The U.S. Para Dressage Team saw its first two combinations head down the center line at Equestrian Park in Tokyo, Japan, opening the first day of equestrian competition at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. Beatrice de Lavalette and Clarc were the first combination to contest the Grade II Individual Test in the main stadium, earning a 70.265 percent, while Kate Shoemaker and Solitaer 40 closed out the evening of competition with a 70.854 percent as the last combination in the Grade IV Individual Test. Both combinations qualified for their Grade’s FEI Individual Freestyle to Music on Monday, August 31.

De Lavalette and Clarc, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Elizabeth and Nicholas de Lavalette, made their first Paralympic debut, completed a solid test to open Grade II competition. The pair earned a 70.265 percent from the ground jury to put them into fifth place in Grade II competition. They are also the first U.S. combination to break the 70 percent mark in a Paralympic Games, setting an early tone for the team rides ahead.

“It was a very enjoyable ride,” said de Lavalette of her ride with Clarc. “I went through my test about a thousand times. I wasn’t really nervous, but just excited. The excitement took over, and I knew my test, I knew my horse was right, and we were together and in sync, so I couldn’t be happier with the ride.”

De Lavalette, of Lake Worth Beach, Fla., has said that competing at the Paralympic Games and representing her country is one of the main motivating factors in her incredible recovery and return to sport following the 2016 Brussels Airport bombings. Riding her recently acquired mount, Clarc, de Lavalette commented on the meaningfulness of the Paralympic journey and what it felt like to make her international championship debut.

“It is such a great honor to be here representing the U.S. at this competition and being able to have fun with my horse out there after five years of fighting for my life,” she said. “It was really very emotional for me at the end. Setting the goal of being here five years ago when I was in the ICU was a dream, and being here today is a dream realized, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m very proud of myself and my team, because without them I wouldn’t be here.”

Kate Shoemaker and Solitaer 40, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Deena, Craig, and Kate Shoemaker are also making their Paralympic debut after contesting their first major international championship with the U.S. Para Dressage Team at the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018. The pair earned a 70.854 percent from the judging panel in an extremely competitive first day of Grade IV competition, placing them seventh out of 15 competitors.

“I’m really pleased with my horse, though a little bit disappointed with the score of course, since we had hoped to be in the medals, and I felt our ride today was quite good, but all I can do is be happy with my performance in the ring, and I absolutely love my horse to pieces,” said Shoemaker after her test. “The energy in there was phenomenal. It just gives you a sense of power and the horses can feel it, and it’s just so much fun.”

Shoemaker, of Wellington, Fla., and Solitaer 40 have been partnered together for the entirety of both of their international careers and achieving this selection to the U.S. Para Dressage Team for the Tokyo Paralympic Games is the highlight for Shoemaker and her team. Working through the 2020 and 2021 seasons to continually improve their marks in both the individual and team tests, the pair have become a consistent combination for the team.

“We’ve been showing together for a while now, and this is the end of our seventh year together,” said Shoemaker. “It’s a partnership that’s been a long time coming. He loves championships, and when you add that little bit of energy, he really turns into something special, and it’s a feeling like none other.”

Competition will continue tomorrow at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in para dressage with FEI Individual Tests for Grade I and Grade III. Roxanne Trunnell, of Wellington, Fla., and Dolton will be the first combination to lead off the Grade I Individual Test at 4:24 p.m. JST/3:24 a.m. EST, while Paralympic veteran Rebecca Hart, of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., and her mount, El Corona Texel, will compete in the Individual Test for Grade III competition at 9:26 p.m. JST/8:26 a.m. EST.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOPC, and USEF sponsors and members.

Schedule
Results

Stay up to date with the U.S. Para Dressage Team by following USA Para Dressage on Facebook and USA Dressage on Instagram. Follow US Equestrian on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Use #USAParaDressage.

Complete Tokyo Olympics Coverage

The post Beatrice de Lavalette and Kate Shoemaker Have Good Showing for U.S. Para Dressage Team at 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

My name is Lenna Peterson, and I compete in barrel racing. I am from Watkins, Minn., and I am 9 years old. I’ve been riding since I was 2 years old. My mom Teresa and I learned barrel racing together and started competing and taking clinics together when I was 4. Barrel racing and taking care of my horses is hard work, but I love competing. Barrel racing is so full of highs and lows that I call it a roller coaster ride sometimes.

