Tag Archives: horse

Professional Rider

Rider Fitness Tips: 5 Top Tips to help Rider Balance and Posture

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5 Top Fitness Tips to help Rider Balance and Posture: Whatever you do off the horse, your muscles will remember when you’re on the horse. Start making a difference now!

Whatever discipline you follow with your horse: Make a difference to how you ride by improving your balance and posture.  It is as important to a top professional trainer as to the grass roots rider and will make a difference to how you ride.

Horse Scout Blogger is on the case: Being fit, independently of riding, mucking out, poo picking etc. will boost your riding and make things a whole lot easier for you and your horse. Your riding gets a boost from performing a regular exercise regimen at least twice per week, but you can also do little things in between to enhance your fitness.

  1. Walk instead:  walk just a little bit further when you are going shopping or to the office.  Park further away than usual, park your car away from the entrance and take a brisk walk to the door.
  2. Avoid the lift: Walking up even a single flight of stairs puts equestrians’ thighs and calves to work. Walk the stairs briskly and get a mini-aerobic workout, too. Doing two at a time is even better.  Lucinda Green’s top tip!
  3. A balance in life is one thing but balance is critical for success in equestrian sports. Develop balance every day by standing on one leg, then the other for 10 to 15 seconds whenever you’re brushing your teeth, having your coffee or whenever else the opportunity presents itself. Lightly grip a convenient surface (your shopping trolley in the queue for instance), until you can progress to doing this with no surface support.
  4. Don’t slouch: Good posture is critical for balance in the saddle, and for getting the long, lean look that catches judges’ eyes. But don’t just sit up straight in the saddle; do it at your desk and the dinner table, and walk with good posture, too. For those of us who are office bound there is a seat balance cushion….brilliant invention (if a bit prickly!).
  5. Your muscles have a memory and when it comes to posture and balance, whatever you do off the horse to help balance and posture, your muscles will remember when you’re on the horse.
Horses For Sale

A very useful Horse Sales Contract Template

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HORSE PURCHASE CONTRACT

 

 

This agreement is made the _______ day of _______________ 20__

 

Between: ________________________________________________________

(the “Seller”)

Whose address is: _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

 

And: ________________________________________________

(the “Purchaser”)

 

Whose address is: _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

 

Covering the sale of the horse known as: _______________________________

(the “Horse”)

 

Passport No: _____________________________________________________

 

Freezemark No: ___________________________________________________

 

Microchip No: _____________________________________________________

 

Height: ______________________________________________________

Colour: _____________________________________________________

Sex: _____________________________________________________

Age: _____________________________________________________

 

For the sale price of £ ______________________________________________

(the “Price”)

  1.  The Seller hereby warrants that they are the legal owner of the Horse and has the right to sell the Horse.
  2. The Seller declares that the Horse’s details above are accurate and true. The Seller declares that the details given in the sale advert (see below) are accurate and true: (Insert the advert published of the horse for sale here.)
  3. The Seller declares that the following oral statements made to the Purchaser are accurate and true:(Insert any oral statements or claims made by the Seller affecting the decision of the Purchaser to purchase the Horse.)
  4. The Seller declares that the Horse has exhibited no stable vices or behavioural problems whilst in their care, except as detailed below.(Insert any known stable vices or behavioural problems here.)
  5. The Seller declares that the Horse’s vaccinations for flu and tetanus are up-to-date.The Seller declares that the following additional items are the legal property of the Seller and are included within the Price.(Insert any tack and equipment included in the sale price here)
  6. The Seller declares that to the best of their knowledge the Horse has no unsoundness or health problems that would make the Horse unfit for general riding work.
  7. The Seller makes no warranties or representations whatsoever regarding future fitness and performance of the Horse.
  8. Upon receipt of a deposit of £ _____ from the Purchaser, the Seller shall issue a dated receipt to the Purchaser and agrees not sell the Horse to another party for a period of one week.
  9. The Purchaser has the right to arrange at their own cost a pre-purchase veterinary examination and the Seller agrees to make the Horse available for such.
  10. Such pre-purchase veterinary examination shall be carried out within one week of payment of the deposit.
  11. Should the Horse fail the pre-purchase examination the Purchaser has the right to terminate this Agreement with immediate effect and upon such termination the deposit shall be repaid to the Purchaser.
  12. Upon acceptance of any pre-purchase veterinary examination, or where the Purchaser has waived the right to a pre-purchase veterinary examination, the Purchaser agrees to pay to the Seller the balance £ _____ for the Horse within one week of the deposit being paid.
  13. Should the Purchaser fail to pay the balance within one week of the date of deposit, the Seller has the right to terminate this Agreement whereupon the Purchaser shall forfeit the deposit paid.
  14. Upon payment of the balance, the Seller shall provide the Purchaser with a dated receipt for payment and hand over the Horse’s passport to the Purchaser.
  15. Upon payment of the Price in full the Horse shall become the property of the Purchaser.The Purchaser agrees that they will arrange for removal of the horse from the Seller’s premises at their own cost within 2 days of payment of the Price in full.
  16. This Agreement shall be governed by the law of England and Wales/Scotland*.* Delete as appropriate.

