Canadian Horse Journal - PREVIEW - April 2014

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14 03 01 CH 8.375x10.75 P b.aiCanadian Horse Journal8.375" x 10.75"

CavaliaMarch edition

Melanie Ruel 1-514-879-9002 x3037Robert Vignola 1-514-879-9002 x3012

“A RARE SEQUEL THAT SURPASSES THE ORIGINAL.”

Miami Herald

MORE SHOWS ADDED • Opens April 23Under the White Big Top • Canada Olympic Park • Calgary

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In This Issue

page 50

HORSE HEALTH

14 A Second Chance for Northstar Against all odds, a severely burned horse survives following a brutal attack

RIDING & TRAINING

24 Developing a Stronger Riding Position Exercises for the hunter seat equitation rider

TACK & GEAR

32 Is Your Horse Left-Handed? Understanding your horse’s natural asymmetry and its implications for saddle fit

TRAILERING & TRANSPORT

38 Reducing Transport Stress Minimizing stress in horses for safer, more comfortable trailering

HOLIDAYS ON HORSEBACK

50 Prairie Dreaming Fulfilling the dream of riding across the Saskatchewan prairie

58 Pura Vida! Riding in Costa Rica An exotic horseback adventure through rainforests and along sandy beaches

page 38

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2 www.horsejournals.com • April 2014

contents • April 2014

http://www.cavalia.net

contents • April 2014

page 10

Departments1 To Subscribe

6 Editorial

8 Letters and Tough Question Do you support Ontario breeders in their $65 million lawsuit against the OLG?

10 Hoofbeat

68 New & Noteworthy

69 Country Homes & Acreages

70 Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association News

71 Ontario Equestrian Federation News

EquiNetwork73 Hitchin’ Post

74 Horses for Sale

75 Classifieds

76 Roundup

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page 8


THE HOOFBEAT

right: Julia tops of Calgary, Alberta, riding VDL groep

Camara.

Calgary’s Julia Tops Sponsored by KingslandBy STarTing gaTe CommuniCaTionS

Julia Tops of Calgary, alberta, has become the first junior rider in north america to be sponsored by leading equestrian apparel company, Kingsland.

Tops, 16, is a regular competitor in the junior divisions, training under Dick Carvin and Susie Schroer of meadow grove

The royal manitoba Winter Fairover a Century of agricultural excellence and

World Class entertainmentBy ShanTelle roBerTS

The royal manitoba Winter Fair is in its 107th year and will be held this year from march 31 to april 5 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, manitoba. established in 1882, the Provincial exhibition of manitoba was granted patronage by Queen elizabeth ii in 1970 and is now one of the largest agricultural events in Western Canada, providing agricultural education and awareness while showcasing world class sporting events and family entertainment.

equestrian performance classes are one of the largest attractions at the fair, and draw competitors from all over north america to compete in classes that include grand Prix Show Jumping, hackney Pony and horse competitions, and heavy horse competitions.

Barrel racing and mini Chuck Wagon races will be new classes highlighted this year, adding some fast paced excitement to the roster of

events. a team of miniature horses from Sheho, Saskatchewan’s hawreluik racing Company, will navigate a smaller version of a chuckwagon course in a thrilling display of speed and skill.

The Presidents’ Choice SuperDogs will be returning this year to represent canine talent with agility drills that will impress and entertain the audience.

at the learning Stage located in the agricultural awareness area, educational entertainment and interactive demonstrations will showcase cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. The entertainment Stage will be featuring daily performances by Brandon based musician amanda Stott and Ted outerbridge, magician and illusionist.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the royal Manitoba Winter Fair website: www.brandonfairs.com.


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Farm in los angeles, California. as the daughter of former Canadian equestrian Team member Tani Zeidler and Dutch olympic gold medalist Jan Tops, Tops comes by her love of show jumping sport honestly.

“it is an honour to be part of such an incredible team; everyone is so thoughtful and welcoming,” said Tops who, despite her young age, regularly competes at such iconic venues as Spruce meadows in Calgary, aB, and the FTi Consulting Winter equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fl, as well as on the global Champions Tour.

as part of her initial two-year sponsorship, Tops will proudly wear Kingsland’s line of apparel and participate in photo shoots and various other promotional endeavours.

“We are very excited to have such a promising young rider joining our team,” said lin Kingsrød, founder of Kingsland. “adding Julia has an important value to our brand, especially in the u.S. and Canada where we wish to mark a stronger presence.”

