Past Article:

Timing

Timing is everything. If you are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing, it’s amazing what can happen. How often in life has timing mattered.  Sometimes it is only later that the effect of the timing of an event is realized

5 Key Points Where Timing Matters in Riding:

• Listen to your instincts: They will tell you when the timing is right. Riding is a high-risk sport - there will be accidents - it’s part of the course with a physical sport involving an unpredictable 1500lb animal. However if you listen to your instincts you will be surprised how accurate they are. If you don’t feel it is right to get on your young horse or jump a certain jump then don’t. Wait!! The right time will come.

• Listen to your horse:  This involves knowing what he is saying. Learn to read and understand his body language. Study the conformation and movement of your horse to determine the right time.

• Listen to your trainer: As a trainer I can tell when the rider and horse are ready. I will ask the rider if they are ready. Next, I listen to their response.  Maybe they say, “I can’t yet.” That’s OK, I respect the trust they put in me and respect their feelings. 

• Take small steps to achieving your goal: Learning for both horse and rider is best achieved in small progressive building blocks. 

• Consolidate learning to build a strong foundation: You may have to repeat a lesson several times before you can guarantee you and your horse have understood.

Rhythm

Rhythm is the second step in the training scales. Look at any dressage test and count how many times rhythm is mentioned in the directives. Rhythm is divided into two parts – the regularity and the speed of the rhythm. The rhythm should be a constant beat. The walk is a four beat marching rhythm. The trot is a two beat.  The canter is three beat. Galloping is four beat. Rein back is two beat.

What is the correct rhythm?

If too fast:

• Breathing is shallow – lungs are not fully used.

• Increased joint impact.

• Loss of balance and self-carriage

If too slow:

• The horse never gets any more fit.

• More likely to trip and injure him/herself and/or the rider.

How to Develop Rhythm:

• Visually- watch your horse on the lunge or in the round pen or with another rider.

• Audibly- close your eyes or look away and listen to the footfalls.

• Vocally- count the rhythm either in your head or out loud.

How do you know when you have asked too much and the rhythm is lost?

Do you know when your horse is saying "Yes I can", "No I can’t", "No I can’t yet", or 'No I won’t"?

Having a successful relationship with your horse and the achieving of your goals depends on taking the time to study your horse’s conformation and muscle development, and learning his/her language. Listen, take small steps and consolidate each step before moving on and you will have a safe successful relationship with your horse.

• When circling  stay square in the saddle and be aware of the outside aids.

• Close your eyes and feel your horse's rhythm.

• When jumping the approach should be onto the tangent line to the fence.

• Self-carriage means the horse has to learn to carry himself.

• If you are not able to see your stride into the fence, say canter, canter before during and after the fence.

• When you change the rein, change the aids first and then the bend and then the diagonal.

• The turn to the center line is part of the arc of a circle. Think about your tangent points.

• The canter sequence loosens the horse and improves the quality of the trot.

• Make sure that you have enough of a bend in your joints to absorb the horse's movement.

• Working without stirrups can be at the walk.