of the United States. Photo: Lesley Ward

Fryke rides a little bundle of energy named Lateran. Lateran is a jet-black 13-year-old Westphalian stallion owned by Wendy and her husband Michael.

“I was thrilled with Lateran’s test. He’s a very macho guy and he tried really hard,” said Fryke. “He keeps a level head even though he really wants to go and have a good time!”

Fryke admitted to some nerves.

“This is my first time at such a big, international event and it’s so exciting. I’m just trying to keep the nerves at bay. I was really nervous, but once we halted the first time they just went away.”

The mother of two let it slip out that back at the barn, Lateran is nicknamed “Muffin” or “Studly!”

Fryke was excited to be competing at WEG and she wanted other para-equestrians to aim for the games.

“I think it’s such an honor for us to be here, but it’s well deserved,” she said. “It’s the human spirit at its best.”

But she added some words of advice to other aspiring competitors.

“You have to be tough and brave to be a para-equestrian. Always remember the sheer joy of swinging over your leg over the saddle,” she advised. “Be prepared to work hard. This isn’t a sport for sissies.”

For complete para-dressage results visit www.alltechfeigames.com/results.

See all World Equestrian Games para-dressage news >>

The post British Para-Equestrians Continue Their Dominance at the World Equestrian Games appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Para-dressage riders from all over the world gathered today at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games for five days of top-class competition. The event began with team tests in which nations compete against one another using their top three riders.

The team result will be decided after all of the riders have completed their team test and their scores accumulated. The riders will then compete in individual and freestyle tests within their grades for separate individual test.

In para-dressage, riders are evaluated to establish their “classification profile.” This means that riders with similar functional abilities compete against each other.

Para-dressage is split into five grades—grade Ia and Ib through grade IV—with grade IA being for the most severely disabled equestrians and IV for the least impaired.

Para-riders are allowed to use equipment, also known as dispensation aids, to help them perform the movements required in a dressage test. For example, a rider with little or no use of his or her legs may use two long dressage whips and a rider with little upper body balance may hold on to a strap across the saddle’s pommel to stay secure in the saddle.

United States team member Elizabeth Pigott explained about the equipment she uses when she competes with her horse Mr. Darcy:

“I use rubber bands on my feet and calves to hold my legs closer to my horse and I ride with two dressage whips.”

Jonathan Wentz was the first American to enter the arena on Tuesday, riding NTEC Richter Scale, a 16-year-old Shire cross gelding in the Grade II class. The pair finished up in 15th place.

Second to go for the yanks, was the senior member of the team, Laura Goldman riding Trudy Phillips gorgeous 11-year-old skewbald Irish Sport Horse gelding, Carlingford JD.

Laura and JD competed in the Grade Ia test, which is performed at the walk. Competitors had to perform circles, half circles, serpentines and free walk.

After her test, Laura took a few minutes to talk with journalists. She was happy with her test.

“I thought it was OK. I tried to be accurate,” said Laura. “I hope my ride will help our team. This horse is fantastic and my coach is wonderful! This horse is going to get a whole bag of carrots when I get back the barn.

“I hope this sport grows in this country and I hope we get as good as the Europeans. I know that we can do it.”

Laura has only been riding JD since the end of May.

“I know Laura was nervous,” said Chef d’ Equipe Missy Ransehousen. “But I think she did a great job!”

When I first started riding, there were many trainers who said it wasn’t going to happen,” admitted Laura. “It was difficult to get people to work with me outside of therapy. A lot of people think disabled people ride like a sack of potatoes and it’s just not true.

I found a trainer who treated me like the rest of the folks. She said ‘If you can trot around the arena twice, I’ll coach you.’ Well, I trotted around six times!”

Click for larger image. British rider Lee Pearson and Gentleman compete on opening day of the para-dressage world championship. Photo: Lesley Ward.

The British flags started flying in the arena as Lee Pearson, current world champion trotted into the arena on his own Gentleman to compete in the Grade Ib class.

