Summer Riding--10 ways to stay in shape for IEA season

First off, a huge congratulations to everyone who has made it though their zone finals and qualified for Nationals in Wellington or Oklahoma City!

But for the majority of IEA riders whose season has come to a close, here are ten things you can do this summer to stay in shape and be prepared when the 2015-2016 IEA season starts back up in the fall:

1. Attend a clinic. There is always more to learn, and getting a different perspective can help you become a more well-rounded rider. Consult your local hunter/jumper or breed association website to find some clinics in your area. If you're able to ride in the clinics, great! If not, you can always audit and learn a ton by watching.

2. Attend a clinic or take a lesson outside of your usual discipline. Trying out a new discipline will not only expand your horizons, but it can also improve your riding in your current discipline. Want to improve your equitation on the flat or horsemanship? Take some dressage lessons! Want to improve your equitation over fences? Head to an eventing clinic! You may even discover a new passion. Several of the western riders on my IHSA team are hunt seat riders who were looking for a new challenge.

3. Lease an IEA horse from your coach. Some IEA mounts don't have as heavy of a workload in the summer when IEA isn't in session. You could ask your coach if you could lease or half-lease an IEA lesson horse during the summer. You might even get a chance to show the horse at some local shows.

4. Visit colleges and tour their riding facilities. Even if you're just a freshman, you can call up a college coach and ask to come for a visit or even take a lesson. Coaches are always looking for new talent. Don't be shy. Call them up and schedule an appointment.

5. Attend a big competition as a spectator. Go see a grand prix, hunter derby, or reining futurity. Youtube is great, but nothing beats the feeling of being there in person. Not only will you get to watch the experts up close, but the adrenaline rush of sitting ringside as the professionals do their thing may inspire you to take your riding up a notch.

6. Watch good riding on youtube. The beauty of the internet is that you can watch multiple events in various disciplines in one sitting. Personally I love eventiontv.com. They put out some great training videos and some pretty funny ones too!

7. Read! There are a ton of good horse books out there. In the summer without school work you will have more time to read for fun. Start with George Morris' Hunter Seat Equitation, and when you're done with that ask your trainer for additional suggestions.

8. Take some time off. You may be a little burned out after the end of a long season. If so, take some time off and give yourself a chance to miss riding. And don't feel guilty about it. Everyone needs a break now and then. Afterwards you'll come back re-energized and ready to work.

9. Ride!  It doesn't have to be the super-intense, preparing for the postseason, type riding. Just get in the saddle and go. Take some lessons or spend some time on the trails. If you stay in riding shape during the summer you won't have to worry about getting your strength and coordination back once IEA lessons start back up.

10. Reflect. Spend some time just thinking about all you have accomplished and what your goals are for next year. Then make a plan for reaching those goals. Making it to regionals is a good solid goal, but try to think of some intermediate steps to help you get there. For example, a good goal would be to be able to do 20 minutes of no stirrup work without a break. Work with your coach to set goals that are reasonable and make a plan to get there.

Beloved IHSA horse Oliver enjoying a nap in the sun

Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to like and share on Facebook.
Thanks!  --Amanda

Horsemanship Patterns--IHSA Western Semi-Finals

The 2015 IHSA Western Semi-Finals are this weekend and I'm looking forward to heading up to the Ohio State University this Friday with University of North Georgia western rider Jaime Nesemeier.

Jaime qualified for semi-finals by placing second at regional finals a couple weeks ago. If she places in the top four out of a possible sixteen riders in her division this weekend, she will advance to IHSA National Finals in May.

Needless to say, we are both very excited.

Today's blog post provides a link to all the potential western patterns the IHSA horsemanship riders may be asked to perform and gives my personal tips for successful completion of those patterns.

I know IEA western horsemanship riders don't currently perform western patterns in IEA competition, but those riders can still benefit from studying and practicing these patterns in anticipation of one day being IHSA western riders themselves.

IHSA Western Semi-Finals Horsemanship Patterns
Here is the link to the approved western semi-finals horsemanship patterns on the official IHSA website (scroll down to the bottom of the page)

http://ihsainc.com/events/western-semis

All possible patterns for the semi-final show are posted beforehand on the official IHSA website (and thank goodness for that because they are quite intricate!)