 

Signed: ____________________________________________________

(The “Seller”)

 

Date: __________________________

 

Signed: _____________________________________________________

(The “Purchaser”)

 

Date: __________________________

 

Horses For Sale

Be a Brilliant Buyer – And your Professional Trader will find you a perfect partner.

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Be a Brilliant Buyer – And your Professional Trader will find you a perfect partner.

The advantages of buying form a professional Trader is that their reputation rides with you. Top Tips for making right decisions when buying a horse.

Many of Horse Scouts Professional Trainers and riders also sell horses. Generally they buy in or breed horses which they train and compete before selling on. Sometimes they do the same with horses owned by sponsors or clients. This is true across all disciplines, Eventing, Showjumping, Dressage, Showing and Endurance etc. This is part of their business.   Their skill is in being able to make the most of a horse, to optimise its potential at whatever level. You can be sure that a young horse will have had the best start to its training, a horse with competitive potential will have been carefully progressed and given the right opportunities and in the case of rehabilitation or retraining a horse will be back on track and ready to go on to lead a happy useful life.

When horses do well in their competitive arena (or, if they are new to the discipline or young, they will be gaining experience at grass roots level) with a top trainer on board, their successes are a reflection of the trainers skill and reputation. Horses which are bought to the market fit for purpose help a professional trader build a reputation and repeat custom. It is not in the interest of a professional rider to produce horses which are going to fail to support their business by being suitable for purpose.   Professional riders have the skill and experience to ride all sorts of different horses and know how to ensure that each horse is given a prgramme which is right for them.

However as a buyer you also have responsibilities to ensure that a Professional Trader can help you make the right choice when buying a horse.

When you look through the Horses for Sale listings on a site like Horse Scout you certainly have a lot of good horses to choose from.

However, it is fair to say that buyers have an obligation to honestly represent their skill level, the accommodations they can offer a horse, and their intentions to the seller they are contacting.

There are certainly an infinite number of tales that illustrate less than ideal partnerships but to be fair to the sellers it can come down to the failure of the buyers to asses their own situation or communicate honestly with the seller. Remember that no horse is ever “finished.” They are sensitive creatures that continue to learn new behaviors throughout their lives. A novice horse person can inadvertently “undo” professional training faster than a terrier will snatch and swallow the family hamster. Here are some thoughts about buyers responsibilities.

