| USDF National Symposium Sunday, December 2, 2006 Performance Through Fitness PART ONE: INA GÖSMEIER Dr. Gösmeier began the day's sessions with a demonstration horse: a 15 year-old Young Rider horse that had been First Alternate for their region's team. The horse had an unlevel back and probably arthritis, so Dr. Gösmeier said that she would not perform chiropractic for the horse. She asked about the horse's performance history and personality. What was the horse's show preparation? Was the horse excitable? What was their warm-up like? What was the horse's character? The rider said that the horse tended to get a bit excited, but was not afraid and that she had to be careful not to leave the horse's best performance in the warm-up arena. She also said the horse could be dominant sometimes. Dr. Gösmeier said that this made the horse a "Pi" type with some liver--the liver made the horse stronger. She treated the horse with acupuncture accordingly. Although the horse's issues were in the back, she treated the horse with needles in the legs because the appropriate meridians were located there. Although you COULD place needles in the back, you lose feedback on the diagnosis when you treat directly. How to find a good equine acupuncturist? International Veterinary Acupuncturist Society (www.ivas.org) It is also important to make sure that the practitioner has experience in, and is still involved with traditional veterinary medical practice. PART TWO: INGRID KLIMKE On the weekends, growing up, the Klimke family rode tests either at shows or at family "shows" to help accustom their horses to changes with letters, flowers, observers. One of her father's horses had a tough time with show arenas, and so it became a family tradition. Winters were for practicing, and they were required to ride tests from memory. Riding tests helps the rider to think ahead and to develop the necessary skill of preparing the horse. Ms. Klimke often has students finish their lessons with tests to help them hone their skills. She says that a rider will never finish a test and feel that they have been completely brilliant (or at least they shouldn't)--they will always feel there was something they could improve. She recommends:
Ms. Klimke does not school tests, but she will group movements together to school when she rides. When she enters a show, she will write down which horse will do which tests so that she can begin to prepare the horse enough in advance (and give the horse at least several weeks to get ready). REPETITION is the key. She does not worry about anticipation. She says that we are smarter than the horse, and must tell them to wait and that they cannot do the movement until we say so. Later on, after all, there is only one Grand Prix Special--they must have learned by then that we are the boss, and that the movement comes on our direction. You cannot prevent them from learning the test. Pay attention to the warm-up and timing. You want enough warm-up without losing the brilliance. It is important to take a relaxation break before going in to focus your mind. This is also an ideal way to motivate the horse. Some horses might require two warm-ups--one earlier in the day, then just a quick one right before the test while another needs a longer one and just one to do his best. Each horse will be different. Allow an extra 10 to 15 mintues at the show--you can always walk if it is too long. Preparation is the key. AFTER TESTS, allow the horse to stretch a bit in the warm-up. The horse must be allowed and encouraged to relax and NEVER schooled. DO NOT take out your frustrations/anxieties on your horse if your test went poorly. The overwhelming likelihood is that the horse tried his best and that the problem's were in the rider's preparation. Practice trot/halt in the warm-up to get the horse stepping under. This will improve the initial impression with the judge. The trot-canter transitions must also be clear. Think as if you want medium canter from the start. No "trallop"--Ms. Klimke's word for something halfway between trot and gallop. The horse must jump right into canter. A great exercise is the figure eight in the trot, riding two perfect 10 meter trot circles. The turns MUST be smooth--no CORNERS in the circle. Aim for perfect control of the shoulders and haunches, maintaining activity and engagement. When the horse is anticipating, the rider's aids must be quieter and softer. When asking for what the horse expects, the rider must be tactful to avoid over-reaction (but firm in saying "not yet." Be clear with the "not yet", but don't yell "now." Return to Table of Contents. |
|