Educated Spectators Can Help Keep Riders Safe

Horses are not 'big dogs.' Dogs are predators. Horses are prey animals.

Given the choice of fight or flight, horses choose flight almost every time.

What we perceive as spookiness is actually the result of millions of years of evolutionary conditioning urging a horse to flee from danger. The horse who doesn't spook and run away is the one who gets eaten by the mountain lion.

It isn't possible to completely train this behavior out of a horse. Even the oldest, calmest, most bomb proof lesson pony is going to spook now and then.

In short, a horse can be thought of as a 1000 lb. deer.

With all this in mind, here are eight things you can do to be an educated spectator and help keep riders and horses safe:

1. Set up ringside tables and tents prior to the morning schooling so all horses have a chance to see them before the show starts. Stake your tents into the ground so they don't flip over if a big gust of wind comes along.

2. Secure all loose materials such as banners, tablecloths, paper plates, and plastic bags. Make sure nothing is flapping in the wind. Keep checking throughout the day to make sure everything stays put.

3. Avoid sudden movements ringside when a rider is on course or a flat class is in progress. Children running/playing right outside the ring or the opening of an umbrella can trigger a spook. Move slowly and quietly. If your show facility has metal bleachers, walk quietly or wait until the ring is vacant between classes to move to/from your seat.

4. Unless you are a coach, rider, or horse holder, stay out of the horse holding area. Large groups of people can make horses nervous, and if the area is too crowded a spooked horse can injure people standing nearby.

5. If the announcer asks the crowd to hold their applause for a certain horse, please comply. If the horse provider thinks the issue is important enough to notify the steward, who then notified the announcer, it is not a request to be taken lightly.

6. If a horse spooks and begins running away with a rider in the arena, please stay in your seat, stay quiet, and stay calm. Horses pick up on the energy of the crowd. The horse is already scared, and reactivity from the crowd can make it worse. The best way for you to help is to stay seated and allow the professionals to handle the situation.

7. As the end of the show approaches, avoid packing up your tent, tables, chairs, etc. while a class is in process. The classes at the end of the show tend to be lower level (novice and beginner) with less experienced riders that may not have the skills yet to handle a big spook. Also, these riders have been waiting around all day for their time to shine. Be respectful of all the hard work they've put into their preparation and give them the opportunity to do their best.

8. If you see something, say something. A child rolling down the grass hill next to the ring, a loose tablecloth next to the concession stand, or a sweet grandmother about to open her umbrella can all create a dangerous situation, but you as an educated spectator can play an important roll in keeping our kids and horses safe.

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

By being an educated spectator you can help keep riders safe

Who's Going to National Finals?

National Finals season is upon us.

IEA Hunt Seat National Finals start in just a few days at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

IHSA Hunt Seat and Western National Finals are just a couple weeks away at the Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts.

And IEA Western National Finals are in June at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

When I blog, I'm usually the one passing on information to you, my readers.  But this time, I want to hear from you!

Who's going to IEA or IHSA National Finals?

What team are you on?

Which class(es) are you riding in?

Post your answers in the facebook comments. I want to hear from riders of course, but I'd also like to hear from coaches and parents.

Oh, and for the IEA folks, if you're showing at finals, come say hi! I'll be the one in the holding area telling you when to mount up. :-)

Good luck and safe travels!

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

Fifteen USEF judges offer advice to riders at IEA/IHSA National Finals

IEA and IHSA National Finals are coming up, and for this week's blog I asked fifteen USEF judges to share one piece of advice for riders as they prepare for the most prestigious show of their IEA/ IHSA career.

Before we begin, I'd like to say a huge thank you to the judges who contributed to this article for sharing their insight. (also, fyi, I told them their responses would remain anonymous so I haven't included any names).

But enough from me. Here are their responses:

1. Relax and do what you know how to do!

2. Allow me to pin you. If you get a difficult horse, don't make a hard situation worse by overreacting or making a big production. Instead, show me that you are educated and can ride through. I will reward you for it.

3. For over fences: take your time upon entering the ring. Walk. Don't rush picking up the canter, you don't want to make the simple mistake of missing the lead.

4. Turnout is so important. Sometimes riders don't place as high as they could have because of their turnout: hairnets, clean clothes, shirttails tucked in, etc. First impressions are very important!

5. Keep riding and working with that horse, no matter what difficulties you might encounter. Sometimes I don't make up my mind between first and second or some other placings until the very end of the class. A rider keeping her/his cool and riding things out can make the final decision for me.

6. Do your homework. Practice as much as possible. Remember first impressions are critical so have your show clothes and helmet clean and boots so shined I could see my face in them. Read sports psychology books. Have a plan with your coach and sleep enough and eat like an athlete. Most important have fun and ENJOY the ride. You earned it!

7. Taking into account that each rider has qualified for the competition based on prior results - it's a little late to try to change too much in the way a rider will perform INSIDE the arena. I recommend riders plan a strategy and make a game plan starting at the present moment and leading up through to the entire competition weekend for everything OUTSIDE the arena -  I believe many riders miss out on achieving their maximum performance because they let distractions keep them from focusing and getting into "the Zone" - take a minute to mentally visualize and walk through the entire process.

8. Ask yourself questions about the following:

• Am I in shape mentally and physically?
• Do my show clothes / boots fit and are they clean and ready?
• Do I know who the judges are and what is their overall riding / equitation philosophy?
• What is my schedule for lessons and riding time leading up to the competition?
• Do I have my entire schedule figured out for each day at the competition?
• Practice breathing techniques during every lesson and carry it over to your classes!