Lee has a condition called arthrogryposis which causes his joints to have limited movement. He walks with his legs completely splinted from hips to heels and uses crutches or his zippy electric wheelchair to get around.

Lee competes and wins in able-bodied classes in Great Britain and he’s also a trainer of able-bodied students. He rode a beautiful, if sedate, test, and explained afterwards why he wanted to keep Gentleman calm and collected throughout.

“It was a safe test and a bit underpowered,” admitted Lee. “But we needed a safe test for the team score. Gentleman is a bit spooky, so I just wanted him to relax. He can be sharper than a 12.2 pony. My horse could have exploded or spooked. I’m number one in the world, but I always remember than I’m on a live animal.”

Their “safe” test was good enough for first place.

“He’s never heard so many cameras clicking in his life, but he was really good,” said Lee. “I call this sport ‘stressage’ not dressage.  So, halfway through the test, I looked up and thought ‘Just enjoy yourself!’ And I did!”

When asked how he gets Gentleman used to the hustle and bustle of the arena, Lee admitted that he drives his Range Rover into the middle of his arena, opens the doors and lets the music blast out.

“I’m probably not very popular in my village though,” laughed Lee.

The popular British rider was disappointed that the para-equestrians wouldn’t be showing at all in the big outdoor arena.

“I wish at least one of tests would have been in the main arena. I think the crowds would really have enjoyed our freestyle classes.”

Click for larger image. Robin Breuckman and Raison D’Etre. Photo: Lesley Ward

American team riders Robin Breuckman and Susan Treabess competed in the Grade IV class later in the day. Robin and Raison D’Etre finished sixth with a score of 65.750.

“I was very pleased with the test,” said Robin. “He’s a very nice horse and I maximized what I could get out of him. I feel like it was a good start and I contributed to the team.”

Robin was eager to let everyone know that Raison D’Etre a lovely Thoroughbred Holsteiner cross, was actually bred in Lexington, Ky. in a farm not far from the Kentucky Horse Park.

Last to go for the Americans, Susan and Moneypenny, a 16-year-old KWPN mare owned by Katy Peterson, finished 10th in the class with a score of 63.0. Susan was born without a left hand, but has ridden her whole life. She became involved in para-dressage in 2006.

For complete para-equestrian results, visit www.alltechfeigames.com/results.

Read all World Equestrian Games Para-Dressage news >>

Keep up with the latest World Equestrian Games news with horseillustrated.com’s exclusive WEG newsletter. Subscribe now >>

The post Para-Equestrian Competition Begins at the World Equestrian Games appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

On Tuesday, I snuck away from the Horse Illustrated booth to watch one of the pioneers of natural horsemanship in action—Pat Parelli. Pat is the ultimate entertainer; completely comfortable in front of a crowd.

“I’m a horse hugger, folks,” he said as he rode into the corral on his trusty partner Magic. “There are two kinds of people in the world–horse lovers and those other people!”

At first Pat talked about why horses can be scared of humans.

“We’re predators. Horses shouldn’t trust us,” explained Pat. “Too many horses are turned into slaves and robots because of overtraining.” Pat invited three of his students into the arena to work with their horses with long ropes and carrot sticks. They immediately started playing several of Pat’s famous Seven Games. They started with the Friendly Game and began rubbing their ropes all over their horses and swinging their ropes around in the air to desensitize their equine partners.

“We have to show the horse that we mean him no harm,” explained Pat.

Pat feels that doing groundwork is an important part of training a horse.

“You start off by having little conversations with your horse on the ground. Work on behavioral problems from the ground, not in the saddle,” he says.

“I believe in foundation before specialization,” explained Pat.

Pat believes that every horse needs to know the basics and then they can go on to any discipline and be successful. Whether you intend to do dressage with your horse or cut cattle, your horse needs to know how to move away from a slight nudge of your leg or react to a tiny shift in your body weight.

Pat then showed off a bit by demonstrating piaffe, a top-level dressage move, on Magic!

