NCDCTA News/Ask the Experts – January 2010

Q: My trainer is headed to Florida for the winter. Any recommendations on what I can do to further my riding in the interim? Any thoughts about what New Year’s resolutions I can make to improve my riding? Sincerely, Cold in Carolina

A: To kick off the New Year, we invited an All-Star panel of Experts to share their thoughts…

Eliza Sydnor, Bella Terra Farm, Snow Camp, NC

• Before your instructor leaves for Florida, have someone video tape one or more of your lessons. Ask your instructor to give you "homework" at the end of the lesson, so that you can have what he/she says ON TAPE. This way you can watch the video throughout the winter and be reminded of what to work on.
• Read books and watch DVDs! I recommend Dressage in Harmony, Dressage with Kyra, or Complete Training of Horse and Rider. If reading books on dressage bores you to tears, check out some of the DVDs out there. Most of them have multiple volumes for different levels, so you can watch a little at a time. I recommend Training with Kyra Kyrklund and any DVDs by the Klimke’s.
• Get together with a friend and trade lunge lessons. (This is assuming your horse is safe for lunging!!) Even if you are at a loss for improving a particular movement, you can always work on yourself and your seat.
• Get out of the arena! Don't drill! Go for a trail ride, work up and down hills, do some cavalletti or gymnastic jumping work, etc. Keep your horse's mind happy and fresh, and you will be amazed at how certain things will feel better the next time you practice in the arena.

Stacey Hastings, Finncastle Farms Equestrian Centre, Mooresville, NC

Make a New Year’s resolution to memorize the training scale and apply it every day to your riding, to recognize your success, and to be quicker at rewarding your horse.
Personally, I would like to make a resolution to go on more trail rides.
And I suspect that my horse has made his own resolution – “to be quicker at rubbing my foamy mouth on my owner’s white show breeches.”

Janine Malone, Rosinburg Farm, Zebulon, NC

To add to this dilemma, those without a covered arena also face more down time in the winter months due to weather and limited daylight. I suggest a multi-faceted approach:

• Attend fix-a-test clinics whenever possible so that you can get an evaluation of your riding and a "heads up" on any problems you might be developing without the watchful eye of your instructor.
• Winter is also a good time to study online training videos - which are now available from several companies and feature several excellent instructors.
• Finally, get together with other students of your instructor and organize a clinic with the instructor a few times over the winter.

All of these strategies will help! And you can make a New Year’s resolution to work on the basics. Developing an effective and independent seat will do more to further your riding than anything else.

Anita Quinn, Sunrise Sporthorses, Fuquay Varina, NC

• Riding with friends is a good way to stay tuned up and fix our own personal bad habits. Often just having another eye on the ground is helpful. Leaning too far back, having your hands too high, and raising your heel are all things that most other riders can see, yet we often don’t realize we are doing.
• Audit, audit, audit! Look at your local calendar, pick some clinics hosting clinicians that interest you, and go audit. Most people do not take advantage of this amazing learning opportunity. Auditing is a fabulous way to learn new ideas and exercises, as well as to reconfirm some of the same themes that we hear repeatedly from top riders/trainers, but often in different ways. Besides, auditing is usually cheap or FREE!

Vicki Kelley, Antares Dressage, Aberdeen, NC

Before your trainer goes away, set up a list of exercises to develop both you and your horse. Then have someone videotape your rides, send the tapes to your trainer, and review them together over the phone.
Make a New Year's resolution to keep a training journal to track your progress over the course of the year – it will help to remind you of what both you and your horse have achieved over time.
I always make New Year's resolutions – I focus on setting goals that are realistic for me and my horse, yet push me to keep my skills and training knowledge progressing.

Kathy Rowse, Silverleaf Farm, Suffolk, VA

While it’s a difficult situation, you have to realize that you can’t go the winter without regular instruction. That would be the worst option. Discuss your needs with your instructor and the two of you can agree on other trainers who could temporarily further your goals. Contact the “winter” instructor to request assistance, let them know that you and your trainer felt she/he would be a nice addition to your program. Keep an open mind – their style may be different than you are used to. Remember you can learn a little something from everybody. Try to add it on to what you already know so that you can expand your riding tool box. And while you’re at it, make two New Year’s resolutions:

• Always be fair to your horse – give him the appreciation and respect that he deserves.
• Get in shape – there is nothing better that you can do for your riding and your horse than to be physically fit with a strong core. You can’t do this on a horse; you have to make a commitment off the horse to be fit.

Becky Blikslager, Windcroft Farm, Apex, NC

Exercise your mind and body!

• 100 crunches, jumping jacks, and "girl" push-ups (on your knees) every night before you go to bed. (Build up to this number.)
• Watch DressageClinic.com or DressageTrainingOnline.com at 2 am when hot flashes disturb your rest (or during normal hours when you have spare time).
• Cross train your horse.
• Try the exercises you learn on DressageClinic.com.
• Trailer to the Moss Foundation, Umstead Park, Raven Rock Park or the Tobacco Trail.
• Take a clinic with Linda Hoover.
• Walk and trot up and down inclines at home.
• Rent Man from Snowy River for inspiration.

Make New Year’s Resolutions.

• I have recommended that my own students resolve to bring freshly-made baked goods (with hot chocolate) for AM lessons; and to bring a five-course meal (paired with wines) for PM sessions.
• As for myself, I plan to resolve to cook less, eat more, stay fit by proxy, and refrain from cell phone use while driving, riding, and/or filling water buckets.
• Finally, I have suggested to my horses that they resolve to put their plans for world domination on hold and take their riders seriously.

Kay Meredith, Raleigh, NC

My preferred option would be to pack up yourself and your horse and follow your coach to Florida! But whatever you decide to do, here are two New Year’s resolutions you can make that will help:

• Resolve to perfect your position so you can better communicate to your horse what you want him to do.
• Resolve to study the Directives of every movement in every test you ride so you know what the judges expect.

As for myself, I resolve to work harder to communicate with my students -- and to eat less sugar.
Best of luck for the New Year!