9. As a judge, I'm looking for a soft sympathetic rider who has a correct design of position and the ability to demonstrate effective, tactful, and efficient use of the aids.  I want to see a following arm, an appropriate release and a secure lower leg. The quality of performance is a reflection of the rider's ability to evaluate the horse and ride it accordingly.  

10. The riders must be impeccably turned out. Don't enter the ring until you are sure that the judge is looking. Younger riders (with braid and bows) should be sure that back numbers are visible. Bling is not cool, it's distracting. Boots cannot be clean enough.

11. I am always telling the kids after the show that for me it's about who makes the horse happy. And for goodness sake, be sharp. Try to read the horse and make the best ride you can...every time!

12. Enter with the confidence that you are the winner! (and very clean boots!)

13. Ride what is under you, not what you think is under you.

14. Ride the horse you draw, not the one you wanted, and trust the judges to see your abilities. Remember you are being judged from the moment you ride through the in-gate until you are excused.

15. Make a good first impression, you've got to have it when you walk in the ring.

So there you go. First hand advice from some of the most talented professionals in the industry. Once again thank you to the judges for taking the time to contribute to this article. 

For my blog readers, a couple things I hope you take away from this post: first, did you notice how similar many of their statements are?  Second, you don't have to be intimidated by the judges. They aren't trying to trap you or set you up to fail. They want to see you succeed. And finally, for goodness sake, clean your boots!

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

Junior Equestrian Festival Oct 9-11, 2015, Westport, Connecticut

The inaugural Junior Equestrian Festival (JEF) Hunt Seat Horse Show will be held October 9-11, 2015 at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut.

Have you heard of the College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) Horse Show held every spring in Wellington, Florida that gives high school equestrians an opportunity to compete in front of collegiate coaches? Well now the northern area of the country has its own version of this competition: the Junior Equestrian Festival (JEF) in Westport, Connecticut.

JEF Horse Show
The Junior Equestrian Festival is a two-day event organized to provide riders in grades 9-12 the opportunity to compete in front of college coaches and representatives. Competitors will draw a horse at random to compete in equitation on the flat and equitation over fences against other riders at a similar skill level.

JEF College Fair
Colleges and Universities nationwide will be invited to the JEF Horse Show to watch the riders compete. Riders will also be able to meet with college coaches one on one to discuss equestrian team and scholarship opportunities.

JEF Scholarships
A wide variety of scholarships will be available to JEF participants.  As an affiliate of the College Preparatory Invitational Horse Show (CPI), all scholarships provided at JEF will be administered and distributed by CPI. Here are the scholarships that JEF participants can apply for:

• CPI High Point Hunt Seat Rider
• CPI Essay Award
• The CPI Written Horsemanship Test Award
• CPI Journalistic Photo Contest
• CPI Champion of Service Award

JEF Mounted Clinic
If you think you're done once the competition is over, you've spoken with the college reps, and the scholarships have been awarded, you're sadly mistaken, because JEF is also offering a mounted clinic to a limited number of JEF participants!

The Details
The JEF Horse Show will be held in October 9-11, 2015 (that's Columbus Day weekend so it may be a school holiday for some of you) at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut.

For more information, competition and scholarship applications, and travel details, visit the official JEF website: www.juniorequestrianfestival.com. And keep checking back as the show date approaches for updated information.

And why am I advertising the Junior Equestrian Festival on my blog you ask? Because just yesterday I signed on to be one of two stewards for this amazing event! What can I say? When my good friend, USHJA certified instructor, IEA coach, and JEF Program Director Jane DaCosta asked me to be part of this incredible opportunity for young riders, I couldn't resist.

Other members of the show committee include IEA National Steward Sue Wentzel as my stewarding partner and United States Military Academy coach Peter Cashman as JEF Horse Show Coordinator. We'll be working hard to produce an event that showcases young rider talent to college recruiters and coaches, provides scholarships, and is tons of fun! I invite all my blog reader to join us this October for the inaugural Junior Equestrian Festival.

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

2016 AYHC Symposium to be held in Conjunction with IEA Nationals Finals in Lexington, Ky

I am very pleased to announce that the 2016 American Youth Horse Council (AYHC) Annual Symposium will be held in conjunction with the 2016 IEA National Finals in Lexington, Kentucky!

So what is the 2016 AYHC Symposium and why am I so excited that it will be held in conjunction with IEA National Finals?

The AYHC Symposium:

• Is a three-day conference 
• Is open to youth and adults across all breeds and disciplines
• Offers a variety of educational and leadership building activities
• Provides the opportunity for youth and professional equestrians to connect with each other nationwide

We all know that the equine industry is driven by the relationships we build with each other. The AYHC symposium will give the IEA riders, parents, and professionals who attend 2016 IEA National Finals an opportunity to create relationships with other equine industry participants across breeds, disciplines, and geographical barriers and increase their equine knowledge and leadership skills at the same time.

Excited yet? I had the great honor and pleasure to attend the 2015 AYHC symposium this weekend in Redmond, Oregon along with IEA executive director Roxane Lawrence. I got to see firsthand the work this group is doing to share knowledge and connect youth to the horse industry. Here is a quick rundown of what went on last weekend.


2015 AYHC Symposium--Redmond, Oregon

FRIDAY
Youth Barn Raising 
The youth members were split into groups of three and given basic craft supplies (popsicle sticks, straws, marshmallows, tin foil, cardboard, etc.) and a scenario for an equine business (one was a thoroughbred racing facility, another was a working cow horse training barn). Each group had a half hour to build their facility from scratch using the supplies provided. When time was up they shared their design with the rest of the groups.

