And their goal and use them accurately (reasonably than like a jerk).
Dressage coaching is meant to be the method of coaching ANY horse to be a greater using horse. The extra the horse learns, in idea, the simpler it’s to speak with and due to this fact full extra complicated duties with. Though competitors dressage coaching usually is extra centered on coaching for the dressage check, that’s not what the unique intention (and unique judging necessities) have been for aggressive dressage. Initially, it was designed to offer riders and trainers a solution to decide how their coaching measured as much as the theoretical ideally suited of the coaching course of. That mentioned, it’s critically essential to grasp the meanings and causes for a number of the phrases we use to explain dressage coaching and what to search for when observing coaching and competitors (and movies and pictures), no matter whether or not you propose to compete or simply practice your horse to be a greater no matter you do with him. That, finally, is the principle goal of my articles. To supply schooling and information for riders to grasp and enhance their eye and understanding of what dressage coaching is meant to be. Whereas there’ll at all times be some variations in follow and idea, good horse coaching is at all times recognizable to the educated eye. That mentioned, it completely is important that we bear in mind and perceive that restricted information is restricted judgment.
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This week’s subject was impressed by a current dialog with a pupil of mine in Maine. I do know I’ve touched on the varied aids, each pure and synthetic, however I don’t assume we’ve had a lot dialogue concerning the goal and proper use of the spur. Given a number of the issues I’ve seen just lately, I feel it’s a subject nicely price highlighting.
To start out, the spur is a fairly often misunderstood piece of kit. Many riders consider it as a coaching instrument that can be utilized each time and nevertheless they want. People really feel as if the spur must be banned, and nobody ought to use it. As with so many issues in horse coaching, the reality is someplace in between.
It is a good instance of a correctly fitted spur and strap. The adornment was by accident picked up whereas strolling to the barn. Photograph (c) Julie Hoogeveen
In the beginning, after I discuss with the usage of the spur on this article, I’m solely referring to the spurs that the FEI and USEF think about to be “acceptable” in competitors. I’m NOT advocating for ALL SPURS which have ever existed. There are some spurs that ought to merely by no means be used as a result of there isn’t a humane manner to make use of them. The different sorts discovered amongst “acceptable’ spurs — from clean edged, quick necked kinds to rowels — are to offer the rider the flexibility to make use of the spur that the horse responds the perfect to. It’s because the right use of the spur is definitely to do every part in your energy to NOT use them (stick with me, I’ll clarify).
You will need to remember the fact that what makes a spur an instrument of ache, or abuse, is the rider, not the gear itself. The truth is, the requirement of sporting spurs in worldwide dressage competitors is meant to be proving the rider’s mastery of the usage of this piece of kit. It’s NOT supposed for use to drive horses to carry out.
I really feel like I’d must say that greater than as soon as.
The right use of any fashion of spur (bear in mind what I mentioned about which spurs I’m referring to within the earlier paragraph) is to offer the rider the flexibility to make use of an acceptable leg help and acquire the horse’s productive response. The right use of the spur is when the leg of the rider has already been utilized, and the response must be better than what the horse already supplied. So, the rider turns the toe of their foot out SLIGHTLY, for the second of 1 leg help, and locations the spur in opposition to the horse’s aspect, after which releases the help. It may be given once more, however NEVER HELD on the horse’s aspect, or rubbed in opposition to it, and definitely by no means repetitively each stride.
In case you are using a horse that “wants” the spur dug into its aspect, or utilized each stride of a motion, or rubbed consistently in opposition to the horse’s aspect (or attracts blood or removes the hair from the horse’s aspect) YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG!
Additionally, if you end up making excuses at this second that sound like “nicely, MY horse…” it’s worthwhile to retrain your horse to the leg help. Sure, it’s doable (although keep in mind that doable doesn’t essentially equate with simple).
Right use of the spur is commonly extra a matter of understanding how and when to not use it. Photograph (c) Gwyneth McPherson.