You will see there are five horsemanship patterns listed per class, with the exception of the advanced and open classes, which have a whopping thirteen potential patterns.

Each horsemanship class has sixteen riders, so they are run in two preliminary heats of eight riders each. Then the top eight of the original sixteen are called back for the final. The top four riders in the final advance to IHSA National Finals to be held in West Springfield, Massachusetts (the same venue where 2014 IEA Hunt Seat National Finals were held) this May.

From this list of approved patterns, the judges will select one pattern per class for the preliminary heat and one pattern per class for the final heat. The selected patterns will be posted the morning of the show.

All riders perform rail work and one of the patterns during their preliminary heat. Then the riders who are called back for the final perform additional rail work as well as another pattern in the final heat.

The judges also have the option of asking for additional testing after the riders have completed the rail work and pattern, such as switching horses or riding without stirrups.

The riders will draw a horse for their preliminary round, then the finalists will draw again for the final round. They will not ride the same horse they rode in the preliminary round unless they draw it again for the final class.

My rider, Jaime, will be competing in the Novice Horsemanship class. Here are the five patterns she may be asked to execute.

These patterns may seem a bit intimidating at first glace, especially considering the competitors will be performing them on horses they've never ridden before, but here are a few tips to make them seem a little more attainable.

1. Remember, everyone is in the same boat--Here is a little mental preparation to get you started. Sure the patterns are challenging, but remember that they are equally difficult for everyone. You've earned your spot at this level of competition and you deserve to be in that pen just as much as anyone else.

2. Keep breathing, take your time, and finish one maneuver before beginning the next. Break the pattern down into its component maneuvers and take your time. Give each maneuver adequate attention in the pen. Don't get ahead of yourself. For example, in novice pattern C, when performing the simple change, make sure you make it all the way down to the walk before asking for the new lead.

3. Think of horsemanship patterns like Mexican food. I love Mexican food. I probably eat at our local Mexican restaurant about once a week, and what I've found is that Mexican food is basically all the same ingredients put together in different combinations to make various entrees. It's all just a mix of beans, rice, cheese, meat, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, and/or guacamole.

The same is true with horsemanship patterns. They are all just a bunch of simple maneuvers (straight lines, circles, serpentines, pivots, changes of gait, collection/extension within gaits, halt, back, etc.) put together in different combinations. Practice the individual maneuvers by themselves, then put them together to make a pattern. Seeing the patterns as just a collection of ingredients can make them seem a whole lot less overwhelming.

4. Be ready at the cone. This is a big pet peeve of mine when I'm judging. Be ready to begin your pattern when the rider in front of you finishes. Stand ready at the first cone and look at the back of the judges head so that when the judge looks in your direction you make instant eye contact and show that you are ready to go.

5. Know your back number. This is another pet peeve of mine. If the judge asks to rider 249 to step forward and go first, know if that's you, and if it is, get on that cone and go!

6. Show consistency in your pattern shape, speed, and rhythm. If the pattern has two extended jogs (novice pattern B), make sure that both jogs have the same speed and rhythm. If the pattern has two circles and one is supposed to be larger than the other (novice pattern C), make sure they have the same shape and that one is larger than the other. If the pattern calls for a regular lope and an extended lope (novice pattern E), make sure your extended lope shows a bigger stride than your regular lope

7. No matter how bad you think things are going, keep riding! This is a tough one for a lot of folks. Maybe you feel like you messed up your pattern right from the beginning and it causes you to change your whole demeanor, dropping your head, slouching, or not finishing your pattern with the confidence and ring presence you started with. Remember that these patterns are tough, and its rare for anyone to have a perfect go, so keep working through you pattern. Even if you make a mistake at the beginning you may be able to make up some lost points by riding well through the remainder of the pattern. If things are going really poorly and you feel like you need a re-ride, trust that your coach has your back and will make that call if necessary. Keep riding until the announcer tells you to stop.


