9 February 2023 - Flipbook - Page 70
70
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
APRIL 01 2021
Joanne and ‘Mon Ami’ From the
secure victory in
horse’s
Warrington Grand Prix mouth
J
OANNE Blair from Antrim had
great success in Warrington
Equestrian
Centre,
Co.
Kilkenny on St. Patrick’s Day,
when she claimed the top
spot in the Spring Tour Grand Prix
riding ‘Mon Ami’ (known as ‘Ollie’).
From an impressive start list of 61,
including some of the best known
names in national show jumping,
Joanne and ‘Ollie’ were sixth to jump
in the rst phase and jumped clear.
There were 17 double clear rounds.
Joanne said: “I knew that I could
move him up in the second phase
and try to produce a double clear
and the plan was to try and win. He is
naturally quick and, for a little horse,
has plenty of stride, so I decided
to take a stride out in two places in
the jump off, which I think helped to
eventually win the class.”
‘Mon Ami’ (‘Ollie’) is a nine-yearold gelding, by ‘Sandro Boy’, out of
‘Blackmoor Diamond Delight’. He
was bred by Brian McClintock in Co.
Antrim.
“We bought him when he was a
foal and we have produced him up
through the age classes and now to
Grand Prix Level,” said Joanne.
With
so
many
equestrian
competitions, of all disciplines,
cancelled at present, it is heartening
to see top level show jumping being
able to take place in the Republic and,
moreover, to see local competitors
making their mark in such good
company!
Well done Joanne and ‘Ollie’!
RESULTS
Wednesday, March 17
Spring Tour Grand Prix at
Warrington Equestrian Centre, Co.
Kilkenny: 1) Joanne Blair, Mon Ami
(ISH) 29.40; 2) Derek McConnell, Izzy
(KWPN) 29.73; 3) Eddie Moloney,
Temple Alice 30.07; 4) Jason Foley,
Killossery Krescendo 30.09; 5) Kevin
Gallagher, Ballypatrick Flamenco
30.32; 6) Sven Hadley, Uidam 30.61;
7) Edward Doyle, Flexability 30.91; 8)
Max O’Reilly Hyland, Babar de Bussy
32.57; 9) Greg Broderick, Coolivio PS
33.61.
BY JACQUI PORTER
The Liverpool Driving Bit
ACTION: Joanne Blair and ‘Mon Ami’ in action during their winning round in the
1.35m TRM Spring Tour Grand Prix at Warrington. (FW13-514NN)
PICTURES: courtesy of Laurence Dunne, jumpinaction
VICTORY: Joanne Blair and ‘Mon Ami’ on their way to victory in the Warrington
Grand Prix. (FW13-515NN)
Sweetnam on form in Florida
continued from back page
If you have to slow down with her, it
denitely takes a half a second from you
when you have to add a stride. Also, she
jumps quite high, so all those inches and
extra strides make a big difference to
her. You have other horses that naturally
are quick and can add a little stride here
and there, like McLain’s horse [‘Catoki’],
who is super quick without leaving out
strides. For a class like this, to win it, it
has to all show up,” said Sweetnam.
The $500,000 ve-star Rolex Grand Prix
took place in Florida on Friday evening,
with a strong group of Irish riders
competing for a slice of the huge prize
fund.
RESULTS
Friday, March 26
$37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m
Classic CSI5*: 1) Indra Van De Oude
Heihoef: 2008 Belgian Warmblood mare
by Casantos x Action-Breaker, Shane
Sweetnam (IRL), The Blue Buckle Group:
0/61.26; 2) Chacco Kid: 2006 Oldenburg
by Chacco Blue x Come On, Eric Lamaze
(CAN), Chacco Kid Group: 0/62.24; 3)
I have to admit, I don’t know a lot about driving bits. They look
quite intimidating and bulky to me, so researching this topic will
be interesting. There seems to be a variety of different cheekpieces
available, with a large range of mouthpieces, just like bits used for
riding horses.
