sustainabledressage

Keeping Your Horses Safe

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Owning a horse is a lot of work, as any practitioner of dressage can tell you, but that doesn’t mean it’s difficult to keep your horses safe. Here are a few best practices when it comes to keeping your riding friends healthy and secure before a big event.
Secure their stables: Horses are expensive and sometimes this works to their disadvantage. To prevent stable break ins where thieves steal equipment, outfits or even the horses themselves, invest in a security system in your area from a reputable company like adt.
Get a great vet: When your horse is sick is no time to think about finding a vet. Do your research now and find an appropriate equestrian veterinarian for your horse’s needs. Vets can help you maintain your horses health and at the same time prevent any diseases from taking root.
Wear proper gear: Just as important as wearing a helmet for riders is wearing non-rust spurs and anti-chaffing saddles. Keeping your horse comfortable is the first step in making sure they’re safe on the riding track and off. Doing your do-diligence along the way can save you tons of money and hassle in the long run.

Testing Your Memory: 5 Tips For Successfully Memorizing Tests

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Here are some tips for successfully memorizing tests, rules and regulations which are surprisingly easy to do for anyone. I have found from experience what works best is to write and copy what you want to memorize on paper, you could also use a word processor but I have found that hand copying seems to make a more lasting mental impression and increases memory retention.
Secondly, once you have copied the material you wish to memorize then find a quite place free from distractions. Thirdly, read out load the first sentence of your material then close your eyes and repeat the sentence again without looking at your paper. What this does is to use multiple body senses to commit information to memory, touch, sight and sound. When you hand write, read and hear the material your mind reinforces it to memory.
Fourthly, repeat the third step, but this time with the first two sentences and then with three sentences and so on. Finally, you should take a nap. New memories are venerable and easily lost if new information is taken in immediately after memorizing your material. Taking a nap will ensure that your memories will stay with you much longer.

Aiming For The Elusive Perfect Score: Is It Possible?

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Any dedicated and disciplined horseback rider dreams of achieving the perfect competition score. We have all daydreamed about being the best we can be, and we have all tried to figure out just how many hours of practice and study are necessary to do so.

But we have also all been brought back to reality by crushing defeats, or at least by doing worse in a competition than we would like to. Perfectionism is a great goal, but also a harsh master. Is the elusive perfect score even possible?

There are countless reasons that you and your horse might perform less than your best on any given day.I was looking for more information and found it here. Dealing with those reasons can be difficult. However, here are a few suggestions to help you deal with disappointment, avoid frustration, and keeping pushing towards your goals.

- After a competition, think about your mistakes. Don’t criticize yourself, and don’t be harsh. Do your best to objectively scrutinize everything that happened, so that you won’t make the same mistakes twice.

- Between practices, don’t obsess. Allow yourself time to rest and recharge so that you can practice even more effectively.

- And of course, always relax and enjoy yourself! A happy rider always performs better than one who is worried or stressed!

Down The Center Line: Finding X Every Time

admin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When you are looking for your next horse, you can see the selection is quite large. This is when you should have two tips for helping you in picking out the horse for you. Once you have these tips, it can easily narrow down the selection for you.

The best tip to use will be to look at the size of the horse. Now you already know these horses are quite large, but if they are to big for you to handle, then you will probably end up losing quite a few competitions because you cannot handle them properly.

Another great tip will be to find out how well trained the horse is before you purchase them. By knowing about this, it will be easy to determine if the horse will require additional training before you can ride them or if they will already know about what they are supposed to do.

Being able to pick out the best horse for your competitions can be difficult at times. However, if you know a couple of tips for picking out the best horse, it can be easy for you to pick out the best horse available. Then you will have confidence going into your next competition.

The Governing Bodies: Who Is Ultimately Responsible For What

admin — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

In the equestrian realm, dressage is governed by a number of committees. The specific governing body for the sport depends on not only what country one is in, but also the type of competition one plans to participate in. The United States Equestrian Federation is the primary governing body over the sport in the United States. In order to compete, one must be a member of the Federation, and the horse must be of a certain age. If the competitor wishes to engage in international events, they must meet the above requirements, and place an application for the event.

In the United Kingdom, one would be governed by the British Dressage. In Canada, the governing body would be the Ontario Equestrian Federation. There would be a specific governing body for each country. This would then break down into specific branches of the governing body for each region within the country.

These branches would be responsible for administering the rules and regulations in their area. Membership could be acquired through these branches, as well as a listing of rules and regulations for local competitions and overall membership rules. Local branches would also run local functions or competitions for the National Unit.

USEF & USDF: Working Together To Protect Rider Safety

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) joined numerous other riding organizations in early January to discuss updates in helmet technology and safety. The result was a universal vow to improve helmet safety for all riding sports. Weeks later the USEF Board of Directors made good on its promise by voting in tougher protective headgear standards during the Annual Meeting.

The new helmet regulations effect dressage and eventing competitions. While the eventing world has steadily been moving toward tighter helmet rules, the dressage world had been slower to respond until a riding accident in 2010 seriously injured an Olympic-level rider not wearing protective headgear.

The new dressage rule states that mounted riders under age 18 on competition grounds are required to wear and buckle an ASTM/SEI-approved helmet at all times. Competitors 18 and older may choose between a top hat and a helmet only when competing in FEI levels and tests at the Prix St. Georges levels and above. To encourage optional helmet use, the rule forbids a judge to give a penalty to a rider wearing protective headgear. All mounted riders, regardless of age, are now required to wear helmets when not competing.

