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A STRONG, SUPPLE HORSE
YAZMIN PINCHEN’S
STEPS TO BETTER
JUMPING
with
Spencer Wilton
L ove
EVERY RIDE!
Diary of a horsey
WEIGHTWATCHER
8
ways to bring back the fun
BEHIND THE SCENES
with
Emily King
Summer
survival guide
DJMurphy
Issue number 620 July 2021 ■ Yazmin Pinchen: fatwork for jumping ■ Enjoy your riding ■ Strong and supple with Spencer Wilton ■ Summer health guide ■ Horsey weight loss ■ Equine skin conditions ■ T&T riding tights
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In this feature. . .
Our expert
Yazmin Pinchen is an international showjumper who’s represented Great Britain on the junior and senior stage, winning two gold and two silver medals before she’d turned 15. She now produces top-level showjumpers from her West Sussex base.
As told to Rebecca Philpot. Photos: Lucy Merrell
Our model
Titanium Z (Tommy) is a seven-year-old stallion by Tangelo. Owned by Liam Payne, he’s been produced slowly and sympathetically and is now ready to continue his international showjumping career.
26 HORSE&RIDER
➤ Make
the most of your horse’s suppleness
In the saddle
➤ Boost
his responses ➤ Use straightness for strengthening
Perfect your horse’s
paces
T
Straight, supple and responsive – this is the showjumper’s trifecta. Yazmin Pinchen shares three simple exercises to help you harness them
he thrill of showjumping Put in the hours might come from the feeling Flatwork’s the most important part you get over fences, but it’s of showjumping training, I really can’t the bits in between that stress that enough. Your job is to set really set you up your horse up with the best approach to win the class. So, how possible, and his job is to get can you best prepare up in the air and clear the TOP TIP your horse at home if obstacles. The only way you Keep your hands wide in he’s to keep the poles can do this is with a solid walk to encourage your horse safely nestled in their foundation of training on the to stretch down into a lower cups on competition flat. You can’t spend your frame. Keep your leg on and make day? The secret is to entire round arguing with sure you’ve relaxed your hand keep it simple, and your horse – at the end of the enough to allow him to seek make sure you’re asking day, he’s bigger than you and the contact forward. for quality as well as will always win – so it’s best you quantity. make sure you’re singing from the same hymn sheet at home and away. For a big horse like Tommy, this is even more important, but regardless of your horse’s size you’ll struggle to string more than a couple of fences together if you’ve not built up his strength on the flat beforehand. The areas you’ll need to address are just three....
• responsiveness Every second counts on the showjumping course, so your horse should be quick off your leg should you need to make adjustments • suppleness This simply means your horse’s ability to bend without stiffness – and some horses are naturally more flexible than others • straightness When straight, your horse’s body will follow an even line from his nose to his tail To give your horse the best chance of pulling off a clear round, a lot of your flatwork will need to be focused on strengthening – his power needs to come from his hindquarters, which will push him uphill. However, horses are more naturally inclined to move downhill, so the hours needed on the flat can’t be underestimated. Teaching him to sit on his hocks is so important, as well as boosting his responsiveness, suppleness and straightness.
TOP TIP
Recovery’s just as important as repetition when you’re building up your horse’s strength – you can’t expect him to work at the same intensity every day or he’ll get sore. Make sure he’s getting enough days off as well as some lower-intensity workouts.
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HORSE&RIDER 27
open
Out in the
Hacking in the sunshine is the perfect way to spend the evening. But does riding in an open space fill you with trepidation? Get it right with our guide
S
Photos: Jon Stroud
ummer’s nearly here, so if you’re hoping to tick a hunter trial or fun ride off your bucket list – alongside the hours of hacking you’ll have time to enjoy – now’s the perfect time to get to grips with riding in open spaces. Knowing you can safely go for a canter across an open field with pals or while flying solo will fill you with confidence in your partnership with your horse – not to mention how much fun a pipe-opener can be. Follow our step-by-step guide to build your confidence and make the most of summer hacking.