Horse Smarts Roundup
This was a horsemanship quiz set up like a lab practical. There were ten stations each with ten questions, for a total of 100 questions. Stations included equine diseases, harmful plants, anatomy, genetics, etc. The students were given two minutes per station. The top three scorers were recognized during the banquet Saturday night and presented with a certificate and cash prize!

Adult/Professional Round Table Discussions
While the youth were busy building barns and showing off their equine knowledge, the parents and professionals participated in a series of small group round table discussions including:

• Social media tools to promote, fund raise, and communicate
• Conflict management
• Curriculum and educational tools for youth
• Risk management and safety
• Developing leadership skills in your youth members
• Keys to growing your membership
• Youth/collegiate equestrian teams-how to get started (Roxane led this discussion)

Local Area Barn Tour
Buses were provided to take participants around to local barns to see these equine businesses up close. This part of the symposium will be amazing in Lexington!

SATURDAY
Saturday morning was filled with talks given by professionals from all areas of the equine industry. Three talks were given at the same time, one each targeting youth, adults, and professionals, though anyone could go to any of the talks. The hardest part was deciding which one to attend! Here were Saturday mornings offerings:

Session One:

• Youth: The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (Roxane again)
• Adult: Environmental Stewardship I
• Professional: Equine Risk Laws and Liability

Session Two:

• Youth: Youth Equine Olympics (held at local barn 4U Performance Horses)
• Adult: Equine Welfare, Fact versus Emotion
• Professional: Environmental Stewardship II

Session Three:

• Youth: Youth Equine Olympics (continued at 4U Performance Horses)
• Adult: What is the AYHC and Why Should I Join
• Professional: Building Partnerships with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (these are the mustang folks, really cool to hear what they do on a day to day basis)

Arena Demonstration
Saturday afternoon everyone loaded up on buses to watch an arena demonstration on ranch sorting and team penning. As an east coast resident where it seems hunt seat riding has most of the spot light, I loved that the arena demonstrations focused on western events. Those kids out in Oregon are so comfortable working around cattle and other livestock on their horses. Very cool!

Awards Banquet
Saturday evening we all got together for some good food, entertainment, and awards. Afterwards, the youth had their own round table discussions.

Youth Round Table Discussions
Topics they discussed:

• The problem of unwanted horses
• How to combat cost of horse keeping
• How would you resolve the issue of overbreeding?
• Educating owners who don't understand horses
• Loss of trails and riding areas
• If you could ride any horse (alive today or not) who would you ride?
• Attracting youth to the horse industry 
• Keeping youth involved in the horse industry
• New York City carriage horses, should they be banned or not?

SUNDAY
The symposium wrapped up on Sunday morning with three more rounds of talks.

Session Four:

• Youth: Leadership Strategies for your Organization
• Adult: Ten Fun and Educational Activities for the Busy Horse Leader
• Professional: Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals 

Session Five:

• Youth: Improving Equine Welfare in South America
• Adult: Managing Multiple Disciplines and Skill Levels in One Arena
• Professional: Marketing and Social Media

Session Six:

• Youth: Talking Terror (equine fear response)
• Adult: Communication--Videography and Beyond
• Professional: Animal Welfare Issues

Whew! I'm worn out just thinking about everything I did and everything I learned last weekend!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to attend this conference. I left Oregon with a greater understanding and appreciation for important topics in the equine industry as well as many new friendships and professional connections.

I can't wait for the IEA riders that attend the 2016 National Finals to have these same opportunities.

For more information on the American Youth Horse Council, visit their website:
http://www.ayhc.com/

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

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

Getting Back to Basics

"Deep down, I'm just a girl who loves horses..."

The weather here in Georgia last weekend was fantastic.  It was one of those rare February weekends with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60s.  We get them every now and then, a short respite from winter before the cold air blows in again. It's one of the pleasures of living in the southeast.

I loved that my Facebook and Instagram feeds were full of pictures of my friends out spending time with their horses, taking trail rides, riding bareback, or hanging out at the barn; just enjoying being around these amazing animals.

I was at an IHSA show with my team Friday evening and Saturday, and then at an IEA show as steward on Sunday. The pretty weather added a nice touch to the weekend, and also made me a little contemplative about life.

You see, I spend a whole lot of time being Coach Amanda or Steward Amanda, or, in the case of IHSA, both at the same time, lol. I'm so busy with the business side of horse shows, trying to get my riders qualified for the post season or making sure the show runs efficiently, that I don't often step back and look at the big picture, why I got into this business in the first place...except when I'm schooling my team's horses during the morning warm up. Well, really just one horse in particular: my sammy pony.

Sam is not my personal show horse. He's just a cute 15 hand Dartmoor/Holsteiner 'hony'. Originally bred to be a fancy show pony, he grew just enough to be too big to show in the pony divisions, but not big enough to compete with the big boys. So he found his way to us as a valuable member of my farm lesson string.

I love this little guy. I only get to ride him when I'm schooling him for the IHSA shows because my team and private lesson students use him so much during the week. But when I do get the chance to throw a leg over, for those ten or fifteen minutes I'm not Coach Amanda. I'm just a girl who loves her pony. My mind is clear of all my adult responsibilities and I'm just riding, often nodding my head to the rhythm of his canter and whatever pop song is running through my mind as we jump around. This weekend it was Uptown Funk ("don't believe me just watch..."). If you look closely, you can sometimes see my lips moving.