Breed All About It: The Best Contenders In Ring

admin — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

I always get excited for the summer Olympics because my favorite event is Dressage. I find the horse’s movements to be beautiful and the horse’s themselves are amazing creatures. It is often referred to as Horse Ballet, and the animals do appear to be dancing.

I have always wanted to see the Lipizzaner stallions perform, but the last time they toured in my city it was too expensive to attend. This sport takes both the horse and rider many years to accomplish and often when I am watching a Dressage competition I know these animals are mature and in their peak condition.

Dressage became popular during the Renaissance time period and increases the performance of any horse. The riding experts of that era invented many of the classic movements that the sport requires.

I recently discovered that there are several competition levels and I intend to check my area and see if any of them are competed nearby. The basic introductory level includes the rider requesting their animal to walk and trot. The levels become more difficult and the highest competition level is the Grand Prix, which is competed at the Olympics. I believe that riders can fully connect with their horses when working through Dressage skills.

Talent Runs in the Blood

www.sustainabledressage.com — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Just as equestrians know that bloodline is key in selecting a mount, it seems the same is true when it comes to riders. British press equestrian writer Peter Smith from The Sentinel reported that teenage dressage rider Joe Davison is aiming his sites for a place in the 2016 Olympic Games when they are hosted in Brazil.It seems the 19-yer old Davison, son of Richard Davison (who has competed in three Olympic Games and is aiming his top ride Artemis at London 2012), has been selected for the British Equestrian Federation’s 2011-2013 World Class Development Programme and has already helped his country win the top prize at the Young Rider Nations Cup held in Belgium this past summer.The 19-year old Davison currently has two 13-year old competitors in his stable but with the onslaught of time he will have to find a new mount to ride to medal contention since both horses will be too old to compete in Rio.The younger Davison commented that “I dedicate my life to riding, and fingers crossed I have what it takes to make the grade, but a rider is only as good as his horse and I have to make sure we find the right one.”And since we all know how difficult that match can be, our hopes are that the same talent and knack that the senior Davison had in finding suitable mounts transfers in the bloodlines of the younger.

Epona: A Dream Dressage Vacation

www.sustainabledressage.com — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 20:41:51 +0000

If you live, eat, sleep and breath dressage then the chances are you’re going to want to include it in your vacations plans, as well. Enter Epona, a riding/vacation destination in Andalucia, Spain that was named after the Celtic goddess protector of horses. It’s a 16^th century Hacienda out in the country that is suitable for riders of all levels. Every instructor at the facility is fully qualified by the BHS and/or ABRS and the Spanish Equestrian Federation and all ride leaders and assistant ride leaders hold diplomas from British Equestrian Tourism and the Federation of International Equestrian Tourism (FITE) which means they are adept at handling riders at any level. The facility offers ample training arena as well as a small cross country course and a jumping arena. And when it comes to choosing a suitable mount you bet Epona has that covered since they have over 60 horses of varying sizes, levels of training, and temperament to match with riders. While most of the horses are Andalusians or Andalusian crosses, there are other breeds to choose from so a perfect match is almost a no-brainer. Epona has been running training vacations since 1985 and have a long list of happy (and repeat) clients. Prices (as of this writing) range from 1270 for a Train & Trail package to 2040 for a Rafael Soto Clinic (with a few others in between like Classical Dressage for 1865). We’re in agreement that in a perfect world you can combine your vacation with your passion, and thanks to Epona, the world is pretty near perfect!

Some Helpful Books

mgeedey — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:39:16 +0000

If you’re like me you eat, breath, and sleep “all things” horses. With that in mind, here are a few books that you can tuck yourself into bed with to make sure you’re dreaming of that perfect seat that you’ll tackle upon awakening!

The Elements of Dressage: A Guide to Training the Young Horse (K. A. von Ziegner) will help any reader perfect the union between horse and rider. Both beginning and advanced trainers and riders will learn why the ten principal elements of the German approach exist, how to develop them in a horse, and even when not to use them. Starting with the basics, and moving on towards the most subtle aspects, The Elements of Dressage is the complete guide to the art of training and riding a horse.
The USDF Guide to Dressage (Jennifer O. Bryant) demystifies basic dressage techniques for riders of all disciplines. This book will lead riders through a full course of exercises, from simple to more complex, with easy-to-follow photographic sequences, all presented in full-color and demonstrated by outstanding dressage instructors and is considered ideal even for those with no prior knowledge or experience in the discipline.
101 Dressage Tips: Essentials for Training and Competition (Barbara Burn) furnishes advice on selecting a horse, stable, trainer, tack, and other equipment, taking lessons and clinics, and preparing for and taking part in dressage competitions. The book offers practical and encouraging advice for riders at all levels.
Classical Horsemanship for Our Time: From Basic Training to the Highest Levels of Dressage (Jean Froissard) takes the reader through the development of a dressage horse, dressage in its truest sense, the training of a riding horse. The author begins with the criteria for selection then describes fully the progress of early training that is basic for any horse, whatever its equestrian discipline.

There are a lot more out there in addition to the above and we’ll cover more of them in upcoming posts; but these are good starting points to get you on your way!