Based in norway, Kingsland offers a wide variety of choices, from formal riding attire to more casual clothing for street and every day barn wear.

“i love Kingsland’s products because they combine equestrian apparel with normal street clothing like down jackets and fleeces; it’s an interesting mix of clothing,” said Tops.

a First Class honours student at Calgary’s Strathcona Tweedsmuir School, Tops is involved in the model united nations program which takes her to conferences around the world, and also volunteers at her local food bank. in addition, she combines charity work with her love of riding as a rider ambassador for JustWorld international.

tops is based at Zeidler Farm just south of Calgary in DeWinton, Alberta. www.zeidlerfarm.ca.

Canadian Trainers impressive at 2014 road To The horseBy ShanTelle roBerTS

The 2014 road to the horse competition, held march 14–16, 2014 in lexington, Kentucky, was an extraordinary display of horsemanship that thrilled and surprised spectators. The three day competition for the Colt Starting World Champion title requires the roster of chosen trainers to create a strong foundation with their selected three-year-old american Quarter horse from 6666 ranch and the american Quarter horse association (aQha) remuda. The distractions of the crowd and time constraints test the competitors’ expertise with a final obstacle course resulting in a winner being decided by the judging panel. The lineup of trainers included Dan Steers (australia), antoine Cloux (Switzerland) and Jonathan Field (Canada), with one Wild Card to be determined at the event.

The ram Trucks Wild Card Challenge preceded the main event, providing an amazing opportunity for selected trainers to compete for a spot in the following year’s Championships. The Wild Care trainers spend one year with their elected three-year-old colt from the aQha remuda out of 6666 ranch and then demonstrate their skills at the next road to

the horse by executing a ridden pattern and obstacle course that will challenge the twelve months of training invested into their mount. This year, Canadian trainer Jim anderson won his shot at the Championship title after showcasing his hard work with the 6666 ranch Colt, Six Flo Buck. anderson then stepped straight into the Championship round pen with the title in his sights. in an outstanding demonstration of horsemanship, and a close finish, anderson went on to claim the 2014 Colt Starting World Champion prize which brought the audience to their feet.

Fellow Canadian, talented trainer, and in house Canadian horse Journal writer Jonathan Field, received the Jack Brainard horsemanship award for his exceptional display of horsemanship.

For your chance to learn from Jonathan, reserve your tickets to the Jonathan Field and Friends international horsemanship education Conference taking place September 20-21, 2014, in Calgary, alberta. other esteemed clinicians will include Craig Johnson, george morris, nathan Day, herb Williams and Bruce logan.

Visit www.jonathanfield.net for more information.

THE HOOFBEAT

nike recognizes equestrian Sport with young rider SponsorshipBy ShanTelle roBerTS

it was a whirlwind of excitement that surrounded the young rising dressage star ayden uhlir with the announcement of her new endorsement deal with nike. This partnership is the first of its kind in equestrian sport with the athletics mega brand that is said to be valued at $10.7 billion dollars.

The 18-year-old who won gold medals at both the 2013 north american young riders Championships, and uSeF young rider national Championships expressed her thoughts about her newest sponsor on her blog.

“What it means for me is the support, opportunities, and recognition that the world’s premier athletic company can provide. it means access to mainstream media and sponsors. it means awareness and perhaps a growth in the fan base for equestrian sports.”

This marks a major milestone in equestrian sport that ayden is hoping will leave a lasting impression and create a catalyst for change in the industry that may lead to more mainstream exposure.

“i want their experiences in our industry to show them the beauty, discipline, power and harmony of our human and equine competitors. in this generation of increasing recognition of niche sports, nike focusing a lens on us could bring great change for us all!”

The sponsorship will include promotional appearances, sporting the brand’s trademark swoosh, and performance bonuses for every major competition win.

ms. uhlir currently resides in rancho Santa Fe, California where she is taking a year off from her academic career to focus on dressage with her 14-year-old KWPn gelding, Sjapoer under coach Christine Taurig.

11April 2014 • Canadian horse journal

above: Julia tops of Calgary, Alberta, riding VDL groep Camara.

below: Jack Brainard presents Jonathan Field with the Jack Brainard horsesmanship Award.

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hen riders take the time to build a good foundation with a correct position and basic training skills, they will end up reaching their training and riding goals faster than if they skip these steps in the beginning of their riding careers. A “correct” position is determined by the style or discipline of riding you participate in. I am going to give you some of my favorite rider strengthening exercises for developing a stronger hunter seat equitation position.