  1. If you make an appointment to go look at a horse, don’t leave the seller hanging by not turning up. If you can’t make it for some reason, or will be later than scheduled, call your seller. It’s the polite thing to do, after all.
  2. If the horse’s price is more than you want to spend, ask the seller whether it’s negotiable before you make an appointment. If the seller says no, you won’t be wasting your time or his.
  3. Bring your hard hat, and wear appropriate clothing and footwear for riding. Do not assume to wear spur of to carry a whip.
  4. You can ask if it’s okay to bring your own saddle. A seller would need to be sure your saddle is in good repair (intact tree, leather not weak or rotten, etc), and that it fits the horse you are trying. This provides two advantages. You’ll be using tack that’s familiar, and you’ll know whether your saddle fits the horse you’re considering.
  5. Turn your cell phone off while you are trying a horse. It’s rude to take the seller’s time with personal calls and a suddenly ringing phone may frighten the horse.
  6. Do not bring your dog. Many farms have their own dogs, and the sellers won’t appreciate the disruption of yours running around. Also, your dog may chase or injure the seller’s horses, or other animals.
  7. If you have small children and plan to include them, bring along someone to mind the kids while you concentrate on the horse. Unattended children with horses can be extremely dangerous.
  8. Be honest about your abilities and level of riding. If you have an ethical seller, he will want to sell you a suitable horse. If your seller is an experienced horse person, he’ll know pretty quickly how adept you are by watching you with his horse, so don’t fudge; it’s not worth it.
  9. A horse is an individual and frequently develops a relationship with the person who rides it most often. If your seller rides the horse first and the horse seems very well trained, don’t be disappointed if the horse doesn’t perform quite as well when you get on. Even subtle differences in riding technique can produce very different responses from the horse. It may just be a matter of time and a little professional help before you and your new horse become a team.
  10. Don’t be surprised if the seller wants you to begin in a small area, like a paddock or round pen. He may want to assess your skills, for your own safety and for that of the horse. However, be wary of a seller who doesn’t offer a larger area (a ring, arena or pasture) once he’s comfortable with your abilities. Dishonest sellers know that a horse may be fine in a round pen but will bolt for the hills in a open pasture.
  11. Ask the seller about the horse’s daily routine and feeding schedule. A horse that is turned out every day and is eating grass or a little hay could turn into an entirely different horse if you buy it, keep it in a stall and feed it grain. Ask your seller about the level of activity the horse is accustomed to; is it ridden every day, every week, once a month? If you buy a horse that has been worked regularly, but you plan to ride once a month, your horse may not be as easy to handle after a month of leisure. Conversely, if the horse goes from being ridden once a month to your enthusiastic regime of five days a week, the horse may become sore (as you probably will). You’ll go home and relax in your hot tub. Your new horse might buck, rear, kick, toss its head, or refuse to move because that’s the only way it has to indicate pain.
  12. Take note of the bridle and bit used by your seller. Consider buying something similar if the horse works well and seems relaxed.
  13. If you are shopping for a horse for your child, its looks, cosmetic blemishes and color should be the least important factors in choosing. Look for an older horse, and plan to spend more.

Your seller might ask you:

Details of your experience with horses

What sort of support you’ll have; for example, a trainer, a very experienced friend, riding lessons, etc

Horse Riding Tips

Top tips for a work out warm down for your horse

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With the competition season on track and the weather warming up (promise it will….soon) Horse Scout Blogger has been thinking about the warm down after your horse has worked. Just like you he will be warm, his heart rate and respiration rate will be elevated. No matter what the season, when horses work hard they produce heat and sweat. Properly cooling down your horse will ensure he stays sound and healthy. A daily workout for your horse probably consists of four separate periods: warm-up, active conditioning or schooling, warm-down, and cool-down.

During warm weather training, the warm-down and cool-down periods are especially important because horses may be hot from conditioning exercises. The warm-down is the steady reduction in exercise intensity and usually consists of 5 to 10 minutes of low-intensity exercise that culminates in a relaxed walk. While horses will invariably sweat less as athletic effort decreases, the importance of a warm-down is more than skin deep. Foremost is the redistribution of blood within the body. When a horse is exercising, oxygenated blood is carried to the hardworking skeletal muscles, and other organs of the body receive slightly less blood than they normally do during periods of rest. As the warm-down period extends, more blood is allocated to those organs and less to skeletal muscle.

The cool-down is distinct from the warm-down period. The warm-down, as mentioned previously, occurs when mounted and ends with a relaxed walk on a loose rein. The primary objective of the cool-down is to prevent overheating following dismounting. The horse should be untacked immediately to allow maximum heat dissipation, and should be moved to a covered or shaded area with as much air movement as possible. One of the most common methods of cooling a horse in hot and humid environments includes spraying or sponging with cool water. Body-wide application of cool water is acceptable during normal summer weather when temperatures are between 80°-100°F. The most strategic points for effective cooling include the underside of the neck and barrel, and the inside of all four legs. Drinking water can be offered to the horse once cooling has begun, which is determined by a reduction in body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate.

