Interview with USEF R judge Woody Dykers

Last weekend I had the pleasure of judging the H.J. Fox show in Conyers, Georgia along with Mr. Woody Dykers, longtime USEF, IEA, and IHSA judge.  I had an opportunity to sit down with Mr. Dykers Saturday evening and pick his brain about his likes and dislikes in the IEA/IHSA show ring.

Can you give me some insight into how you judge equitation on the flat?

With regards to rider position, one of my biggest pet peeves is when a rider sits behind the horse's motion.  I want to see you sitting in the middle of your horse, over your leg.  I also like to see a solid leg and a nice soft hand with a straight line from bit to elbow.

Also, to add a little polish to your flat ride, when coming into the lineup at the completion of the class, continue tracking toward the right on your way into the line.  

I'd just like to add that I don't like to see trainers coaching from the rail.  It is inappropriate in equitation.  This applies to fences classes as well.

How about equitation over fences?

Again, no coaching from the rail as I mentioned before.

When performing the opening circle, you have the option of exhibiting a sitting trot or posting trot or going directly from walk to canter.  You are not required to do a sitting trot.  However, if you can do a sitting trot well and you feel it will increase your score, feel free to do so.  On the other hand, if your seat isn't up to par or if you've drawn a very bouncy horse, you may be better off with a posting trot.  It's better to do a nice posting trot or go directly into the canter from a walk than to do a poor sitting trot.  The same is true in the closing circle.  If your sitting trot isn't going to impress the judge, go to a posting trot or even transition downward directly from canter to walk.

Also, in recent years many riders seem to think it's necessary to go directly to fence one without an opening circle.  If you aren't confident that you can do that successfully, it is perfectly acceptable to begin with a circle to establish rhythm and pace, unless otherwise stated on the posted course.  An abrupt start to the course is not always the winner.

Regarding striding in the lines, you should do the striding that is appropriate for the horse you drew.  For example, if you drew a 15.1 hand quarter horse with a ten foot stride, the add may be the best choice.  Above all, be consistent.  Whichever striding you choose, try to maintain that striding throughout the course.

Any thoughts on riding attire?  Things you like/don't like?

I prefer conservative and traditional attire.  Keep it simple.  Clean and polished boots and well-fitting clothing are important in the equitation ring.

Your hair should be neatly contained in a hair net under your helmet.  If a younger rider chooses to wear braids and bows, the bows should never cover the back number.

Specifically related to IEA and IHSA, does the size of the horse (for example a tall rider on a smaller horse) affect your judging?

Honestly it doesn't.  I know the competitors don't get to choose which horse they ride.  What I don't like to see is a tall rider trying to make herself look small to fit the horse she drew if that horse is on the shorter side.  I want to see that rider sit up and carry herself with confidence regardless of which size or type of horse she has drawn.  

Thank you so much for your time.  Any closing thoughts?

In IEA and IHSA competition you should strive to do the best job you can with the horse you drew.  I want to see a rider who takes what he or she is given and shows that horse to the best of it's ability.  The winner is not always the one riding the fanciest horse. 

Woody Dykers been involved in the equine industry for over forty years.  A USEF R judge, he has officiated at horse shows from Florida to Alaska.  He is also an animal portrait artist. He resides in the Atlanta area.  

How to Take a Lesson

If you’re reading this blog, you’ve probably taken dozens or even hundreds of lessons in your lifetime.  But are you getting the full benefit of your time under instruction?  Here are ten tips to help you get the most out of your lesson time

1.  Arrive early enough to properly groom and tack your horse.  Your tack should be clean and your horse should be properly turned out for the lesson.  Make sure you give yourself enough time to catch the horse from the pasture, groom and tack up, and get to the ring on time.

2.  Be in the ring mounted and ready to begin at your assigned lesson time.  In my lesson program, if your lesson is scheduled for 4pm, you should be in the arena mounted and ready to go at 4pm, not just arriving at the barn or in the middle of tacking up your horse in the crossties.  Being on time helps your trainer stay on schedule.  If you are late to your lesson your trainer either has to cut your lesson short or start the next lesson late.  Many of my college riders take their lessons between classes and if I don’t keep the lessons on schedule they may be late for class.   

3.  Be prepared with the proper tack and aides.  Confirm if your horse wears any special tack or if he needs spurs or a crop, and have everything you need when you enter the arena.  You don’t want to waste valuable lesson time running back to the barn because you forgot the horse you are riding wears a standing martingale or needs spurs. 

