In this feature. . .
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Ride exercises for control and accuracy
Round the
bend Upgrading your 10m circles can unlock plenty of hidden benefits – find out how with Emily King
As told to Kiera Boyle. Photos: Jon Stroud
I
f you’re guilty of shunning your flatwork in favour of something more fun over fences, you’re not alone! However, there’s a lot you can do in your schooling sessions that’ll directly influence you and your horse’s abilities in the air and out on course. By not only incorporating them, but perfecting them, too, you’ll wish you’d put the time in sooner. One of these simple but super-charged movements? The humble 10m circle. More than just a schooling shape, its benefits are four-fold – it’ll improve your horse’s power, engagement, suppleness and responsiveness. To perform a 10m circle correctly, you’ll need to have full control over every part of his body and ensure he’s hyper-responsive to your aids. The end result being a harmonious partnership that allows you to effortlessly and accurately navigate a dressage test or from fence to fence. So, let’s break it down.
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In the saddle
➤
Improve power and engagement ➤ Create a more responsive ride
Our expert
Emily King is an international eventer whose CCI5* results include a fourth place at her 2015 debut. She was crowned under-25 national champion in 2018 and is currently producing her string of young horses for the top level of the sport.
Our model
Imposant, or Impy as he’s known at home, is an eight-year-old KWPN gelding who’s owned by the Kerr-Dineen family.
Why it works
Riding 10m circles is a gymnastic exercise that helps enhance your horse’s gaits and ability to lengthen his stride because it all stems from the power of his hindlegs. The turn makes him have
to step further underneath his body, which encourages him to sit the weight back a little onto his hindquarters and push harder from behind – it’s a bit like revving the engine. Increasing the tempo of the pace around a circle will
increase the activity of the hindleg even further, too. Ultimately, you’ll aim to put this activity to good use by asking him to leg-yield – another move that requires a good deal of hindquarter energy.
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HORSE&RIDER 41
Words: Bethany Searby. Photos: Lucy Merrell
In this feature. . .
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➤ Introduce
your horse to new fence types
In the saddle
➤ Build
his confidence ➤ Tackle water complexes with ease
Baby
steps
Whether your horse is inexperienced, spooky or had a lockdown-induced cross-country break, Tina Cook shows you how to tackle your next schooling session with confidence
Our expert
Tina Cook has been firmly established at the very top of eventing since her 1987 Junior Europeans team gold. Since then, she’s represented Team GB at two Olympics and a plethora of eventing Championships around the world, most recently on board Billy The Red.
Our models
Jodie Moore rides Diva Diarado (Darcy), her six-year-old mare. They’re established at BE90 and looking to step up to BE100 in the near future.
W
hen introducing your horse to the fences you’ll find on the cross-country course – or tackling those he finds the trickiest – it’s important to get him there in a calm and clear manner, and a pace you can both handle. No matter your horse’s age or experience, you as his rider are the voice of reason and a sympathetic ear – he’s allowed to have a look and a wobble when faced with a question out of his comfort zone, but he ultimately needs to complete what’s asked of him with confidence in you as his guide. Piloting your horse through new or exciting situations might seem daunting, but armed with know-how and a dash of common sense, you should be able leave your schooling session with a wider range of cross-country fences under your belt.
Warm-up wise
The first few minutes are your opportunity to settle your horse. Don’t warm him up in an open space away from the fences, because working next to them will help him get over any initial spookiness. I like to introduce my horses to fences not by presenting them at the jumps, but by letting them walk alongside. This helps take off the pressure and allows them to become familiarised with the fences while avoiding confrontation. Be quick to praise, giving your horse a pat when he relaxes.
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HORSE&RIDER 47
On the
road again Our experts
Words: Tilly Berendt. Photos: Bob Atkins, Jon Stroud
Jess Wilson is a travelling groom for Tim and Jonelle Price, and previously worked as head girl for Mark Todd. She’s also involved in global animal welfare efforts, and regularly heads to Egypt to aid in relief efforts for working equines.
Amy Akehurst won the groom’s award at Badminton 2019 in her former role as Tom Crisp’s head girl, and now works for event rider Imogen Murray.
Jillian Giessen works for Dutch Olympic eventer Tim Lips, and splits her time between competition grooming and producing young horses.
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Keep travel simple with these tips from top-level grooms
W
hether you’re the kind of rider whose diary revolves around competition entries or your idea of a good time involves finding great new hacking routes to explore, it’s likely that travelling with your horse is a regular occurrence. No matter how often you load up and box out, though, the experience can be a stressful one – particularly if your horse isn’t a confident traveller or you feel underprepared for the journey. We asked three top competition grooms for their tried-and-tested tips and life hacks to help make every road trip a successful one.
Preparation is key
Most of the trips you’ll take with your horse will be planned well ahead of time, giving you the luxury of making a list, checking it twice, and loading up at your leisure. But with horses, it pays to expect the unexpected, so you should always ensure your mode of transport is ready for action, particularly if it doesn’t get used regularly. After every journey, check your horsebox or towing vehicle’s oil and coolant levels, and inspect each tyre as well. Some loss of pressure’s normal after a longer journey, but refilling your tyres promptly will give you a chance to see if any are suffering from a slow leak, which will require actioning by your mechanic. Always ensure your box or vehicle has sufficient fuel for another trip, too – this could prove essential in case of an emergency outing. Likewise, keep a full water canister and bucket stored so you don’t have to worry about filling and packing them if you do need to load up and go in a hurry. Make a habit of inspecting windows, floors, doors and ramps, too, so you can spot any areas of damage as soon as they appear. Often, an early repair will prove significantly cheaper than a delayed one, because continued use can cause more widespread damage – and can put your horse at risk, too. Finally, ask a friend to watch while you test the indicators, taillights, and brake lights.
Management know-how
TOP TIP
Don’t forget to bring your horse’s passport with you every time you take him out in the trailer or lorry – this is a legal requirement.
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