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Horse Training Tips

3 Quick Changes to Improving Your Jumping Position

aliciaharper

The biggest problems I see in the over fences position of riders is folding and looking down. As soon as a rider looks down the eyes and shoulders drop and the lower leg comes back and puts the rider off balance.

Three things to remember when heading to the fence. I call it my Tall, Taller, Tallest exercise. If you have listened to my videos or when I am coaching you will remember me saying, the last 3 strides before the fence belongs to the horse. In those 3 strides I want you to say to yourself, Tall, Taller and Tallest. Now if you are thinking of that what will happen is you will start stretching up and the more you thinking of this the less you will think of folding over the jump. Envision your upper body staying in the same position as it in your rising trot. That’s the first thing.

Now the second thing is focus on a tangent point (a point of focus), it could be a a dot on the wall, a tree ahead of you whatever it is make sure it is in a position that you need to look up for and as you head to the jump STARE at it as you approach, go over and land the jump.

The third thing is to think about making your point of balance lower how you need to drop your heels and bring yourself as close to the horses’ back as you can with your seat without actually sitting on your saddle. What I do is I think about wrapping myself around the horse with my lower body as I approach the jump. Something else that works for many of my student is just thinking there is a large weight hanging off their heels so that they stay down and create a great base of support.

Now try these three things when heading to your next fence and let me know how it works for you. Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email.

 

 

Horse Training Tips, News

Limited time FREE Training Consultation

aliciaharper

problem horse issue fixedIf you are having an issue with your horse and think some training might be beneficial, contact us for a free consultation on a program for your horse.  Consultations include 30 mins of a phone consultation or a consultation at your location. Consultations include discussions on what issues you are having with your horse and possibly demonstrating the issues. Depending on the issue some suggestions can be provided on how to move forward with your horse. Those suggestions may include simply watching a video on how to correct the issue or many other things. Follow up email and mini training plan can be included.

 

Contact us today to book your consultation at not cost to you

 

 

fear and nervous rider in horse back riding
Article, Coaching, Horse Training Tips

Overcoming Fear in Riding

aliciaharper

As I have recently, been dealing with this myself – I thought it a good topic for the blog this week.  Overcoming fear in riding.

Fear is a feeling I would say the majority of amateurs have. I’m not so sure about the professional riders but like any other humans, I’m sure they do. I do. Not only is there fear of falling but there is fear of failing.

In this post –  let’s tackle the fear of falling. As we get older the fear generally becomes greater. As adults we worry if we get hurt who will go to work and make money for our family, who will pick up the kids, do the dishes etc. To be honest, its real. Getting hurt is a real fear, especially with horses. They are fight or flight animals in other words, prey. Their answer to anything that seems odd is to run (spook in rider’s terms). If a horse spooks and catches you off guard – there is a good chance you are hitting the ground.

The fear can effect our riding in many ways. It may make us more tense our body and thus setting the horse on edge as well. Which certainly won’t made the situation any better.  Let’s get to the nitty gritty though. How is it possible to conquer it?

The truth be told, I’m not sure it is always possible to conquer it. However, I think its definitely possible for everyone to manage it. First, let’s outline that everyone’s fear is different so more extreme and some less extreme.

The Steps to Overcoming Fear in Horse Back Riding

The first step, once you have admitted it,  is to discuss it with your coach. Your coach has a unique view on this as she/he sees how many riders deal with their fear and how it has worked out for them. To be honest, I had one student so nervous she went to the Doctor and he prescribed something. Now, this particular rider felt this way in every day life but her want to ride was so great that she went the extra mile. Note that I am not advocating drugs to conquer your fear of riding but I am advocating speaking to professionals about. That professional could be your coach, your Doctor, your psychologist, whoever you have in your support circle.

In discussion with your coach, discuss what the proper way of falling is. Here at our farm once a year we have a lesson on falling. Where we educate riders in the proper technique to try and fall that way when they know they are falling. It also gives you a bit of confidence that its possible to fall and not get hurt. You certainly don’t hurt yourself every time you fall. Hell, I’ve been falling for decades and the only thing I have done is pull a ligament. Riders then get to practice proper falling technique off the horse. It’s usually a good week for laughs.

