Can you recommend some training exercises?
Doreen Atkinson: Transitions, and I mean at least 200 each work out. Walk to Trot to Walk, Trot to Canter to Trot, Walk to Canter to Walk, and transitions within the gaits. Transitions must be seamless. Lateral work: leg yields, shoulder in and haunches in until effortless and lots of bends (20m, 15m, 10m circles), changes of bends or serpentines. Practice these at obstacles as well. One must stretch the horse’s back before, during, and after each workout. I see lots of problems in transitions and bends as I judge.
Lisa Harding: My biggest “go to” advice for obstacle training would be regarding the jump. LOTS of people are scared to death of the jump, and their horses reflect this. One of the themes I carry throughout my training is only asking of the horse what they are capable of digesting. So make it bite sized. At the February clinic here in Aubrey, TX, I wanted to teach the jump to help others conquer this obstacle. So we made it bite sized by putting 4 ground poles before the jump, but not close to the jump, with the last pole about 25’ away. And the jump was a cross rail.
In this exercise, it’s important to remember to encourage your horse to move forward, legs on always in a supporting role (think about your legs being the walls preventing your horse from escaping and giving them security), keeping your eyes up, and having confidence for both yourself and your mount. The first round is done trotting. Once the horse becomes comfortable with what you’re asking, remove all but one of the ground poles, and ask for a canter approach and execution. Once the comfort has been met here, then you replace the cross rail with something that is more similar to a WE competition jump.
We used bags of shavings for the clinic, but you can also use bales of hay. I suggest mixing this up and even implementing other safe jumpable options to help you and your horse feel more at ease. The bags of shavings were laid on their side (shortest height) with the middle bag removed. Depending on the confidence of the rider, they either trotted or cantered through the path of the missing bag. After everyone conquered this step, the ground pole was removed, and the bags of shavings stood straight up. The riders had started to develop a feel for timing, stride, sending, holding back, etc. The riders then were able to jump the standing bags and even the pole on top of the bags. Confidence is #1 in this obstacle.
You are a trainer, competitor, and judge. How do these different roles influence one another in competition?
Doreen Atkinson: I love the process of training and spend most of my time in this area. Competition is fun, and competing gives me goals to aim for and points out areas I need to improve in my training. Learning what the judges expect guides me in my training and competing, and watching others ride as I judge helps me to understand the good and the not so good of the horse and rider, what riders are doing to help or hinder their horse. I also understand them as a rider and the difficulties they may be experiencing that ride. Training, competing, and judging connect the dots and shape me as an overall more well-rounded horsewoman.
Lisa Harding: The advantage of being a rider who is also a photographer is huge. I was able to photograph several WE competitions before ever competing in one. Being a rider, I could see the most subtle conversations between horse and rider. I noticed how riders would approach their courses, how they would compensate during their rides. What worked and what didn’t. As an equestrian photographer I am always your biggest fan; every ride I am rooting for the participant. When things don’t go as planned, my heart sinks. Not only from an analytical perspective, but one from camaraderie between riders.
As a trainer who has ridden an upper-level horse, and then moved to the young green stock, I was given a huge dose of humility. This is a tough sport, and we are better horsemen because of it. As far as a judge’s perspective I know exactly what it feels like to be in the competitors’ shoes, and it’s fantastic because even though I may have to score a movement or execution of a deserving mark, I am able to comment about how well they did. To give them affirmation for all of the hard hours spent in the saddle preparing for this moment. I am other riders’ biggest advocate as a competitor, as a photographer, as a trainer, and as a judge.
What advice can you give others interested in the sport?
Doreen Atkinson: Try it; you will like it! All horses, ponies, and mules are able to do this sport. Take your time, do not rush the training of your horse or move up the levels too fast. Practice, practice, practice! Have eyes on the ground, like an instructor, or go to clinics and schooling shows. Watch videos of some rides of WE and most of all read and know the rules so as not to be frustrated or lose points for lack of knowing what is expected.
Lisa Harding: If you are interested in WE, check to see if you have an event nearby, or a WE group that you can visit to see what it’s all about. If this is not an option, I would suggest looking up someone involved with WE and picking their brain. Be flexible, find the right fit for you. There are several avenues to be explored. Above all else, have fun.
spend most of my time in this area. Competition is fun, and competing gives me goals to aim for and points out areas I need to improve in my training. Learning what the judges expect guides me in my training and competing, and watching others ride as I judge helps me to understand the good and the not so good of the horse and rider, what riders are doing to help or hinder their horse. I also understand them as a rider and the difficulties they may be experiencing that ride. Training, competing, and judging connect the dots and shape me as an overall more well-rounded horsewoman.
Lisa Harding: The advantage of being a rider who is also a photographer is huge. I was able to photograph several WE competitions before ever competing in one. Being a rider, I could see the most subtle conversations between horse and rider. I noticed how riders would approach their courses, how they would compensate during their rides. What worked and what didn’t. As an equestrian photographer I am always your biggest fan; every ride I am rooting for the participant. When things don’t go as planned, my heart sinks. Not only from an analytical perspective, but one from camaraderie between riders.
As a trainer who has ridden an upper-level horse, and then moved to the young green stock, I was given a huge dose of humility. This is a tough sport, and we are better horsemen because of it. As far as a judge’s perspective I know exactly what it feels like to be in the competitors’ shoes, and it’s fantastic because even though I may have to score a movement or execution of a deserving mark, I am able to comment about how well they did. To give them affirmation for all of the hard hours spent in the saddle preparing for this moment. I am other riders’ biggest advocate as a competitor, as a photographer, as a trainer, and as a judge.
What advice can you give others interested in the sport?
Doreen Atkinson: Try it; you will like it! All horses, ponies, and mules are able to do this sport. Take your time, do not rush the training of your horse or move up the levels too fast. Practice, practice, practice! Have eyes on the ground, like an instructor, or go to clinics and schooling shows. Watch videos of some rides of WE and most of all read and know the rules so as not to be frustrated or lose points for lack of knowing what is expected.
Lisa Harding: If you are interested in WE, check to see if you have an event nearby, or a WE group that you can visit to see what it’s all about. If this is not an option, I would suggest looking up someone involved with WE and picking their brain. Be flexible, find the right fit for you. There are several avenues to be explored. Above all else, have fun.
All horses, ponies, and mules are able to do this sport. Take your time, do not rush the training of your horse or move up the levels too fast. Practice, practice, practice!
~ Doreen Atkinson
Photo Credit: Bruce W. Menke, Working Equitation TX