In April of 2018, my parents and I went to Broken Bow, Neb., and I ran a Junior National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier on my horse, Reckless Merit. We call him Ned, or Ned-Monster. I got Ned at the end of 2017, and he and I just clicked. We became a great team together. Everyone says he only runs fast because he loves me. At the qualifier, I ended up third, and they took the top three into the final, so I was very excited to qualify.

A Change of Plans

I worked hard to finish second grade and was excited to run barrel races that summer. We started to plan our trip to NFR, but in June, Ned came up lame. It turned out that he had a swollen suspensory ligament and would need four to six months off.

I was sad, because there was a chance of him not being able to run in Las Vegas. In July of 2018, we went to Oklahoma for a National Little Britches Finals. I was sad to not be able to run Ned, but we brought him with us, because my mom found a therapy place that might be able to help him.

Ned stayed at the therapy place for two months to get better. I was so happy—it only took him two months to get better instead of six.

When he came back I was excited, but it seemed like he didn’t like me anymore, or he was mad at me. It turns out he just had to get used to me again. By October, he was back to running his very best.

We made the trip to Las Vegas, and it was a long drive from Minnesota! We got to travel through a lot of states. In Las Vegas, it was very cool to see all the lights and action.

When it came time to run Ned in Las Vegas I was nervous, but Ned is an old pro. At 17, he knows his job, and I trust him. We ran the first two rounds at the Junior NFR, but I ended up three or four spots shy of making it back to the short round.

After I shed a few tears because I was sad. I was just so thankful for everyone around us. I had a lot of fun in Las Vegas, and I loved seeing everybody that came to watch me. Another thing I loved was going to the real NFR and seeing all the NFR girls there. My experience in Las Vegas taught me a lot about how to handle barrel racing highs and lows.

Tragedy and Rebuilding

When 2019 came around, on February 19, we were riding my mom’s horse, Six, and my horse, Ned, in the snow in a field. We hit a drainage ditch, and my mom’s horse hit a fence post and broke his shoulder, and we had to put him down.

That same day, my dad had surgery on his shoulder, and I was worried about him. It was sad. Ned was sore, because he also fell, so he needed some time off.

My mom and I worked hard to move on without Six and leg our horses up for the spring. In April 2019, we went to Broken Bow to try to qualify again for Las Vegas, but I tipped a barrel. Otherwise I would have been in the top three.

In May 2019, I met a new horse owned by our friend Hannah. Her name is P-nut. I got to try barrel racing with her at the Sherry Cervi Youth Championships in Verndale, Minn., and she just loved me, and I loved her.

Hannah let me welcome P-nut into our home and as part of my team. Throughout the summer, P-nut, Ned and I got to barrel race and have so much fun. I was able to ride P-nut, and she won some barrel races. I also won a big jackpot on Ned and won two buckles on him this year.

In October, me and P-nut placed first out of 450 riders at the ProElite World Challenge Finals in Verndale, Minn. I hope to set some big goals for 2020 and qualify for barrel racing at the American Rodeo and compete at National Little Britches Finals with my horses.

This article on Lenna Peterson, a young rider who is taking on the barrel racing world, appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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It’s not every day you get to interview your equestrian idol. But that’s just what 2019 Young Rider Advisory Board member Lila did! Lillie Keenan is a 23-year-old grand prix jumper from New York, N.Y., who made her international debut at just 18 years old. At 17, she was named USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year.

1. What are your 5 favorite things in your tack box?

My boot polish kit, sticky spray, Cavalor Fruities horse treats, my Amerigo saddle and photos.

2. Who do you look up to in and out of the horse world?

In the horse world, I look up to my coach, McLain Ward, as well as other top riders, including Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut, Steve Guerdat and Kent Farrington. Outside of horses, I look up to my mother and father. I also admire Melinda French Gates and Jane Goodall.

3. Since you were little, who is your all-time favorite horse or pony?

I cannot pick a favorite! Though I always loved to watch Sapphire.

4. What was the best ride you have ever had?

It’s hard to pick the best ride I ever had, but I think it’s also important to appreciate the more difficult rides I have had for what they have and continue to teach me.

5. Growing up, what was your favorite horse book?

As a young girl, I loved reading all of the Saddle Club series.

