Horse&Rider Magazine – August 2015

Horseworld

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eturning to London for the eleventh round, the Longines Global Champions Tour will be hosted at Syon Park from 24–26 July. As the tour of this premier showjumping event approaches the home straight with just five events remaining, the contenders for the 2015 Longines Global

Champions Tour crown will be fighting hard for every precious point. Team GBR has been victorious on home soil for the last two years, with Scott Brash winning at Horse Guards in 2014. Of course, we hope Team GBR will continue to reign at home this year, too.

For more information or tickets, visit globalchampionstour.com

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Photo: Stefano Grasso/Longines Global Champions Tour

Globe trotting R

PART ONE In this feature. . .

Our trainer

John Smart is a British Eventing accredited trainer and has taught showjumping for over 20 years. He has competed at Badminton, jumped on British Nations Cup teams and been in the ribbons at Horse of the Year Show, Hickstead and the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Our models

Photos: Bob Atkins

Debbie Eastop has had some time off riding since losing her last horse, but has taken back the reins on eightyear-old Bear. They’ve done their first one-day event together, and are looking to gain confidence and straightness in jumping.

Dominique Pizzingrilli learnt to ride as an adult and has experienced considerable success with her horse, Gerry, in the show ring, including riding at Horse of the Year Show in the Search for a Star competition.

She’s looking to have fun with Gerry and gain confidence over fences.

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➤ Create and keep the perfect jumping canter

In the saddle

➤ Understand the take-off zone ➤ How poles can help improve technique

GRIDWORK MASTERCLASS

Confidence PART 1:

for horse and rider Showjumping trainer John Smart helps two riders, and their horses, to gain confidence jumping

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hen you begin jumping, the combination of a course of fences, brightly-coloured fillers, related distances and combinations can be intimidating. A bad round can knock you and your horse’s confidence, and make jumping a real chore rather than fun.

But a successful jumping round is as simple as creating and maintaining a consistent canter rhythm, and popping over a few coloured sticks.

For rusty riders or those wishing to improve their confidence over fences, seeing a stride and remembering a course can be stressful and off-putting.

Grids are a great way to relax into your horse’s rhythm and gain trust in your ability as a rider, which will go a long way to building your confidence. They’re good for all horses and riders, and allow you to set exercises that focus on different aspects of jumping.

By incorporating placing poles, you eliminate the anxiety that comes with finding the optimum take-off distance – all you need to do is trot or canter your horse into the exercise and let him do the jumping.

Because the poles and jumps dictate your horse’s canter rhythm, you can concentrate on your jumping position and keeping your horse straight – something that’s hard to do when you have a million other things to think about when jumping a course. What’s more, grids help you tune in to your horse’s canter rhythm, so you can become accustomed to what it feels like when he’s in the perfect balance and rhythm.

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Words: Mary King and Jane Gazzard. Photos: Bob Atkins. With thanks to Bucas for their help with this feature, bucas.co.uk

In the saddle

Mary makes a difference PART 1

Follow eventer Mary King’s advice for better dressage, as she reveals some of her foolproof fixes for making the difference between good and great!

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hen it comes to schooling on the flat or over jumps, every rider aims to do the best they can for their horse. Over the years, I’ve learnt that taking time to build a solid foundation from which to progress is far more productive than trying to hurry a horse’s training. Rush, and you’re more likely to run into difficulties,

compounding any niggly little issues rather than ironing them out.

“As riders, we’re meant to make life easier for our horses, but sometimes we confuse them with inaccurate, ineffective aids and mixed messages, just making it harder for them, rather than being helpful. But by being patient and simplistic in your approach, you’ll find all that’s needed are small, subtle adjustments for better results.

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Watch and learn

You can learn a lot by watching other riders, picking up on their errors and observing how they correct their mistakes. This is how I’ve learnt, and I’ve picked up lots of useful tips and advice along the way.

For example, dressage riders Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin are both fine executioners of the perfect position. They sit beautifully and are lovely and straight through their bodies, with their legs long and in the correct position. So I try to replicate that in my own riding.

Bear in mind that, as you get older, your posture can change – for example, you might get more tense and tight in your body. The temptation to slouch may also play havoc in creating an effective riding position. So sit with a straight back, head up and shoulders back, and bear in mind what Carl Hester once told me in a lesson – make the front of your body longer.

Doing this helps prevent you from leaning forward and looking down, which is a common fault of many riders.

And once your position is perfect, you will become a very effective rider. So, as you warm up your horse – thinking about the position of his head and neck, and making sure he’s round and stretching down over his topline – also spend time analysing your own position.

Tension can cause you to slouch

Spend a few minutes checking on your own position and visualising how your favourite riders sit Visualisation

Visualisation is a powerful tool, so picture someone you really admire when you’re schooling – imagine you’re Carl or Charlotte!

If, however, you work your horse on your own as I do, it’s all too easy to get into bad habits. Do you nod your head, for example?

Maybe you hold your hands in a certain way or the reins are too long. Are your hands too high or too low, too forward towards your horse’s mouth or too back towards your tummy? Perhaps your heels are up instead of down.

Spend a few minutes checking on your own position and visualising how your favourite riders sit. I do this a lot and find it really useful, especially if I’m working on my own and don’t have my daughter, Emily, to pull me up on my mistakes.

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Mary’s top tip My training ● I go to my dressage trainer, Ferdi Eilberg, for lessons about four times leading up to Badminton in May, then another two or three times leading up to Burghley in the autumn.

Long reins and low hands will affect your horse’s way of going

H&R competition

Blue Chip

sponsorship Two lucky readers will each win...

rider in the discipline of their choice ● A lesson with a top Blue Chip sponsored of their choice for one horse ● A year’s supply of a Blue Chip balancer ent of their choice for one horse ● A year’s supply of a Blue Chip supplem h ● Blue Chip clothing, rug and saddle clot t ialis spec ● Access to a Blue Chip nutritional

Already part of the Blue Chip sponsored team, Daisy Coakley and Cleopatra IV

Blue Chip feed balancers and supplements are the first choice for top riders in a variety of disciplines, and now you have a chance to join the elite Blue Chip sponsored team. Blue Chip is looking for two talented, dedicated riders from any discipline who will represent the Blue Chip brand by wearing the smart Blue Chip clothing and fly the Blue Chip flag when they are out competing.

Blue Chip will help you to keep your horse in top condition with a year’s supply of Blue Chip balancer and supplement, plus Blue Chip clothing, a rug and saddlecloth, access to a Blue Chip nutritional specialist and a lesson with a Blue Chip sponsored rider.

A shortlist will feature in the January issue of Horse&Rider and readers will be able to vote online for their favourite.

Competition rules

• No photos will be returned • You must own the copyright to photos submitted – shortlisted entrants will be reproduced in print • You must have the horse owner’s permission to enter • First entry only to count • Entries received in multiple parts or incomplete will be rejected • Entrants cannot have existing sponsorship deals • Winners must make themselves available for promotion with Blue Chip

Q

WORT H

£750 EA CH

What is your biggest achievement so far and what are your future ambitions?

Tie-breaker: In 50 words or fewer, tell us why Blue Chip should invest in you and your horse.

To enter: 86 HORSE&RIDER

For more information, visit bluechipfeed.com

Answer the question and tie-breaker on the competition entry form on page 152 or visit horseandridercompetitions.co.uk to enter online, and for full terms and conditions. Please also provide one ridden photo of you and your horse, details about his age, and information on your discipline, current level and experience as a combination.

Entries must be received by 31 August 2015. No purchase necessary.