This week in lessons

As promised, November is going to be "Challenge Month" and I will be keeping score...still not sure the prizes...I figure we can try the challenges again in March and see if their is any improvement.

The challenges will be divided into four categories: Strides/Pace, Turns, Equitation and Transitions, with each week focusing on one of the categories. Some challenges will be available to all riders, some only to jumpers, and some only to those who can canter.

This week's category will be Strides/Pace, with rider's needing to be proficient at canter to participate, although all riders can benefit from the lesson plan.

There will be two challenges:
1) There will be two jumps/poles set across the diagonal, one at either end. Riders will be challenged to add strides or leave strides out, trying to get a specified number of strides. Points will be awarded to the rider who can get the most strides, the least strides, and who is able to match the desired number of strides consistently (or most consistently).
2) For the Count Down Challenge, riders will have to count down the number of canter strides before take off, starting at "two, one", then "three, two, one". It is important when doing this that you look UP, as if you look down you will misjudge where the jump is, and almost always chip. Remember when trying to add strides, look up and balance the horse up into your hands, don't clutch at the horse and pull it onto its forehand. We will try this on a straight line...and may try it on a curve too.

Both these exercises are just to get rider's thinking about their horse's stride, and how the horse gets to the jump. It also lets me know how aware rider's are of their horses stride and approach to the jump.

Important to note though, that seeing how far away you can count down strides to a jump is just for fun and is not an indication of how good a rider you may be; keeping an even rhythm and good pace is far more important when jumping than "seeing" a distance.

Being able to select and ride a certain number of strides in a line on the other hand is very important, as when showing hunters, 12-13" strides are expected, and when showing jumpers, being able to add strides in a line can help you make a hard turn, or leaving out strides can help you save some time on the clock!

Karen