6. Have you ever ridden cross-country or through water? Do you enjoy those kinds of rides?

I have never jumped cross-country, but I’ve ridden through water. I really enjoyed that experience, and I continue to be amazed by the unbelievable things these animals do for us.

7. If you ever decide to stop riding professionally, what would you do?

I don’t know what profession I would pursue exactly, but I would first go back to graduate school. I know horses would always be a part of my life.

8. How do you balance schoolwork and riding?

I’m very happy to say I just finished up my finals in my senior year at Harvard. I learned to balance my schoolwork and riding career from when I was in middle school. I think the balance actually pushed me to excel more in each pursuit. I learned to manage my time so I could focus on whatever I was doing in the moment, and I learned the importance of prioritizing my tasks.

9. How does learning proper equitation help you as a jumper?

The lessons I grew up learning in equitation provided the foundation for my jumper career. When you watch the best riders in the world, especially those from America, a base in correct equitation provides them that edge when the difference of 1/100th of a second can determine between a gold and silver medal.

10. Any tips on helping to avoid refusals?

I think the most important strategy is to ride with confidence. That’s easier said than done, but forward and correct riding with contact will give the horse and rider confidence.

11. What do you do to help calm your nerves before going into the ring?

I review my plan for the course and pat my horse. Having a routine gives me comfort and settles any nerves.

12. Did you ever do a summer horse camp?

When I was 6 years old, I spent every day in the summer at Claremont Riding Academy. I loved brushing and caring for the ponies even more than riding them.

13. Do you exercise away from the barn?

It’s important to cross-train, which my mother taught me from a young age. I like to try different workouts and recently tried Pilates, which I liked a lot.
14. What are your horses’ favorite treats?

My horses love carrots and apples (except Be Gentle, who doesn’t like apples), Cavalor Fruities, and Polo mints.

15. Did you save your show ribbons from when you were little?

I saved the most important ribbons from when I was riding ponies, and my mother has some framed with pictures from the biggest events.

This interview with Lillie Keenan appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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1. A Sunday Horse (2016)

This kicks off our list of 25 best horse movies. After a near-fatal accident, a determined rider named Debi from the wrong side of the tracks defies all odds to pursue her dreams of winning a jumping championship on a horse that experts thought was nothing special.

2. Albion: The Enchanted Stallion (2016)

A 12-year-old girl is transported by a black Friesian stallion to the mystical world of Albion, where she discovers that she alone is the key to saving an entire race of people.

3. Apple of my Eye (2017)

A tragic accident causes a young equestrian to lose her sight and her ability to connect with anyone or anything, until a Miniature Horse
named Apple is trained to be her companion and surrogate eyes.

4. Black Beauty (1994)

The movie version of Anna Sewell’s beloved book chron- icles Black Beauty’s life told through his own voice as he goes from a carefree life to many owners and hardships.

5. Cowgirls ‘n Angels (2012)

A girl joins rodeo trick riders and embarks on a tour with them in the hope that she will find her long-lost father along the way.

6. Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005)

A trainer and his daughter (played by Dakota Fanning) rescue a horse with a broken leg. After rehabilitating the mare, Dreamer, she just might have another chance to return to racing after all.

7. Emma’s Chance (2016)

A young woman forms a bond with an abused show horse while completing her community service at a horse rescue ranch.

8. Flicka (2006)

Young Katy claims a wild horse as her own in an effort to prove to her father that she’s capable of one day running the family ranch.

9. Harry & Snowman (2015)

The true story of Dutch immigrant Harry DeLeyer and the plow horse he rescued who became his champion partner in show jumping.

10. Hidalgo (2004)

A down-and-out cowboy (played by Viggo Mortensen) and his horse travel to compete in a deadly horse race across the Arabian desert in 1890.

11. International Velvet (1978)

Velvet’s orphaned niece follows her dream of riding for the Olympic eventing team on her hose, Arizona Pie.

12. Miracle of the White Stallions (1963)

In 1945, the fate of Vienna’s famous Lipizzaner stallions hangs in the balance during World War II. American General Patton could save them, but he first asks to see them perform.

13. Moondance Alexander (2007)

A teenager named Moondance Alexander discovers a pinto pony named Checkers who she’s convinced is a champion jumper in disguise. Determined to help him reach his full potential, she talks the horse’s owner into training her and Checkers.

