BUILD TRUST
In this feature
Improve smaller circles
Ways to introduce counter canter
How to establish medium trot
Levelling up
Part three: Novice
Refine your basic training skills as you step up a level
Tania Grantham is a rider, trainer and polework specialist, as well as a writer and the host of podcast Poles, Piaffe and Prosecco. She is also the author of Inspire Dressage Polework Journal EXPERT
Adressage test is the perfect chance for you to show off the harmonious communication you have with your horse. A well-presented, accurate test appears easy but, as we all know, plenty of hard work and training will have gone into achieving it. The following exercises will help you train and refine the presentation of some of the main elements required at Novice level.
Two half 10m circles
The judge is looking for...
• regularity
• fluency
• bend
• balance
• circle size and shape
Exercise
Ride two half 10m circles, changing direction through the tramline of poles.
Why it works
The poles act as a guideline for the size of circles and how long you need to be straight between them. How to ride it
As you approach the marker where the movement starts, prepare by flexing your horse’s head and neck a little to the inside. His shoulder should leave the track at the marker to start the first half circle. Turn your upper body from your waist, keeping your elbows by your sides, and look around to the centre line between the tramline of poles. Keep your inside leg at the girth to encourage your horse to bend around it, while your
outside leg moves back a little to help turn him, and shift your weight onto the inside seat bone.
Aim to hit the centre line as you meet the poles. Look up and forward for at least one stride. If in rising trot, this is where you change diagonal. As you exit the poles, start the second half circle by turning your upper body and using both legs to turn your horse and bend him onto the new line. This exercise can be ridden as two circles followed by going large or continuously as a small figure of eight.
TOP TIP
For an accurate shape, think of your horse’s outside shoulder drawing the line of the circle.
7 steps to jumping confidence
PART 2: BUILDING TRUST
If you’re feeling nervous, Claire Edwards has tips and tricks to develop trust in your horse over fences
EXPERT
Claire Edwards MSc is a British Showjumping and British Equestrian High Performance Level 4 coach, an NDPCE coach, a BEF Youth Pathway coach and a BHS Accredited Professional coach. She runs Wix Hill Livery Stables in Surrey.
Jumping isn’t for the fainthearted, but the rush of adrenaline and the feeling of achievement you get from it are second to none. If you really want to progress and improve your showjumping but your nerves are holding you back, you’re not alone. Lots of riders experience a loss of confidence at some point, whether that’s because of a bad experience or simply from realising they’re no longer as brave as they once were.
Confidence is the absolute key to jumping, so spending time building yours is the only way you’ll unblock those negative thoughts hanging around in your subconscious. With my seven steps, you can achieve true jumping confidence and learn to enjoy the sport to the full.
1Build a bond
Jumping nerves can stem from various causes, but one thing guaranteed to help resolve them is creating as close a bond as you can with your horse. It’s important to first establish a level of trust with him on the ground and on the flat. This will ensure you have all the aids in place that will translate when you start going over fences.
If you spend time working in an environment you’re comfortable with, you can keep a clear head and start to listen to his cues more closely, too. What type of behaviour makes you tense up when you’re working together? What emotions does it spark in you and how do you tend to react? Answering these questions on the ground and addressing them will help you recognise your feelings and respond accordingly whenever you find yourself in a vulnerable scenario.
Face time
New research reveals the importance of facial expressions in horse communication
Lewis
and welfare at the University of Portsmouth. She has a special interest in horse behaviour and how it impacts their welfare.
We all know that horses communicate using body language and facial expressions but it’s not always clear to us what messages are being conveyed, especially when they’re subtle or fleeting and, therefore, easily missed. Researchers at the University of Portsmouth have been working to shed some light on this little understood area, and they’ve uncovered a whole new world of equine language.
Communication catalogue
The aim of the research was to create a detailed catalogue of the facial expressions horses use when communicating with each other. Although there are existing descriptions of horse facial expressions, these have been based on simply watching horses, which means smaller changes have been hard to spot, especially when watching from a distance in real time.
More recently, in 2015, a system called the Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS) was developed, allowing for a more detailed and consistent analysis of facial expressions. However, there has still been no comprehensive catalogue of horse facial expressions developed, even though it would be useful for people both working with and studying horses, as well as for improving horse welfare.
Kate
PhD MSc BSc is a researcher in animal behaviour
Facial analysis
The first stage of the project was to create a bank of facial expressions. Many hours over a three-month period were spent closely watching horses in their paddocks. Interactions between horses were recorded and the videos then examined for individual behaviours and facial expressions.
For this, EquiFACS was used to analyse exactly how each horse was moving the different regions of their face, including the ears, the eyes and the lower facial region. More than 800 expressions were subsequently recorded and these were then analysed to show how the individual movements worked together in the different behaviours observed.
A complex combination
EquiFACS uses designated codes called Action Units (AUs), which indicate movement caused by a specific muscle, such as raising the inner corner of the eyebrow, and Action Descriptors (ADs), which are more general movements, such as chewing.