It's during these schooling rides on the sammy pony that I'm able to get back to basics.  I got into this business because deep down I'm just a girl who loves horses. I wasn't satisfied with working a regular job and riding on the weekend. I wanted horses in my life 24/7, waking and sleeping with the sound and smell of these beautiful creatures on my brain and in my heart.

Its easy to remember these things on the rare occasion when the stars align and I'm given a warm February weekend to ride my sammy pony.

The author preparing to school the sammy pony at an IHSA show.
photo credit Autumn McBride Vetter

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

REGIONAL FINALS!!!

IEA Regional finals are coming up this month, so for today's post I discuss how they run and what you should expect.

It may be helpful to think of regional finals as two horse shows running at the same time, an individual competition and a team competition.

In a regular season horse show, the individual and team classes are run together as one class with all riders trying to earn individual points and the designated point riders working to earn individual and team points. This is not the case at regional finals.

At regional finals, the individual and team classes are run separately. The riders in the individual classes are competing for a spot at zones as an individual and the riders in the team classes are working to earn team points to help their team in the regional team competition.

Individual Regional Finals Classes
Individual riders must qualify for regional finals by earning 15 points in one class. Individual riders can qualify in just fences, just flat, or both fences and flat. Individual riders only compete at regional finals in the class(es) in which they qualify.

Individuals Moving on to Zones
The top one, two, or three riders in each individual class move on to zone finals.  The number of riders who qualify is determined by the size of the region.  A large region may be able to send its top three or four riders per class on to zones, while a smaller region may be allowed to send only its top one or two.  To find out how many riders from each individual class move on to zone finals in your region, ask your coach.

The winner of each individual class at regional finals is declared the Regional Champion for that class. The second place rider is declared the Regional Reserve Champion.

Team Regional Finals Classes
Teams must qualify for regional finals by earning 20 team points during the regular season. Each qualified team has one rider in each of the team classes.  Those riders earn points for their team based on their placing in the team class.

At the end of the regional show, the team with the most points is declared the Regional Champion Team. The second place team is declared the Regional Reserve Champion Team.

Teams Moving on to Zones
Depending on the size of the region, the top one, two, or three teams move on to the zone final team competition. To find out how many teams from each regional show move on to the zone finals team competition, ask your coach.

Riders who win a team class earn a blue ribbon and seven points for their team, but they are not declared the Regional Champion. That title is reserved for the winner of the individual class.

Choosing Riders for the Team Competition
The coach of a team competing in the team competition at regional finals may choose any eligible team member to ride for the team in the team class.  The rider does not have to be qualified for regional finals as an individual.

Regional Show Class Order
Having separate individual and team classes makes for a lot of classes and it can be a little confusing, especially for riders who are competing both as an individual and for their team. And just to keep everyone on their toes, there is no set order for the classes. The class order is up to the regional show manager.

Below are a couple examples of class orders for regional shows.

Class Order Example #1
Here is an example of a class order for a regional show. Note that each class is designated either "team" or "individual."

Class #6 Team - Varsity Open on the flat
Class #7 Team - Varsity Intermediate on the flat
Class #10 Team - Future Intermediate on the flat

Class #1 Team - Varsity Open o/f 2’6”
Class #2 Team - Varsity Intermediate o/f 2’
Class #4 Team - Future Intermediate o/f 2’

Class #6 Individual - Varsity Open on the flat
Class #7 Individual - Varsity Intermediate on the flat
Class #10 Individual - Future Intermediate on the flat

Class #1 Individual - Varsity Open o/f 2’6”
Class #2 Individual - Varsity Intermediate o/f 2’
Class #4 Individual - Future Intermediate o/f 2’

**BREAK**

Class #8 Team - Junior Varsity Novice on the flat
Class #9 Team - Junior Varsity Beginner on the flat
Class #11 Team - Future Novice on the flat
Class #12 Team - Future Beginner on the flat

Class #3 Team - Junior Varsity Novice o/f x-rails
Class #5 Team - Future Novice o/f x-rails

Class #8 Individual - Junior Varsity Novice on the flat
Class #9 Individual - Junior Varsity Beginner on the flat
Class #11 Individual - Future Novice on the flat
Class #12 Individual - Future Beginner on the flat

Class #3 Individual - Junior Varsity Novice o/f x-rails
Class #5 Individual - Future Novice o/f x-rails


Class Order Example #2
And here is another example of a class order, this time the abbreviated "T" and "I" are used to designate team or individual, so its important to read carefully.

1T. Varsity Open o/f 2’6”
1I. Varsity Open o/f 2’6”
6T. Varsity Open on the flat
6I. Varsity Open on the flat

2T. Varsity Intermediate o/f 2’
2I. Varsity Intermediate o/f 2’
4T. Future Intermediate o/f 2’
4I. Future Intermediate o/f 2’

7T. Varsity Intermediate on the flat
7I. Varsity Intermediate on the flat
10T. Future Intermediate on the flat
10I. Future Intermediate on the flat

9T. Junior Varsity Beginner on the flat- Walk/Trot/Canter
9I. Junior Varsity Beginner on the flat- Walk/Trot/Canter
12T .Future Beginner on the flat- Walk/Trot/Canter
12I. Future Beginner on the flat- Walk/Trot/Canter

8T. Junior Varsity Novice on the flat
8I. Junior Varsity Novice on the flat
11T. Future Novice on the flat
11I. Future Novice on the flat

3T. Junior Varsity Novice o/f x-rails
3I. Junior Varsity Novice o/f x-rails
5T. Future Novice o/f x-rails
5I. Future Novice o/f x-rails

The Draw
The draw at regional finals can be a "steward draw" done by the steward and other designated show officials prior to the show (this is the draw procedure used most frequently in regular season shows), or the draw can be a "live draw" in which each rider physically draws her horse herself.