14. National Velvet (1944)

A jaded former jockey helps a teenage girl named Velvet (played by Elizabeth Taylor) prepare a wild but gifted horse for England’s Grand National Steeplechase. There’s just one catch: she has to pretend she’s a boy to ride in the race.

15. Seabiscuit (2003)

The true story of an unlikely racing underdog and his jockey Red Pollard, who team up to give hope to Americans suffering through the Great Depression.

16. Secretariat (2010)

The nation falls in love with housewife Penny Chenery and her 1973 Triple Crown-winning champion, Secretariat, in this true story. Chenery achieves amazing success in a male-dominated industry with the fastest and most beloved racehorse of all time.

17. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)

A Mustang stallion is captured as humans attempt to break his spirit. Throughout his struggles for freedom, he refuses to let go of hope that he’ll one day be reunited with his herd.

18. Sylvester (1985)

Charlie is a 16-year-old orphan struggling to raise her two younger brothers when she meets a rogue horse named Sylvester and trains him to become an eventing champion.

19. The Black Stallion (1979)

Young Alec Ramsey and a wild black Arabian stallion are the only survivors of a shipwreck. Alec must keep himself and the stallion alive as he gains the horse’s trust on a deserted island. After they are rescued, Alec learns that The Black might just be fast enough to beat champion racehorses.

20. The Greening of Whitney Brown (2012)

A spoiled teen is upset when her family loses all their money and has to move from the city to a new life in the country, but new possibilities open up when she befriends a Gypsy Vanner horse.

21. The Horse Dancer (2017)

When Samantha is removed from the Olympic gymnastics team due to her attitude, she’s sent to the Black River Horse Camp for the summer. While there, she learns the value of friendship as she discovers a penchant for the equestrian sport of vaulting.

22. The Man from Snowy River (1982)

If you’ve seen this one, you remember the ride down a steep cliff! New cowboy Jim is treated poorly by the more experienced hands, but wins the heart of the rancher’s daughter when he helps her break a high-strung colt and later saves her life.

23. The Silver Brumby (1993)

A mother tells her daughter a fable about the prince of the Brumbies (wild horses of Australia), who must find its place among its kind. One man (played by Russel Crowe) makes it his mission to capture and tame it.

24. Virginia’s Run (2008)

When a fisherman’s wife dies in a horseback riding accident, the devastated widower tells his daughters they can no longer ride. The younger of the two, Virginia, can’t shake her passion for horses, and cares for a young foal named Stormy behind her father’s back. When he tries to sell Stormy, the girl enlists a friendly horse trainer to try to change her dad’s mind.

25. Wild Hearts Can’t be Broken (1991)

And the final in our list of 25 best horse movies is based on a true story—1920s teenager Sonora Webster runs away from her foster home to join a carnival, where she gets a job as a stunt rider who leaps with her horse off a 40-foot drop into a tank of water. After losing her sight in an accident, she must learn how to jump blind.

This article on the 25 best horse movies originally appeared in the November/December 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post 25 Best Horse Movies appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Dressage seat equitation is a little different than a regular dressage test. In dressage equitation, the focus will be on you! The judge will be looking at your seat position and how effective you are in using your aids to communicate with the horse. Dressage seat equitation is a group class, so you’ll also be sharing the ring with other riders. You are not being judged on the quality of your horse’s gaits, but rather on how well you ride your horse. You will be asked to demonstrate walk, trot, and canter in the balance and frame appropriate to your level. You might also be asked to demonstrate a movement or a figure appropriate to your level.

When you’re balanced, your horse will be comfortable, and he will be able to be balanced. When you are both balanced, you can use your aids easily.

Check out these guidelines to help your balance—have a friend or coach take pictures and videos of you. Here are some position pointers to work on!

The Basic Picture in Dressage Seat Equitation

◆ An imaginary line should run from your ear, through your shoulder, hip and heel vertically, or very slightly in front of the vertical.
◆ Sit straight so you have the same amount of weight on both sides of your horse.
◆ There should be a straight line from your elbow to the bit.

