Posts Tagged ‘horse and rider’

Natural horsemanship training techniques are beneficial for the horse and the rider or trainer. Natural horsemanship techniques stress intuitive communication between the horse and its trainer. Such techniques make for a less stressful and more fun experience for each in the long run.

Lowered Expense

Keeping a horse is expensive! Vet bills, food costs, boarding costs, and equipment do not come cheaply. Just as people, plants and other animals tend to have better health if they are not stressed, and worse health if they are stressed, so do horses. Natural horsemanship techniques promote training that works with the horse’s natural communication patterns and instinctive behavior. This assures that the horse will be more at ease during training, less stressed, and thus will likely remain healthier.

Specific natural horsemanship care techniques such as natural hoof care can also reduce expense for vet bills, food and medication. Horses that work barefoot are more sound and less likely to develop diseases such as thrush. The benefits of natural hoof care are realized most when horses are properly fed and exercised.

Better Movement

Horses trained with natural horsemanship techniques are trained to work with their rider and trainer rather than against. The philosophy of natural horsemanship is that horse and rider are a pair and must move in harmony. The pressure and release system of training used in natural horsemanship creates a strong communication link between the horse and rider, which allows even conventionally shown horses to move with more precision, grace and soundness. This higher quality of movement ensures that horses do better at shows, and are more comfortable to work with.

More Fun for All

Horses and humans each suffer from fear if training does not foster understanding and communication. Natural horsemanship puts those fears to rest for horses and riders/trainers. Learning to work one on one with a horse and communicate in “horse language,” or the horse’s natural body language takes some unpredictability out of working with horses. While a person can never completely accurately predict what a horse will do at any given moment, natural horsemanship techniques allow trainers to learn each nuance of their horse’s personality. Everyone knows that pinned ears mean a horse is frightened, but what does that flick of the tail mean with your horse?

Working so closely with the horse will also allow it to get to know its trainer. If the trainer keeps with predictable cues and movements, the horse will learn to trust its trainer fully. With complete trust, the duo can do anything. If a horse trusts its trainer, it will be much more likely to try new things, and remain less stressed in new situations, making riding, showing and training more fun and relaxing for everyone.

More Benefits of Natural Horsemanship

The benefits to becoming part of the natural horsemanship community are endless, for horses and their riders and trainers. To learn more about natural horsemanship, and connect with others practicing the techniques, visit [http://www.aanh.net]

Jeanine Lowry is the President of the American Association of Natural Horsemen. For more information, resources and a community of people practicing natural horsemanship, visit [http://www.aanh.net]

Author: Jeanine Lowry
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Ride your HORSE to MUSIC and solve training issues! Whether you are riding a dressage musical freestyle, or just riding your horse to music, there are TIPS you should know before you start. Over the years, you have told me that the most important thing to you is that you want the RIGHT MUSIC for your HORSE and you WANT TO HAVE FUN!!

You’ve also told me that:
* You want help recognizing the rhythm of your horse’s gaits.
* You can’t maintain a rhythm.
* You and your horse are nervous and you need help relaxing.
* You’re tired of seeing “4″s for loss of rhythm on your dressage tests.
* You’re frustrated because there is no harmony between you and your horse.
* You don’t know what the right tempo is for your horse.
* You don’t know the difference between rhythm and tempo.
* You don’t know what type of music to choose.
* You can’t hear the difference between walk, trot, and canter music.
* You can’t identify the tempo (or BPM) of music.
* You are tired of buying so many CDs when they only have one good song for riding.

Here’s how I got started…

I grew up in a musical family so learning to read music and play various instruments was ingrained into me early in life. But most of all, I’ve always loved listening to music. (I always had the radio on in the barn.)

But riding to music became a necessity when I got a high strung Trakehner gelding to re-train. This horse was so incredibly tense, and fearful that simply trotting in one rhythm was IMPOSSIBLE. Anyhow, one day I was trying to trot around the arena, when a perfectly cadenced Scottish bagpipe march came on the radio. That horse picked up a swinging, rhythmic trot all by himself! AND he was breathing in time to the music. (Yes, I even have two witnesses to this!)

