Cari Swanson

Buying a Horse

A mother writes, my daughter is too big for her pony and I need to buy her a horse, where do I start?
First of all, you must be realistic about your daughters riding skills and goals are before searching for a horse that suits her. I would look for an experienced older horse to teach her the basics and build her confidence. Some things to consider are the size of the horse, the age, temperament,
and experience. When trying a horse, ride him in the ring and outside on trails to confirm your daughters comfort level on him. Remember, there may be an adjustment period when you bring your new horse home, so give him a few days to settle in. Have fun and good luck with your new horse!

What makes a horse and rider harmonious?

Elasticity is the qualtiy that makes a horse look vibrant and powerful, yet balanced and controlled. The horse looks loose and relaxed in all the gaits, yet excited and explosive. The rider must have an elastic seat in order for the horse to achieve and maintain the relaxed rhythmic footfall of each gait. If the seat is not stable, the rider will balance off the horses mouth or bounce on the back making it impossible for the horse to remain supple and look relaxed. At the beginning of every training session, tune into your horse and listen to how he is feeling. It is important to find the correct tempo and balance as quickly as possible. Test your horse to make sure he is laterally and longitudinally flexible. The ultimate goal is that your horse swings forward in a relaxed rhythm, reach and stretch toward the bit and into the hand. When these qualities are achieved the horse and rider will look as one and they will be a pleasure to watch in any discipline.

Tension in the Warm Up at a Show

A rider writes in that she has a horse who is very tense in the warm up, but relaxed once in the dressage ring, however, the rider wonders how to prepare herself in the tense environment. Find someplace quiet to do simple excercises. If there are too many horses in the warm up go to another area. Use breathing excercises to relax the nerves and mentally ride your test several times. The most important thing is to mentally calm your nervous system. Try riding many transitions and helping your horse focus on you and not the other distractions in the warm up.

How do I keep the weight of my foot in the Stirrup?

My trainer is always telling me not to float my foot in the stirrup, I am having a hard time keeping it on the ball of my foot. First check your seat, are you sitting centered and balanced, an open relaxed hip, feeling your seat bones sink into the saddle. Each of your legs should work as two separate parts(thigh and lower leg). the easiest way to keep your weight in the stirrup is to allow the inside of the foot to be slightly lower than the outside.

My horse is dull in the dressage ring, what can I do?

Horses need variety in the training. Find a field and take him for a gallop, plan to hack him cross country at least once a week. The horse has a skeletal structure which is supported by many different muscle groups. The muscles used in play when in turn out, the muscles used to gallop, the muscles actived when climbing and descending hills and even other muscles developed in your training regine in the ring. The stronger your horse is all around, the easier his work is for him. More importantly he will enjoy the variety of doing different things.

Flying Changes

My horse is confirmed in flying changes, however I have a diffiuclt time changing from left to right, what do I do?
Check your postition to be certain that you are asking with the correct aids. A good excercise is to ride counter canter to a simple change,
many times and then ask for the change as if you were going to do the simple change. The quality of your simple change will tell you where
your position is weak, and when it is seemless you will perform a successful change. You must have a clear rhythm, straighness, impulsion and most importantly a relaxed canter stride before achieving a change.

How to Ride Your Centerline

Enter the arena with your eyes up on the judge at C. Ride with straight with more impulsion than you think you need, prepare for your halt at L with half halts and sink your heels and seat into a perfect square halt at X. The haunches will not drift to either side if you have enought impulsion and you are sitting balanced and straight on both seat bones, looking straight ahead. Imagine riding a bike very slowly down center line, it is diffuclut to balance, however, if you ride with more speed it is easier to stay balanced and straight. If you are riding straight and balanced and dealing with something the horse is spooking at, you may have to override the outside aids to compensate for your horse to remain straight. However the key is your position, check it out and make sure you are correct.

Sales horse ORION: Results from recent clinics

WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING A HORSE, it is nice to know what he or she has been doing the past couple of weeks. Orion has been working hard and been getting excellent results. See below recent clinics attended and the clinicians’ comments:

Peter Leone Clinic at Winley Farm, Millbrook, NY: 3’6″ division, very bold and honest to the jumps, impressive capacity to learn new exercises. Peter thinks he would be a good Junior Jumper.

Judy Richter Clinic at Coker Farm: Gymnastics to improve balance and straightness, worked with complex figure 8 exercises over narrow walls and cavaletti. Orion maintained a super rhythm to the fences. Judy suggests an Equitation rider who is looking for a fancy horse.

Locust Hill Hunter Pace: Pleasant Valley, NY: jumped over 30 fences cross country including drops, walls, water jumps, ditches, coops, natural fences. He was bold and brave to everything, led the group of three, also fell behind and was fine following, shows talent for eventing.

Heritage Farm: Patricia Griffith suggested he would make a super Junior Jumper. Orion jumped around the indoor course at 3’3″?3’6″ without touching a rail and did not back off any of the spooky jumps. She said many made horses stop at the fences because they are carved trees, or other unusual jumps.

Click here to see specs on Orion and other Sales Horses