Legs

◆ Your legs are centered under you so they support your upper body.
◆ Your heels are level with or slightly lower than the ball of your foot, which rests evenly on stirrups of equal length.
◆ Your knees and toes point forward or very slightly out.
◆ Your legs hang loosely, not gripping. They invisibly follow the barrel of the horse and appear quiet. Following is important!
◆ Your thigh and knee fall close to the saddle without gripping the saddle.
◆ Your hips, knees and ankles are loose so they can be shock absorbers.

Seat and Upper Body

◆ You sit centered, straight and supple.
◆ Your shoulder blades are flat.
◆ You sit in the deepest part of a well-fitted saddle.
◆ The “floor of your seat” follows the horse quietly. (Three points make up the floor of your seat: two seat bones and crotch bone.) The floor of your seat doesn’t move more than the horse moves—it follows. Remember following is important!
◆ Your core muscles stabilize your upper body so you don’t get thrown behind the motion, to the left or the right.
◆ Your head is balanced over your shoulders and hips with your chin level and your eyes looking over your horse’s ears.

Your Hands and Arms

◆ Your fist is soft and the thumb is on top. Your thumb and forefinger prevent the reins from slipping. Your other fingers are soft and free to give aids.
◆ Your hands are angled so your thumbs are slightly closer together than your pinkies.
◆ The width of your hands is so that they would fit on a large dinner plate.
◆ An imaginary line through the back of your hand over the flat of your forearm is straight.
◆ Your shoulders are low, and your upper arm hangs so that your elbow is slightly in front of your waist.
◆ Your shoulders and elbows follow the motion of the horse’s head and neck so your hands can maintain elastic contact.

Notice this about following: When your horse is trotting, his head and neck are fairly steady, so your hands should also be steady and quiet so you can keep a nice contact. When your horse is walking or cantering, he uses his neck by reaching forward and downward during part of every stride. You must learn to follow this so your horse can reach on the forward moment. Horses can understand riders who are very good at following because when you give an aid, you stop following to tell your horse something. Follow your horse unless you want to say something to him!

Using the Aids

Some riders try very hard to show the correct position, but they forget to use the aids to communicate with their horse. Your aids tell the horse what to do. Your horse should go forward from your leg, come back from your half-halts (see “The Half-Halt” sidebar below), and turn when you ask him to.

Your legs give your horse energy and “go.” Your reins, with the support of your legs and seat, create half-halts that regulate your horse’s energy. Your seat is the director that tells your horse what to do with his energy.

Your aids also prepare your horse for what you’re planning to do. They prepare him by shaping him in bend and putting him in front of the leg. At Training Level, you only need a little bend for a 20-meter circle.

Get your bend by using a tiny bit of inside rein (so you can see your horse’s inside eye) and enough inside leg so that your horse goes to your outside rein. When your horse is bent, he can be balanced on the outside rein. A well-balanced horse is comfortable and easy to ride. When the aids put the horse “in front of the leg,” he is ready to go whenever you want.

Pay Attention to Rhythm and Straightness

When you’re on straight lines and turns, be sure your horse’s legs are following his nose. Be sure that his tail is following on the same track as his nose.

The rhythm is your horse’s language, and you must learn to “speak” his language. You move with him (follow him) in the rhythm of walk, trot or canter. Your aids also happen in the rhythm of walk, trot and canter. As your rhythmic skills improve, you and your horse will become more beautiful, more comfortable and happier.

Thanks to Dressage4Kids for sharing these tips! Dressage4Kids, Inc., is a non-profit organization that provides education, scholarships and competitive opportunities for youth riders, including the Youth Dressage Festival.

This article on how improving your dressage seat equitation originally appeared in the September/October 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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For the 25th anniversary of Young Rider, we’re celebrating with top 25 signs of all your favorite things! How many of these 25 signs you’re horse crazy fit for you?

1. You think about horses all day.

2. Your bedroom wall is covered with horse posters from Young Rider.

3. When you’re supposed to be doing homework, you’re actually making a list of your favorite horse names for if and when you get a horse.

4. You draw horses all the time—you’re just about to master the perfect Arabian profile.

5. Why walk when you can “gallop” from A to B?

6. Your holiday wish list is 100% horse-related. And if you don’t have a horse of your own, that’s at the top if the list!