4.  Follow the left shoulder rule.  If there are other riders in the arena during your lesson, use the left shoulder rule when passing, which means that you pass a rider going the opposite direction such that your left shoulders are next to each other.  Another way of thinking about it is like driving a car; you should always pass on the right.

5.  Don’t break gait.  You should always maintain the gait you are doing (walk, trot, canter, etc.) until your trainer says otherwise.  For example, if your trainer asks you to do posting trot, you should keep doing the posting trot until she gives you a different instruction, like playing ‘simon says.’  One of my pet peeves when teaching is when I’m working hard to help a rider create a balanced, forward trot and the rider suddenly breaks to the walk.  If you stop trotting abruptly you lose the quality we were working towards and have to start over to get back where you were before you broke. 

Sometimes students break gait because they can’t hear the instructor or don’t understand something she told them to do.  I tell my students to try to keep going while asking for clarification.  It’s much easier to fix a problem if you keep going, than stopping to ask a question, then having to completely reestablish your gait and start again from the beginning.

If something happens and you need to stop (you feel sick or dizzy or another rider in the arena falls off), it is best to perform a correct downward transition to a forward walk.  Don’t just slam on the brakes and drop the reins.

6.  Remember that the walk is a gait.  It’s easy to think of the walk as a time to rest or stretch out your legs before resuming work, but the walk is a gait that should be ridden correctly.  If your trainer instructs you to walk, come down to a working walk and continue riding with purpose, maintaining connection and forward rhythm.  Your trainer may then tell you to relax and “go to the buckle” (lengthen your reins so your horse can stretch), or she may tell you to transition to another gait.

7.  Don’t interact with people outside the arena.  Other people from the barn or your parents may be watching the lesson, and they may try to engage you in conversation.  It may be tempting to talk to them, but you should always keep your attention focused on your trainer and the lesson.   You can’t get the most out of your lesson if you are distracted. 

8.  Watch and learn from the other students in your lesson.  I would argue that riders can learn as much by watching as they can by their own riding.  Watch your lesson partners as they take their turn jumping and note things they do well or not so well, then apply that knowledge when it’s your turn. 

9.  Communicate.  Ask questions if you don’t understand.  It’s better to ask a question before performing an exercise than to do the exercise wrong.  Your trainer is there to help you, but she can’t answer a question that you don’t ask.  Also, let your trainer know if you are uncomfortable performing a certain exercise or jumping a certain height.  As trainers, we want to help you reach your full potential, but we also want to work at the right pace for you. 

10.  Cool out your horse properly and clean and put away your tack.  Give yourself enough time to properly cool out and groom your horse after the lesson.  He worked hard and deserves a good brushing and/or hosing off.  Also take time to clean your tack and make sure everything is put away exactly as it was before you arrived.  Clean up your crosstie space and take one final look around to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.

By following these ten easy steps, you can get more accomplished in your lesson time and your trainer will thank you for being such a teachable student!

Tips for New IEA Parents—Surviving Your Child’s First IEA Show

Being an IEA parent is tough.  You’re asked to put your child on a 1200 pound animal that she has probably never ridden before and then watch her pilot it across a course of jumps or around an arena.  It is no easy task.  In fact, I would argue that sitting there watching your child show is probably just as stressful as being the one up there competing. 

Here are six tips to help you survive your child’s first IEA horse show.

Trust your coach

First and foremost, if you can trust that a) your coach knows what she’s doing, and b) she has your child’s safety and best interests in mind, everything else will be easy by comparison.

Part of trusting your coach is allowing her to be the coach.  For example, you may feel your child needs a re-ride.  You have to trust that your coach knows when a re-ride is appropriate and when it’s not, and that if your child does indeed need a re-ride, that your coach is going to make the request. 

If at any time you feel the bond between you and the coach is broken or in need of repair, you need to communicate with her.  The relationship between a child’s parents and her coach can make or break her whole IEA experience.  Take time to nurture and grow this relationship. 

Respect the horse show chain of command

During an IEA show, only the steward may address the judge and only a coach may address the steward.  To say it another way, you are free to discuss issues with your child’s coach, but only the coach can bring that issue to the steward, and only the steward can bring that issue to the judge.   Keep this in mind before heading down to the in-gate to share your thoughts with the steward.

