Cutting Horse

This is a great example of cutting. Sadly its a promo for a stallion so only the first 25 seconds are cutting...the rest is just clips of the horse.

Gymnastics on Horseback

Gymnastics on Horseback!

Have you ever been amazed watching a gymnast?  Well if you have, then vaulting will blow you away!

Vaulting is gymnastics on a moving horse.  The horse moves in a controlled 15m circle while a gymnast or a team of gymnasts perform several tricks on top of the horse.  There are six basic moves: basic seat, mill, scissors, flag, stand, flank. the movements are to be performed in succession without pause....unless you are on a team then the first three are performed and then the next three.  

Vaulting is sometimes used for therapeutic riding....it helps improve motor skills, and balance. I actually found this very interesting since I have recently started to volunteer at a therapeutic riding center ( which does not use vaulting as a technique, but I think it would be interesting to see the vaulting techniques used by other centers.)

Getting Down!

Cutting is amazing.  The horses job is to separate a calf from the herd and keep it away.  The horses that compete in cutting are very athletic.  During the event, the rider separates the calf from the herd and then puts the reins on the neck and the horse keeps the calf out with out any instruction from the rider.  

*photo from Http://ko.sydney.com/zone/heart_of_country.aspx?qc=cat%3aproduct_event&qpage=9

Rolex Equestrian Commercial

The Rolex is one of the biggest Combined Training events so I thought I would put up this clip of the commercial. The Rolex will be April 27 for 2008.

To Be An Equestrian

I love this video because it captures all the elements it takes to succeed in any sport. It also give good examples of all three events of combined training (there are a few clips that are not combined training at the beginning, but it is still cool). Combined training is like a triathlon for horses. Dressage demonstrates the accuracy and the ability of the rider to have complete control while appearing to use little effort to complete the pattern. Cross-Country jumping shows the horse"s stamina. This event can be several miles long with multiple fixed obstacle to jump over.... including water, fences, and brush. The stadium jumping shows the ability of the horse to make tight turns and clear jumps at high speeds.
Eventing is so much fun, but it requires hard work and determination. this is why it is an Olympic sport.

Three Days on the Road to Glory!

Combined Training, also know as Eventing is a amazing sport to watch.  The three events are stadium jumping, cross country jumping and dressage.

Stadium jumping show the ability of the horse and rider to maneuver though a number of jumps without knocking down any polls.  If they make it to the second round it is based on speed and accuracy.  

Cross country jumping challenges the horse's endurance.  The course can be several miles long with 20 or more solid obstacles.  This is the phase of eventing that has a bad reputation for being dangerous...and yes it is dangerous if the horse and rider compete at a level higher then they are ready for or if the horse is not listening to the rider.

The third phase is Dressage is the most elegant part.  It judged on how well the horse and rider work together.  The horse must complete a series of movements with accuracy.  The horse must listen to the rider completely and to get the image of no effort from the rider.  

* photos from www.jumpswest.com, www.citrusoaksfarm.com, and www.localriding.com/dressage-training-tips.html

Working in Teams!

As I was browsing the web I  came across an event that sounds like a lot of fun. Combined driving is the like the mounted sport of Eventing in that it has three sections.

1. A)Presentation: this is judged on how the person and horses looked.  Its basically how good the team looks together. B)Dressage: this is how well the team can do structured pattern.
   
2. Marathon: This shows speed and endurance.  There are obstacles that each team must maneuver through.
   
3. Cones:  this is a test of accuracy.  
   

If you would like to learn more visit American Driving Society.

*photo from www.chesterweber.com/combineddriving.html

Don't Forget the Dogs!

I am so excited for the weekend because I get to go on a fox-hunt.  Fo those who have never ben it is a blast.  Basically you get dressed up in traditional attire and you follow a hunt master and dogs.  In the United States you don't actually kill the animal you hunt...its just a fun chase and you call the dogs off. 

Every horses rider should try it at least once in their riding career. for more information on hunting visit http://www.mfha.com/abfo.htm

*image from http://www.britannica.com/eb/art/print?id=76133&articletypeld=0

Top Reiners

This is a great video that gives you a good idea of some of the elements of reining which I mentioned in a earlier post. The riders in this video are some of the top riders in the nation. The clips are from the 2007 NRHA Derby open finals.

Barbaro - Blaze of Glory

I found this video very well done and it shows off one of our generation's great racehorses.

Sprinting for the Win!

Horse racing is one of America's favorite sports.  I personally love to go to the races and cheer on the horse I picked to win.  When I choose a horse to place I like to look at their racing history; which gives you an insight on how the horse runs.  It is always fun to bet on the underdog and watch them win the race.  

In the United States there are two dominant styles of track racing....Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse. The Thoroughbreds are a longer leaner breed that normally runs an average of a mile.  

The Quarter Horse is faster, but they only race for about a 1/4 mile.  They are a shorter stockier breed, so they can not sprint as far. 

* the photo is from horse-racing-fixture.com

Precision is everything!

After writing about reining I realized how much reining is just the Dressage of the western discipline.Dressage is a beautiful sport; its kind of like ballet for horses. I trained in Dressage for three years and it was the best thing for me.  It gave me better control over my horse, I had a better seat, and it helped to balance my horse.  Even if you are a hunter or jumper this is a skill I would definitely want to train in.  

* picture from www.horsehowsbythebay.com/dressage.htm

These are a few things to make you laugh.  Sadly some of the stuff has actually happened to me.

The Amazing Dressage Test

(For horses unsuitable to become ANYTHING)

by: Joanna MacDonald et al

1. A --- enter at ordinary serpentine. 

2. C --- Stop dead. Stare in horror at judge and shy left. Continue at ordinary working gallop.

3.  E --- Stagger letf 20 or 15 or 22 meters in diameter circle or pear shape or five pointed star. avoid excessive cross of legs.

4. K --- Begin to halt.

Z --- Keep trying.

F --- You can do it

B --- Pulley rein. Give up.  Continue at "out of hand" gallop.

5. H --- Regain right stirrup. Continue at ordinary trot. Bouncing.

6. MXK --- Change rein, free walk, loose reins. Remove horse from judge's luncheon able. Ask judge for a leg up. Jump back into ring.

7. Z --- Turn down center line. Halt. Grin. Burst into tears.

Leave areana at free walk on long reins, loose language.

Everyone Loves Slides

Reining.....

This is a discipline that hits close to my heart.  Ever since I was a little girl I have always wanted to ride in the free style

 reining.

First of all those who don't know what reining is I will enlighten you some.  Reining is a western event that is normally set to a pattern. There are 8 movements in every pattern.

1. Circles - there are two speeds of circles...a large fast and a small slow.
2. Flying Lead Changes - this is when the horse switches directions and without breaking gait they change which foot strikes out first.
3. Run Downs - this leads up to the slide.
4. Sliding Stop - the horse will "sit down" and literally slide to a stop.
5. Back up - the horse must back 10 feet in a straight line.
6. Roll Back - after a stop the horse will turn 180 degrees and lope off.
7. Spins/Turnarounds - the horse will pivot 360 degrees multiple times.
8. Pause/Hesitate - the horse must settle before moving on to the next movement.

Free style is so much fun because you can show your individualism.  In free style you create your own pattern, set it to music and dress you and your horse in costume.

*photo from www.wired4music.com/micheal_bishop_bio.htm