The third step is to lower your expectations for each lesson and plan to push yourself just a little bit each lesson. Rome wasn’t built in a day and riders certainly aren’t. Push yourself, discuss with your riding coach this plan, just a little bit. Put yourself just slightly out of your comfort zone and once you have accomplished that, go back to something that isn’t scary. Think of it like building a tower using Lego, each week you will add a new leg but also add a few more blocks on the same level to create stability.

The last step is KEEP TRYING! It won’t be easy but only those who persevere will push through it.

TB mare for sale
News

Rose

aliciaharper

Rose is a TB mare in her mid teens stands 16 hands and has a solid walk trot and canter and jumps small fences. She’s a solid citizen, not spooky, responsive to the leg, honest and simple. Rose has been used in lessons before and is happy to jump, generally happy mare and cuddly with riders. Was started late and sat for quite a few years until recently – when brought back to work.

Currently priced at 4000 obo and located in Mission BC. Email is the preferred method of contact

Video Available

 

Eli in Hunter Over Fences Training
News

Announcement Fall Schedule

aliciaharper

This month, we will head to the Nicomen Hunt with the Fraser Valley Hunt on October 14th. The trailer is almost full with only a couple of spots left.

Trailer leaves at 9 am and will return around 2pm. Rate is $200 plus your cap fee to the Hunt.

The weekend of October 20th, Eli and I have been selected to ride in the Michael Vaillancourt clinic. Michael is a two time Olympian, Canadian Show Jumper. He supervised the Canadian Equestrian Team in 1998 & 1994. He was also was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.  Michael currently course designs and was recently the course designer for the 2015 Pan Am Games. Times are Friday 615pm, Saturday 630pm, Sunday 11am. 28th.

We are tentatively hoping to attend the Riverlands Hunt on the

And then November 10, 11 and 12th and we are off to the TBird Gateways! We will not hunting at all in November.

Then in December we will be hunting the 9th in Harrison Mills, and then the Boxing Day Hunt. No horse shows in December.

 

Alicia Harper Horse Trainer for Over Fences
Article, Horse Training Tips

How much does it cost to have my horse trained?

aliciaharper

This too is also a common question. Horses are usually taken in on training on a monthly basis. A monthly rate is usually advertised by a trainer and is dependent on a number of factors including:

  • the qualifications of the trainer
  • the quality of the facility
  • the current market value
  • price of hay, sawdust, feed and land in your area

Our training here is offered for $1000 a month including board of the horse.

 

The amount of time it takes to train the horse varies based on another number of factors including:

  • current training level of the horse
  • level of horse expected
  • experience of the trainer
  • demeanor of the horse

As you can see there are a number of factors which can affect how much it could cost to get your horse trained. Generally speaking there are three instances we see horses come into training. That is to be broke to ride (the horse has never been ridden before), to address a problem in its training (it doesn’t want to pick up its canter lead) or for additional experience. The latter is usually when I see them, mostly because owners are looking to get their horse some experience in the show ring and/or over fences. Perhaps the horse has never jumped before.

 

Although I have seen them thru the entire process and some horses will remain in training for up to one year. Riders also can send them for 30 days, or until the issue is resolved. The best practice for a rider though is to work with the trainer to which you send the horse so you as a rider can follow the same program. Know that it is normal for an amateur rider to send a horse for training when an issue arises simply because trainers do this all day long, for many years. As a comparison – imagine trying to fix your truck yourself without help. For me its much to complicated – I just send it to a professional – there is no shame is asking for help.

 

 

does a horse have toes
Article, Horse Training Tips

A common question: Do horses have toes?

aliciaharper

The quick answer is no, they have hooves but the long answer is that horses actually did have three toes originally and over time, three changed into two and then two turned into one hoof and then a small toe up which grew up the leg through evolution.  Today that toe is called the chestnut as seen in the below picture.

 

does a horse have toes