7. Your bedroom has an entire shelf of Breyer model horses, and you’ve spent hours making barns and tack for them.

8. You won three ribbons at camp, and they’re proudly displayed in your locker at school.

9. You teach your dog to jump over broomsticks and chairs in the backyard. Sometimes you jump them yourself. 

10. You offer to muck all the stalls at your lesson barn in exchange for more saddle time.

11. Your mom took you to the tack shop and hasn’t been able to pry you out of there for two hours.

12. You’d much rather paint your favorite pony’s feet with sparkly hoof polish than get your own pedicure.

13. You hit the snooze alarm all week but leap out of bed at 5 a.m. on a Saturday to go to a horse show.

14. You’re very confused when someone suggests a theme for your birthday party other than “horses.”

15. You’ve checked out every horse book from the library at least once, if not several times.

16. You beg your parents for more lessons. What’s this “budget” they speak of? 

17. You love the smell of a barn: horses, hay, saddles, even fly spray.

18. You read the tack catalog that comes in the mail and circle all the things you want for you and your horse—even if you don’t have one yet!

19. You’ll spend an hour grooming a horse to show-ring perfection—even with nowhere to go—but have no interest in doing your own hair or (ugh!) makeup.

20. You find a way to make all of your school writing assignments about horses.

21. You save your carrots and apples from lunch to share with your pony after school.

22. Your friends have crushes on celebrities or the class hottie. You’re crushing on famous horses, riders and your fave lesson horse.

23. You’d rather take apart a bridle and clean every little piece than spend 5 minutes picking up your room.

24. Every time you see a golf course you think of what a nice pasture or cross-country course it would make.

25. And the last of the signs you’re horse crazy of course, you read Young Rider, the coolest mag for horse-crazy kids just like you!

This article with signs you’re horse crazy appeared in the July/August 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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In 2019, we celebrated 25 years of Young Rider. There were celebrations held at BreyerFest 2019 where we had pop-up birthday parties on these dates:

• Friday, July 12, 10 a.m. to noon
• Saturday, July 13, 10 a.m. to noon

Attendees received some awesome swag and were entered to win great prizes from our friends.

Here is Fluffy, the inflatable Breyer horse, where we were located at!

A special thank-you to our Birthday Party sponsors!

Be sure to follow us for more birthday and BreyerFest fun on Instagram @YoungRiderMagazine.

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1. The first tip on how to lead a horse the right way is to make sure you’re always working from the left side of the horse. (See the “Fun Fact” below.)
2. Start by holding the rope with your right hand closest to the halter, about 6 inches down from the buckle. Your left hand should hold the excess rope folded up. Remember to hold the excess so the tail doesn’t drag, but don’t wrap the rope around your hand in case something goes wrong. If it’s wrapped around your hand, it can be pulled tight and you can get hurt.
3. Ask the horse to move forward by bringing your right hand forward and either clucking or saying “walk.” Look at something out in front of you and start walking. Remember to look where you’re going and not at the horse. If you look at the horse, usually he will stop because he does not know where to go. In some cases, if you look at the horse, he will just decide where he wants to go and take you with him.
4. When it’s time to stop, gently pull back on the rope with your right hand and say “whoa” as you stop walking. If the horse continues to pull forward, practice a short, repetitive tug and release to continue to ask him to stop.

PRACTICE TIP 1:

Practice leading a horse around cones, always pushing the horse away from you (turning right) instead of pulling him toward you in a left turn, where he might step on your toes. Next, practice leading your pony into a stall and asking him to turn and face the door before turning him loose.

PRACTICE TIP 2:

Once you feel comfortable leading safely, practice holding the horse for the veterinarian or farrier. When the vet or farrier is on the left side, you should stay on the left side with them. If the vet or farrier walks around to the right side, you should switch sides with them, keeping the horse as still as possible. The reason for this is to keep everyone safe if the horse decides to move. If he becomes upset, you can pull the horse’s head toward you, making his body move away from the vet or farrier.

Keep in mind that some horses get lazy and tired. If you are working on this a lot, it’s good to have multiple horses to practice with.

Fun Fact:

The reason most people work on the left side of the horse comes from medieval times when soldiers and knights carried swords. The sword was always on the left, so for the rider to avoid having to try to swing the sword over the horse, they mounted on the left.