I was completely shocked. After that, I became fascinated with how music affects both the horse and rider, and my quest began. As I developed my business creating musical freestyles, I was time and time amazed at how perfect music could improve and enhance the horse’s movement and the rider’s rhythm! When the music fit the horse and rider, both the quality of the gaits and movements improved. The music enhanced both the artistic aspect and the technical side of the ride. Because rhythm was maintained!

I thought this was AMAZING, so I wanted to learn more…

I was stunned by the things I learned such as:

* Studies show that music affects our physiology. Slow music slows the heartbeat and the breathing rate as well as brings down blood pressure. Faster music speeds up these same functions.
* Listening to your favorite music is good for your cardiovascular system. Researchers have shown that joyful music has a healthy effect on blood vessel function.
* Riding to music increases your endurance and feelings of well-being. Studies show that exercising to music improves endurance by 15% and improve the “feeling states” so, people derive much greater pleasure from exercise. (Those cool endorphins!!)
* Many hospitals use music to treat patients with stress-related illnesses to stimulate the brain and relax the body.
* Music affects both sides of your brain, so whether you are a left-brain logical thinker or a right-brain artistic thinker, music helps you ride better.
* Even animals react differently to various types of music. Given a choice, rats will choose calm classical music over hard rock every time.
* Music can also influence brainwaves. Faster beats make you more alert and slower beats help you relax.
* Music creates a long-lasting change in brainwave activity. That means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening.
* Music filters out background noises so that you and your horse can concentrate better.
* Music acts as an INTERNAL metronome to help you maintain a regular rhythm.
* Music puts you in a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay.

The bottom line is… it’s fun to ride to music! Rhythm and relaxation are essential for EVERYONE including dressage riders, trail riders, hunter riders, and western pleasure riders.

Ruth Hogan Poulsen
http://www.Ruthhoganpoulsen.com
Ruth@Ruthhoganpoulsen.com

Author: Ruth Hogan Poulsen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The ultimate competition in any sport is, of course, the Olympic Games where Equestrian Sports are one of the oldest categories. The horse’s involvement in the Olympics dates back almost 3,000 years. Horse sports were incorporated into the Olympic Games shortly after their initial inception when the four horse chariot race was introduced. In fact when you think of the Olympics, the huge stadium or hippodrome is one of the most powerful images. The word “hippodrome” which describes an open air sports stadium with a track around the edge, comes from the Greek word “hippos” for horse and “dromos” for racecourse. The equestrian events are made up of three disciplines – dressage, show jumping and the three-day event which includes both the other disciplines together with a grueling cross country ride over testing jumps. Each of the disciplines has both an individual and a team competition.

Dressage is often referred to as ‘horse ballet’. It is a training method designed to develop a horse’s natural abilities and responsiveness to instructions from the rider. The original intent was to train the horse to make it easy to ride in any circumstances, and to enhance the horse’s natural gymnastic abilities. The earliest roots of modern dressage go back to very clearly defined sequential training methods used by riding masters in Europe and classical dressage techniques are still viewed as an important part of the sport today.

Show jumping is probably the most commonly recognised of the principal equestrian sports – who has not tried to mentally lift a horse over a huge jump when watching it on TV? Competitions vary in style and type but basically the horse and rider have to follow a prescribed path around the ring, jumping each of the obstacles in turn. Most exciting are the Puissance events where the fences grow ever higher round by round, or the mad dash around the shortened courses when more than one horse has had a clear round and a winner has to be found.

The Cross Country event is both an endurance test, and an examination of the teamwork developed between horse and rider as they make their way around a long and varied course with demanding obstacles. Event horses have to be at the peak of physical fitness as do their riders – they are the decathletes of the equine world. Horses are carefully monitored to ensure that they come to no harm during these events.

Equestrian Sports are one of the very few Olympic events where men and women compete on equal terms. In fact over recent years the number of women competing has dramatically increased with around 80 percent of the competitors now being female. This has brought about many changes in the way the sport is developing. Far more emphasis is being placed on fitness, diet and exercise for both horse and rider, rather than just sheer physical strength. Equestrianism is one of the ultimate in team sports, a horse and rider work together for years to develop their skills, combining grace and delicacy with endurance and strength in a way that no other sport can, it is the only Olympic sport where man and animal are established team-mates on an equal footing as the one cannot take part without the other.