One of the great things about riding is that no matter how skilled you are, your position in the saddle can always be improved upon. Before you start doing exercises to strengthen your position, you first need to understand what a correct hunter seat equitation position is. So, first we will review the rider’s body, breaking it down into four sections: the leg, base of support, upper body, and hands and arms.

riding & TrAining

Develop a Stronger Riding Position Exercises for the

Hunter Seat Equitation RiderBy SArAh MellIngS

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Correct position is the foundation of all effective riding and allows you to ride efficiently while expending the least amount of energy. Here, QMS alumni Danielle Fritz, DVM, demonstrates a strong hunter seat equitation position with a good lower leg.


The LegTo check the length of your stirrups while mounted,

take your foot out of your stirrup iron and let your leg relax down. For riding on the flat, your stirrup iron should hit slightly below your anklebone. Adjust your stirrup leathers in relation to your own body structure with the help of an experienced instructor’s eye. Place your stirrup iron on the ball of your foot with the outside branch of the iron touching your pinky toe and on a slight angle in. let your toe slightly turn out so that the stirrup hangs perpendicular to your horse’s side, then push your heels down and in just behind the girth, and establish contact with your calf and inner knee bone. By relaxing your ankle and letting your weight “sink” into your heel, you are lowering your centre of gravity so that your leg is down and around your horse, making you more secure and tighter in the saddle.

Base of Support you should have contact with your horse evenly

distributed between your calf, your inner knee bone, and your thigh. your seat should be placed in the forward part of your saddle, close to the pommel. Since we are focusing on exercises at the walk, this is the perfect opportunity to feel your seat bones and relax your hips by letting your horse

move you. Creating a vertical line, your hips should remain directly over your heels. The security of your upper body is completely dependent upon your base and leg.

Upper Body you want to think about having a tall body by relaxing your

shoulders, looking forward with your eyes, and opening your chest and rib area. Think about lifting your chest and stomach and pretend there is a string pulling you from the top of your helmet up into the sky. A well-positioned upper body should be a completely natural, yet elegant, tall carriage.

above: The basic position without irons. Keep your legs in position, and avoid the tendency to just let your legs hang there.

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left: Correct position is the foundation of all effective riding and allows you to ride efficiently while expending the least amount of energy. Here, QMS alumni Danielle Fritz, DVM, demonstrates a strong hunter seat equitation position with a good lower leg.

http://www.horseherbs.com


Hands and Armsyour goal is to have “elastic” arms while keeping a

straight line from your elbow to the horse’s mouth. you want your elbows relaxed right at the place where your belt would be on your pants. A clinician I once rode with told me to think about holding a beach ball, and this worked really well to help with stiff arms. hands should be placed just above and slightly in front of the withers about two to three inches apart, thumbs just inside of the vertical. Keep your fingers closed so that you can feel the palm of your hand with your fingertips, thumbs pressing down on the bite of the reins. your arms and hands need to be strong enough to control your horse, but relaxed enough to allow him freedom. I like Centered riding® founder Sally Swift’s visual of holding baby birds in your hands — you don’t hold your fingers so tight that you kill the birds, but also not so loose that the birds fly away. My students always like that one and it gets lots of laughs.

Exercises at the WalkTwo-point at the walk: When you are in your two-point position, you lift your weight off the horse’s back and put it down into your heels and stirrup irons. Think of “crouching” in the saddle, always keeping your hands ahead of your shoulders. This is the position used for racing, galloping cross-country, and in hunter seat equitation. If you are new to this position, I would

above: Riding without stirrup irons

is the best way to establish an

independent base of support, and will

teach your body to follow the horse’s

movement with the small of your back instead of getting

rigid and stiffening against your horse.

right: Practicing your sitting trot

without irons will help you develop a longer

leg position. Once you pick up the sitting trot, your leg will

naturally want to get shorter so you want to

constantly think about stretching your

leg down, long, and underneath your body. P

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advise you to bridge your reins and grab onto the mane to ensure you do not pull your horse in the mouth.

I like to have riders do many different variations with this exercise, such as placing their reins in the outside hand and putting their inside hand on their hip, arm outstretched to the side, on the head, on the small of their back, etc. I also like the rider to hold the two-point position while making upward transitions to the trot and back down again to the halt, working on developing strength and balance.

