Riding The Perfect One Day Event

From the March 2015 issue of The Stable Magazine – www.thestablemagazine.com/march2015

Clearing the last jump, you circle your horse and glance back over your shoulder. Slowly sitting back in the saddle you ask him for a trot, then a walk. You turn to face your family and friends. Their grins tell the story - you’ve won! Under the saddle, your horse proudly prances, arching his muscly neck. You reach down to pat him as you draw him to a halt. The judges congratulate you on a flawless event, and pin the blue ribbon to your horse’s bridle. He shakes his head gently as you ask him for a canter... you begin your victory lap, grinning uncontrollably... 

You’ve dreamed it - now do it!

Here’s how to make it happen.....  

PREPARATION

The key to a stress free day!

Preparation really starts well before you even you even pick up an event program. The most important way to prepare is simply to ride! The more practice you have on your horse, the better you know him or her. If you know your horse inside out, you can make allowances for where you’re not so good, and add an extra effort to excel at your best!

If you know that your horse takes a little bit of time to make the transition from a trot to a walk in your dressage test, you can ask him to walk a little early so that you can actually begin walking exactly when you’re supposed to. If your horse gets hot when out and about, learning more about how to manage any tantrums or quirks will set you at an advantage.

Riding one horse all the time usually means that you’re accustomed to that horse’s particular quirks, and usually, you’ll be able to sit to the horse’s individual movement more effectively. Actual preparation for the event may also be in the form of riding - practice the skills and movements you need for the day. In the weeks leading up to an event, learn your dressage test, practice your showjumping, try new obstacles, and condition your horse for the rigours of cross country. The day before your event should just be used for presentation preparation.. not riding! Anyway - who has time to ride when you’ve got so much to do?!

The first step is to thoroughly groom your horse. A good bath is a great start. If it’s chilly, consider a portable hot water unit or use of facilities with a hot wash. Beware of the use of conditioning products on the mane and the top of the tail if you do intent to plait up, as some products can make these areas slippery.  Conditioner should not be used on the coat where the saddle will sit for the same reason.

After your horse is clean and dry (and smelling GREAT!), it is fine to begin your plaiting up. If you’re not plaiting up until the morning, you might want to put your horse’s mane and tail in very loose plaits, or place a skinny hood over the top to keep the mane and tail clean. Also, plait your horses tail loosely all the way down if you’re not using a tail bag - you’d be surprised how much dirt this keeps out! Once you’ve turned your horse out for the night, it’s time to prepare your tack. Clean tack and clean boots are very important for any event - even if it’s not inspected. Great presentation shows pride in what you do - and tack that is inspected, cleaned regularly and in good working order will ensure you avoid any last minute tack malfunctions, including, but not limited to broken reins, stirrup leathers - and that mad last minute dash to the saddlery before it closes the night before your big day.

Cleaning your tack is a great opportunity to check for wear, and to swap your stirrup leathers over - the left one will always be a little more stretched than the right because you mount on the left or near side of the horse. Don’t forget to clean your bit until is sparkles, and have your saddlecloth laundered, with your number holders clean and ready to use.

Next, make sure your grooming kit is clean, and ready to use for a little more touch up grooming in the morning. Organise your showing equipment, too and include a few extra items - such as hoof black, hairspray, gel and towels. Make sure your helmet and boots are clean, and pack your haynet, extra buckets, rugs, backup tack, and a water bucket to use at the event. If you can, pack the car and float the night before, so you’re ready for the morning!

DRESSAGE

Surviving the test, and doing it well!

You arrive at the show, and you find out that your test time is in say - two hours. What do you do to fill the time? The best thing is to make sure you know your test. Actually picture an arena and walk it - you’d be surprised just how much this helps! Don’t tack up or warm up your horse too early, either. Go and spend some time grooming him - not only will what you’re doing be very useful, but you’ll be helping calm your nerves by keeping yourself occupied. Make sure your plaits are in and neat, apply your finishing touches -  hoof black and quartermarks.  With about an hour to go, tack up your horse. Once you’re mounted, you might need a gear check - don’t miss that if there is one - in some shows you might be disqualified if you haven’t had one!

Don’t rush a warm up - the aim is to get you both moving freely and comfortable. The suggested length minimum for a warm up just walking is 15 minutes. Make sure you move from slow to medium to a brisk walk before asking for a trot. Have a few short canters on each leg, test your go and stop aids and transition response. Make sure you’re listening to the ring steward when it comes close to your test time.

Every test is different, but there are a few tips that might help you no matter what test you’re riding. Firstly, make sure you enter on a straight line. It’s best to start further back from the gate, and prepare early. If you’re entering at a trot, trot well before the gate, and make sure you’re riding straight before you’re anywhere near the arena. Once you’re in, pick a point near C to ride straight towards, and remember to smile and relax! Halt at X and salute, and then carry on with your test.

Try to ride into every corner - make sure you apply a little inside leg and open your outside rein very slightly to ask your horse to move closer to the edges of the arena.

A good way to ride a 20 metre circle is to use the arena points as a guide. Riding a circle can work - Just imagine a curved line towards the letter on the opposite side of your circle, and meet the track briefly at the letter in the middle of your semi circle, then complete the other half of your circle. Also, if you’re changing rein at a trot - remember to adjust your diagonal when you reach the centre of your line. It sounds like a very basic thing to do, but even some top riders slip up!  It’s best to sit for two beats in the middle of your line, and pick up the correct beat well before you join up with the outside track again.