Allowing a few swallows every few minutes during the cool-down helps the horse replace water lost during exercise. Horses should be encouraged to drink their fill. When your horse sweats on a daily basis, even in cold weather, it is best to provide a supplemental electrolyte. Electrolytes replace the minerals lost in sweat and encourage drinking, which reduces the risk of dehydration and muscle disorders.

Proper care of a horse following a ride signifies sound horsemanship as well as a healthy dose of respect for your horse.

 

Stallions

Pure Arab Stallions – Horse Scout Stallion Listings

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Are you looking for an Arab Stallion this season?

Horse Scout has four pure bred Arab stallions on its lists.

In 2010 Silver Zenif, who stands in Badminton Gloustershire, was awarded 8.75 at The Grange, Futurity Grading Show for endurance young stock in 2010. Silver Zenif won the regional qualifier and was awarded joint 2nd nationally by Endurance GBIn 2013 Silver Zenif was awarded 2nd place at the Wales & West Arab Show qualifying for the Crabbet National Championships. He attended the National Arab Show at Malvern and came 5th out of 12 stallions in the Crabbet Championships. Silver Zenif was the top 100% Crabbet Stallion at the Show. Silver Zenif also represented the ?Hanif? family group at the World Crabbet Convention at Addington Manor in July. Zenif had a great finish to 2013 by completing the Endurance GB Cotswold Group Training Ride at Barbury Castle in December and commenced his Novice season in 2014 with Endurance GB achieving a grade 1 at his first event. Silver Zenif has started his unaffiliated dressage and SJ career and featured in the B&W Equine Stallion Parade at West Wiltshire Arena on 14/02/2015. Silver Zenif sired his first part-bred bay filly foal Golden Zarifah by AI to Advanced endurance mare Mrs Katie Doyle, whom we hope will follow Zenif’s success at the BEF Futurity grading in the future. The first 100% Crabbet foal is due in Scotland during 2015 in addition to numerous foals due in New Zealand.

R Ali Bey a (USA) Black Arabian stallion. Registered with the AHS (Arab Horse Society) Phoenix Field Arabians hold the only EU Frozen AI licence for R Ali Bey who now resides at a private stud in Spain Stud fee £400 pure bred Arab mares £300 all other breeds. His proven progeny include:

Maarhabi FEI 2* endurance gelding 2015

Ali Shamahl Open endurance gelding 2015 & BEF futurity for endurance higher first premium gelding 2010

Shahlisha Open endurance mare 2015

Ali Shaheen Novice endurance gelding 2015

Ali Shahrif BEF futurity leading endurance foal 2011,

higher first premium gelding Shahkeira BEF futurity leading endurance foal 2013

LHP Esther’s Caazino, a well bred colt 74.87% Crabbet Arab, consistently place as a yearling, and in his 2 year old season. He starts his 3 year old season in april ’15, being broken in 2015 for his début under saddle in 2016. Yearling season had a championship and reserve champion with the Wessex Arab Horse Group and many placings in the top 3. 2 year season had a reserve reserve champion of Great Britain with the international show society at there Royal London show and reserve champion 3rd generation British bred at the British Arabian championship and many placings in the top 3 will be standing at stud in Hampshire

Sisyrinchium is a Pure bred Arab stallion, the product of five generations of breeding at Biddesden, tracing in his pedigree to our two foundation mares Starilla and Dafinetta who came to Biddesden from the Crabbet Stud in the 1930s. Sisyrinchium is a son of Dhruv, a well known stallion in the Show ring and famous sire of endurance stock. He was successful in the Show Ring as a young horse and went on to a career under saddle culminating in being chosen as Champion Pure Bred Stallion under saddle at the Arab Horse Society Show at Malvern. Following the lead of his sire Sisyrinchium has had important winning progeny in Endurance. He stands in Hampshire.