Standing in your irons: This exercise can be done at the halt, or, to make it a little more challenging, try it at the walk. Push both of your hands down onto your horse’s withers; this will ensure that if you lose your balance you will not grab your horse in the mouth. Stand up in your stirrup irons, driving your heel down and in just behind the girth, keeping your calf against your horse. hold this position and then sink down into the front of your saddle, making every effort to keep that great leg position.

This exercise will help to establish balance and correct leg position.

Crossing your irons: Pull your buckle down from the stirrup bar about 18 inches before you cross the stirrup over the withers. Make sure that they are completely flat under the skirt or the lump will prevent you from placing your leg correctly. hold your leg position just as you would if you had your stirrups. Keep your toes raised, your heels down, and do not allow yourself to let your leg just “hang there.” Whenever you fall out of position, come back to the walk, correct yourself, and then continue with the exercise. To correct yourself, grab onto the pommel of the saddle, relax and lower your thighs, drawing yourself closer to the pommel while holding your leg position. What generally tends to happen is that your knees and thighs will ride up, and that in turn forces your seat to the back of the saddle, which you want to prevent.

riding without stirrup irons is the best way to establish an independent base of support, and will teach

your body to follow the horse’s movement with the small of your back instead of getting rigid and stiffening against your horse. There are many different exercises that you can work on without your irons.

Two-point without irons at the walk: This is definitely a strengthening exercise. Visualize that you have your irons, and get up into your two-point position. hold the position as long as you can; as soon as you feel yourself slipping out of position, sit back into the seat and readjust, then get back up in your two-point position again.

The first time you try this exercise, you will be amazed at how difficult it is, but keep trying to hold the position slightly longer every time.

Exercises at the Trot and CanterThe posting trot: The trot has two beats, with the horse’s legs moving in diagonal pairs. Pick up your rising trot, checking that you are posting on the correct diagonal so that your horse is able to balance and support your weight, and making sure that your horse is in front of your leg and trotting at approximately eight miles per hour. Drop your outside iron and continue posting.

This is a great exercise, since at one time or another we all lose a stirrup iron. you want to be able to continue with your ride without losing your position and security, and having to stop and look down to pick up your iron again. By practicing this exercise, you will gain the strength, balance, and confidence to continue your ride and maintain your position while you pick up your stirrup iron.

Dropping your stirrup irons is also an acceptable equitation test for a judge to ask. As you are posting the trot, when you drop your outside stirrup iron and continue posting, visualize that you still have your iron, keeping even contact with your horse through your calf and inner knee, toe raised, and heel down. you want to stay over the centre of your horse, keeping your hands quiet and your eyes looking straight ahead.

Two-point at the trot and canter: Bend your knees and lift your seat slightly out of the saddle. Pretend that your knees are giant springs, absorbing the motion of the trot. Close your hip angle about 30 degrees and drive your weight down into your leg, keeping your hip in line with your heels. Think about crouching in the saddle; both hands should be even and ahead of your shoulders, pushing down into the horse’s neck if you need to help support your upper body.

ExERCiSES:• Maketransitionsuptotrotanddowntowalkandhalt

while holding your two-point position;

• Rideachangeofdirection,holdingyourtwo-point;

•Bridgeyourreinsinyouroutsidehandand,holdingyour two-point, put your inside hand on your hip, on your head, and outstretched to the side;

• Canterandgoupinyourtwo-pointandbacktoyourthree-point (sitting) position keeping your horse’s canter rhythm and pace the same as you go between both positions.

Up for three, down for one: This is a great one for

above: Riding in two-point without

stirrup irons at any gait is a great exercise

for developing a stronger leg. Your legs should be in the same

position that they would be in if you still

had your irons.

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practicing rhythm, balance, and strength in the two-point position. Pick up your trot and then get up into your two-point position. Once you are feeling balanced, hold the two-point for three beats and then very lightly, without falling back onto your seat and behind the motion, lightly touch the front of your seat to the saddle for one beat.

When you first try this, count out loud — “one, two, three, sit, one, two, three, sit.” This will help you keep the rhythm and tell you right away if you are doing the exercise correctly. you can of course make up your own variations to this exercise, going up for as many beats as you like and then sitting for one. Once you are feeling stronger, go ahead and give this one a try without your irons!

Sitting trot and canter without irons: This works to develop a longer leg position. Before you head out to the rail, bring your leg out and away from the saddle, and then wrap it down and around your horse, keeping your toe raised and heel down. Once you pick up the sitting trot, your leg will naturally want to get shorter so you want to constantly think about stretching your leg down, long, and underneath your body.

