2 February 2023 - Flipbook - Page 63
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
MAY 28 2020
63
Laurel View charity dressage goes virtual
L
IFE doesn’t come to a halt just
because
we’re
in
lockdown!
Therefore, Laurel View are mixing
things up and taking their annual
Charity
Dressage
competition
ONLINE! All funds raised will be going to
support the incredible charity Aware NI,
as they deliver crucial support for those
suffering from Depression and Bipolar
disorder through a range of initiatives. For
more information, check out their website:
https://www.aware-ni.org/ No horse? No
problem! The charity dressage this year
has something for everyone, from the more
typical ridden dressage tests to something
a little different for those unable to ride
during the current situation! The ridden
classes available for entry are LV Intro,
LV Prelim and LV Novice - copies of these
tests are available to download from www.
laurelview.co.uk
The special edition classes are “On Foot
Freestyle”, perfect for anyone missing their
equine partner or not riding at present
to have a well-deserved laugh, whilst
keeping t and having some fun at home.
Participants just need to record a routine
(60 to 90 seconds duration) in which they
incorporate at least four of the movements
demonstrated on the instructional video
viewable on the Laurel View Facebook
page.
Then there is the TikTok challenge
(£5 entry) - for many, lockdown has
resulted in an unexpected obsession
with TikTok. So why not make use of the
endless hours scrolling through these
short videos to make your own equine
inspired TikToks by sending in videos
of you or your offspring doing one of the
TikTok dances incorporating your horse
or pony or substitute horse and using
#lau relv iew x home a ndawa re . E nt r ie s
opened on May 24 and remain open for
two weeks, until June 7, giving everyone
plenty of time to pick, practice and lm
their entries before sending them to Laurel
View to be judged by the experienced
judges. Suggested entry contributions are
a minimum £10 per entry or, even better,
two entries for £15. While the special
TikTok class entries are only £5. Donations
are to be made through the Laurel View
Just Giving page, so that the money raised
goes directly to Aware NI. Competitors can
choose to wear full show attire, normal
clothes, fancy dress or pyjamas (if you
just want to roll straight out of bed to get it
lmed, we certainly won’t judge!). However,
all competitors will be expected to wear
protective riding gear properly i.e. hats
and boots. For those who opt to go with
Fancy Dress, prizes will be awarded to the
three fancy dress participants who catches
the judge’s eye. Remember, this event is all
about doing the things we love (maybe in
a way a little different from before) and
having some fun during these difcult
times! Laurel View are aiming to full
Aware’s new #HomeAndAware initiative,
which aims to bring people together while
staying apart at home, to improve your
mood and feeling of well-being, whilst also
helping to raise awareness about mental
health; a cause extremely important to
everyone at Laurel View.
Some sponsors have already agreed to
support this virtual venture and presently
organisers would like to extend thanks
to Doagh Equestrian, Emma Hobson
(Dressage at Home and International) and
NAF.
Keep up to date with all the who, what,
where, why and how details on www. CHARITY DRESSAGE: Zara Davis practicing her moves
laurelview.co.uk or on social media for the Charity Dressage Show at Laurel View, which is
channels. Looking forward to “seeing” you going virtual, on ‘Cindy’ her horse. This year, all funds
take part in this virtual charity venture.
raised will be going to Aware NI. (FW22-543NN)
Improve your lunging skills with AIRC
By Tony Ennis,
AIRC Chairman
I
N a follow up
to the previous
article from the
Association of Irish
Riding Clubs (AIRC)
entitled ‘Tips on
lunging your horse’,
in this instalment,
you will learn how
to increase and
decrease the size of
your circle and also
how to shorten and
lengthen the stride of
your horse.
In the last article,
the author looked
at body language
and its positive use
when training the
horse, the technique
and how to interact
with a horse on the
lunge as a means of
training, so the horse
understands and
how the horse must
never be afraid or
restrained so as to
prevent looseness.
You should
begin this session
in the same way
as you did in the
last, familiarising
the horse with its
surroundings and
any new props
(cones, drums or
poles) that can be
used to enhance the
session.
When the horse
has relaxed, work
can begin and warm
up as outlined
previously.
MUSCLE
DEVELOPMENT
Where you attach
the side reins is a
matter for the Trainer
and how the animals
muscle development
is progressing. Each
horse is different and
requires different
adjustments and
work to achieve the
desired outcome.
This skill is learned
by the trainer by
closely looking
at each horse
and how they go,
depending on their
conformation.
You should work
the horse on as big
a circle as possible,
then decrease
the size gradually
encouraging the
horse to maintain
a good rhythm and
remaining light on
his feet. After two or
three small circles,
send the horse
out onto a bigger
circle and maintain
the rhythm and
forwardness. Repeat
a few times, then
change rein and do
the same.
In order for us to
train the horse, we
must understand
that the horse only
knows how to move
its legs faster or
slower and this
powerful skill is
used to develop and
train all the classical
moves in dressage.
We need to train
the horse to take
bigger and shorter
steps and we have
already been, to
some extent, training
the horse in earlier
sessions by our body
language and use of
the whip.
Encourage the
horse to take bigger
steps by using the
word ‘come’ and
actively encouraging
with a low whip
activity. Then a quiet
whip pointing to the
ground and the word
‘woooooo’, so the
horse slows down
and takes shorter
steps. Then using the
word ‘come’ and an
active low whip ask
the horse to make
bigger steps. Repeat
this on both reins
on as big a circle as
possible. When this
is achieved and the
horse can respond
with bigger steps
(lengthened strides)
and shorter steps
(lighter footfalls)
you will begin to
see the quality of
the trot improve,
with the rhythm
and lightness of the
steps.
In a video on the
AIRC website, you
can see how the
horse’s outline
changes and the
looseness and shape
become more the
norm with a threeyear-old.
The author has
not talked about
where to attach the
side reins or other
training aids, as
this is a matter for
the trainer and the
outcomes being
looked for. This will
be briey mentioned
in Lunge 3.
Remember lunging
can be dangerous if
carried out without
due care and
attention.
CARE AND ATTENTION: Lunging can be
dangerous if carried out without due care and
attention. (FW20-512NN)
