3 Equi
3 Equi
Horv Do I Do This?
77,e Excrciscs 41
s. Make sure you choose a rein hold that is appropriate for
your horse's bit, rein type, and ability to neck rein.
Keep in Mind...
____ BENEFITS
here are many different options available to Working Equitation riders. Experi-
T menting with your equipment and rein holds will help you determine what works
best for you and your horse.
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[
Exercise: Preparation for One-Handed Riding 20
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Prerequisites
Horv Do I Do This?
1. As you are riding your horse, bring your hands closer together.
"/he Excn:isc-s 43
3. Rely mostly on your legs and seat as you ride transitions
changes of bend, and straightness. '
4. While in motion, place your reins in one hand for a few Strides.
Keep in Mind...
3:1 Reln hol4 Engllsh, * The shoulder holding the reins shouldn't stay ahead of
Both curb reins are
held in the left hand. the other shoulder.
The left hand is held
directly over the horse's
midline. The right hand * Keep your seat deep in the saddle.
only holds the right
snaffle rein.
* If you are riding with two reins, use a 3:1 rein hold (see
photos) when two-handed.
• Be sure to always carry your reins in the sarne hand. In cornpetition you rnust always
use the sarne hand far your rein hand or face possible disqualification.
While cantering on a 20-meter circle, the rider has a rein in each hand (A). She is satisfled with
her horse's connection and outline, so she places the reins in one hand (8). Before her connection
degrades, she will go back to riding two-handed.
BENEFITS
·rhe. Excrciscs 45
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Exercise: Pivot 21
Prerequisites
How Do I Do This?
1. Begin a rein-back.
Keep in Mind...
1. When your horse can maintain his balance rocked back on his
haunches, you can do half and full turns.
2. Omit the rein-back ifyou can achieve the needed balance without it.
BENEFITS
Prerequisites
1. At the conclusion of the rein-back, immediately walk forward without halting (C).
6. Repeat Steps 2 to 4.
!Ceep in Mind...
'file F:xerciscs 47
A
1 KEY:
Walk ......... ➔
1 KEY:
Rein back _.¡
--------0-
• There is no halting in this exercise. Your
horse should either be moving forward
or back.
Prerequisites
How Do I Do 1his?
l, Ride forward.
Repeat Steps 2 to 6.
Keep in 1\llind...
BENEF ITS
T his is practice for immobility while the rider changes the r~in hold .. lt a_lso reinforces
the minimal use of hand in the rein-back. Several Workmg Equ1tat1on obstacles
require the horse to back through a gap, which they are often uncomf ortable doing
until they are taught to do so with conf1dence.
Exercise: Half-Turn-on-the-Forehand 24
////////////,1.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
How Do I Do This?
l. Move your horse's front feet to the left one or two steps, pivoting around the left hind (A).
• Halt.
• Move your horse's hind feet one or two steps to the right, pivoting around the left
front (B).
5
• Halt, change to right bend without moving his feet.
c. Move your horse's front feet to the right one or two steps, pivoting around the right hind (C).
·n,e Excrciscs 51
KEY:
Path offront fect--+
Path ofhind foct ~
--------0-
8. Move your horse's hind feet one or two * Take your time in the halts to set up
steps to the left, pivoting around the your aids correctly far the next step.
right front (D).
* Sit deeply in the saddle. Avoid leaning
9. Halt. forward and bracing against the reins.
BENEFITS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
ou will gain greater control of your horse's feet with the ability
Y to plant one foot and move the rest.
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Setup
l. Set up your horse with his right front foot next to a drum, gate,
jump standard, or table.
2. Allow him time to settle and relax with his foot in this position.
líeep in Mind...
• Your horse can't always see his feet or the object his feet are
approaching. This may make him nervous about what you are
asking.
• Go slowly. Once you think you've waited long enough for your
horse to settle, wait a little longer.
* Horses typically have more trouble with their hind feet next to
an object.
·¡ he F.xcrciscs ~3
Variations
BENEFITS
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* If you don't have a fenee, use a raíl on
A the ground.
X How Do 1 Do 7his?
KEY:
Halt X 4. Halt with your horse's body parallel to
Legyield _ _ .
Walk Transition e:::::> the fenee, with your knee at the cone.
Trot ......... ¡,.
Keep in Mind...
• Exercise 26: Groundwork: Placing Feet • Keep forward momentum until the
Next to Obstacles (p. 53). final halt.
Prerequisites
A• Setup
••
•• ••
X ----··~ :,; X * A 7- to 8-foot (2- to 2.4-rneter) rope
strung between posts (or jump stan-
dards) 6½ feet (2 rneters) apart.
How Do I Do This?
Keep in lvlind...
Variations
1. Approach the gate from the short end. Stop at the first gate post,
pickup the rope, and walk forward. Hang up the rope on the sec-
ond gate post.
2. Approach the gate from the short end. Stop at the second gate post,
pickup the rope, and back up to open the gate. Hang up the rope,
and ride forward through the gate.
BENEFITS
his will help your horse get comfortable with the rope gate
T obstacle.
Prerequisites
• Same as Exercise 28, but with both ends of the rope on the same
post.
How Do I Do This?
1he Excrciscs 57
3. Your horse should be parallel to the
opening of the gate.
Variations
BENEFITS
Prerequisites
1
l. Lift the end of the rope.
'1hr Excrciscs 59
8. Conclude your rein-back with a square Variations
halt; your hand should be within rea ch
of the gate post. 1. All levels above Introductory (Level 1),
approach at canter, and canter away
9. Hang up the rope. from the obstacle after completion.
10. Turn your horse and trot away. 2. Omit the halts as you might during
a Speed round.
Keep in Mind...
BENEFITS
* Be careful the rape doesn't get caught
on your stirrup or reins.
his is a competition obstacle that
* lt is better to drop the rope than to pull
a standard over or get pulled off your
T demonstrates the horse's ability
to start and stop moving in many di-
horse. rections within a small space.
Prerequisites
Horv Do I Do 1his?
KEY:
Walk ·····•·••:> 2. As you approach the post, flex your
TOF in motion, path of hind feet ->
horse's nose toward the post.
4 _use your inside leg to encourage your horse to take larger steps
with his hind feet than his front feet while you continue to face
your horse toward the post.
s. After you've turned 180 degrees, ride forward toward the first post
and repeat the turn there.
Keep in Mind...
Variations
4. • You can change direction by riding between the posts after your
turns.
-- BENEFITS
Setup
,.-.
l , ., \1 ¡,. :' I'' •
•• 1
·' • * Any gate that freely swings in both
•·•·11tlft. • / ' ,•t>iliillf :_f·¡i '-/, 1i¡ 1• •'. ~ rJ directions.
1ll ¡ j . :' • ') Í: i
..•. - 11 1111 1 ' • • J ..iit /
~ :. • A friend on foot or mounted on
a gate-savvy horse.
variations
_Have your friend pass you the gate, then maintain control of the
1
gate as you sidestep it closed.
z. Have your friend pass you the gate, and ask your horse to move
toward it, as the gate is moving toward you.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BENEFITS
Y our horse will gain conf1dence around gates and with objects
moving toward him. This will build your horse's trust that you
will keep him safe.
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Prerequisites
* Exercise
• 27
: Leg-Yield Swoop (p. SS).
* A helper on foot.
How Do I Do This?