ExERCiSES: • Sitthetrotwithonehandonthepommel

aboe: Author Sarah Mellings with demonstration riders and QMS grade 12 students Juliet Westlake (left) and Elizabeth Graham (right).

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of your saddle, to work on correcting your position;

• Pressonearmtothemiddleofyourbackin the sitting trot, working on improving your posture;

• Upwardanddownwardtransitionsfromsitting trot to canter, keeping that long leg position;

• Whenyoufeelyourpositionslipping,make a transition down to walk to re-establish your correct position and then continue with the exercise you were working on.

Posting trot and two-point without irons: This works at developing a stronger leg. your legs should be in the same position that they would be in if you still had your irons. Place your legs in the correct position at the walk, and then pick up your working trot, again checking that you are on the correct posting diagonal.

ExERCiSES: • Postthetrotwithoutyourirons;when

you feel yourself fall out of position, walk and correct;

• Two-pointpositionatthetrotandatthecanter, keeping that correct leg position;

• Topushpastyourcomfortzone,whenyou

are beginning to feel uncomfortable, find a focal point and continue to ride without your irons until you get to it.

These are just a few of many different exercises that you can practice with and without your irons — you just need to be creative. remember that you should slowly introduce these exercises into your regular riding sessions for just a few minutes every

day. It takes time to build new muscle memory, so as much as you want to push your fitness level, you also need to take care not to overdo it and hurt yourself.

By incorporating these exercises into your regular training program, you will become a more secure and therefore a more relaxed rider.

Stay positive and good luck this season! b

Sarah Mellings is an Equine Canada (EC) competition coach who has been teaching and coaching at Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan, BC, on Vancouver Island since 2008. Sarah coaches an average of 50 riders a week in the ring, teaches the school’s “Train to Compete” grades 8 to 12 classroom classes, teaches the Equine Sciences 11 class, and is always mentoring and preparing riders for their EC Rider Level testing and Instructors certification. Originally from Kamloops, BC, Sarah has been very fortunate to ride with some very successful trainers over the years, and their influences have driven her to be disciplined in all aspects of horsemanship. Sarah is also available for clinics. Please email Sarah at [email protected] for more information.

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Is Your Horse Left-Handed?

Understanding the natural asymmetry of the horse and its implications for saddle fit.

By JOChen SChleeSe, CMS, EqUinEERgonoMiST

A saddle that sits straight on the horse’s back will allow the rider to sit properly and in balance, making it easier for her to use the proper aids essential to dressage.

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D id you know that up to 90 percent of the world’s population is right-handed? Approximately nine out of

ten people are said to be right-handed, and of the 10 percent who are left-handed, males slightly outnumber females.

Most horses, however, are left-handed (or at least what we refer to as dominant on the left-hand side), and it is usually very obvious. There are many theories as to what causes this predisposition. The german Fn (the governing body of riding in germany) even recognizes in its rule books that most horses are born with “a

natural asymmetry” and that it is “cerebral, or determined at birth.” It could be caused by the way the equine embryo grows in the mare’s womb. At least 70 percent of the thousands of horses we see each year are left-handed, while about 20 percent are right-handed, and the remaining 10 percent are relatively even. I am of the opinion that asymmetry occurs in part because of domestication, and due to the conditions in which we train and keep our horses (see photos , , and on this page). There are various theories on the causes of asymmetry in horses, but I will

From the measurements we have accumulated over the last 34 years from many different horses, we have determined that (a) about 70 percent are more strongly muscled on the left; (b) about 10 percent are evenly muscled; and (c) about 20 percent are larger on the right.

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focus on the issues that arise as a result.Most of the horses I have analysed over the past 34

years were kept in stables or living on relatively flat pastureland, and most had more musculature on the left, over and behind the left shoulder, with a shoulder blade that was obviously higher and further back on the left (see images and on this page). In nature, the trend may be to more evenly muscled horses, but I have not dealt with enough wild horses to be able to comment on this with authority.

When working with horses, humans seem to cultivate this affinity to the left – we mount from the left, lead on the left, saddle on the left – some horses are even distinctly uneasy when approached from the right. When two horses fight, they can be observed turning their left shoulder to the aggressor. Often it is easier to canter on a left lead. have you experienced this?

After the age of two, the development of the horse’s skeletal structure is pretty much complete. Correct

training may impact muscular development to help counteract natural asymmetry, but this inherent asymmetry must be taken into consideration when fitting a saddle properly.