Many AUs and ADs were used across different types of interaction. For example, ears flattened occurs in both play and aggression, indicating that horses’ facial communication is highly complex with individual face movements combined in different ways to produce diverse expressions.
Equine interaction
During the study, the researchers found...
• when making a threat , horses have their ears rotated backwards and flattened downwards, often with a lowered head. They might raise the inner corner of their brow and/or flare their nostrils
• during play, expressions are highly dynamic, involving a range of facial movements, often in quick succession, with depressed lower lips, raised chins, parted lips, wide-open mouths, rotated and flattened ears, increased visibility of eye whites and noses pushed forward
• in friendly interactions , horses use fairly neutral facial expressions
Throughout the study, horses were seen reacting to each other’s expressions. Most notably, when one horse threatens another, the threatened horse will typically move away, making this an effective way for a horse to assert dominance without using any physical aggression. Horses responding to facial signals so readily highlights how important these expressions are in equine communication.
There were also subtle expressions, some with few defining features, and these were mainly associated with
TOP TIP
The research showed it’s important not to focus on one aspect, such as the ears, as paying attention to all facial areas gives a clearer picture of what the horse is trying to communicate.
friendly, gentle interactions, such as a soft touch with the nose, or when a horse follows another. It could be that a lack of distinct facial expression is an indicator that an interaction is friendly.
DID YOU KNOW?
While ears forward is usually seen as a positive marker, it wasn’t observed very often. The ears were instead usually relaxed, pointing slightly backwards. So, it means your horse is still pleased to see you, even if his ears aren’t forward.
Photos: Jon Stroud. Posed by models.
Changing times
The menopause doesn’t mean the end of your old riding life – it’s merely the beginning of a new one
Menopause is a natural part of female life, yet it can feel anything but straightforward. It’s not only about having hot flushes and disrupted sleep – menopause can shake the very foundations of how you feel in your body, and for equestrians, how you think and connect with your horse.
I’m not a medical expert on perimenopause or menopause nor, as a man, do I speak from lived experience, but I am a professional in helping women manage the psychological challenges this transition can bring. The vast majority
Break the loop
Horses pick up on the smallest changes in our energy, body language, and breathing, so, if you’re distracted, or anxious, your horse responds accordingly. He might not know the cause but he’ll suspect something’s wrong – even dangerous. This might show as spooking, tension or refusing to move – it’s a survival response.
This can knock your confidence further, becoming a feedback loop. The more anxious you feel, the more your horse reacts and the more the reaction fuels your own fear.
Understanding this can be hugely empowering. Once you know your emotional state affects your horse’s behaviour, you can work on calming your own nervous system.
EXPERT
Sean Roberts is a psychotherapist and runs Silvolutions – Performance, Mindset & Wellbeing, specialising in helping horse riders achieve their goals.
of my clients are going, or have gone, through menopause, and many tell me they feel as if they’ve lost their spark, their confidence or even their identity. Fortunately, with the right tools and support, it’s absolutely possible to feel grounded again so you can rediscover your love of riding with renewed joy.
Multiple symptoms
The emotional and cognitive effects of menopause often cause the most disruption, especially in the context of riding. Common symptoms include...
• anxiety or panic, even in familiar situations
• brain fog and forgetfulness
• low self-confidence
• mood swings or irritability
• poor sleep and chronic fatigue
• a sense of detachment or disconnection
In the saddle, these symptoms can shake your trust in your body and instincts. You might find yourself inexplicably questioning a stride, feeling reluctant to ride alone, or avoiding challenging situations that you once embraced and thrived on.
Part two: early days
Lovely to meet you
New horse? Anna Haines helps you set the tone for your future relationship
EXPERT
Anna Haines is a clinical animal behaviourist, member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, and has been a freelance equine behaviour consultant for 14 years. She has an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare, specialising in equines.
There are so many elements to think about when acquiring a new horse. Last month, we considered how to find your new horse and also his initial arrival. This time, we’ll look at how to approach the early days and weeks together to set you up for success and help you achieve a lasting, positive mutual relationship that will bring you both much joy and fun over the exciting years ahead.
Watch and learn
After the initial settling-in period –during which your horse becomes accustomed to his new handlers, routine and environment – comes the time when you start to work on building trust to create a partnership. Initial impressions last, so this period is key to helping him understand you’re someone who’s predictable, gentle and trustworthy.
It’s also an ideal opportunity to learn and understand his body language, helping you recognise when he’s feeling relaxed, stressed, confused, worried or
uncomfortable. While there are key signs of pain or stress – ears held backwards, triangulated upper eyelids, nostrils drawn up, tension through the muzzle and triangulation of the chin – each horse is unique and these indicators are subtly different between individuals. For this reason, spending time closely observing his facial expression when he’s relaxed is always time well spent, helping you quickly notice any slight changes.
TOP TIP
However desperate you are to ride, taking time to get to know your horse on the ground, through grooming, handling, groundwork and being present, will help you in the long run.
Rugging guide
5 things you need to know about
rugging
With our helpful guide, rugging worries will be a thing of the past and your horse will be happy and comfortable during the colder months