Pat’s students hopped in their saddles and we were given a demonstration on how patterns feature strongly in his teaching. His students worked in a cloverleaf pattern for several minutes. Then he asked them to ride with their arms crossed across their chests.

No problem. All of the horses continued on the cloverleaf patter at the jog and lope.

“I want you to be able to drop your reins and your horse will still stay on the rail,” said Pat. “Just think how that skill relates to reining.”

“Reining really should be called ‘Not Reining,” laughed Pat. “You’re penalized for actually using your reins.”

Pat then invited one of his star pupils into the arena. Canadian para-equestrian Lauren Barwick won an individual gold medal at the 2008 Para-Olympics in para-dressage and she is a member of the Canadian para-equestrian team. She and her 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Maile, will compete at the Games.

In 2000, Lauren was injured in a ranching accident which left her paralyzed from the waist down. After nine weeks of rehabilitation, Lauren was back in the saddle. Soon after, she moved to Colorado and began studying the Parelli methods of training horses.

Lauren treated the crowd to a short dressage freestyle display to music and performed movements including leg yields and spectacular extended trots.

Lauren was not the only Parelli student at the clinic—two Lexington mounted police offers were watching the clinic from the backs of their sturdy Percheron crosses. Both officers and their horses were graduates of the Parelli program.

To learn more about Pat Parelli, visit www.parelli.com.
To learn more about para-equestrian Lauren Barwick, visit www.ridingforgold.com.
To learn more about the 2010 Alltech FEI Games, visit www.alltechfeigames.com.

The post Pat Parelli at the World Equestrian Games appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

I always pack my helmet, boots and half chaps in the hope that I’ll get to ride. Luckily most of my friends are horsey and there’s usually a horse that needs to be hacked out.

On this trip it was Pants, a 15hh Welsh Section D cob that my friend recently bought for her husband Stuart. Stuart is a die-hard hunting man. He goes out twice a week in the winter with the Atherstone Hunt in Leicestershire on his cob, Louie. But Louis is almost 20, and Stuart is thinking of retiring him. Enter Pants.

Jane bought Pants as an unbroken 5-year-old about 12 weeks ago and sent him to her friend Julie to back and bring on. Three months later and the sturdy cob is twice as well behaved as any of my mature horses!

It’s been my experience that English horse folk back their horses later, but do much more with them in the following months.

Before he was backed, Pants spent several weeks being ponied off a more experienced horse around the lanes near Julia’s yard. Cars, trucks, bikes and flapping laundry doesn’t frighten Pants; he just marches right by them without spooking.

Then Julia worked with him a bit in her arena and he was backed without a fuss. Six weeks later he competed with Julia in a flat class at a big show in a neighboring county.

I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive when I was told that I was going to ride Pants. I usually ride Louis. Pants was pretty green. Was he ready to be ridden on the lanes and on the grassy bridleways that surround Julia’s yard? Was I up to riding such a baby? Would I end up in a ditch?

As Julia led him to me, fully tacked up, she said, “He’s a bit funny when you try to mount him, but once you’re in the saddle, he’ll be fine.” And he was. What a good boy.

When you’re getting a horse fit for hunting, you do a lot of trotting on the roads, so off we went. Despite being short and stout, Pants was very comfortable to ride. He was also very well behaved. He followed Louis and Stuart up and down hills, across fields and through gates. His manners were impeccable.

He even led a frightened Louis by a traveler and her caravan parked by the side of the road. He was a bit wary of the traveler’s cob tethered on the grass verge, but eventually walked by the mare.

It’s always great to ride on the lanes and bridleways I used to ride on as a child. And it’s even nicer when I’m riding such a lovely horse. Pants is a credit to Julia and her wonderful no-nonsense horse training skills. I wish I could have packed him up in my suitcase and brought him home. I can’t wait to ride him on my next visit.

<< Previous Entry

Back to The Near Side

The post Riding in the UK appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.