The steward draw most often occurs in its entirety at the beginning of the day, though it may be done in two parts: morning classes at the beginning and afternoon classes at the break.

The live draw may happen in one of three ways: all at once the morning of the show; in two parts (morning classes at the beginning of the day and afternoon classes at the break); or continuously throughout the day.

Check with your coach prior to the show to find out which type of draw your regional final will have.

Judges and Stewards
Regional finals may have one or two judges, but they all have two stewards.

Best of luck at Regional Finals!

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

Warm Up Fence Configuration to Maximize Limited Space

At the IEA show I stewarded on Sunday, Jennifer Mastronardi, show host and coach of the Middle Georgia IEA Team, set up the two warm up fences in a configuration I had never seen before.

We had rain and below-freezing temperatures the day and night before the horse show, so we had to move the show, including the warm up area, into the covered arena at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia.

Space was tight, and we needed to make use of every possible inch of usable arena space. Coach Jennifer's configuration, shown below, fit the bill.

Here is how you ride this warm up pattern:

• Enter the warm up area from the left hand side of the diagram and track left toward Fence 1. You have the option of going directly to Fence 1 or making a circle in the bottom half of the warm up area.  

• After Fence 1, continue on the left lead along the rail, then turn left across the diagonal and execute either a simple or flying change (determined by the needs of the horse), and proceed on the right lead up Fence 2.

• After Fence 2, continue on the right lead along the rail, then turn right across the diagonal executing another simple or flying lead change and ending up at the main show ring in gate.

A few notes about this configuration:
The two warm up fences are placed right up on the rail, which allows the maximum amount of usable space, but also allows no space along the rail between the warm up area and the main show ring for coaches to stand and coach their riders. To fix this issue, during fence classes, the coach of the rider in the show arena stands in the in-gate area along with the show steward. No other individuals are allowed inside the warm up area.

During flat classes, coaches and riders are allowed to stand along the rail that runs between the warm up area and main show ring, but are asked to exit the area once the flat class begins lining up to allow the first rider in the next fence class to begin her warm up.

Using this warm up pattern, we were able to make a large IEA show run continuously all day long with no noticeable delays and finish at a reasonable time.

I love learning new ways to make IEA shows run smoother and more efficiently. Do any of my blog readers have a different warm up configuration you prefer? Please share in the comments.

And a huge thank you to Jennifer Mastronardi and the Middle Georgia IEA team for putting on a well-run show and inviting me to be your steward. :-)

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

CPI 2015--Olympian Michael Page Steals the Show

I spent last weekend in sunny Wellington, Florida stewarding the College Preparatory Invitational Horse Show (CPI) along with IEA National Steward Sue Wentzel.

The CPI is a great opportunity for high school students who are aspiring to ride on a college team. The CPI offers:

• Five levels of hunt seat flat and fences competition (18 inches to 3 feet) in a horse-draw format similar to IEA and IHSA

• A college fair attended by representatives of some of the most prestigious equestrian schools in the nation (do the names Hollins, Sweet Briar, or SCAD ring a bell?)

• College scholarships for high point rider and high scorer on the written horsemanship test

• The opportunity to experience the Wellington equestrian scene first hand

But hands down, the highlight of the 2015 CPI horse show was our judge, three-time Olympian and Pan American team rider and winner of the 1956 Medal Final, Michael Page.

Before the show started each day, Mr. Page met with the riders to explain his note taking system and asked show management to post all of his judges cards after the show so riders could see the decision making process behind his placings.

Mr. Page also tested every single rider in the flat classes. Tests he used included:

• Extension and collection at all three gaits, 

• Work without stirrups, 

• Circles and half circles,

• And my favorite ring direction at the conclusion of each class: pat your horses! Those of you who do NOT pat your horse will be eliminated from the ribbons! The judge is watching!

And before you think each flat class lasted three hours and ran the horses to exhaustion, I should tell you he tested the riders as a group all at the same time, including the circles and half circles in a class of 9-10 riders. The classes ran about 10 minutes each, pretty standard length for a flat class. If you thought you could go in there and sit pretty and win, you were in for a big surprise.

At the conclusion of the show Sunday afternoon, Mr. Page addressed the riders and parents at the awards ceremony then spoke one-on-one with judges cards in-hand to every rider who approached him.

Mr. Page is not only a fantastic horseman, he is also a class act.  Oh, and did I mention he's judging the 2015 IEA National Finals in Wellington this April?  ;-)  

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

CPI judge Olympian Michael Page addresses the riders after the show

Ideal Class Order for an Efficient IEA Show

For today's blog, I share my preferred order of classes for IEA shows, which I would argue allows for the most efficient IEA show.

My Preferred Order:
Morning Schooling--2'6" and 2' fences and flat horses

Class 6 Varsity Open Equitation on the Flat
Class 7 Varsity Intermediate Equitation on the Flat
Class 10 Future Intermediate Equitation on the Flat
Class 1 Varsity Open Equitation Over Fences
Class 2 Varsity Intermediate Equitation Over Fences
Class 4 Future Intermediate Equitation Over Fences

Schooling Break--Cross Rail and Beginner Flat Horses

Class 9x Junior Varsity Beginner Equitation on the Flat WT*
Class 12x Future Beginner Equitation on the Flat WT*
Class 9 Junior Varsity Beginner Equitation on the Flat
Class 12 Future Beginner Equitation on the Flat
Class 8 Junior Varsity Novice Equitation on the Flat
Class 11 Future Novice Equitation on the Flat
Class 3 Junior Varsity Novice Equitation Over Fences
Class 5 Future Novice Equitation Over Fences

*optional WT classes

My Reasons Why:
1. This order ensures that no riders are entered in back to back classes, so you don't have anyone rushing to dismount from one horse and mount another in the short amount of time between back to back classes.