Tane Moores has been riding since a very early age and has long been involved in all things Equestrian. The experience and knowledge gained over many years of involvement in the world of horses is freely shared with anyone who cares to read. Tane writes regularly on Horse Facts and Equestrian Sports at The Easy Equestrian.

Author: Tane Moores
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Often referred to as an “equestrian triathlon” eventing involves a horse and rider combination competing over three phases : dressage, cross country and showjumping. Originally designed as a military test for a charger, eventing now attracts interest from all ages, experiences and walks of life. The aim of eventing is to complete all three phases with the lowest penalty points.

Dressage : The dressage phase is the first test of the competition. Dressage consists of a set sequence of movements within an arena. The test is judged on rhythm, accuracy, balance and the obedience of the horse to it’s rider. It is often a challenge to entice a horse that is fit enough to gallop cross country to perform a precise and calm test – exactly what is required to be listed at the top of your competitors!

Cross Country : Eventing as a sport is most known for it’s cross country phase. Certainly the most popular with competitors and spectators alike, cross country is the ultimate test of endurance, boldness and trust. Horse and rider must gallop over a mapped course of obstacles (often between 20 and 30), arriving across the finish line within a specific time. These obstacles are immovable and solid, often replicating obstacles one would find in nature (logs, ditches, streams) as well as other man made obstacles (jumping cars is not uncommon in the upper levels!). Undoubtedly the most dangerous element in the sport, it can not be emphasised enough the importance of understanding and trust between horse and rider.

Showjumping : Showjumping is the final stage in the competition, the objective being to jump a set course clear and under time. Unlike cross country, showjumping fences are not solid, and are constructed from rails that a horse can knock down as they jump the fence. Often tired, weary and sore from a long gallop cross country, it is often the fittest horse, and not the flashiest or best jumping horse that will finish on top.

When competing in a large event, these elements are conducted over three days. Horses are required to pass a brief vet analysis or trot up which assesses a horse’s soundness and ultimately their ability to compete. Horses presented to vets are traditionally braided and beautifully presented, while the rider is dressed in formal attire. There are 2 trot ups over the course of a three day event – the first before the dressage and the second after cross country.

Eventing is ever increasing in popularity, in Australia and New Zealand as well as worldwide. Many top international riders have chosen to purchase a New Zealand or Australian Thoroughbred. They are arguably the best mount in the business!

To find out more information about eventing horses, go to http://www.nzhorses.com

Author: Ross A Smith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Dressage is the be all and end all of every single event that a competition horse will ever learn to compete in. Considered as the backbone and sole training and guidance technique for the proper suppleness, intelligence, conditioning, and mental awareness of the horse, a dressage routine can rarely be perfected, for this is in the eye of the beholder. The elements and teachings of this art form are evident in everything that makes horse and rider a fluid unit, however, and the competitions based around this discipline are bewilderingly awesome. There are two stages of the dressage discipline played out during the FEI World Equestrian Games, the first being a Grand Prix style exhibit which is stringently patterned and 5 minutes in length per horse and rider team.

During this phase of the competition, one horse and rider team is allowed in the enclosed performance arena at a time. Beginning in the middle of the arena, directly facing the judges, the team will begin a series of precise and technically superior movements which have been predetermined for the event and cannot be altered or changed in any way. The fluid communication between horse and rider should seem motionless, effortless, and seamless during all points of the exercise.

Flying lead changes, pirouettes, and passage are all to be performed flawlessly with seemingly no direction from the rider. To the audience, the horse seems to be dancing about beautifully with no help or guidance at all. In actuality, the rider is expertly controlling the horse through weight shifting, knee pressure, and slight heel directions. At no time should the riders heel come into contact with the horse during this or any dressage exercise. Once the Grand Prix event has been completed and judged, the leaders are entered into the freestyle dressage ring for the ultimate dancing show.

Set to music and choreographed by the rider and or trainer, the freestyle leg of the dressage competition is explosive and amazing, set to the music of choice and performed as a combination of maneuvers which consist of both required movements and motions, and the artistic interpretations of the horse and rider team. A rider who really knows the strengths and most beautiful elements of their talented mount can turn this event into a magical and spellbinding routine. This is compulsory training at its most artistic and expressive level, and is extremely difficult to master.

For more information about the world equestrian games and to find the best world equestrian games housing visit http://weg2010housing.net.

