Posted: 18th October 2017 | Back to news feed
Optimise Your Horses Suppleness With Advice From Emma McNab
In this issue we talk to Emma McNab about the importance of having a supple horse and how the correct schooling movements can help to improve your horse’s suppleness.
Emma looks at riding accurate serpentines and loops to gain marks in the dressage arena.
When it comes to riding good circles and other movements, it is important to take the time to mark out an arena-sized space to school in as this makes sure you’re riding accurately. You may be surprised at how tight it feels when you start riding in a 20m x 40m or 20m x 60m area. A tip to marking out your arena is to use poles to set the distance and if you do not have letters, simply place buckets or cones where they would be so that you have a visual marker to know where to start movements from.
The 20 metre Circle
Exercise one, ’20 metre Circles’ are probably one of the most basic school movements but they must be ridden well for your horse to experience the benefits. A tip is to think of four points that make up the 20 metre circle, you are to ride a curved line that joins up the four points. This exercise tests your ability to ride an accurate line, it also works on your horse’s suppleness due to the constant curve. Riding circles may seem like a repetitive part of schooling your horse however they are key to improving your horse’s suppleness.
As the rider, you will have a lot to think about, let’s start with the bottom half of your body; your inside leg will create the bend in your horse’s body while your outside leg controls the amount of bend as well as directing his outside body around the circle. The top half of your body is just as important as the bottom half; your inside rein creates the flexion at the poll, it is important not to pull your horse around the circle with your inside rein. Your outside rein controls the speed and amount of bend.
It may seem obvious but remember that circles are round, it is a common mistake that riders often end up riding an oval shape. This mistake will lose you valuable marks in the dressage arena.
Serpentines and Loops
Exercise two, ‘Serpentines and Loops’ are a series of loops ridden down the full length of your arena, this movement appears in quite a few dressage tests. Although they look simple they take good coordination from both rider and horse. This is a great exercise to train flexion and bend in both directions, which also works on the suppleness of your horse. As you change the bend this movement works on your horses balance so proves to be a very beneficial movement to practice.
To perform an accurate serpentine you are to ride a good line and show a very clear change in the flexion and bend each time you cross the centre line. Each loop should be even, making sure you’re performing a series of curves rather than turns. If your horse has a lack of suppleness it will be highlighted through this move as they will fail to maintain their rhythm as they perform the change of bend. To improve this simply make sure you are very clear with your aids.
As a rider it is your responsibility to focus your eyes up and ahead as this helps you to perform an accurate serpentine. Don’t forget to change your diagonal each time you cross the centre line.
5 metre Loops
Exercise three is ‘5 metre Loops’, these are mainly ridden in trot however they can be used in canter as an introduction to riding counter canter. Both accurate riding and a balanced horse are needed in order to perform this movement well. This movement teaches your horse the skill to bend equally both ways, working both sides of his body which improves his suppleness. The exercise is also beneficial to riders learning as it helps them to coordinate their aids with regular changes of bend.
Don’t forget that you are riding a constant curve and there should be no straight lines. By riding into the corner before the start of the loop will help set your horse up for this movement. Keep each bend a fluid movement whilst making sure your horse’s rhythm remains the same. By keeping your head up and looking ahead you will be setting yourself up to ride an accurate loop and proceed to a good change of bend.
Remember that practise makes perfect! To ride any school movement accurately requires practice. With practice, your riding confidence will grow and you’ll become more relaxed both at home and during competitions.
Emma and her husband, Kevin run a highly successful eventing operation from Coneycroft Farm in Guildford, Surrey. Their successful 2017 season saw them competing at major events throughout Europe and they have a fantastic team of horses set for 2018.
Emma’s Favourite Kit
Says Emma: “Without doubt having an Avant compact loader on the yard has made a massive difference to our work load.
“We are enormous supporters of Avant machinery and accessories whether moving shavings, haylage or the muck heap, keeping the fields and gallops tidy and prepared, or helping with the fencing and general maintenance they are just fantastic.”
To find out more visit www.mcnabeventing.com
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