Keep it simple. This means, have faith in your riding ability and don’t try too hard when in the ring in front of the judge. Remember, especially, to smile and look as though you are enjoying yourself – your horse will reflect this!
Nothing looks worse, apart from an obviously incorrect position, than a rider who is sitting so stiffly in the saddle that they therefore block the horse’s movement and appear totally rigid. In reflecting a tense rider, the horse will appear miserable and usually misbehave.
A good rider ‘allows’ the horse to move. Horses can walk, trot and canter quite well by themselves. It’s when we get on top and start trying to ‘make’ the horse do things, that it all falls apart.
Learn to allow the horse to move by learning to ride with ‘feel’, which means a soft hand in particular. If you cannot achieve a soft hand with feel, your remaining aids become very visible as you try to drive the horse forwards, because you still have the brakes on, – this then all looks rather ugly.
The best riders appear to be doing nothing – they are so in tune with their horses. Lots of hard work at home goes into achieving a harmonious picture with your horse. Before modern, so called ‘competition riding’ appeared, it’s what we all aimed for – that balanced picture of horse and rider appearing to be as one. How times have changed. People now compete in order to school and educate the horse. Once upon a time, horses and riders learned more at home before venturing out.
An extremely wise master said “Competition never proved to have any merit in ranking true equestrian knowledge. Some of the greatest riders in the world do not compete…”
I’m not saying don’t go out and compete! BUT, the more preparatory, quality, work you do at home to improve your riding, you will get a much better result come show day.
What the judge sees
This is crucial to winning, as you will be asked to ride towards and away from the judge, as well as on both reins around the ring. How you think you look is not always what the judge is actually seeing! Get someone to video you, and be a little analytical of your riding – give yourself a lesson.
At the walk, relax and allow the horse freedom to move. If you hold the reins too fixed (especially the curb), you can shorten the horse’s stride. I’ve even seen riders holding the horse so tight in front that the horse’s walk becomes lateral. Winching the horse’s head in never looks nice – imagine how the horse feels about it too!
The judge will notice if you are on the wrong diagonal at trot so, sit for a few strides and get it right before you rise. You shouldn’t rise too much out of the saddle, as that will only look forced. If you are asked to show some lengthened strides – it is ONLY that; lengthened. Extension is not required. So many over-ride the trot and try for an extreme extension that the judge has not asked for. Usually, the horse’s reaction is to run faster, if not break into canter. This is not lengthening and, once again, looks flawed.
The canter should, like the other paces, be forwards. This is NOT fast. So many riders hurtle their horses around the ring, confusing fast with forwards. They even lap other riders in their confusion.
Don’t shorten up your reins for trot and canter – you will only create tension in the horse.
The ideal horse is a pleasant ride – especially in a rider class – so if you madly fly around the ring at top speed in all paces, the judge will have a fair idea of your riding ability and it probably won’t be favourable. Slow down, show tact by giving yourself time to plan where you are going which, in turn, gives the horse time to think and respond to your quiet, subtle aids.
As you quietly show off your riding skills, look up and towards where you are going. Horses are pretty good at looking where they are going but when you are driving your car, you don’t look at the steering wheel or your hands, or you would crash! So, stop looking at the horse’s ears, mane or withers. Sit up and look ahead, which displays coolness and also lets the horse know where you are going; further instilling confidence in him. You won’t need such dramatic aids either if you do this.
When the judge gets to view you riding towards and away from them, they are checking that you sit straight in the saddle, and this includes your leg position. Nothing looks worse than a ‘lazy’ leg with toes turned out. This makes you very insecure in the saddle too – it is your inside lower leg that will keep you on the horse when things go wrong; not the back of your calf, or gripping with your knees or hanging onto the reins.
If you grip too tightly with your knee it usually acts as a hinge and tips you forwards while your lower leg then goes back; you are in a very insecure position now.
I’d much rather see a rider in a snaffle bridle than one who does not know how to use a double bridle correctly. If a horse has its mouth open – to relieve pressure from the curb rein – you won’t win a rider class with me judging. Riding with a lot of pressure on the curb rein shows complete lack of feel and, yes, you have to learn to ride with feel; but it’s not unachievable.
Have lessons from someone you would love to ride like – not just the most ‘popular’ trainer or winner of the moment.
So, winning the best rider class really comes down to painting a pretty picture in front of the judge. Your horse should look so enjoyable to ride that I want to buy it!
Even if it’s a young or novice horse, a good rider will have it going well enough to be in the ring, and look a pleasant ride. If it isn’t, keep working at home until your schooling and partnership together is more consistent.
Horses usually only go half as well out as they do at home and, even worse if you are nervous (which you shouldn’t be, knowing that all your extensive preparation at home will enable a good performance once out!).
Working at home
Concentrate on the basics – straightness, suppleness, rhythm (not rushing in any pace). Work on YOUR position and, eventually, the horse will mirror your good riding as you allow him to move instead of trying to force things along. You should never lose your position. Meaning, if your position is truly secure and the hose leaps or shies or you want to go faster or slower, you appear to not be moving throughout any of this.
Practise makes perfect; work on your position to be the least interfering, in any pace, to the horse.
If you wish his head carriage to be higher, don’t try and force it up with a double bridle. Do the basics and, when his muscles have developed and he is confident in his work and stepping through from behind, the head will naturally come up.
This is of course, if the horse has uphill conformation – you will always struggle for this feature if the animal is born downhill (meaning short front legs and croup high) but that’s another story for another time.
Things to work on with your position include having an upright body, soft elbows, shoulders and loose legs. This will give you an independent seat. Grip like a limpet anywhere and you will create stiffness in yourself and your horse.
The ideal riding seat is ‘balanced in line with gravity’ meaning; do not lose the downward line of ear, elbow, hip and heel. Be fluid and soft – nothing forced – so you can move with the horse!
Try to allow your legs to hang softly below your hip; then they will hang against the horse’s sides. Remember the soft knees; any stiffness in you – especially your spine – means you will not be able to absorb the horse’s back movement.
Something really important: don‘t push or drive with your seat! True! Your muscles will tighten and just block the horse from going forwards. He won’t be able to round his back under you and step forwards to create beautiful paces. Leave him alone. Ride with feel (soft, giving, hands) and allow him to move forwards in self-carriage.
Also, recalling the feel of sitting on your horse bareback – don’t rely on your stirrups! They are there for support but, if you put too much pressure on them or force your heels down, your leg will come off the horse and you will lose your tidy, effective, position. And, if your toes turn out due to this tense pressure; you won’t win my rider class either!
My major pet hate – DON’T PULL! Ever. You should almost have a forwards movement with the reins – never backwards. The reins are not your brakes. Reins are a way of communicating with the horse; nicely. Think about the ‘feel’ that you are wishing to develop. Find a trainer who will show you how to soften a horse in your hand – learn about ask and give; the secret to success with horses. If you never give to your horse, why should he ever give to you?
Keep telling yourself that riding is a truly fluid process – be at ease on the horse and try ‘allowing’ him to move. Don’t force anything and your partnership will improve with less tension all round.
The best riders are ‘thinking riders,’ so do think as you ride – not about what to cook for dinner or the housework you haven’t done BUT about the next turn you are making 10 meters ahead, how is the trot rhythm; too fast? Are you looking up? Where are your hands? Where are your legs? Correct YOUR own position first before you ask the horse to do anything.
And, to quote another famous master, “it takes two lifetimes to learn to ride.”
So, be patient and realise you will never stop learning about riding. We all started somewhere and the greatest riders will admit to still improving themselves which, in turn, improves their horse’s performance out of sight. That’s the secret to riding well.