2.  This order allows riders to do their flat class first, which gives them a chance to warm up and get moving, especially on those cold horse show mornings.

3.  This order allows two schooling sessions: 2'6" and 2' flat and fences in the morning followed by a second cross rail and beginner flat session half way through the day. This way the upper level horses can get their classes done in the morning and go back to their stall, while the lower level horses get to "sleep in" and do their classes in the afternoon.

4.  This order helps the grid creator to avoid using horses in back to back classes without too much difficultly.

5.  This order places the beginner classes immediately following the cross rail/beginner schooling break, which allows the beginners to ride immediately after the horses have been schooled by professionals or skilled schooling riders, giving the beginners the best chance for a positive experience. Many class orders place the beginners at the very end of the day (when the horses may be tired or cranky) requiring beginner riders to ride through some horse issues that they may not yet have the skills to handle effectively.

The Class Order I See Most Often:
I see many show prizelists with classes listed in this order:

Varsity Open over fences 2'6"
Varsity Open on the flat
Varsity Intermediate over fences 2'
Varsity Intermediate on the flat
Future Intermediate over fences 2'
Future Intermediate on the flat
etc...

With this order, the last rider in the open fence class is also in the open flat class, so the flat class riders have to wait for her to dismount her fence horse and mount her flat horse and get in the ring. This is not ideal time wise, and is also unfortunate for the rider who may feel rushed to get into the ring for the flat.  It seems that almost every time I'm stewarding a show in this format, during the downtime between open fences and open flat, someone asks me why the show isn't moving.

This back to back rider conflict occurs throughout the day in all divisions that are not split into multiple sections. To be fair, if the divisions are split into sections it's possible to ensure that a rider in the B section of fences is not in the A section of flat, which can help alleviate this problem at some bigger shows.

Also, many of the same horses are used in the flat and fences portion of each division (i.e many of the same horses are used for open flat and open fences, etc.), so you are more likely to have horses going in back to back classes.

In Conclusion
There are many possible class orders a show manager can choose for an IEA show.  This is just my personal favorite and one I think works well. If any of my readers have an alternate order you use for your shows, I'd love to hear it.  Please post in the comments.

Regardless which class order you use, I would argue, the key to an efficiently run show is not having any horses or any riders entered in back to back classes.

Good luck and happy showing!

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

Epiphany Farm--What's in a Name?

Today is January 6th, the twelfth day of Christmas, also known as Epiphany.

An epiphany can also be defined as, "a moment of sudden revelation or insight."

The name of my barn is Epiphany Farm. I'm often asked how I came up with that name, so, today being Epiphany, I thought I would share my story.

I grew up riding and showing horses and when I was ready for college, my parents encouraged me to get a good degree and a good job so that I could afford to have horses on the side. School always came easy to me. I was a strong student and I made good grades, so I decided to follow that plan.

I got a bachelors degree and then a masters degree. I rode on my school's IHSA team and showed my personal horse while an undergraduate student, but I didn't major in equine science or any other horse-related field.

After graduate school I was offered a well-paying job in my field out in Los Angeles, California. So off I went with my amateur horse, Nick, in tow.

I loved my new career and was making good money, but I was working such long hours that I didn't have time to ride my horse. I kept him at a nice full-care, full-training facility and my trainer rode him regularly while I sat in an office all day. Basically, I felt like I was working all the time to pay the bills and she was having all the fun, lol.

After a couple years of this arrangement I simply wasn't happy, and I knew the only solution was to work with horses full-time.  But the realization that I wanted a career in the equine industry wasn't my epiphany. I had known that all along.

My epiphany was that I was capable of actually doing it. You see, I was very fortunate growing up. I always had nice horses (not super expensive, just nice and kind and forgiving) as well as very knowledgeable trainers who did things the right way, proper horsemanship from the ground up, no shortcuts or gadgets. As a result, I enjoyed a degree of success as a junior and amateur rider. (on a side note, in my old age I've started to realize it was no coincidence that my horses were nice, kind, and forgiving because my trainers were knowledgeable and did things the right way.)

But back to my story, I was in awe of my trainers and never thought I would ever be as good as they were. My epiphany occurred after a phone conversation with my IHSA coach from college. I held my breath as I told her of my desire to start my own farm, fully expecting her to patiently explain all the reasons why I shouldn't do it. But her reaction was something to the effect of, "well duh, I can't believe you haven't done it sooner." Whew, what a relief. So with her blessing off I went. Walking away from a good paying job in a growing field to start a horse farm. I've never looked back and never been happier.

Happy Epiphany!

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

Ten New Years Resolutions for Equestrians

As we say goodbye to 2014 and welcome in 2015 tomorrow night, many of us will be thinking about our goals for the year ahead, so for today's blog I've listed 10 fully attainable new years resolutions for equestrians.

In 2015, make a resolution to...

