Tips of the Week

Breeding the Welsh Pony/Cob

2009-01-05T17:00:00Z

Keep a clear picture of what you want to breed. Study pedigrees and the successes of well-known breeders. Don’t be afraid to cull something from your breeding plan when it doesn’t work out. Don’t be “barn blind.” Remember it takes just as much to raise a mediocre pony as it does a superstar!

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The Good Competition Horse

2008-12-31T22:06:00Z

You want a horse with a great mind, to start with. You can get a horse to do a lot, but if you can’t control it, that doesn’t help you either. My best advice there is to buy one that wants to be a show horse. There are just certain horses that just say, “I’m a show horse.” They’re not all that perfect individual every day, but having a nice horse that you can get along with, it sure does help. I would say find one that fits you, that you feel very comfortable on, that has smoothness of ride. Make sure that you enjoy being with that horse. You want a partnership. Make sure you enjoy feeding him. There are some quirky things you can put up with. For instance, people hate cribbers, yet some of the best horses I have won on have been cribbers. I don’t do much with them because it’s hard to sell them. But don’t throw it out of realm of possibilities.

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Heart, Temperament and Talent Make the Horse

2008-12-29T22:02:00Z

“Heart” is something that some great show horses have. Baroque breeds, and many other breeds are known to have this trait. You want a horse that has a good work ethic. Temperament is of the utmost concern. The temperament MUST be suitable for the temperament of the rider. Also, you must have a horse with talent for the respective event. It is often much easier to train a talented horse, the “natural,” the one built to do its job. Study the desirable conformation and temperament qualities for a dressage horse, a reiner, a Western pleasure horse. Every horse has its niche, but maybe not for the event you prefer. Be realistic; training can only go so far.

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Catch the Judges Eye

2008-12-24T21:43:00Z

What judges look for is a neat, tidy, clean, confident picture. A beautifully turned out horse and rider stand out. It does not cost anything to be neat and clean; all that is required is a little extra elbow grease. A crucial part of presenting the perfect picture is ensuring your tack is well fitted and your saddle pads are clean and white.

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Benefits of Professional Help for Drivers

2008-12-22T09:13:00Z

Get some professional help so you do not make a mistake such as spending needless money on equipment that very soon you will realize that you need to sell and get the more appropriate thing. Then I advise drivers to volunteer to learn about the aspects of competing in a CDE.

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Save Your Horse’s Mouth, Stop with Your Seat

2008-12-18T20:57:00Z

You probably learned to “kick to go” and “pull to whoa” from the very start of your riding career. While this simplistic view of communicating with your horse may get you through the first few rides, you want to learn some finesse. While all the natural aids are important to master—seat, legs, hands and voice—your horse will feel your seat aids first. When you make sure that you’re using your seat correctly, you won’t have to pull so hard to make your horse whoa. Your refined and combined cues will save your horses mouth and ensure your horse gets your message as soon as possible.

No horse wants you to pull on the reins. Even with the lightest touch, your backwards rein cue means your horse feels metal in his mouth. What’s more, most horses want to stop; they’re fundamentally lazy and usually don’t need tons of rein pressure to stop. Your horse will be glad to stop when he feels your seat cue and before he feels pressure from the reins and bit. Sadly, most horses don’t know their riders want to stop until they feel a pull on their mouths. They haven’t been given the gift of a gentler aid given before a panicked pull on the reins. Learn to cue your horse in a sequence so he can learn to stop with subtle cues. Before you pull on the reins, make sure to say “whoa” and sit down on your pockets. This sequence—providing voice and seat aids before rein aids—will save your horse’s mouth and make him a happier, more willing partner.

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Putting in the Time

2008-12-15T20:52:00Z

For amateur riders, the biggest challenge is finding time. Many riders have jobs, and riding is only a hobby. In this sport you really have to put in the time doing your homework, and spending quality time in the saddle. Part of being a successful event rider has to do with ensuring you are capable of going out and accomplishing what you set out to do. This comes from taking lessons, practicing what you’ve learned in lessons, and just getting to know your horse. It goes back to having a good trainer, someone who is qualified and has the time to ride your horse when you are unable to. Having your trainer ride your horse not only keeps him in shape, but helps him remember how to do his job correctly.

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One Step at a Time

2008-12-12T21:59:00Z

Simplicity is a basic part of my system; we teach one thing at a time. When we teach a rider about his legs, we don’t worry about his hands. When we teach a rider about a shoulder-in, we’re not too worried he’s got a little roach in his back. If we’re teaching a rider about his release at a jump, we’re not worried about his eyes. Especially at low levels of riding, we’re very strict about keeping things simple. At first, we teach essentially one thing at a time. Later we teach a sequence of two or three things, step by step, in a row. When a rider knows each of the little parts, then we put them together. When teaching is done this way, learning is quicker. It takes longer to learn if the rider is taken out into the ring without a simple program or structure. He’s confused if several instructions are thrown at him at once, over and over again. That’s what we call cluttering.