Brought to you in partnership with the United States Pony Clubs Find this lesson in the USPC Manual of Horsemanship Basics for Beginners D-Level (2nd edition), pages 150-153. For more fun lessons like this, join Pony Club! www.ponyclub.org

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post How to Lead a Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

What will the judge look for in a model horse show? If it’s an Arabian class, the judge will look for the ideal conformation and characteristics of the breed, as well as colors allowed. For similar models in the class, the judge will look for great condition relative to its age or rarity, and since each Breyer model is hand-painted, nice shading and highlights. The best models in the class win the top ribbons and awards!

“Original Finish” means a Breyer horse straight out of the box, with no alterations. Models can’t be repainted or changed in any way.

Check out the event calendar on BreyerHorses.com for a show in your area! Always make sure to read the show packet, but don’t hesitate to contact the show holder with questions and let them know that you are new to showing.

When you’ve selected your horses, it’s time to clean. Take a damp soft rag or towel and run it over each horse. Make sure to get between the ears and through manes and tails!

Once you’ve got a show and date, it’s time to prepare. Bring what you love, but also bring the nicest horses in your collection. “Nice” does not mean “most expensive,” but rather, your horses with the least flaws (like rubs in the paint­—check ear tips and hooves!—or warped legs), and nice shading.

Next, you need to give your horse a breed and a name. Most model horse shows require hang tags attached to the back hoof of your horse. On one side of the tag, you’ll put your horse’s name and your initials or identifying information. Name your horse whatever you’d like! It doesn’t have to be the Breyer manufactured name. On the other side, you’ll write down the breed. Be sure to look up the breed characteristics to make sure it’s a good match for your horse.

With your horses cleaned and tagged, it’s time to pack! Sewn cushioned pouches, such as Breyer’s Pony Pouches, offer protection and less bulk and time needing to wrap and unwrap. Carefully place your models in a sturdy tote for transport.

When you get to the show, you’ll want to lay down a blanket on your table and line up your horses. Follow along with the show announcer and listen for your class to be called. Place the model in the show ring and get ready to have some FUN!

Now that you’re all ready, come out and show at BreyerFest® Salute to Horse Heroes July 12-14, 2019 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY

Take $10 off your Youth and Children’s show registration (normally $30) by using code YRSHOW19. Head to www.BreyerFest2019.com for details.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Get Ready for Your First Model Horse Show appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

One question we get asked a lot at Young Rider is “How do I get my horse on the bit?” Everyone talks about getting a horse on the bit, but what does it mean anyway? A horse that’s “on the bit” carries himself along—he doesn’t pull on your hands like a freight train and he doesn’t stare at the sky, avoiding all contact with the bit.

He listens to your cues and responds obediently to both your legs and your hands. He accepts contact with the bit with a closed mouth, a relaxed neck poll and jaw.

Some riders think that the way to get your horse on the bit is to pull on the reins, but it requires a lot more work than that. A horse can’t get on the bit unless he responds to your seat and legs. Your legs generate the forward movement and energy needed to get a horse on the bit. Use your legs to push him forward, and then capture the forward energy between your hands and your legs.

When your horse listens to your legs, he moves with more energy, his withers get higher, his back becomes rounder and he arches his neck. His poll (the top of his head) reaches forward and he takes a soft contact on the bit.

If you’ve got quiet, soft hands, your horse will relax his jaw and flex at the poll. This makes him hold his head vertically instead of poking it out in front of him.

The key to getting your horse on the bit is—ENERGY! If he doesn’t have his engine in gear, he won’t get anywhere. Get that energy by revving him up with your legs. Then take a soft feel of his mouth with your hands and slowly take up more contact to “drive” him into the bit. When your horse accepts the contact, keep your hands steady and even until he’s perfectly balanced between the pressure of your legs and the pressure on his mouth.

Let’s look at some tips that will help you get your horse on the bit.

Get fit

It’s difficult to get your horse on the bit if he’s out of shape. It’s important to build up the muscles in his hindquarters, so if you’ve got hills near your barn, walk, trot and canter up them on a regular basis. Walking down hills can also strengthen your horse’s hindquarters.

Warm up every time

Every time you school your horse, warm up on a fairly loose rein. Let your horse walk, trot and canter energetically around the arena. Don’t worry about having lots of contact with his mouth—just have enough to steer and stop him if necessary.

Warming up your horse properly loosens up his muscles and prepares him for the work to come.

Do lots of circles, change direction a lot and concentrate on maintaining a constant rhythm within each gait. Don’t let your horse slop around with his nose on the ground.