1. ...Ride without stirrups on a regular basis. We all know the most tried and true method for building the strength equestrians need is to ride without stirrups. If you're new to no-stirrup work, start small and build as you get stronger. I have a rectangular ring, so I have my students do posting trot down the long sides of the arena and sitting trot along the short sides as a rest break. Alternating between sitting and posting allows you do the exercise for longer periods of time, building strength and endurance. As you get stronger, add to the number of laps. After a few successful rides, begin taking away some of your short side sitting trot breaks until you can post the trot around the arena for multiple laps.

2. ...Ride outside the arena. Its easy to do all your riding inside the confines of the ring, but you and your equine partner will benefit from working outside without an arena rail. Speak with your trainer about taking a lesson out in a paddock.You may be surprised at how much harder you have to work to keep a consistent rhythm and pace on uneven ground and to maintain a straight path or quality circle without an arena rail to guide you.

3. ...Take trail rides on a regular basis. Everyone, human and equine, needs a break from time to time, so get together with some of your riding buddies and plan regular excursions outside the arena. If you don't have access to trails, just sauntering through the pastures or paddocks will do. Allow yourself and your horse to decompress and just enjoy the scenery.

4. ...Keep a riding journal.  Take time after every ride to jot down some notes. What things did you do well and why? What things did you struggle with and why? What are some goals you can set for yourself to overcome your struggle areas? Don't forget to make some notes about your horse, too! Which exercise did he seem to enjoy or do particularly well and which did he not seem to enjoy or excel at and why? Journaling will help you stay on track toward achieving your goals. Also, it's always fun to read back through your journal entries to see what you used to struggle with that now seems easy.

5. ...Follow a riding/training blog. Most of us don't get to spend as much time in the saddle as we'd like, but you can continue to learn when out of the saddle by reading and watching videos online. Here are a few good blogs (other than this one, of course, lol):

• horsecollaborative.com
• horselistening.com
• Denny Emerson at Tamarack Hill Farm on Facebook

When you come across a new idea or training tip, make a note in your riding journal and share it with your trainer.

6. ...Read a training book or series of books.  Some good examples are:

• Hunter Seat Equitation by George Morris
• Centered Riding by Sally Swift
• How Good Riders Get Good by Denny Emerson
• The United States Pony Club Manuals by Susan E. Harris

You can get more information on these books from my December 9, 2014 blog, "Five Books IEA Riders Should be Reading"

Just like with the blog posts, keep notes in your journal of the things you learn and share them with your trainer.

7.  ...Attend a clinic with an upper level professional. If you're able to ride in the clinic, that's great, but if you can't ride, go anyway and audit or volunteer to work. Watching can sometimes be better than riding because you can focus on the instructor and all of the riders rather than worrying solely about yourself and your horse. Also, if you volunteer to go as someone's groom, you may be able to audit for free. And while you're there, offer to be jump crew, that way you can get inside the arena near the instructor.

8. ...Watch an upper level professional class at a rated show, such as a hunter derby or grand prix jumper class. Watch the class as if you were the judge and critique the riders. See what they are doing that helps them get the results they want. You may be surprised at how much you can learn by watching top level riders competing on top level horses.

9. ...Watch some top professionals ride in green horse classes at a rated show, such as baby green or pre-green hunters or training level jumpers. As I said previously, you can learn a lot by watching top level riders on top level horses, but you can learn a TON by watching top level riders on green horses. Try to see what they do to help their green horses get around the course successfully. How are they explaining the course to the horse as they go around? How are they building their mount's confidence? Watch the riders create a positive experience for their young green horses to build a solid foundation for more advanced work later on.

10. ...Stay positive. No matter what your riding goals, it is most important to stay positive and believe in yourself. Don't underestimate the power of positive thinking and don't let minor set-backs get you down. If you believe you can do something and work hard, you can achieve it.

Whatever your riding goals for 2015, best of luck and happy 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

Guest Blogger Jadie Jones: The IEA Helps Coaches' Dreams Come True Too

From Amanda:  For those of you who may not know, I had surgery last Tuesday and have been spending the last week recuperating.  My very dear friend and fellow author/blogger Jadie Jones graciously agreed to take the helm of my blog this week.  So,without further adieu:

From Guest Blogger Jadie Jones:  The IEA Helps Coaches' Dreams Come True Too

I became involved in the IEA by accident. I was driving a new way home and saw a sign for a boarding facility. I called them to see if they had anything to lease. They asked about my background and riding experience. Instead of offering me a lease on a horse, they offered me a job. I started teaching there as an IEA coach three days later.

At home, I was mom to a one year old girl by day and an aspiring writer by night. I kept the writing aspect of my life mostly to myself. When people find out someone writes, the first question they often ask is what you’ve published, and I hadn’t published anything yet. Two months after I started coaching, the email landed in my inbox: a publishing house wanted my book. I taught in the afternoons and then toiled at my laptop into pre-dawn hours, racing through a series of editing deadlines while trying to juggle the rest of my life. The day we hosted our IEA show, I received the next big email, which revealed the cover for my book, the title: Moonlit, and a release date: April 14th, 2013.

My managing editor told me to find horse-industry professionals willing to read and review pre-release copies of Moonlit. Since I chose to use a pen name, I would need to contact them in person to eliminate confusion. I was intimidated to say the least. I reached out to Amanda Garner, who had stewarded several of the shows I’d been to that year. She seemed friendly, and I figured if she turned me down, she’d probably smile while she did it. I walked up to her at a horse show, my shaking hands stuffed inside my pockets, and introduced myself. Then I asked her if she liked to read. She lit up at the question, and we had a ten-minute conversation about our favorite books. At a pause in the conversation, I took a breath and a chance, and told her about Moonlit. She immediately agreed to review it, and she had a surprise for me: she liked to write, too. Amanda then pointed me in the direction of another IEA coach, Simon Towns, an avid reader and encourager of the arts, and the snowball of support began its roll. Roxanne Lawrence, founder and director of the IEA, invited me to come to the IEA hunt-seat championship in New York, which I agreed to as fast as I could. 