The rationale that spurs come in numerous shapes and kinds is to accommodate totally different horse’s reactions to the leg help and the spur itself. The variations are NOT imagined to be about severity (as that’s not how spurs are meant for use).
Quick/Rounded: The shorter, rounder spur has a milder really feel to it. This sort of spur is finest for a extra reactive horse, because it doesn’t have a pointy really feel (when used accurately).
Longer/Thinner: These spurs which have thinner, finer ends of the neck have a sharper really feel to them. However nonetheless the aim is to not trigger as a lot ache as doable however as a substitute they’re supposed to permit the rider to make use of a lighter leg help on a horse that’s slower to react to the leg of the rider.
Rowels: The aim of the rowel (the disc which will have a nice edge or blunted factors on it) is to make the sharper fringe of the spur LESS prone to trigger ache as a result of the disc rolls on the horse’s aspect (they aren’t meant to chop into the horse when used accurately). Some horses desire rowels and are extra conscious of them due to the rolling feeling.
Proficient use of the spur can vastly help the coaching course of and it could be honest to say that anybody wishing to productively practice their horse or be thought-about an efficient rider ought to search to grasp the right use of them. This connects again to why riders are required to put on spurs in worldwide aggressive dressage: It’s supposed to point out the rider’s mastery of the usage of this piece of kit. Which implies, in that state of affairs, if the rider has a scorching horse, they’ve the fitting fashion of spur (boring, rounded, quick neck) AND the rider may give all of the aids crucial with out ever touching the horse’s aspect with the spurs. If a rider has a horse that’s extra boring to the aids, they’d be right to have a spur that has a rowel or a much less rounded edge, in order that once they do use the spur it has the specified impact, after which doesn’t must be used constantly.
In the end, for coaching or competitors, it’s the rider’s accountability to know what kind of spur to make use of, when to make use of it, when to not use it, and the way it must be used. And if the rider can not experience the horse with spurs and management their leg motion (or impulses) sufficient to maintain the spur from touching the horse’s aspect unnecessarily, repetitively, or emotionally, they shouldn’t be utilizing spurs. Spurs, like all piece of coaching gear (or help, actually), should not in and of themselves problematic. As an alternative, they turn into problematic when used incorrectly by somebody missing the required information or empathy.
Keep in mind: restricted information is restricted judgment.
Gwyneth and Aptitude in competitors at Grand Prix. (c) flatlandsfoto.
Gwyneth McPherson has over 35 years expertise competing, coaching, and instructing dressage. She started her schooling in within the late Nineteen Seventies, using in her yard on an 11 hh pony. Her first teacher launched her to Lendon Grey (1980 and 1988 Olympian). who mentored Gwyneth for a decade throughout which she achieved her first Nationwide Championship in 1984, and her Crew and Particular person Younger Rider Gold Medals in1987.
In 1990 Gwyneth started coaching with Carol Lavell (1992 Olympian) who additional developed Gwyneth as an FEI rider and competitor. Gwyneth achieved a Crew Bronze in 1991 and a Crew Silver in 1992 within the North American Younger Riders Championships, and educated her stallion G’Dur to do all of the Grand Prix actions whereas using with Carol.
In 2008, whereas Head Coach at Pineland Farms, Gwyneth started coaching with Michael Poulin (Olympian 1992). Michael was educated by Franz Rochowansky (Chief Rider for the Spanish Using College 1937-1955). Michael has shared a lot of Rochowansky’s information and knowledge with Gwyneth, finishing her schooling as a Grand Prix rider, coach, and competitor.
Gwyneth’s instructing and coaching enterprise, Ahead Considering Dressage,relies in Williston, FL. Along with instructing riders and coaching, Gwyneth additionally loves sharing her information of the game and artwork of dressage in addition to discussing related subjects pertaining to the coaching itself and the present aggressive panorama.