Educate Yourself

Many IEA rules and procedures are not intuitive, especially to a non-horse parent.  I find that parents who understand how the IEA works and why things happen the way they do tend to enjoy the whole experience more. There is a great book about the IEA written just for parents.  I can’t remember off-hand who wrote it…oh wait, it was me.  I’ll provide a link to where you can buy it at the end of this post.

Support the team as a whole

IEA riding is a team sport, and your child is an important part of a greater whole.  It is important to remember this especially toward the end of a long show day when everyone is cold and tired and the trailer still needs to be loaded and then unloaded back at the barn, or when another rider from your team wins her class and your child brings home a green ribbon.

Be on time  

Horse shows start early.  The morning schooling starts even earlier.  You need to confirm with your coach what time your child should arrive and be there ten minutes early.  You should also be on time in the days/weeks leading up to the show with your payment and any paperwork your coach asks you to complete.  You don’t want your daughter to miss her first show because you forgot your checkbook.  Be prepared to stay late.  Don’t allow your child to leave until she has checked with her coach and confirmed that she has completed all of her responsibilities.

Be positive

Horse shows are always a learning experience, especially the first one.  Your daughter won’t always have the best ride and sometimes you may disagree with the judge or steward.  That’s all part of the game.  Try to instill in your child the idea that she can learn something from every horse she has the opportunity to sit on.  Sometimes the best learning experience isn’t going to correlate with the highest ribbon.  The team riders take cues from the parents and coach on how they should behave toward other teams, coaches, show officials, and each other.  Be a positive role model.

These are just a few tips to help you with your child’s IEA journey.  For more information, check out my book, “A Parent’s Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association,” now available in ebook and paperback.

Click HERE for the ebook

Click HERE for the paperback

Preparing for College—Five Suggestions for High School Equestrians

Last Friday I had the pleasure of serving on a collegiate coaches Q&A panel at a local Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) show.  Most of the questions were from high school students asking how they could get themselves ready to ride in college.  So for today’s blog I discuss five ways high school students can prepare for collegiate riding.

Ride as many different horses as you can, including a variety of breeds, ages, sizes, and temperaments.  During the course of your college riding career you will draw a seventeen hand draft horse, a six year old off the track thoroughbred, and a push button show hunter.  You need to understand how to ride all of them over a course of jumps or in an equitation on the flat class. 

Ride in as many different types of saddles as you can.  Many equine professionals will tell you they would rather ride an unfamiliar horse in their own saddle than their own horse in someone else’s saddle.  The horse you draw could be wearing a super comfy saddle with knee and thigh blocks, or a flat as a pancake Crosby Prix de Nations straight out of the 1990s.  The style of saddle affects your position (and your stirrup length!), so you should practice riding in a variety of different saddles.  And while I’m on the topic of tack, many equitation horses go in a pelham these days, so make sure you know how to hold double reins.

Get strong and physically fit.  Of course everyone knows you should ride without stirrups, but you should also develop a personal fitness plan outside of riding.  If you are joining a varsity team, you need to be prepared for those 6am workouts in the gym.  If you are joining a club team, you may only get to ride once a week, so you will need to have a plan for cardio and strength training on the days you aren’t riding.   For club riders, going from riding five or six days a week during high school to only one day per week in college will affect your strength, which will in turn affect your riding, so you’ll need a fitness plan for the days when you’re not in the saddle to keep yourself in riding shape.

Clinic with as many different professionals as you can.  The very best equestrians are the ones who realize there is always more to learn.  By clinic-ing with different professionals, you can learn new techniques or gain a new perspective on a problem you are having in your riding.  It is best to ask your current trainer to recommend a good clinician rather than just picking a clinic off the internet.  If you’re able to take your own horse, that’s great.  If not, you can ask about leasing a suitable mount from the barn hosting the clinic.  If you can’t do either of these, don’t underestimate the amount you can learn by auditing.

Make use of social media and the internet.  Youtube videos, live feeds of high level equestrian events, blogs, and online magazines are all valuable methods for gaining knowledge out of the saddle.  

I want to take a moment to thank Margaux Casey and the sponsors and staff of the Ticket to Ride horse show as well as my fellow clinicians, John Abbot, Laura Norment, and Daphne Ross for a wonderful time at the coaches Q&A.

from left to right:  Amanda Garner, Daphne Ross, John Abbot, and Laura Norment

College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) Horse Show, January 16-18, 2015 Wellington, Florida.