I saw the trip to New York as a finish line – some kind of culmination, when in actuality, it was a launch pad. Within three days, forty copies of Moonlit were given away as prizes, and I was interviewed for IEA’s Take the Reins magazine, which served to spread my first book all over the country. Robin Alden, youth manager of the AQHA, bought a copy of Moonlit and invited me to appear in the college showcase at the AQHYA “Built Ford Tough” world championships in Oklahoma City that August. Before I left for home, I purchased my plane ticket to Oklahoma. I also sold out of Moonlit. 

The best aspect about being involved in the IEA is this: you are surrounded by doers, movers, shakers, entrepreneurs, hard-working, I-dare-you-to-tell-me-no type people who change the minds of twelve-hundred pound animals on a daily basis. Equestrians are tough, stubborn, fierce, patient, compassionate, decisive, persistent, and supportive. We learn how to decide when it’s time to use muscle versus when it’s best to finesse. We cultivate a sense of humor for landing in the dirt instead of on the other side of the jump. And we dust ourselves off and keep going. These skills and this network help create habits and traits that serve its members well no matter what you decide to do with your life, no matter what dream tugs you into each new day.

About Jadie Jones
Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went.


She lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she's not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughters.

Jones is the author of the Moolit trilogy.  Books one and two, Moonlit and Windswept are currently available.  Book three, Wildwood, is set for release in 2015.

    

Enjoy Jadie Jones' post?  You can find more of her work on her website www.JadieJones.com, like her facebook page www.facebook.com/jadiejones1, or follow her blog www.jadiejones.blogspot.com

Five Books IEA Riders Should be Reading

No matter how much time you're able to spend in the saddle, there is always more to learn. All equestrians can benefit from supplementing their lesson instruction with books written by successful riders and trainers.

So, just in time for the holidays, here is my list of five books IEA riders should be reading.

1.  Hunter Seat Equitation by George H. Morris

Could any equestrian book collection not include this definitive volume by the master horseman himself? In this timeless classic, Mr. Morris describes rider position and aides on the flat and over fences, lateral and longitudinal flexion in the horse, proper horse and rider turnout, and the fundamentals of horse showing, all with the frankness and attention to detail that you would expect. A must-read for every aspiring equestrian.

Once you've read the book, I encourage you to sign up for one of his clinics. I guarantee you will come away from the experience a stronger, and more humble, equestrian.


2.  Centered Riding by Sally Swift

Ms. Swift's book teaches riders how to work in harmony with their horses using yoga-like techniques such as breathing, balance, and body awareness. It is also full of illustrations and metaphors that can help visual learners grasp abstract concepts. Have you ever thought of yourself as an ice cream cone slowly melting down around your horse, or of your horse as a train travelling down a track? I personally use many of her methods in my own teaching and feel that her system of working through "feel" rather than simply through "mechanics" helps create happy horses and riders.


3.  How Good Riders Get Good by Denny Emerson

The purpose of Mr. Emerson's book isn't to teach you how to ride.  You won't find anything in there about "inside leg to outside rein" or "finding the perfect rhythm to a fence." Instead, it's a sports psychology book designed to help young riders develop their own path towards success based on their own personal circumstances.

Have you ever heard someone say, "I can't be an upper level rider because I can't afford a good-enough horse?" Emerson dismisses that kind of negative thinking with chapter titles such as, Wannabes versus Gonnabes, Dealing with the Cards you Hold, and Nine Character Traits for a Successful Rider. Throughout the book he also profiles dozens of famous riders, many of whom made it to the top though years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice despite being born into families of modest means. This is a great book for aspiring professionals who want to learn the non-horse related skills necessary to make it in this business.

I also encourage IEA riders to visit Mr. Emerson's facebook page, Tamarack Hill Farm, where he regularly shares knowledge he has gained through his 60+ years of experience. I learn something from every post he makes.


4.  The United States Pony Club Manuals of Horsemanship by Susan E. Harris

I cheated a little bit here, because this is actually a set of three books:

• Basics for Beginners D Level
• Intermediate Horsemanship C Level
• Advanced Horsemanship B/HA/A Levels

Have you ever followed the IEA facebook trivia contests and wondered where many of those questions come from? In addition to being required reading for students involved in United States Pony Club (USPC), these manuals are also the basis for many written horsemanship tests, such as the horsemanship test offered each year at IEA National Finals.

The first volume covers the basics of riding, nutrition, grooming, hoof care, tack, and horse conformation.

The second volume builds on the information presented in the first. Topics include riding on the flat and over fences, horse care and management, conditioning, health care, wrapping and bandaging, and ground work.

The third and final volume is intended for those pony clubbers who wish to ride at an advanced level, manage a farm, and train young horses and/or teach riding as an equine professional.


5.  A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association by Amanda Garner

Shameless plug...In no way am I suggesting that I can hold a candle to the great horsemen/women listed above, but I do believe every IEA rider can benefit from learning more about the rules, regulations, and general structure of the IEA, as described in my book.

In Conclusion
So this is my list, I'd love to hear from my blog readers, what's on your horsey reading list?  Click back over to my facebook page and leave a comment.

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