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Horse Mangement Newsletter by
Stormy May
Selected articles from HMN's November & January editions! To read the full newsletter, see back issues,
or to join the HMN's email list, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HorseManagementNewsletter/
* Note to Canadian Pony Clubbers: Any
Pony Club advice given below is based on the US Pony Club Rule book,
and should be confirmed with the Canadian Pony Club rule book (available
to download on the Canadian Pony Club Website www.canadianponyclub.org),
or ask your DC.
Contents
1) Feature Bareback Benefits
2) Rally & Rating Tips Get ready for Quiz!
3) Question & Answer Which bits are legal?
4) Featured Rule Jewelry
Feature: Bareback Benefits
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by Michael Gonzalez
I like to do this exercise in my clinics. Next time you are with your
partner, try this yourself.
I have one person sit on their horse bareback, drop the reins and just sit
there. I like for them to breathe deeply and let it out slowly and soften
their eyes. Just slump, let the legs hang and allow their center of gravity
to settle deep into their crotch. In other words, just MELT into the horse.
I ask that everyone else at the clinics stand perfectly still and just watch
the horse's ears and eyes.
When the horse is fully relaxed I quietly ask the rider to look at something
far away and stare at it with complete focus. I ask them to will all their
concentration on that one spot.
Then we all watch. What happens is that the horse will begin to turn their
ear back toward the rider, listening and asking what it is they the human
wants from them. They are already "hearing" the rider and the rider did
nothing but focus on something.
I then ask that the rider just b-a-r-e-l-y twitch one of their butt cheeks.
Just one cheek. We watch as both of the horse's ears begin to turn back
toward the rider. Forward and back, forward and back the ears turn.
I then ask that the rider be careful not to squeeze with the legs or touch
with the heels but rather use mental concentration to almost "will" their
pelvis (their center) to that very spot they are focusing on. Almost
immediately there is a quick flick of the ears and the horse will begin to
nervously take a few slow tentative steps forward. The horse isn't sure if
that is what he is supposed to do, but the human's seat is saying to do it
so he is responding. He is now waiting for the human to respond.
Once the human has understood the sensitivity and communication of the seat,
I ask them to saddle their horse. We then repeat the entire exercise....and
VIOLA....the rider begins to understand how they are constantly
communicating with their seat and how important it is in their overall
relationship and partnership...EVEN THROUGH ALL THAT LEATHER AND PADDING!
AND WE HAVE YET TO PICK UP THE REINS AND USE THAT FORM OF COMMUNICATION!
Now think about this a minute.....
What if we are unstable in our seat, what if we brace against the stirrups
and hold our center off of the horse, what if our seat constantly bangs the
horse, what if we have uneducated hands, what if we are heavy on the reins
and constantly are making contact with the bit, what if our spurs are
bumping the horse, what if our legs are intermittently squeezing the horse,
what if our focus is here and there and everywhere?!!!
This results in what I can only explain as YELLING to our horse, and we are
yelling in jibber jabber, making complete nonsense in our communication, in
human English terms we might be saying this to our horse;
"walk on, whoa, side pass, wigga wigga wigga, speed up, not that way, back
up, , gitche gitche, go get a jelly doughnut, I want to watch Grey's
Anatomy, trot, canter, whoa, LaLaLaLa, side pass, goo goo gaa gaa...yadda
yadda yadda, blah blah blah..." and for the two hours that you are riding with
your horse, your horse is saying, "WHAT?!" "HUH?!" "PLEASE SPEAK HORSE
AND TELL ME WHAT THE HECK YOU WANT!"
It has been taught, and I used to teach it as well, that the reins are for
communication. Well, in part, that is correct. It is only one form of
communication, but because of bad education, it is a misused form of
communication.
Sometimes when we meet someone who doesn't speak our language we tend to
think that if we speak very loudly, somehow the other person will understand
us. As if volume helps clarity and understanding. Well we all know that that
isn't true, is it? If it were true, then good positive results would come
from arguing and fighting.