For those of you who are going to semi-finals, best of luck! If you're attending the one at Ohio State, come by and say hello. I love meeting my readers :-)

If you're an IEA rider, ask your trainer to run through some of these patterns with you. It will improve your overall horsemanship and help prepare you for college riding.


Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to like and share on Facebook.
Thanks!  --Amanda

Spending Time Out of the Ring

Happy Daylight Savings Time! The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer, and many young equestrians are feeling a bit of spring fever as they gear up for IEA post season competitions or regular horse shows in the summertime.

If this change in the weather inspires you to get out to the barn more often, I challenge you to spend some time outside the ring.

Many serious competitors thrive on working hard and may even feel a little guilty about missing out on a training day to just spend some down time with their horse. But taking a moment to rest and spend some quality time with your equine partner outside the ring is healthy and in the long run will help your riding as you develop a stronger bond with your horse.

I encourage you to take a trail ride, or ride in the pastures if you don't have trails nearby. Just walking and feeling the rhythm of your horse's steps can get the two of you in tune with one another. Allow him to mosey along as you look around and remember why you started riding horses in the first place.

And what about all those rainy days?

For those of us without an indoor place to ride, the spring rains can present challenges for riding. But just because its raining doesn't mean you can't go out to the barn. Rainy days are the perfect opportunity to give your horse a "spa day." He will love the extra attention you bestow on him as you spend the afternoon grooming, pulling the mane, trimming whiskers, and bathing if its warm enough. If its not raining too hard or storming, you can take him out for a quick hand graze when you're done.

When you look back on your experience with horses, I'm sure you will remember the ribbons you've won and the awards you've received, but hopefully you will also treasure the time you've spent with your equine partner outside the ring.

For example, I love the picture I chose for the blog today. It's UNG rider Kristin Cisewski and team horse Dax. We were at an IHSA show and I looked over my shoulder and the two of them were snuggling together. Dax pulled away right as I snapped the photo as if he was embarrassed to be caught, lol. Those who are familar with Dax know we call him the "aggressive cuddler" because he's always nosing the person holding him. He craves human interaction.

I know I spend a lot of time on this blog discussing horse shows and training tips, but it is in those moments between all the training and competing that I remember why I got into horses in the first place. Now off to the barn I go on this rainy Tuesday. I think a few of the ponies could use a good grooming...

Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to like and share on Facebook.
Thanks!  --Amanda

UNG rider Kristin Cisewski and Dax caught cuddling outside the arena, lol

ZONE FINALS!

Congratulations to all IEA riders who made it through their regionals and are qualified for zone finals! For this week's blog, I discuss what hunt seat and western riders should be doing to prepare for zone finals and increase their chances of success once they get there.

A quick note before we begin, a couple weeks ago, I published a blog post titled "Regional Finals!" that discussed the structure of regional finals and how the show is run. Zone finals are run in the same manner. For information on the logistics of zone finals, click HERE to read that blog post and simply substitute 'zone finals' everywhere you see 'regional finals', lol.

Now, onward to zone finals:

Hunt Seat Riders: Practice the Hunt Seat Rider Tests
Here is the list of hunt seat rider tests that may be asked at zone finals. You should practice these tests in your lessons until you are comfortable performing them on a variety of different horses.

1. Asked an appropriate horsemanship question that is tailored to the rider’s ability level
2. Halt
3. Sitting trot
4. Two point position at the walk and/or trot
5. Figure eight at trot, demonstrating change of diagonals
6. Figure eight at canter on correct lead, demonstrating simple change of lead
7. Change Horses
8. Ride without stirrups
9. Change leads down center of ring, demonstrating simple change of lead
10. Canter on the counter lead. No more than eight horses may counter canter at one time
11. Half-turn on forehand and/or half-turn on haunches
12. Jump a shortened course
13. Trot a jump not to exceed 2’6”

Which tests the judge may ask riders to perform is determined by the class level.

From the IEA rule book, here is a list of each IEA hunt seat flat division and which tests the riders in each division should be capable of performing:

Classes 9 & 12:  Beginner Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat, Tests 1-7

Classes 8 & 11:  Novice Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat, Tests 1-8

Classes 7 & 10:  Intermediate Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat, Tests 1-9

Class 6:  Open Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat, Tests 1-13*

*I think it's fair to assume tests 12 & 13 would only be asked in open fences, not open flat.