Just announced--Priority entries for the College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) Horse Show, to be held January 16-18, 2015 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida, open today for high school juniors and seniors (entries for freshmen and sophomores open September 15^th).  To enter, go to the official CPI website www.collegeprepinvitational.com.

CPI Competition

If you are a current high school student looking forward to riding on a collegiate team, the CPI horse show is a great opportunity for you to show your stuff in front of college coaches in a horse-draw format, similar to what you would be asked to do on an IHSA or NCEA team.

The CPI offers competition in hunt seat equitation over fences and equitation on the flat.  All horses and tack are provided, so the only thing you need to bring is yourself.  You can even “rent a coach” to assist you during the show if your home coach is not able to attend.

CPI College Fair

The CPI horse show also hosts a college fair with collegiate coaches from all over the country standing ready to answer your questions about their schools and riding opportunities.   Equine professionals also give talks about current events in the equine industry.  Last year Olympian Peter Wylde and IEA Executive Director Roxane Lawrence both gave informative talks to competitors.

CPI Scholarship Opportunities

You can also enter to win one of several scholarships.  Last year the CPI offered the following scholarships:

• Highest Point Rider
• Essay Award
• Written Horsemanship Test Award
• Journalistic Photo Award
• Champion of Service Award

Winter Equestrian Festival and Wellington Area

The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) will be in full swing just a few miles down the road at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.  You can take a break from CPI to drop by the WEF show grounds to watch a Grand Prix or other big money class.  With an average high temperature of 78 degrees in January, you might even be able to catch some beach time.

IEA Hunt Seat National Finals

Did I mention that the 2015 IEA Hunt Seat National Finals will be held in Wellington at the same facility as the CPI Horse Show?  This year's CPI provides a rare opportunity for IEA riders to compete in the same arena they will be competing in at IEA Hunt Seat Nationals just three months later.

CPI Show Stewards Announced

I was very fortunate to serve as one of the two show stewards last year, along with IEA National Steward Sue Wetzel, and now I’m thrilled to announce that both of us have been invited back to serve as show stewards again this year!

Enter Early

If all of this sounds like something you’d be interested in attending, make sure you enter soon.  Last year the entries filled up and riders had to be turned down, which is why the CPI is offering priority entry for high school juniors and seniors starting today.

Visit the official CPI website www.collegeprepinvitational.com for more information.

IEA/IHSA Team Tryouts—10 Tips for a Good First Impression

Summer’s here, and it’s the season when IEA and IHSA teams hold tryouts (for teams that select specific riders for competition) or evaluation rides (for club teams that accept all interested students).  Here are ten tips to help you make a good first impression.

1. Be punctual.  Show up on time or even a little early.  You don’t want your new coach to have to wait on you or rush through your lesson in order to stay on schedule.  Also, make sure you know how to get to the farm.  If you are planning to use a GPS, it’s a good idea to confirm the directions with your coach first because some farms are way out in the country and your GPS may not be accurate.
   
2. Dress appropriately.  You should wear ‘clinic attire,’ which includes britches and tall boots (or half chaps), a tucked in polo shirt, gloves, and a belt.  If you have a show helmet, wear it along with a hairnet.  If you don’t have a show helmet a schooling helmet is fine, too.  No matter what you wear, make sure your clothing is neat and clean and your boots are polished.  Don’t spend a ton of money buying new clothing for your tryout.  If/when you make the team, your coach will tell you what brands or styles she wants you to purchase.
   
3. Know your riding and showing history and be accurate and truthful about it.  Before you ride, you and your coach will spend a few minutes discussing your previous riding and showing experience in order to determine which showing division is appropriate for you.  Take a look at last week’s blog post HERE to learn the importance of proper division placement.
   
4. Make a list of questions in advance.  You are going to be nervous and having a list you’ve prepared beforehand will ensure you get all of your questions answered.  I did a blog post about important questions to ask any IEA/IHSA coach a few weeks ago.  You can find it HERE.
   
5. If you don’t understand something, ask.  When tacking up, if the horse requires a piece of equipment that you’ve never used, ask someone to help you.  When riding, if you don’t understand an instruction, it is better to ask for clarification than to do an exercise incorrectly.  Often the issue isn’t that a student doesn’t understand what to do, it’s that her home trainer uses a different word to describe it, and once the vocabulary is straightened out, things go a lot smoother for everyone involved; the student, the coach, and the horse.
   