Horse Jobs

Dream Job Working With Horses? Make sure you know the answers to the right questions.

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Looking for work in the horse world? Having been on both sides of the fence Horse Scout Blogger knows just how it’s not just an interviewer who needs to know about you. You need to know about the job. And both of you need to know you are the right person for that job, by establishing expectations and measuring this against experience.

 

Having been contacted by a prospective employer or when searching for a job make sure you do your research.  Find out as much as you reasonably can about the yard where you will be working and your employers.  If they are professional riders they will have a track record and more than likely a website, and social profiles.  Make sure that their line of work suits you, it sounds obvious but if you want to show ponies don’t apply to be a jockey!

 

Top Tips to make sure you get the most perfect job you can.

 

  1. Be honest about your experience
  2. Be honest about your ability
  3. Be open abut your expectations

 

Ask questions about the things which are important to you

 

  1. What are your duties
  2. What are your hours
  3. Speak to other members of staff if you can

 

Understand the job you are applying for by finding out

 

  1. The employers expectations
  2. Your level of responsibility
  3. Who you speak to if you have problems
  4. Will you be in sole charge
  5. If it is a live in position make sure you see your accommodation
  6. Find out about transport links if you do not have your own transport or a car is not available
  7. Ask about the horses you will be riding, grooming handling
  8. Ask about pay, sick pay, time off and holidays
  9. What insurances are in place in case of accidents
  10. Who pays for PPE equipment, is there an equipment allowance

 

Other things which both employers and employees need to consider are:

 

  1. Pets
  2. What are normal hours and what is considered overtime
  3. Probation period and payment terms
  4. Working towards accreditation and the implications for both employer and groom
  5. Use of own vehicle; fuel and upkeep for business use
  6. Visiting friends/family (if it is a live in position)

 

Both parties should consider a period of consideration before accepting offering a job to a candidate.

 

Are you looking for work? Horse Scout professionals often have a STAFF REQUIRED badge against their profiles you can click through and contact them directly.  If you are looking for work riders or grooms then check out Horse Scouts specialist pages here. or look below at two grooms listed on our pages who are looking for placements at the moment.

Experienced freelance groom available for yard cover and competitions. Kirsty Borriello, from New Zealand is presently in Wiltshire and has worked extensively with international eventers, show jumpers and dressage horses. She confirms, in her Horse Scout listing, that she can turn out to a high standard and is happy to work as part of a team or on her own. 

17 year old Tori Owen, is looking for a live in position says she has been working with horses since a young age and that her forte is producing horses to compete in show jumping. She writes that she is a very hard worker and love what I do. 

Horses For Sale

Freelance? BUDGET 2015: HOW IT AFFECTS YOU

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Here are some budget smilers for all our Horse Scout Freelancers. A Budget that “works for you”,  Some measures announced by the chancellor will take effect relatively soon, so what do these announcements mean for your finances?

The key changes that are likely to affect Freelancers are:

1. Annual Tax Returns are to be abolished and be replaced with real-time online accounts – a simplified system (that will make life easier for freelancers)

2. National Insurance to be abolished for under 21’s and Apprentices as of April 5th

3. Fuel duty will be frozen – good news if you drive many miles to get to your clients

4.The Personal Tax Free Allowance to increase to £10,800 next year and £11,000 year after – this means you will not pay any tax until you reach this threshold – especially good news for low earners as it will result in more money in your pocket.

5.The National Minimum Wage will increase by 20p an hour to £6.70 from October. The statutory minimum for 18 to 20-year-olds will also go up by 3% from October, from £5.13 to £5.30, and by 2% for 16 and 17-year-olds, taking the rate to £3.87.

6.There will be a further increased focus on tax avoidance with new criminal offenses for those that avoid paying taxes.

7. And for those party grooms ….Beer duty will be cut, with 1p off a pint. Cider and spirits duty will be cut by 2%.

Horse Riding Tips

KEY FACTS – BEF BASIC BIOSECURITY INFORMATION SHEET in respect of transmittable Equine Herpes Virus

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Its Spring time, more horses are out and about, travelling around the country and meeting in groups.  Last year there were cases of Equine Herpes Virus reported in Southern UK.  It is good to know what you are looking for.

