Ward - English Riding

Roger Sipe, Special Projects Editor

Lindsay Hanks, Associate Editor

Matt Hennings, Art Director

Jessica Jaensch, Production Coordinator

June Kikuchi, Andrew DePrisco, Editorial Directors

The horses in this book are referred to as he or she in alternating chapters unless their gender is apparent from the activity discussed.

All photographs by Lesley Ward, unless otherwise stated. The photograph on page 85 is courtesy of Bob Langrish.

Text copyright 1998, 2003, 2010 by Lesley Ward. Previously published in different-sized formats in The Horse Illustrated Guide to English Riding.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of BowTie Press, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ward, Lesley.

English riding / by Lesley Ward.

p. cm.

Previously published as Horse illustrated guide to English riding by Lesley Ward.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-935484-52-3

eISBN 978-1-937049-40-9

1. Horsemanship. I. Ward, Lesley. Horse illustrated guide to English riding. II. Title.

SF309.W268 2010

798.23--dc22

2010014021

BowTie Press

A Division of BowTie, Inc.

3 Burroughs

Irvine, CA 92618

Printed and bound in the United States

14 13 12 11 10 1 2 3 4 5

acknowledgments

I would like to thank the following people for their help with this book:

Kim Abbott; Pat Bailey of the Club, San Juan Capistrano, CA; Sharon Biggs; Lynn Elliott; Liz Erickson; Jane Frusher; Allison Griest; Stacey Hall; Moira C. Harris; Ashley Hartsough; Ashley Kohler; Dylan Lake; Laura Loda; Katie McKay; Lindsay Mickelson; Julie Mignery; Barbara Provence; Team CEO Eventing; Marissa Uchimura; Holly Werner; Marty Whitehouse; and finally, my father, Alan Ward, for his excellent editing skills.

Contents

Choosing a Riding School Choosing a Riding Instructor What You Should Wear to Ride Gaining Experience

Fit to Ride Leading a Horse Mounting a Horse Once You Are Mounted Perfecting Your Position Exercises and Stretches

The Aids First Steps Steering Stopping

Time to Trot Transitions Posting (Rising) Trot Diagonals Sitting Trot Trotting Exercises Praise and Rewards Trotting Without Stirrups Picking Up Your Stirrups

Leads Asking for the Canter Lead Problems Cantering Exercises The Gallop Cantering and Galloping in a Group

Jumping Position The Release Trotting Poles Your First Jump A Single Fence A Line Jumping Small Courses Cantering Fences Cantering Around a Course Jumping Problems

Reasons for Bad Behavior Falling Off Bucking Bolting Rearing Shying Grabbing Grass Kicking

Trail Riding Long-Distance Riding Showing Dressage Eventing Fun and Games Riding Rewards

Introduction

L earning to ride English style is a challenging goal, but, once you master the basic skills, it wont be long before youre cantering on trails, clearing fences, and learning fancy dressage movements.

Riding keeps you fit, makes you feel good, and is a lot of fun. Soon youll be hooked, and horses will become a major part of your life. One lesson a week will turn into three. Youll start helping out at the barn. Youll trade in your jeans for breeches. Soon, the sales assistant at the local tack shop will know you by name. Eventually, youll start scanning the Internet for horses for sale. Theres no escape from the world of horses.

But lets be realistic. First, you have to take regular lessons and spend hours in the saddle. Becoming a good rider doesnt happen over-night. Most of us work hard and ride a lot of horses before we become experienced riders.

Its essential that you find a friendly, patient instructor. Even Olympic riders have coaches. Why? Because even experienced riders know that, no matter how confident you become about your riding ability or how naturally talented you are, you never stop learning. Every time you mount a new horse, jump around a strange course, or take a fall, you add to your knowledge of horses and riding.

This book will instruct you about how to develop an excellent riding position and a secure seat so that you can communicate effectively with a horse. It also teaches you how to ride a horse at any speed and over fences. Read this book before you head for your riding lessons, and use it over and over again as a reference. So, what are you waiting for? Happy reading and riding!

Getting Started

I f you want to improve your riding skills, the most important thing you should do is find a good riding instructor and sign up for lessons. If you dont have your own horse, you can take lessons at a riding school or with an instructor who has his or her own string of school horses.

If you are lucky enough to have your own horse but are new to riding, it might be a good idea to board your horse at a barn that has an experienced instructor.

Choosing a Riding School

Check the bulletin board at your local tack shop for signs advertising local riding schools or instructors. Ask the sales assistant if she can recommend any decent schools or reputable instructors.

Also, look in the Yellow Pages of your telephone book or on the Internet for riding schools or lesson barns near you. Several may be advertised, but its impossible to tell from an ad if the school offers quality instruction. Ask the opinion of someone who already rides there. If she likes it, call the manager and ask to look around during lessons.

When you arrive, stop by the stables office and see the manager. She may want to give you a quick tour around the barn, or she may send you off by yourself to have a snoop. When walking around, keep the following in mind:

The Staff: The riding school employees should be friendly and dressed in appropriate clothing for ridingsuch as breeches or jeans and boots, not shorts and sandals. No one should be smoking around the barn area. Safety-minded horse people know that one spark can ignite a bale of hay and cause a fire. Barn workers should be kind but firm with the horses. You shouldnt see anyone shouting at or beating horses.

The Barn: The stable area at a responsible riding school is tidy. Manure and used bedding are swept neatly on a muck heap, away from the barn. You wont see litter on the ground. Peek over a couple of stable doors and check the cleanliness. If horses are standing in piles of manure or puddles of urine, its best to leave and find another school.

The buildings should be in good repair. You should not spot broken glass or equipment with sharp edges that could hurt you or a horse. Stroll out to the fields or turn-out areas. No rusty farm equipment or garbage should clutter these areas.