Remember to give your horse a pat as you exit the arena on a loose rein.

CROSS COUNTRY

The challenge!

The second phase of a one day event can really take it out of your horse, so know your limits before you rush headlong into a course of solid fences! Although there are time restrictions, you should go at your own pace.

Figure out how you’ll approach each jump on the course when you’re walking it. Count strides between jumps to prepare for how you’re going to ride it and be realistic. No combination will be able to gallop full time around the course - the challenge is to maintain an even pace throughout the course, riding the best lines to obstacles that you can, and knowing if and when to push the accelerator, so on the ride home there’s still something left in the tank.

Make sure you take it easy, and do only what you and your horse are confident to do - going flat stick the whole way is not a game plan!

Events are not the time to try out the highest jump you’ve ever jumped, or the most complicated combination. If there are option fences, decide which option you’re going to take when you’re walking the course and stick with your choice. Some riders also find it helpful to carry a crop, even if you don’t use it, and protective boots as well as some grease will help to keep your horse sound as you tackle the course.

Events are also not the time to try out new gear - often this ends in disaster. Before you mount, re- check your girth and your horse’s boots to make sure they’re snug! Once you’re off, try to keep your horse at a steady pace. There’s no point rushing into anything or trying to be the fastest - you’ll both end up tired before you’re halfway through your course.

Another factor to consider when you’re riding is the land you’re riding over. In cross country, there are always hills and ditches, so be sure to help your horse as much as possible by balancing yourself and moving with your horse. If you’re faced with something you think your horse might not like - maybe a ditch - ignore it! Ride through it with confidence and don’t pay it more attention than you have to. If you think that your horse won’t do something - there’s a good chance he won’t, if he feels that you’re nervous or hesitant.

Remember that you’re riding the course together, and both of your efforts are very important. Sometimes even a ‘push button’ pony needs some encouragement from its rider. As a rider, you need to stay positive! Many horses don’t like jumping into water, and this is mostly due to the sun glare and reflection. If you do get a refusal, don’t panic! Simply circle your horse and ask again, firmly. Ride your horse into the jump with a lot of leg on, and keep your rein contact firm and even. Sit up straight, and look ahead. If you take the time to prepare yourself and your horse for all obstacles, your horse shouldn’t look twice! Use your voice as much as you want to, and encourage your horse forward. When you get over the jump or through the obstacle, don’t forget to make a fuss of your horse and praise him or her! Your horse will remember it, and want to do their best for you if you show your horse some encouragement when something goes right.

SHOWJUMPING

Quickly - Carefully!

The showjumping is the highlight of the event for most riders. It’s a test of skill and agility against the clock, and is usually very exciting.

Riding a winning showjumping round is about as easy as it sounds - very difficult! There are lots of things to think about when you’re preparing to ride the course, but walking it, as in the cross country, really helps. Study your path - walking a course is not just about remembering the order of the jumps! Whether you’re jumping twenty centimetres high or twenty metres high, it’s still important to judge distances, examine the course, and look for anything that may give you trouble. Taking the time to walk a course properly will pay off.

Walk the course you intend to ride, and look at where you’ll be aiming to jump the obstacles. Spreads can be tricky, too - the wider end is usually on a better, faster ‘line’ while the narrow end may slow you up.

Crossbars should always be jumped in the centre, as should straight bars and uprights - when training, anyway, but on course, you might find you can save time jumping an edge of an obstacle - as long as your horse doesn’t decide it’s easier to run out than jump!

Figure out where you can save time - usually there will be a straight where you can speed up a little. It’s also really important to remember that it’s not the fastest round that wins - it’s the cleanest! If you’re super fast, but you knock down a rail, you probably won’t have much of a chance at the blue ribbon.

Sit deeply in your saddle, and ensure that your horse gets plenty of rein over fences, and make it as easy as possible for him to jump. Use the information you gathered when you walked the course - count your strides and try to stay at a steady pace throughout the course.

Ask your horse for a nice, tight, bouncy gait with heaps of impulsion. A horse with no impulsion will usually jump flatly, and it’s up to you, as the rider, to collect your horse and prepare for the next fence. If your horse is a bit spooky or flighty, riding a steadier, less risky round will be a huge help - sit up on the flat and only lean forward into the two point seat as much as you have to over fences. Keep your horse listening and moving forward positively, and reward him or her for a job well done.

HORSE CARE

Throughout the entire event...

Making sure your horse is well cared for throughout the day will be a great advantage. Competitions and events aren’t just about winning, it’s the experience you gain that will make you a better rider, and the training that your horse receives simply by being ridden out at an event.

Any rider who treats their horse with respect, and cares for them well will always have a great chance at winning, but they have a fantastic chance at enjoying a good day out with their horse!

Offering your horse a break, loosened girth, drink or small feed in the lunch break might make the day more enjoyable and comfortable for  him - so do that little extra and see what a difference it’ll make.

So go on - get out there and take home those ribbons!

Quick Links

• Eventing horses for sale on HORSEZONE

• Eventing STALLIONS AT STUD on STALLIONZONE

• SELL a horse on HORSEZONE here

 

Thank you to The Stable Magazine for this article, which was originally published in their March 2015 issue. Check out The Stable Magazine online now for FREE. Read this article and many more at www.thestablemagazine.com