Well the same goes for communicating with our horses....when we mask our
first line of communication (our seat) with an improper saddle and poor
education of the seat, we then pick up the reins to YELL at our horses. Even
with the softest hands, we sometimes YELL at our horses.
Other than the old method of longing a new rider on a long line so they may
learn balance and how to sit, we have forgotten the true importance of
bareback riding.
The whole idea about being bareback is about refining your balance and your
seat and perfecting your communication. It is to find 'holes' in your
horsemanship and fill in those holes. Once you are adept at bareback riding
and have a wonderful independent seat, you will find that you will ride more
easily and with an independent seat while using a saddle.
Michael Gonzalez is a very interesting horseman who came to horses as an
adult. Read more about his philosophy and journey at:
http://www.lessismorehorse.com/
Michael lives in Delphi, Indiana with his wife Beth.
Rally and rating tips: Get Ready for Quiz!
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I found a fantastic site with THOUSANDS of Quiz-type questions. This is for
the 4H organization, but the questions are very similar to Pony Club Quiz
questions that you might get. Start now to prepare for Kentucky 2007!
Here's a main page where you can find many sorts of questions:
http://www.geocities.com/epchorseprojects/hb_homework.htm
Here's a link to some "Senior" questions, 6,935 of them!:
web.extension.uiuc.edu/dekalb/downloads/4720.pdf
Here's a link to some "Junior" questions:
www.geocities.com/epchorseprojects/HorseBowl/Junior_Horse_Bowl_Questions.pdf
Question & Answer: Which bits are legal?
**************************************************
Stormy,
Can you point me in the right direction for rules regarding allowable bits
for pony club? I understand the restrictions for dressage, and eventing
doesn't seem to have problems with just about anything as long as it is
humane.
However, I remember you guiding us that D's couldn't use a pelham unless
they had double reins and I can't seem to find that info. I've looked in
the D manual and the C manual and online at USPC in the rule books. I'm
sure something addresses that and it may be by level but I can't seem to
find it.
Please enlighten me.
Sandy Campbell, Sierra Gold PC parent
Hi Sandy,
You may have misunderstood me. Pelhams can be used by Ds with a single rein
as long as it has a converter which hooks to both the snaffle and curb rings
on each side, or the single rein is on the snaffle ring. I asked Wayne
Quarles (USPC Activities Director) specifically about using a pelham with
only a curb rein and he replied that it falls under the multiple attachment
rule, stated below:
Multiple attachment bits: All bits with more than one point of attachment
(i.e. gag, Pessoa, elevators) must have one rein attached so that the
snaffle action of the bit is in effect. If other bit actions are to be
used, two reins will be required. At the D level, converters will be
allowed on pelham bits. If the Pessoa type bit is used, a single rein may
be attached to the first or second ring. If a third or lower ring is used,
a second rein must be attached higher so that the snaffle action can be in
effect.
For future reference, this is located in the 2002 HM handbook (with 2005
addenda) and I believe on the USPC website under "forms" and then
"Activities - FAQ or FAQ - Activities".
Keep it legal,
Stormy
Featured rule: Jewelry
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2002 Horse Management Handbook page 33 section 21E:
The following jewelry is allowed at USPC rallies:
* Medic alert bracelets or necklaces
* Watches
* Wedding rings
* Stud earrings in the ear ONLY
Any other type of jewelry is inappropriate and will be penalized with
points. The following jewelry is NOT permitted at rallies
* Hoops of any size (including ear cuffs) or jewelry that dangles
* Anything on the face or in the airway
Competitors wearing jewelry that is not permitted will be assessed points
and the jewelry must be removed. If the competitor elects not to remove
jewelry that is not permitted, s/he will be disqualified from the entire
competition and must leave the grounds, if possible. (See Section 39, page
40).
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