Summer Camp

With summer just around the corner, it is a great time to be thinking about horse camp! Kids of all ages enjoy spending the summer around horses. When I was a child, I attended many camps with horses, and I learned a lot about discipline, safety, and hard work. Most horse camps have about ten to fourteen kids per week, and there are usually two to three qualified instructors.

Some of the things taught in horse camp are grooming, riding, bareback, games, and safety. One of the kid's favorite things to do is bathe the horses. The horses usually enjoy this process too because it cools them off after a long ride. The games on horseback include capture the flag, four corners, and simon says. The games build teamwork skills among the kids and also provide a break from the hard work of lessons.

At the end of camp, there is usually an in-barn horse show for the parents to see the progress that the kids have made during the week. The kids like to dress the horses up for the show, and it is often an exciting and creative event.

Dressage

Most of my equestrian experience involves jumping, but there is another style of English riding that deserves recognition. The type of riding that I am referring to is called dressage. The essential purpose of dressage is to develop a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform. This process involves a high degree of dedication and training methods between a horse, rider, and trainer. Dressage is sometimes called horse ballet. A perfect dressage horse appears relaxed and effortless while responding to the rider with amazing finesse and grace.

The video that is included in this post is absolutely breathtaking. Make sure to watch it with the sound turned on. Even though it appears that the rider is not doing anything, I assure you he is performing dozens of slight and invisible commands to his horse. A few of the ways that he is communicating to his horse include: a small amount of leg pressure encouraging the horse to move a certain way, a shift in his weight causing the horse to bend, and a steady pull on the rein allowing the horse to change his gait in an instant.

Watch this video and be amazed...

Learning to Canter

Everyone that rides horses likes to go fast. The feeling of speed while on the back of a horse is exhilarating and rewarding. The equestrian term for running is cantering. Cantering is a three beat gait, meaning the hooves hit the ground three consecutive and quick times with each stride that the horse takes. A canter is the same gait as a gallop, only it is not as fast. The walk and trot are four beat gaits, meaning the hooves each hit the ground separately with each stride.

Learning to canter can be challenging at first, but it is something that everyone can learn with practice and good coaching. I do not recommend cantering for the beginner, but if a student has mastered the basics of walking and trotting, it is safe to advance to this quick and exciting gait. It is important that the horse is well-trained at the canter before deciding to teach a novice how to proceed.

The horse and rider should start from a halted position. The reins should be fairly tight, and the rider should make sure his weight is in his heels before asking the horse to canter. If a rider has most of his weight in his seat, rather than his heels, he is merely sitting on top of the horse. It is important that his legs are wrapped around the horse snugly. This style of riding is the safest because it protects the rider from losing his balance during the transition from halt to canter.

In order to canter, the rider should bring his outside leg back so that it is slightly behind the girth, and he should then squeeze the horse with both of his legs. The horse should begin to canter. Some horses are lazier than others and may need a little kick before moving into the canter. The rider should sit in the saddle and let his body move gently with the horse. The canter feels similar to a rocking chair motion, and it is the easiest of all gaits to maintain rhythm and consistency.

When the rider wants the horse to stop, he should sit back, pull the reins, and say "whoa." This technique is the basic for cantering and stopping. Many students advance quickly at this point in their training, and they can hardly wait to gallop after feeling the thrill of speed.

The Joy of Teaching

The experience of teaching includes a wide range of clients and skill levels. While I enjoy teaching more advanced riders how to jump and accomplish more challenging tasks, it is just as rewarding to teach a new student the basics of riding.

Seemingly, I invited a friend of mine, Ross, to go horseback riding a few weeks ago. He had never been on a horse, and he was eager to give it a try. He claimed to be slightly nervous and hesitant around the giant beasts, but he remained calm and focused. I put Ross on Legend, a black and white Quarter Horse. Legend is a wonderful horse who is very trained and eager to please his riders.

After only a few minutes of coaching Ross on the basics of steering, stopping, and getting the horse to move forward, we adventured out into the woods. It was a gorgeous day, and the woods were full of Spring life! We crossed through a deep creek and rode up the embankment and entered a world full of trails and fun. We ducked under trees, trotted over logs, and cantered across open plains. It reminded me of childhood, innocent and free.

The reward of sharing my equestrian knowledge with an inexperienced beginner was truly great. Sometimes, I forget just how invigorating and special horseback riding is. Ross expressed adoring gratitude towards Legend. After so many years around horses, it is easy for me to take them for granted, yet it is indeed a privilege to be atop these magnificent creatures without a care in the world.

Horse Shows

Horse shows can be fun and exciting, but they are not for everyone. Some equestrians thrive on the challenge and the pressure to ride well in a competitive environment, while others cringe at the thought of riding in front of a judge. For me, horse shows were an integral part of my equestrian background. I lived and breathed for my weekend horse shows.

In between the ages of 14 and 21, I participated in over 100 shows. It was definitely a way of life. I graduated high school early and became a working student in order to pay for the high expenses of this "rich man's sport." I rode 6 or 7 horses everyday and cleaned thirty stall daily just to pay for my lessons and show fees. In Georgia, I primarily showed with the organization, GHJA. It stands for Georgia Hunter Jumper Association. Click on the link http://www.ghja.org/to view the GHJA website.

In Georgia, I won Equitation Year End Champion 3 years in a row. I also won Children's Year End Hunter Champion 2 years and High Jumper Year End Reserve Champion. Year End means the total number of points you have accumulated over the entire year. Each place (1st - 6th) is worth a certain number of points, and at the end of the year the rider with the most points for each division is entitled an award. In GHJA, my favorite award was the Year End Sportsmanship Award. It is only for riders between the ages of 15 -17, and you have to be nominated and then voted on by your peers and competitors. It is a great honor. I was fortunate enough to win this award my last year as a junior rider at the age of 17. It is a wonderful memory.

On a national level, I competed with AHSA. This stands for American Horse Show Association, but it is now called USEF, United States Equestrian Federation. Check out this link http://www.usef.org/to view their website. I competed nationally because I was trying to qualify for the Maclay Medal Finals in Madison Square Garden. This is an annual and prestigious event held for riders between the ages of 15 -17. Since I do not come from a wealthy family, it was very difficult for my trainer and I to attend a lot of these expensive shows. These shows are called "A" shows. They are extremely competitive, political, and challenging. An average A show usually costs between $500 and $900 dollars. That said, I was only able to go to five A shows my last year as a junior rider.

I traveled to Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida to compete with ASHA. I always did very well and usually won all or most of my classes. I was blessed with an amazing trainer and a fantastic horse! Most of my competitors showed in A shows every weekend and rode six figure horses. My trainer and I would show up late because I couldn't afford to pay for stabling all week, and I would watch the show and get nervous with anticipation. It was a great feeling to be able to win against these very privileged riders. The horse that I showed was an X-racehorse. My trainer, Sharon, bought him off the track when he was three for $500 dollars! She trained him herself, and he became an amazing and talented show jumper.

I didn't qualify for Nationals; I got third at Regionals out of 44 riders. Only the top two riders got to New York for the finals. I was sad at the time, but in hindsight, I feel blessed to have had such a wonderful experience in my life. Horse shows taught me the rewards of hard work and discipline. With enough determination and focus, there is nothing to get in the way of one's dreams.