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Stretching exercises for the rider
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Stretching is an important part of the warm-up for an athlete, but in equestrians it is often overlooked. Consider adding stretches to your warm-up routine, both for you and your equine partner.
Stretches that I find beneficial for myself include some pretty standard ones designed to limber up the muscles in my back, shoulders and legs. I start by standing with my feet slightly apart and tip my upper body sideways first one way then the other. I do this with hands on my hip, and then with my upper arm in an arc over my head. From the second one, I also then tip my upper body forward and gracefully move the arm from its position in a flowing motion across in front of myself and back to my side. Experiment with that to gain the most stretching in the muscles that run down the side of your spine.
After a few repeats of those, I work on my shoulders by rotating them one at a time, and then windmilling them. When I windmill my arms, I do one arm, the the other, going one direction, then retrace my swing going back the way I came - kind of like winding it up then unwinding it. All of these upper body stretches can be repeated in the saddle, and they do feel good!
I also stretch my legs by placing one out in front other other and pressing my weight forward. This stretches the muscles in the calf really well. Be careful not to bounce in any type of stretch as you can tear muscle fibres that way. If you want to increase your flexibility, stretch more often and reach farther. It helps to reach the end of your stretch, then hold and exhale deeply - you usually end up going just a little farther!
I also do one last exercise that works well on the upper leg/hip area and for me also in my back near my shoulder blades. I sit down on the floor (on my horse blanket!) with my legs straight out in front of me. I'll detail one way, then you can reverse to do the other side. I bend my left leg at the knee and place it over my right leg near the knee. Then I take my right elbow and place it to the left side of my left knee, then turn a little more the left and push and hold. This one might surprise you!
Next week, some stretches for your horse! |
| If you have tips or questions on equipment care, purchases, fit, or anything else to do with equestrian equipment, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
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Western, English, Penning or Trail riding, all equine sports have a voice on Northern B.C. Horse.
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Past articles are all available in the
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Northern Saddle Club Fall Show
The Northern Saddle Club Fall Show will be held September 15-17 at the Smithers Fairgrounds. While planning may be coming fast and furious all of a sudden (seeing as the main staff have both been involved with weddings this summer, the show manager's daughter got married and the show secretary herself got married so both have been too busy to plan a show!), the plans are underway.
The event will start as many Fall Shows in recent years by holding Trail at 6 pm on the Friday night in the indoor arena. The judge for Trail is to be announced as I didn't have a name at 'press time'.
Saturday morning will see a variety of jumper classes, with the judge for that TBA. Judging the english flat (following the western and reining) will be Joni Peters; she will also stay to score dressage on Sunday.
On Saturday, Cori Stephen will be judging competitors in western and reining classes. Kimberly Olynyk will be the watchful eye for the gymkhana classes, also held Sunday, and Erin Drescher will officiate for the hunter classes on Sunday afternoon.
This full-schedule show is an NSC year end high point show as well as the third and final qualifier for Northern Saddle Club members for the 5th Annual Invitational Championship Gymkhana, being hosted this year by Terrace on September 30.
For more info on the NSC Fall Show, please call Samantha at 250-847-1769.
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| If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
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Thanks to our advertisers for making this all possible...
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If you are new to Northern B.C. Horse, check out all the previous issues on the Archive page.
Kristi is building a great knowledge base about horses, with the emphasis on our area of the world.
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New to showing series -
More advanced classes
Trail
Trail horses are expected to show over a series of obstacles similar to those which may be encountered on the trail. Horses are expected to sidepass, back up through shapes, pick up and deliver items, open and pass through gates, walk over bridges, and more. They are to maintain a quiet, trustworthy attitude throughout the pattern. It is not a race, but instead a contest to see who can pass through the obstacles with the most grace and style. Walk, jog, and lope (or trot and canter if ridden english, which is then called Bridle Path) will be part of the pattern.
Some shows will offer a First Year class in which the rider doesn't have to worry about picking up the correct lead at the lope or canter. Also popular now is Leadline Trail, which is for young horses which are not yet ready for riding through a trail pattern. This gives them a low-key class to get used to the sites and sounds of a horse show and a trail class while still being handled from the ground.
Western Riding
Western Riding is a patterned class for advanced horses. There are two possible patterns from the rulebook which may be posted, and both are made up of many pylons and a log. The horse is expected to travel the pattern, which starts at a walk, then a jog, then the remainder of the course is performed at a lope changing leads every so often as dictated by the pattern. There is also a log to be jogged and loped over (preferably without hitting it).
If your horse cannot perform flying lead changes on cue, you aren't ready to enter this class.
Gymkhana or Western Games
These are speed events such as Barrel Racing, Polebending and more. Many riders start out showing in gymkhana as the rules for dress and training are much more relaxed, but there are some things you should know. Generally gymkhana is open to riders in both english and western attire, with the rider's attire matching the tack of the horse. If the title Western Games is used, chances are english riders will not be permitted.
All bits are legal unless deemed cruel or unsafe by the judge. Tiedowns can be used to help keep the horse's head down, but must be worn with a breast collar or neckstrap to prevent it from tangling in the horse's legs.
The better speed event horses are usually those horses who do not run patterns much at home, but instead spend time schooling on basic training - teaching the horse to be supple, how to stop and turn, how to move off the rider's legs, and so on. Some riders will school the horse on patterns, but at slower speeds, so the horse learns the pattern without the excitement that comes along with high speed.
If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com
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