After about 10 minutes, if your horse feels loose and relaxed, you can begin shortening the reins and start asking for more contact.

Soft hands

Pulling strongly on the reins will not encourage your horse to get on the bit. In fact, pulling on the reins usually makes a horse poke his head forward and pull against you! This makes his head feel heavy in your hands.

Instead of pulling, squeeze. Pretend the reins are sponges and squeeze your fingers like you’re squishing the sponges. Press with your legs to ask your horse to move forward, shorten the reins a bit, relax your shoulders, hang your elbows at your sides and start squeezing with your fingers. Use a give-and-take pressure on both reins. Don’t pull back. Use your legs to “push” your horse into accepting contact with the bit.

Transitions

Once you have taken up a feel on your horse’s mouth, do lots of transitions. Transitions help balance your horse and they make him supple. Doing lots of transitions makes your horse “lighter’ in your hands and more responsive to your legs.

There are tons of transitions you can do. Go from walk to trot back to walk. Go from trot to halt and back to trot. Ask your horse to canter from the walk. Do transitions on a circle or when you’re riding on the long side of the arena. Do them on the diagonal.

Hold the reins evenly and keep your legs on your horse’s sides. Push him forward with your legs to ask him to get “round” but keep a steady contact on the reins to control that energy.

Stretching down

The stretching down exercise teaches your horse to accept contact with the bit and it encourages him to be round in his body. Use your legs to ask your horse to trot and when he’s moving forward with lots of energy, take up contact on his mouth. Sit up straight, shorten your reins and squeeze with both hands and fingers until your horse becomes round and on the bit.

When your horse is moving forward nicely, soften your hands and allow him to stretch his head down. Follow with your hands and lower them as far as they can go. If he stretches further, loosen your hold on the reins and let them slip through your fingers a bit. Keep a soft contact. Don’t let go completely. Ask him to keep a rhythmic trot even though you have little contact. Squeeze with your legs to encourage him forward.

Some horses will chew on the bit when you do this exercise. In fact, there’s a “stretchy, chewy circle” in several training level dressage tests in which you do this exercise.

After a few strides of stretching down, slowly shorten your reins and, ask him to bring his head up and then push him forward with your legs into a normal outline.

Top Trainer Tip: Flex and Scratch

We asked trainer Kimberly D. Peterson of Crestwood, Kentucky, to suggest an exercise she uses to teach her students to get their horses on the bit, and she told us about “Flex and Scratch.” Try this exercise with your favorite horse!

“Flex and Scratch” is a simple exercise that can be done at the walk, trot and canter, but it’s best to try it at the walk first.

• It’s essential that your horse must be ridden forward, from the leg, into an even, “open” contact with both reins. This means that your fingers are closed, your thumbs are up and your elbows are able to slide along your rib cage.
• Never pull straight back on the reins; your left hand stays to the left of your horse’s withers, and your right hand stays to the right of your horse’s withers.
• Don’t “see-saw” on the reins.  You don’t want your horse’s to over bend his neck to the right or to the left. His nose should stay positioned in the center of its chest.

To begin the exercise, send your horse forward in the chosen gait.  Take equal contact on both reins and allow your elbows to slide back along your rib cage.  This is the “flex” part of the exercise.  When your horse chews the bit and lowers his poll, reach forward with both hands—keeping hold of the reins—and lightly scratch your horse’s withers for one or two seconds.  This is the “scratch” part of the exercise.  Then take up contact again and repeat the process.

The purpose of the “flex” step is to establish connection with the horse’s mouth via the reins.  The “open” contact prevents sending the wrong message to the horse. You don’t want him to halt or throw his head in the air.

The purpose of the “scratch” step is to:

1. Reward your horse for a positive response —horses love to be scratched on their withers
2. Allow your horse enough rein to lengthen his neck and lower the poll
3. Remind you to give your horse enough rein to lengthen his neck.

Once you and your horse have mastered this exercise at the walk with reasonably short reins, try the exercise at the trot and canter.  You can also try this exercise in all three gaits with medium-length reins, and then with fairly long reins.

With practice, the exercise produces a horse that is willing to “go on the bit,” and a rider who better understands how to achieve it.

Good luck and good riding!

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2008 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Getting Your Horse on the Bit appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.