Western Riders: Practice the Western Rider Tests
Here are the tests that western riders should be practicing for zone finals.

1. Ask an appropriate horsemanship question that is tailored to the rider’s ability level
2. Individual performance on the rail
3. Halt and/or back
4. Figure eight at the jog
5. Change horses
6. Lope on specific lead and stop
7. 360 degree turn
8. Figure eight at the lope, demonstrating a change of lead (through the walk or jog)
9. Ride without stirrups
10.Simple change of leads in a straight line

Just as in hunt seat, which tests the judge may ask riders to perform is determined by the class level.

From the IEA rule book, here is a list of each IEA horsemanship division and which tests the riders in each division should be capable of performing:

Class 1: Varsity Open Horsemanship, Tests 1-10

Classes 2 & 5: Intermediate Horsemanship, Tests 1-8

Classes 3 & 6: Novice Horsemanship, Tests 1-6

Classes 4 & 7: Beginner Horsemanship, Tests 1-6

While at Zone Finals, Keep Up with the Schedule
The last thing you want is to be late and get flustered at the last minute. Ask your coach to share with you what time the morning schooling, course walk (hunt seat), and draw are scheduled to occur, the order of classes, and when your class is scheduled to run. Then you can follow along as the show runs and be where you need to be at the right time.

Find Out As Much As You Can About Your Horse
You will probably draw a horse you haven't ridden before. You may be tempted to sleep in or hang out with your friends in your tent with some hot chocolate during the morning schooling, but the best way to figure out your horse before you mount up is to watch your horse being ridden by a professional. You can also seek out the owner of the horse and ask them for any tips or advice for your ride.

Turn Yourself Out to the Nines
Your show attire should be spotlessly clean and fit perfectly.

Hunt seat riders: Get your coat and shirt dry cleaned and polish your boots until you can see you reflection in them. Invest in a solid black crop with no wrist strap. Dress conservatively. A navy hunt coat is always appropriate, though black hunt coats (not dressage coats) are also very much in style. You can't go wrong with a long sleeve white show shirt, though any conservative color is fine. If you don't have a nice show helmet and are in the market to buy one, now is the time.

Western riders: Get your clothes dry cleaned and make sure your chaps are clean, especially at the bottom where you may have stepped on them once or twice. Invest in nice pair of spurs that fit your boots and won't move around on your foot (except beginners, who aren't permitted to wear spurs). Get your hat shaped by a professional. Any western store can do this for you.

Varsity Open Championship Hunt Seat Riders: Know the Jump Numbers
If you make it to the hunt seat varsity open championship class, you will need to know the numbers of the fences from the individual varsity open fences course. It's possible that the judges will want additional testing during that class and ask the announcer to say something like, "canter fence 3, canter fence 4, trot fence 7, halt and return to the line up."  You will need to know which fence is which in order to perform the test.

Know your Back Number
The judges may call certain riders into the center of the arena or ask for additional testing using rider back numbers, so you need to know your number. Have your friends or coach ask you what your back number is a few times before you go in the ring so you're sure you know it.

Keep Riding
If your ride isn't going as planned, or if your horse is spooking or misbehaving, keep riding! Your coach will be on top of things and will ask for a re-ride if necessary. Whatever happens, don't give up. Ride your best from the moment you enter the arena until the final results are called.

Enjoy the Experience
Last, but certainly not least, there is more to zone finals than just your ride. It is a huge accomplishment to make it this far, and you should be pleased with yourself no matter how you place in your class.You have already shown that you are among the best of the best in your entire zone, and you have nothing to prove. Enjoy the experience.

Also, most zone finals offer other activities besides the horse show, such as a spectator party and written horsemanship test. Take advantage of these opportunities to socialize with other riders in your zone and increase your equine knowledge.

Now go out there and do your best and have fun. If you get a ribbon, awesome! If you make it to nationals, congratulations! I'll see you there ;-)

Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to like and share on Facebook.

Thanks!  --Amanda