The most traditionally used driving bit is the Liverpool. This bit
offers a wide range of rein positions, which dictate the contact
severity. It can be made in a variety of mouthpieces also, with xed
or swivel cheeks. Fixed cheeks do not allow the cheeks to swivel
and are designed to be used with a pair of horses. This avoids the
pinching of the lips that can occur with the coupling reins. With
swivel cheeks, the mouthpiece can be made to slide up and down. A
sliding mouthpiece is often preferred, because it tends to keep the
mouth more responsive. Accompanied by a curb chain, the Liverpool
bit offers a variety of rein settings for maximum adjustability.
A long lower shank in relation to the upper shank (or purchase)
increases the leverage, and thus the pressure, on the curb groove
and the bars of the mouth. A long purchase in relation to the lower
shank increases the pressure on the poll and chin, but does not
apply as much pressure on the bars of the mouth. A longer purchase
will also lift the cannons up and cause signicant lip stretch, with
an increased danger of dragging the cannons of the bit into the
premolars.
A horse has more warning or pre-signal, in a long-shanked bit,
allowing it to respond before any signicant pressure is applied to
its mouth, than it would in a shorter-shanked bit, but ultimately it
is the straightness or curve of the shank, which translates to the
abruptness of response.
A straight shank, following the line of leverage, will produce a
faster response in the mouth and curb than a shorter curved shank.
In this way, a longer shank can allow better communication between
horse and rider, without increasing severity. This is also directly
dependent on the tightness of the curb chain. Pre-signal is everything
that happens before the curb strap engages, so a properly adjusted
curb strap is paramount in determining the amount of rotation and
the timeframe a horse has to prepare for the bit to engage. Too tight
and the action is abrupt and severe; too loose and the action is
slower, but the bit rotates further, causing it to lift in the mouth and
hit the premolars. Keeping this information in mind will help with
deciding the position of the reins. The rst and mildest position of
the reins on the Liverpool bit is called Plain or Smooth Cheek. The
bit is pulled back and up into the mouth and the curb chain is not
engaged. If you need a little more reaction and communication,
then Rough Cheek is the next option. This allows slight curb action,
while the bit is pulled back in the mouth. First Slot position provides
moderate curb action, as well as poll pressure and would be used
for more enthusiastic and strong horses. Second Slot or Middle
Slot gives increased leverage, pulling the bit down in the mouth, so
that the tongue and lower jaw are pinched between the mouthpiece
and the curb chain. Poll pressure is also created. Finally, and not a
position for the faint of heart, is the Third Slot or Bottom Slot - which
exerts maximum poll and curb pressure. This severe rein setting
should be used only as a last resort in a crisis. It is also known as
“Dead Man’s Slot”, because if you are in the bottom slot, you have
nowhere else to go!
With any type of bit selection, be it for ridden work or driving, it
is always important to know your horse - any bit can be severe and
cause damage in the wrong hands.
LIVERPOOL
BITS: The
Liverpool
driving bit with
two different
mouthpieces.
The image
on the right
illustrates the
variety of rein
positions.
(FW13-500NN)
PRESENTATION: Shane Sweetnam (IRL)
with Richard Schechter, Chairman and
CEO of Bainbridge Companies, in his
winning presentation. (FW13-525NN)
Hungry Heart: 2012 SWB gelding by
Baltimore 1178 x Loucaibo, Jessica
Springsteen (USA), Stone Hill Farm:
0/63.10; 4) Oak Grove’s Laith: 2011 Selle
Français gelding by London x Sirene
De Riverland, Abdel Said (EGY), AS
Sporthorses: 0/64.09; 5) Kiana Van Het
Herdershof: 2010 BWP mare by Toulon
x Starlight VD Hemelseschoot, Daniel
Deusser (GER), Stephex Stables: 0/64.29;
6) Vienna: 2011 Hanoverian mare by
Valentino x Leena J, Tiffany Foster (CAN),
Artisan Farms, LLC: 0/64.59.
WINNING ROUND: Shane
Sweetnam and ‘Indra van de
Oude Heihoef’ on their way to
winning the $37,000 Bainbridge
Companies 1.45m Classic at
the Winter Equestrian Festival in
Florida. (FW13-524NN)
PICTURE: courtesy of Sporfot
Jacqui Porter BSc (Hons) BAEDT
EQUINE DENTAL SERVICES
Tel: 07395 830535
Email: jpdentistry@icloud.com