Evaluating the Horse You Drew Before You Ride

One of the most challenging aspects of IEA and IHSA competition is riding a horse you’ve never even sat on before with little or no warm-up.  Today’s blog post will help you prepare to ride the horse you’ve drawn before you even put a foot in the stirrup.

Watch the Morning Schooling.  If you are lucky enough to find out which horse you drew before the schooling takes place, watch your horse and ask yourself these questions: 

• How long was the horse schooled on the flat before beginning the fences?
• What height is the horse schooling? (remember the horses are only schooled at their highest fence height, so if a horse is doing 2’6”, 2’, and cross rails, it may only school at 2’6”)
• Is the schooling rider using a crop or spurs?
• Does the horse appear to be going overly fast or slow?
• Does the horse have a flying or simple lead change?
• Did the horse stop at any fences?
• How many strides did the horse get in the lines?  Did the horse get the “horse show step” or the “add step?”
• Overall, how did the schooling go?

Watch another IEA rider compete on your horse.  If you didn't get to see your horse school, you may have the good fortune of getting to see your horse compete with a different rider before your class.  If so, you can ask yourself some of the same questions you asked during the schooling:

For Fence Classes:

• How many strides did your horse get in the lines?
• Did the rider take the inside or outside options?  Was that the best option for the horse?
• Did the horse do simple or flying lead changes?
• Did the rider have a spur or crop?  If so, did she need them?
• Was the horse unusually fast or slow or long- or short-strided?
• If there was a halt in the course, did the horse perform the halt willingly?
• If there was a trot jump in the course, did the horse come back to the trot and stay in the trot until he left the ground over the jump.

For Flat Classes:

• Did the horse get both leads easily?
• Was the horse unusually fast or slow?
• Did he seem smooth or bouncy?
• Did the horse do the upward and downward transitions promptly or did he pull on his rider in the downward transitions or balk at going forward?
• Did the rider have a crop or spur?  If so, did she need them?

Observe your horse in the holding area.  If you didn't know which horse you drew before the morning schooling and you didn't get to see him go with another IEA rider, you can still find out plenty about your horse by strolling over to the holding area and asking these questions:

• What breed of horse have you drawn?  Is it a quarter horse, thoroughbred, warmblood, etc.?  Every horse is an individual and you really can’t generalize based on breed, but knowing the breed doesn’t hurt.
• Is it a mare or a gelding?  Again, just like with breed, you can’t generalize based on gender, but it’s always important to remember the old phrase, “you can tell a gelding, but have to ask a mare…”
• Which type of bit the horse is wearing?  A horse that wears a snaffle may ride differently than one that wears a three ring elevator, gag, or kimberwicke.  A horse that goes in a pelham may be an equitation specialist, or it may just be too strong for a plain snaffle. 
• Is the horse wearing a martingale? Many horses wear standing martingales, so you can’t infer too much from that, but a horse wearing a running or german martingale may have a higher headset or need a more sophisticated ride.
• How is the horse behaving in the holding area?  Is he quiet and unconcerned about the goings-on, or is he chomping at the bit and walking nervously around his handler?
• What does the handler, owner, or coach who brought the horse have to say?  Listen to what you’re told, but be careful about taking the advice you’re given because one person’s impression of a horse may be different from another’s. You should confirm everything with your coach before entering the ring.
• Has one of your teammates ridden the horse before?  You will see many of the same horses at the IEA shows you attend, so it’s likely that one of your older, more experienced teammates has ridden the horse before or at least seen it go.   She may be able to give you some insight into the ride.

Your class will only last a few minutes, but by paying attention to your horse during schooling, watching another rider compete on your horse, or observing your horse in the holding area you can prepare for your ride throughout the day and have a more successful show experience.