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Always Keep an Open Mind

2008-12-05T21:56:00Z

When you first start in this industry, keep an open mind and learn from those who have gone before you and have been successful. Overnight success is not going to happen. If you apply yourself, are diligent, and work hard you will eventually reach your goals. Above all, be very open minded and don't be afraid to ask questions at any point in your career.

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On the Judge’s Good Side

2008-12-02T21:53:00Z

Since the Welsh are a versatile breed, judges have to have knowledge of many different disciplines. Judges are looking for ponies/cobs that are good movers, have breed type, and are athletic no matter what division they are showing in, including the in-and division. Well-turned out ponies/cobs always catch a judge’s eye. I think it is important for the exhibitor to keep a smile on their face no matter what their animal is doing. Even if the pony/cob is misbehaving, a judge is less likely to pick up on it if the exhibitor has a smile on their face and is acting like everything is going well.

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Breeding Horses in Today’s Economy

2008-11-26T14:00:00Z

Right now with the economic situation, try to have the best bred mares you can put your hands on based on what they have done in the show ring. Try to invest in a horse that has a show record. Go buy a show mare that’s been shown by somebody that doesn’t want to be in the breeding business with. Although that is getting hard to do now with people knowing their mares are worth something. It doesn’t take long to get your money back when you do this.

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The Trouble with Tenseness

2008-11-24T14:00:00Z

Tenseness of the rider is a serious mistake because it translates directly to the horse’s performance. Tenseness should be addressed in preparation. Do your homework so riding at the show will be similar to riding at home. Realize it is only a horse show, and you will have hundreds of shows to follow. Realize it is not about the ribbons; it is about self progress. To distract you from nervousness, upon entering the arena, count from 25 backwards or say the alphabet backwards, or quote a verse or famous saying. Try softening your spine from head to tailbone, and melt like a sack of potatoes.

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Begin By Setting Goals

2008-11-21T18:52:00Z

As with every aspect of eventing, the most important thing is to do your homework. Look into the sport and ask yourself, why is it that you want to participate, and to what level? It’s necessary to know a little bit about what you want to do ahead of time so that you can set attainable goals.

Goal setting is imperative to being successful—it allows you to focus and work towards something with a purpose so that in the end you have accomplished your goal and can move on to the next one confidently. In this sport it can be easy to overestimate your capabilities, be honest with yourself. Step back and really assess what you are physically and mentally capable of achieving. Remember that goals should be appropriate to you, setting an unattainable goal will only be frustrating.

Once you have figured out exactly what you would like to do and achieve, then find a trainer who is appropriate to the goals you have set. Just because a trainer has won so many three-stars doesn’t necessarily make them right for you. If you just started riding, find a trainer who can work with you to solidify the basics, and when the time comes can refer you to a trainer who can take you further.

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A Desire to Perform

2008-11-17T21:49:00Z

The number one quality a good competition horse possesses is desire. Desire goes further than anything else and is the number one necessity to a show horse. After that comes ability, and then beauty.

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Check Your Bit Fit

2008-11-11T21:45:00Z

Most riders either inherit a bit when they purchase a horse or do their best to pick one off the shelf. But how many riders actually check the fit of their horses’ bits and know for sure if they have the right ones for their horses? Your horse’s mouth size and conformation, his level of training, and the rider’s ability all determine which bit you should use.

A bit can be too narrow or too wide in the mouthpiece—meaning it may not be functioning correctly or may make your horse uncomfortable. Most bits are sold in a 5” size. But if you measure your horse’s mouth from the corners of his lips, you might be surprised to find out he’d be more comfortable in a 4 ¾” or 5 1/8” bit. I use a simple and easy measuring device called, “Bit Fit” that will show you the exact width of your horse’s mouth. You can find the measurement tool at www.theoriginalbitfit.com.

You’ll also need to check where the bit lays in your horse’s mouth to see if your bridle is adjusted correctly. If the bit is too high (causing wrinkles in the corners of his mouth), he’ll feel constant pressure and will have difficulty responding to light aids. If the bit hangs too low, it may hit his teeth and flop around in his mouth. I like the bit to touch the corners of my horse’s lips, but without showing any wrinkles. This way, he’ll hold the bit the way he wants in his mouth and respond to the lightest movement of the reins. A young horse will need to wear the bit high in his mouth until he no longer tries to put his tongue over the bit—a terrible habit that can be prevented early in the horse’s training.

The horse’s level of training as well as the rider’s is also a consideration in bit fit. As a horse progresses in his training, the bit can drop lower in his mouth and he can tolerate a stronger bit because you’ll be using less rein pressure to get him to respond. Even a very well-trained horse that’s used to a more advanced bit will need something mild in his mouth if he is to tolerate the hands of a less skilled rider.

Remember, the mildest bit in the wrong hands can be inhumane and the most severe bit in the right hands can be mild. Going to a stronger bit will never fix a training problem but may make it worse, while switching to a milder bit can often resolve issues with your horse. Many, if not most training issues with horses stem from anxiety about their mouths, so having the right bit is important.

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