Advanced English Riding. Sharon Biggs

       Hunter Basics

       Hunter Fences

       Keeping the Flow

       Riding the Course

       Chapter 11: Show Jumping Courses

       Show Jumping Basics

       Show Jumping Fences

       The Jump-Off

       Chapter 12: Competition and the Advanced Rider

       Have a Plan

       Advancing in Dressage

       Advancing in Eventing

       Advancing in Hunters

       Advancing in Show Jumping

       Chapter 13: Getting Ready for a Competition

       Prep Yourself

       Prep Your Equipment

       Prep Your Horse: A Braiding Primer

       Chapter 14: On the Day of the Show

       Walking the Course

       Warming Up

       Chapter 15: Competition Psychology

       Learn from Past Experiences

       Employ a Calming Technique

       Resources

       Glossary

      Acknowledgments

      No rider can make it through his or her career without being influenced by others, and an equestrian journalist is no different. I drew inspiration and gained expertise for this project, directly and indirectly, from several fine riders, including Sidley Paine, Christopher Bartle, Mark Waller, Richard Spooner, Kass Lockhart, Maryne Langer, Amber Heintzberger, Cindy Hale, Jane Weatherwax, Perry Wood, Richard Davidson, Karen Dixon, Mike Winter, Blyth Tate, and Timmie Pollock. Special thanks to models Laura Forrester, Katie and Joe Lifto, Lori Gabrelli, and Sherie Grant.

      I also owe a debt of gratitude to Moira Harris, a wonderful editor, photographer, and good friend who encouraged me throughout this project.

      Introduction

      What is the definition of an advanced rider? More than at any other level, the advanced rider possesses a broad spectrum of skills at various stages of development. There are many levels of advancement. Of course, someone who has reached the dizzying heights of Olympic competition is an advanced rider, but a person who has learned the fundamentals of riding and gone on to own a horse of his or her own also can be an advanced rider. For me, the beginning advanced rider is someone who grasps the idea of good horsemanship and puts a great deal of time and effort into developing his or her seat and position. This book will help you develop those skills, and it is my hope that it will also help give you the skills to move on to the next step of your riding career, whatever the final level may be.

      Honing the Seat and Position

      All advanced riders want to achieve an independent position. Independence means that you’re in total control of your seat at all times, no matter what your horse does—even if she spooks or bucks. This seat allows you to move with any horse’s stride and with your legs lightly against your horse’s barrel, instead of gripping for balance. An independent seat also means you have the ability to maintain a steady contact with your reins, instead of using them as a way to stay on. Most of all, an independent position means you can time your aids correctly and use them effectively.

Checking Your Seat

      To sit well, the rider has to be in a vertical line, over his own feet. Think about the best position to take if you are standing on the ground. You won’t stand with your upper body pitched forward or back; you’ll stand with your knees slightly bent, and your hips will be over your feet so your feet, your hips, and your shoulders are aligned vertically. In the saddle, you want the middle of your foot (in the stirrup) to be underneath your hip, with your knee bent to whatever degree your kind of riding dictates. Your shoulders should be in line with your hips and your feet. You also must be balanced laterally, side to side, and have equal weight in the stirrups, with your shoulders parallel to the horse’s shoulders and your hips parallel to the horse’s hips.

      Here is an example of a good dressage position: shoulders, hips, and feet aligned, with shoulders parallel to the horse’s shoulders and hips parallel to the horse’s hips.

      As you put your leg on the horse and ask for driving energy from the hind legs, the energy must be able to travel through your seat, which says to the horse, “I want you to stay in this length of stride, in this tempo, and in this gait.” Then your hand has to receive and direct that energy. Riders often want to know how much leg pressure they should use. Remember that a horse can feel a fly on his coat, so your aids don’t have to be huge to get a response; however, they have to mean something, or your horse will ignore you, and deservedly so. Therefore, whenever you use your legs, make sure that what you are asking for is clear and that you receive the correct response. Don’t wait five seconds or more. Repeat the request. Your horse may require a tap from the whip, paired with the leg pressure, until she understands that you mean what you say. Spurs are also a good aid, but make sure your leg position is rock solid before you use them. Spurs used incorrectly can make your horse dull to or, worse, frightened of your leg. The rule of thumb regarding leg pressure is to use just enough to squash a ripe tomato against your horse’s side. And always keep your legs against your horse, close enough to feel her coat against your boots. Hold your legs there at all times, even when posting, because bouncing legs can cause your horse to become dull to your aids.

Good Hands

      Although the different styles of English riding require a variety