To safeguard the horse population within an establishment the British Equestrian Federation recommend that the following basic steps are taken:

You should also be aware of disease prevention, identification and hygiene procedures.

Vital Health Signs

The following are a set of vital signs for the normal healthy horse and appropriate examinations for general health:

ü  Temperature 36.5-38.5C

ü  Breathing rate 8-15 breaths/min

ü  Heart rate 25-45 beats/min

ü  Look for eye or nose discharges

ü  Observe how the horse is standing

ü  Check for consistency and number of droppings

ü  Check consumption from water buckets and feed bowl

ü  Assess horse’s general demeanour

We recommend good records are kept in the yard diary and that rectal temperatures are taken twice daily (asit is a very good indicator of disease)

Biosecurity

  1. Isolate new arrivals for a period of 10 days or introduce horses from properties with a known high health status only. Isolate and pay particular attention to horses from sales /competition complexes, from unknown mixed population yards and those that have used commercial horse transport servicing mixed populations.
  2. Verify the vaccine status of new arrivals.
  3. Keep records of horse movements so that contacts can be traced in the event of a disease outbreak.
  4. Regularly clean and disinfect stables between inmates and also clean and disinfect equipment and horse transport between journeys. Remember to remove as much organic material as possible before disinfection.
  5. Maintain good perimeter security for your premises and maintain controlled access for vehicles and visitors.
  6. Ensure that everyone understands the hygiene principles and thereby do not pass disease to horses at other premises
  7. Eliminate the use of communal water sources. Instruct staff not to submerge the hose when filling water buckets
  8. Horse specific equipment (feed and water buckets, head collars etc) should be clearly marked as belonging to an individual horse and only be used on that horse.
  9. Any shared equipment (lead ropes, bits/bridles, Chiffneys, twitches, thermometers, grooming kits etc) should be cleaned of organic debris and disinfected between horses.
  10. Equipment that cannot be properly disinfected (like sponges or brushes) should not be shared between horses.
  11. Cloth items such as stable rubbers, towels, bandages etc should be laundered and thoroughly dried between each use disinfectant may have to be used as part of the rinse cycle, e.g., Virkon.
  12. Isolate horses at the first sign of sickness until an infectious or contagious disease has been ruled out.
  13. Contact your veterinary surgeon if any of your horses show clinical signs of sickness.
  14. Do not move sick horses except for isolation, veterinary treatment or under veterinary supervision. Attend to sick horses last (i.e., feed, water and treat) or use separate staff.
  15. Provide hand washing facilities and hand disinfection gel for everyone handling groups of horses and provide separate protective clothing and footwear for those handling and treating sick horses.
  16. The isolation/quarantine unit should have a changing area for staff so that clothing and footwear worn in the restricted area are not worn elsewhere.
  17. Barrier clothing, waterproof footwear and disposable gloves should be used when working with sick and in-contact horses and after use they should be disposed of or laundered and disinfected.
  18. When using disinfectants, always follow the instructions on the label. Select a Defra approved disinfectant and chose from the general order disinfectants that have documented effectiveness in the presence of 10% organic matter, works in the water hardness of the locale and is safe to use in the environment of horses and people. www.archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/control/disinfectants.htm
  19. Stables, mangers and yards should be kept clean, free of standing water and thoroughly scrubbed and cleansed with an appropriate detergent/disinfectant after use and then allowed to dry.
  20. Take care when using pressure washers as those set at greater than 120psi can produce aerosols that spread infectious agents through the air.
  21. This document was compiled by The BEF and World Class Programme they have passed their thanks on to Clive Hamlyn MRCVS and the National Trainers Federation www.racehorsetrainers.org for their help in producing this document.
Jumping

Making the right shapes in the show jumping arena – 8 different approaches to perfecting your horses jumping.

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Horse Scout Blogger has been contemplating show jumps this weekend.  Each type of jumps asks for a subtly different approach and energy.  In order to feel confident in the arena it’s a good idea to understand what question each style is asking of your horse and also its important to teach your horse how to jump the different fences to improve your show jumping.