Author: Abbey Dale
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Dressage has long been seen as the most graceful of equestrian events and for good reason. The FEI dressage horses that compete at this level are trained to move gracefully across the arena performing complex maneuvers while the rider appears to give no cues and interferes very little in the actions of the horse.

The FEI rules describe dressage as “the development of the horse into a happy athlete through harmonious education. As a result, it makes the horse calm, supple, loose and flexible, but also confident, attentive and keen, thus achieving perfect understanding with his rider.” Dressage also means “training” in French and when properly trained, the dressage horse is capable of performing a variety of maneuvers while it appears that the rider is really just along for the ride. This level of harmony is best witnessed during the dressage competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games.

There are two types of dressage competitions at the World Equestrian Games. These are the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. During the competition, each horse and rider will perform the same test that consists of specific movements and gaits to be performed at specific points around the arena. The FEI dressage horse will be capable of demonstrating a very high level of achievement and the performance of the horse will match the description of the FEI dressage rules.

Each horse is tested independently before a panel of five judges. Each movement of the test is judged independently as well. The horse and rider team with the highest overall score wins the competition. However, if you really want to see an amazing dressage performance while visiting the FEI World Equestrian Games, then you won’t want to miss the Freestyle competition.

The Freestyle competition allows the rider to create their own pattern and choreograph it to music. There are specific movements that must be completed in the test, but the rider is able to determine when those movements will be performed and they can ride to the music of their choice.

You can witness dressage at nearly every equestrian horse show across the globe, but rarely do you have the opportunity to witness the best dressage horses at work. If you want to see what a truly professional dressage horse looks like, there’s no better place than the FEI World Equestrian Games when riders and horses from around the world come to compete for FEI World Cup in dressage.

The dressage portion of the Alltech 2010 World Equestrian Games will take place September 27th-29th and October 1st, 2010.

For more information about the world equestrian games and to find the best world equestrian games housing visit http://weg2010housing.net.

Author: Abbey Dale
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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I was just wondering what you’d have to do to stop such a horse. I saw one recently and the rider was screaming and shouting for help and the horse was just bolting towards on-coming traffic as fast as it could and I’ve no idea what happened because horse and rider were out of sight in no time at all. So, how would a runaway horse be stopped?

Merriam Webster online defines dressage as “the execution by a trained horse of precision movements in response to barely perceptible signals from its rider.”

In the days of Xenophon 2,500 years ago, dressage was more than a sport and a hobby. At that time the skill of horses in battle and hunting were a determining influence in the outcome of a conflict and the survival of a society.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, horses were a major factor in many crucial battles that shaped the course of history. Just a couple of examples are the battle of Poitiers where Charles Martel finally broke the force of the Moslem invasion of Europe in 732 and the lifting of the Siege of Vienna by the cavalry of Jan Sobieski in 1683 when the Turks had nearly taken the city.

Xenophon, known as a lover of horses and credited with founding the discipline, expressed the guiding principle of dressage in these words: “What the horse does under compulsion…is done without understanding…and there is no beauty in it.”

Maneuvers like the levade and piaffe, when properly performed, enabled riders to create havoc among enemy troops. This teamwork between horse and rider could only be achieved by long and rigorous training. For the best results, the horses had to be trained in such a way that they were not machines dominated by their riders, but proud, courageous animals anxious to perform for love of their riders. A well trained horse could prove more strategic than a dozen foot soldiers in a battle. The sheer psychological impact of these powerful animals was helpful in turning the course of battle. They certainly were a huge help to Cortez in conquering the Aztecs who were so awed by these creatures.

Today, dressage is a refined sport pursued by hundreds of thousands. Its ideal practice is one in which both horse and rider benefit mentally and physically. Consideration of the whole horse greatly enhances dressage training. No amount of long drills and hard training can produce what the combination of technical skill and understanding yield. Fortunate is the horse whose rider pursues technical mastery as well as deep consideration of the horse as a whole.

Bayard Fox has been riding for 70 years on six continents and has ridden enough miles to circle the globe several times. He is owner and founder of Equitours Worldwide Horseback Riding Vacations. He and his wife also own the Bitterroot Dude Ranch where they raise and train Arabian horses.

Author: Bayard R Fox
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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