The saddle support area of the horse’s back begins immediately behind the shoulder blade at the base of the withers. The shape and position of the gullet plate in particular needs to accommodate any unevenness in the shoulder area. Its function cannot be substituted or eliminated by any amount of re-flocking, shimming, or orthotics. It is usually necessary to fit the gullet plate asymmetrically at the shoulder to accommodate the larger shoulder and to achieve the necessary support equally on both sides. Fitting a gullet plate in this manner will not result in a crooked saddle; logic dictates that you fit each shoulder as it should be fit. Anyone who has one foot that’s larger than the other will recognize this problem when searching for shoes that fit: do you buy a pair to fit the larger foot and use

above: When working with

horses, most people have a natural

preference for the left side. We tend to

lead, tack up, and mount from the left, and some horses are

so accustomed to this tendency that

they become uneasy when approached

from the right.

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This cross section shows an even skeletal structure; and a distinctly higher left shoulder blade, with a stronger humerus on the right.

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insoles [shims] for the smaller foot, or do you squish the larger foot into a smaller pair to accommodate the smaller foot? logically, you would buy shoes to fit the larger foot, which is exactly why the gullet plate should be adjusted to fit the larger shoulder at the tree points. If this truism is ignored, and you put a saddle with an even gullet plate on a horse with a larger shoulder on the left or right, it will inevitably fall to one side as it will be pushed there by the more muscled shoulder. This is demonstrated in the photo of the rider from the back, a position commonly seen; even some of top riders when photographed from the back will demonstrate this phenomenon.

If the left side is larger, farther down the horse’s back the saddle will actually put pressure on the left side of the spinal column, because it no longer lies in the proper position within the saddle support area, which keeps the spinal vertebrae clear of the panel. What happens to the rider? She will shift to the right as well, but will try to counteract this by shifting her weight to the left. There will be less support for her left seat bone because the saddle has shifted to the right, which causes her to collapse further at the hip. This extra pressure will cause the saddle to shift even more to the right. Does this sound familiar?

A crooked rider will have difficulty using the proper aids, especially through the subtle muscle contractions and shifts in weight intrinsic to dressage. She may find increased difficulty with a right canter lead. her back may start to ache, and her hips may throb. The horse will feel resistance, and the continued pressure of the saddle on the left side of the vertebral column will increase stress to the sacroiliac joint, which can cause a crooked pelvis for the horse and possibly lead to complete lameness in the right hind.

This is not to say that saddles should be made crooked. rather, the ability to adjust the gullet place asymmetrically is essential. To accommodate the horse’s conformation, adjustment should be possible not just in width, which is common for some of the saddles with interchangeable gullet plates, but also in angle and independently at both ends. Changes can then be further addressed when necessary as the horse’s degree of asymmetry changes over the course of its lifetime. Just like a blacksmith

above: This saddle has a number of problems. Besides having shifted to the right, its gullet is too narrow and the panels are compressed.

above: A symmetrical gullet plate may actually cause problems as it does not accommodate the natural unevenness of the horse.

Below: : This gullet plate has been opened wider on the left (as seen from the front) to ensure there is sufficient room for the horse’s larger left shoulder.

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forms an iron to fit the hoof, a gullet plate should be formed to fit the horse, rather than being in a permanently fixed position.

Once the gullet plate has been adjusted to accommodate any natural unevenness at the shoulder, the saddle should be sitting straight on the horse’s back when standing still and especially during movement. This allows the rider to sit properly and in balance, and keeps the pressure off the horse’s vertebrae.

rider exercises to strengthen your core will help you to sit straight and balanced in the saddle. But unless you take your horse’s conformation into consideration when fitting your saddle in the first place, your personal ability and strengths as a rider will always be compromised. Think about how much more successful you would be if you could actually use the saddle to help achieve your riding goals, rather than struggling against the saddle to maintain your position. b

Jochen Schleese, Certified Master Saddler, Equine Ergonomist, is a leader in the concept of saddle fit, and teaches his

Saddlefit 4 Life® philosophy worldwide. He is also the author of Suffering in Silence,

The Saddle-Fit Link to Physical and Psychological Trauma in Horses.

www.schleese.comwww.saddlefit4life.com

above: This rider is trying to compensate for her saddle sliding over to the right due to the horse’s larger left shoulder. She is counteracting by shifting her weight to the left and collapsing her left hip.

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http://www.tombalding.com/

http://www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

http://www.victoriasaddlery.com

http://www.schleese.com

http://www.saddlefit4life.com

Documents

Canadian Horse Journal - PREVIEW - April 2014