1.  Ground poles

Really boost your horse’s bascule by using ground poles to create a wider fence base – he’ll instinctively know what to do. Without a ground line a fence becomes more advanced, drawing your horse in close, making it harder for him to jump well and get his legs out of the way in time.

You can also make a V-shape with ground poles before fences to channel your horse’s energy on approach, helping produce a much better jump.

2. Cross-poles

A great warm-up and schooling fence, cross-poles help your horse start to open up and use his shoulders. The V-shape encourages him to come centrally to the fence, tuck his knees neatly up and to look at what he’s being asked to jump. The taller the cross-pole, the more it will improve his action, as he works those shoulders and really lifts up.

3. Vertical

A vertical (or upright) is made of poles in the same vertical plane, and encourages your horse to make a taller, rounder shape in his jump. The take-off and landing spots will be the same distance away from the fence, so your horse will make quite a steep shape into it, lifting his shoulders higher vertically and tucking his forelegs up and away quite quickly.

4. Fillers

Fillers are great for getting a round shape in your horse’s jump, and by creating an illusion of solid colour he’ll really look at what he’s facing. They’re great for a bold horse because they demand respect, but if he’s lacking in confidence, fillers can make a fence harder to ride.

5. Planks

Planks work the same way as a vertical, creating a tall, steep jump shape, but they’re easier to knock down as they sit on flat cups. Planks create a more solid-looking fence, so your horse may back off a bit, and even produce a bigger jump, and as they tend not to have a ground line, they’ll draw him in quite deep, so he needs a more powerful jump to clear them!

6. Triple bar

Made with three poles of ascending height, triple bars create a longer, more open jump. Your horse really has to stretch and lift his front end to clear them, and they can be challenging when linked with other fences. Because their width requires more power, your horse will come deeper into the fence before take-off and land further out than normal, so if you’re working out your strides to the next fence keep this in mind.

7. Oxer

Two parallel vertical fences form an oxer, creating a spread that gets horses up in the air, producing a rounder, more equal shape than a triple bar encourages with take-off and landing spots the same distance from the fence. Because of the power your horse uses to push himself up and over, he may run on a little on landing, or lack energy because he used it up in the air.

8. Liverpool Oxer

A Liverpool is a vertical or oxer with a ditch or large tray of water underneath. The tray makes your horse look at the fence (which can cause his head and neck to drop as he approaches) then encourages him to get up in the air, creating a large, round jump.place the tray in front of the fence and it mimics the effect of a triple bar, encouraging a wider, more open jump which rises gradually. Place the tray under the fence or out behind it and your horse will draw deep into the fence, producing a more upright take-off and more reach as he lands. If you don’t have a water tray, you can create the same effect by laying something on the ground beneath a fence such as a rug.

This great advice comes from show jumper Mia Korenika who explains how different fences and elements can help your horse become a more athletic, careful jumper.  Use this link to check out her facebook page.

 

Professional Rider

8 TIPS TO STAYING COOL & CALM IN THE COMPETITION ARENA

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Horse Scout Blogger was speaking with a rider coming up to their first competition level hike. At home they have been performing well and are well prepared in terms of ability and focus and will do well if our rider focuses on what the horse needs from him……The BIGGEST secret to you performing at your best, when it counts the most, is learning how to keep yourself CALM and COMPOSED. If you allow yourself to get too nervous or too excited right before or during a competition, then your muscles will tighten up, you’ll lose your confidence and your riding will go right down the tubes!

This is what it means to CHOKE! The rider gets so nervous that he/she ends up performing tight and tentatively — a mere shadow of your normal self and this will affect your horses performance to as he picks up on your tension.

THE REAL CAUSE OF OUT OF CONTROL NERVOUSNESS

Runaway, pre-competition nervousness can come from a lot of different sources: how good the other contestants are; the level at which you are competing; how important a competition is; how big the crowd is (and possibly more important to you – who in it is watching you; whether you’ll ride well today and win; How will the going be; Will you remember your test/course/timings— the list goes on and on.