6. Be prepared to ride without stirrups.  Coaches want to test your fitness level, which means riding without stirrups.  If your training regimen doesn’t already include no-stirrup work, you should start practicing in the weeks leading up to your tryout so you’ll be prepared.
   
7. If you are asked to do something beyond your experience level, speak up.  Your coach wants to find out what you know, not push you too hard or get you or the horse injured.  For example, if she asks you to jump higher than you’re comfortable jumping on an unfamiliar horse, or if you aren’t confident riding without stirrups at the canter, let her know.
   
8. Take proper care of the horse and tack after the ride.  Take the time to cool the horse out correctly, offer to clean the tack, put all tack and grooming tools back where you found them, and clean up your crosstie space.  Once you’ve finished, ask if there is anything else you need to do.
   
9. Say thank you for the opportunity, follow up with an email, and keep in touch with your coach as your enrollment date approaches.  Coaches understand that riders’ plans change.  If you decide to attend another school or choose not to ride on the team, let the coach know as soon as possible so she can alter her team plans accordingly.
   
10. And for goodness sake, have fun! When all is said and done, we ride horses because we love it.  Don’t let the pressure of trying out for a team cause you to lose sight of the reason you first started riding horses in the first place.

Should you bring your horse to college? Four questions to consider before loading the trailer.

I’m an IHSA coach, and it’s that time of year when a new crop of incoming freshmen contact me about entering college in the fall, joining the team, and possibly bringing their horse to school with them.

If you’re an incoming freshman struggling with whether or not to bring your horse to college, here are four questions to ask yourself that may make your decision a little easier.

1.       How committed are you to riding versus other activities?

College is a time to expand your horizons, meet new people, and figure out who you are.  At no other time in your life will you have the opportunity to try such a variety of new things.  Weekend camping trip?  Sure!  Study abroad?  Absolutely!  Fraternity or Sorority?  Sounds fun, where do I sign up? Oh, and don’t forget, you’re going to have to spend some time studying, too. These endeavors are much more difficult with a horse in tow.   Are you willing to miss out on some of the fun extracurricular activities college has to offer in order to ride your horse regularly?

2.      How committed are you to riding your own horse versus someone else’s? 

Most colleges offer at least a club-level IHSA team in which the horses and tack are provided, and a quick web search will locate near-by barns that offer lessons.  Is it absolutely necessary that you ride your horse as opposed to someone else’s?  Maybe a once a week lesson would satisfy your riding needs without draining your free time or budget.

3.       How will you cover the costs?

Will your parents be paying for board, lessons, farrier, vet, etc., or will you be responsible for these bills?  If you are paying for everything, do you want to spend your free time working a part-time job to pay for the horse-related costs?  With a part-time job will you have time to spend with your horse?  Could you possibly end up in a cycle of working to pay for your horse, then not having time to spend with your horse because you’re working to pay for your horse?

4.      What’s the best option for your horse?

Will you be able to give your horse the level of care and personal attention you lavished on him in high school?  If not, will being at a new barn without you there to spend time with him be good for his mental well-being?

If your horse stays home, you may be able to lease him out under the guidance of your home trainer.  With a lease, your horse stays in shape and you get money off his board, or you may even get to pocket some extra spending cash. 

If you bring him with you, you could look into half-leasing him out to your school’s IHSA coach or a nearby lesson barn in exchange for board or lessons.  That way you could get your horse time in, but you wouldn’t have to do all the riding yourself, all while having some of the costs covered by the lease.

Or maybe it’s time to think about allowing your horse to continue his show career with a new mom.  College is a transitional period.  You will enter as an adolescent, but you will graduate as an adult looking for a full-time job, possibly with a soon-to-be-spouse alongside.  You will probably have some student loan debt to pay off.  The added expense of a horse can be a large burden for a recent grad.  Also, it’s important to consider that you may be better off selling before you enter college while your horse is still in show shape, rather than after you graduate when he is four years older (at least), and probably less tuned up than he was when you were in high school. 

Whether or not to bring you equine partner with you to college is a difficult decision, and there isn’t one answer that is correct for everyone.  Yes, even the most committed equestrian should have an identity outside of riding.  It’s part of being a well-rounded person.  But, on the other hand, for some people, riding is more than a sport, it’s a lifestyle.  Only you can decide the right balance for you. 

The most important thing to remember is, whichever option you choose, you can always change your mind.  There is always next semester.