32 HORSE&RIDER
In the saddle
Safety first
Making sure your gear’s in working order and fits well will help give you a confidence boost and set you up for an enjoyable ride. While it’s important to keep a close eye on the condition and fit of your tack all the time, make a point to double-check that... • your bit and noseband combination provides enough control • your stirrups are the correct size, particularly if you’ve recently bought new boots
• the stitching on your bridle, reins, girth straps and stirrup leathers is in good condition • you have well-fitting brushing and overreach boots to protect your horse’s legs from knocks during faster work • your hat and body protector fit well and have been replaced if you’ve recently had a fall • you have a neckstrap, martingale or breastplate as something to hold on to for a little extra security
Field day
Friendly faces
A structured schooling session provides the perfect framework you can use to stay confident when swapping the arena for an open space. All you need is a secure field and a plan of action. The fencing and familiarity will help you feel safer, you can set the pace based on how you’re feeling. Keep your horse’s mind focused on you with transitions, changes of rein, lateral work – anything that keeps you both busy while getting used to your surroundings and becoming accustomed to a different surface. It’s best to ease yourself in gradually – letting loose straightaway won’t set a precedent for steady riding out in the open, so don’t step it up a gear until you’re sure he’s happy to wait. When you do feel ready, giving your horse a focus again can help you feel in control. Concentrate on schooling shapes and circles until you can canter confidently and feel confident that your steering and brakes aren’t compromised by the new, potentially exciting environment.
TOP TIP
If your horse is excited, it can help to give him a good trot to get him blowing and help him settle. Often he’ll feel more relaxed once he’s active.
When you feel positive and confident about riding around the field at home, it’s a great idea to enlist a few friends to get involved, too. If your horse is regularly out competing or you have to share the arena at home, then this phase shouldn’t feel like too much of a step out of his comfort zone because he’ll be used to a warm-up environment. However, the addition of other horses into the mix can prove a catalyst for some horses who, while beautifully behaved by themselves, find being with friends all too exciting. Begin with just one other horse working in the same field nearby, trotting and cantering to get a feel for how your horse reacts. When you’re ready, trot – and then canter – one in front of the other across the field, steadying the horses up and returning to walk if they become over-excited. Gradually add an extra horse or two and work through the same process. If your horse becomes overwhelmed, take things back a step to regain his focus again.
TOP TIP
Shortening your stirrups by a hole or two might help you feel more secure, as you’ll have a stronger anchor should your horse start to pick up the pace.
➤
HORSE&RIDER 33
Create a
handier L PART TWO
horse
There’s no point in your horse being responsive and sensitive in the saddle if he doesn’t respect you from the ground
ast month we looked at handy ridden skills, but this issue we’re examining what you can do to improve your horse’s ridden work from the ground. It’s an often-underestimated method of training, yet it’s likely you spend as much time on your horse’s level as you do on his back, if not more. Instilling good manners isn’t reserved just for youngsters – it benefits horses no matter their age. Better still, it’ll give your bond and training a big boost at the same time.
TOP TIP
Photos: Jon Stroud
Hold your horses
A horse who wanders off while you mount is not only frustrating, but can be dangerous, too. But have you ever wondered why he’s so eager to walk away? It’s not necessarily a reflection of his feelings towards riding – although you should get him checked over to make sure he isn’t uncomfortable under saddle – it could just be he doesn’t understand that he needs to. In the earliest stages of a horse’s education, he’s often forgiven for taking a step forward while his rider gets on – after all, he’s doing something wholly unnatural by letting someone climb on board, and a step or two forward seems a measured response. However, if this isn’t corrected, he won’t have learned that he’s expected to stand by the mounting block while you get on. The underlying message through training must be to remain calm. Recruit a friend on the ground to help, then… 1. Start by bringing your horse to stand next to the mounting block for a few quiet minutes, without his saddle. Praise him and make it a pleasant place for him to be, before allowing him to walk away, return and repeat. 2. Recruit your helper on the ground to hold your horse while you stand on the mounting block. Continue to make a fuss using your voice and asking the handler to give him a scratch. 3. Once he’s happy with you standing next to him on the block, give him a quick scratch on his neck and keep chatting to him while he stands still. Offer him a treat, too. Bend his neck away from the block slightly by taking up a contact with your outside rein – this has the added benefit of shifting his weight towards it – a great help if 50 HORSE&RIDER
When working with your horse on the ground, a correctly fitted helmet, sturdy boots and gloves are essential bits of kit to keep yourself safe.
he tends to swing his quarters away in avoidance. 4. Repeat steps 1–3, but this time with your horse tacked up. Be prepared for him to revert back a few steps but keep your cool and continue keeping it a positive experience for him. 5. When he’s comfortable with the above steps, get on and, with the help of your handler on the ground, keep him standing still. Reward him for his behaviour and, after a few minutes, dismount again. Walk him away from the mounting block before returning and repeating.
➤
Mind matters
HORSE&RIDER 51