While there are many things about your competitions that can potentially make you nervous, the true cause of your performance-disrupting nervousness isn’t any of the things that I’ve just mentioned above. The real cause of your out-of-control nerves is you! That’s right! YOU make YOURSELF nervous!

What I’m saying here is very important — It’s not what’s happening around or outside of you that makes you nervous. It’s what’s happening INSIDE that is the real cause of stress!

So it is important to take on board: It’s not the size, skill level or reputation of the competition arena that makes you nervous. It’s what you say to yourself about them in the days, hours and minutes leading up to the competition that’s the real culprit in sending your heart rate and blood pressure through the roof! Nervousness is always caused by our inner response to the things that are going on outside of us. But here’s the good news about that: If YOU make yourself nervous, then YOU have the ability to change your inner response to calm yourself down under competitive pressure.

Most riders who get too nervous to ride well do so because of what they focus on and think about as the day approaches. They worry about how well they’ll ride, what people may think or say about them, etc. Focusing on any or all of these things will guarantee that your stress level will go through the attic and your performance will get stuck in the cellar! To stay calm under pressure, you must learn to go into competitions with a completely different headset and focus. I

 

What you need is a game plan;  a game plan is a series of little mental goals that you want to bring into the performance with you. If you follow this game plan, it will guarantee that you’ll stay calm and relaxed when you perform. Remember, being your best when it counts the most is all about being loose right before and during your competitions.

 

Leading up to your performance –

1. KEEP YOUR CONCENTRATION IN THE “NOW”

Train yourself to keep your focus in the NOW — especially during your performance! This means that leading up to the performance, you don’t want to think about and focus on the upcoming competition and its importance. If you want to stay loose and relaxed, you must learn to keep your concentration in the now. When you’re in the action, you want to focus on one present-moment play at a time.

2. RECOGNIsE WHEN YOUR FOCUS “TRAVELS” AND BRING YOURSELF BACK

Concentrating on what is happening now and reacting to that is key. Whilst you have to anticipate your next move you must live in the now in order function from a position of strength. If your focus moves to reflect on what has happened or you start imagining the future bring your focus back.

3. KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON YOU, YOUR JOB AND YOUR PLAY

Allowing your focus to drift to anyone or anything other than you and your horse will quickly make you feel nervous. Staying focused on you and your job will keep you calm and confident.

4. DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF WITH OTHERS! Comparison will always make you too nervous to play at your best.

5. HAVE FUN – Enjoy your job

Enjoying your performance and appreciating what is going well is the secret ingredient to staying calm and doing your best when the heat of competition is turned up high. When fun goes, so will all of your skills.

6. LEAVE YOUR GOALS AT HOME

One of the biggest tension-inducing mental mistakes that you can make as an competitor is to take your goals with you into the competition. Focusing on what you need to achieve will make you too nervous to perform well and, ironically, cause you never to reach them. Instead, leave your goals at home and keep your focus in the action, on “this” movement, this turn, this half halt.

7. KEEP YOUR MIND DISTRACTED BEFORE AND AFTER GAMES

Thinking gets most performers into trouble and makes them nervous. While you can’t really stop yourself from thinking, you can purposely distract yourself from it. So, in the days and minutes leading up to a big performance or tournament, keep busy. Do not allow yourself a lot of free time to think. If you are going through your test or riding the course in your mind. Think about HOW you re riding each movement or jump etc not how difficult its going to be.

8. KEEP YOUR FOCUS OF CONCENTRATION AWAY FROM THE “UNCONTROLLABLES”

There are a lot of things that happen in your sport that you do not have direct control over. Any time an competitor focuses on an “uncontrollable” (UC), they will get really nervous, lose their confidence and ride badly. So make a list of all of the things about this upcoming competition that you can’t directly control. For example, the officiating; the crowd; the future, such as the outcome, how well you’ll ride, winning or losing; how you are feeling that day; other people’s expectations; etc., and post the list in a highly visible. Keep in mind that these UCs are mental traps. They are lying in wait for you and every other competitor in that competition. Concentrate on the things over which you do have control.

Remember, if you really want to ride well, you have to stay loose and relaxed. To do this, focus on executing this GAME PLAN!

GoodLuck