Win at English Equitation

Hints for a more successful class

 

by Marj Piazza

 

What exactly is equitation? Well, equitation is having your body in the proper position while making your horse perform correctly, thus presenting an overall attractive picture. Proper body position is essential to proper horse control. The hands basically control the front end and balance the horse, while the legs control the back end and create impulsion (power). Put together, the hands and legs are the basic control points of the horse’s movement.

 

Your body must remain supple and rhythmic. Suppleness is keeping the body flexible in order to absorb the horse’s motion so that you are not bouncing around. Rhythm means being “in sinc” with the horse’s motion, giving the appearance of horse and rider being one. Many competitors hold themselves so stiffly in equitation classes that they appear to be working the opposite of their horse’s movements. This stiffness not only affects their position, but also takes away from that all-around attractive picture.

 

On the other end of the scale, being so relaxed that your feet, legs, seat and hands are no longer in the correct position looks sloppy, and prevents the rider from giving the horse the correct aids. Shifting your weight around in the saddle can put the horse off balance.

 

Getting Prepared

 

Clothing

 

Clean clothes are a must. Good fit is important, too. Keep your colours toned down; some riders believe that an eye-catching outfit will make the judge pick them out from the crowd. They are right - the judge will pick them out as a beginner or a show-off.

 

Your hard hat should be well-fitted and sit squarely on your head. Nothing is worse than a hat that either slips down over your eyes, or wanders to the back of your head. As you fumble to correct the helmet, your position and concentration are both upset.

In order to show your legs (which are strong and perfectly positioned, of course) to their best advantage, your boots should shine like the sun. This doesn’t mean that your boots have to be new or expensive, only that they fit well and show the result of lots of “elbow grease”. Your breeches or jodhpurs should be light-coloured and spotlessly clean - no grass stains or slobber spots.

 

Your jacket should fit properly, not hanging off you because it is too big, or gaping at the buttons because it is too small. The sleeves should be long enough that they cover your wrists when your arms are bent. Again, a traditional colour such as black or dark blue is a good bet. Dark gloves complete the picture.

 

Make sure that your number is worn where it is clearly visible. In most equitation classes the number is pinned or tied on to the back of your jacket. If pinned, make sure it is anchored top and bottom so that the wind does not flip it up out of sight. If you have long hair, it should be secured under your hat with a hairnet, or neatly braided. If your hair covers your number, you cannot be judged, and unruly hair flying all over the place is not very attractive or professional.

 

Tack

 

Be sure that your tack is spotlessly clean. Having the most expensive tack in the class is of no importance, but cleanliness is. Clean tack is just another way of showing respect for the show organizers and the judge, and part of the all-around pleasing picture you want to present.

 

Your saddle should fit your horse well, and also your own body. If your saddle is too large or too small for you, your knees and lower legs will not be in the right place, which will mean they will be less effective in cueing your horse. Check that your stirrups are the right length – a hole or two longer than jumping length, usually – and even lengths, please.

 

The Horse

 

Needless to say, the horse must be clean and well-groomed, but that care begins long before the day of the show. It takes good feed, regular worming and daily brushing to keep a horse looking his best. Give him a bath the day before, in order to give  his natural skin oils a chance to put a shine back in his coat. The day of the show all he needs is a good grooming and a bit of hoof polish.

 

Give yourself plenty of time for braiding in the morning, and don’t leave the mane-pulling until the day of the show. Remember, you can shorten the appearance of an overly-long neck by using fewer braids with larger spaces, while more, smaller braids make the neck look longer.

 

The actual size of the horse is not important, except in “limited” classes. It is more important that you and the horse “fit” together. A tiny person on an extremely tall horse, or a very tall rider on a very small horse may have trouble placing well against better-matched competitors.

 

It is a real bonus if your horse is a good mover. It is easier to ride well on a horse that moves lightly, covers a lot of ground and is naturally well-balanced, compared to one with a jarring, lop-sided gait. But even if your horse is just an average mover, you can still place well by making an effort to stay in sinc with his gaits and allowing him to travel as well as he can.

 

The Class

 

Be absolutely sure to be in the collecting ring on time. Dashing in at the last second leaves you flustered, and your stressed attitude will definitely affect your horse.

When the riders are called into the ring for the class, do not push to the front, or trail uncertainly to the back. Enter when there is an opening and you feel prepared and comfortable. Never be gabbing away to friends, and for heaven’s sake, don’t be chewing gum.

 

Some equitation classes are asked to enter at the trot. If this is the case, have your reins gathered and be on the correct diagonal on entry. While it is true that the judging is not supposed to start until the last horse enters the ring, judges are only human and first impressions can often be lasting impressions.

 

When any change of gait is asked for, it is not necessary for you to leap into it before the announcer has stopped talking. Prepare by making sure you are in the proper position and have given the correct aids to make sure your horse executes the gait smoothly and correctly.

 

Whatever you do, do not bend over to check your diagonal at the trot, or the lead at the canter. If you cannot tell by the feel, by all means check, but only by lowering your eyes for a peek.

 

Stay on the rail, but try not to get boxed in by other riders. You cannot be judged if you cannot be seen. Try to work yourself out and away from the herd. Circling is allowed to avoid traffic jams, but never circle around and around the judge. This is considered bad manners and is annoying to most judges. (When I was judging, I really wanted to ask a persistent “circler” to leave the arena and find a good instructor.)

 

When you are asked to line up, try to position yourself somewhere in the middle of the line. If the judge is asking for an individual work-off, from there you will have the opportunity to watch a few riders perform while you prepare yourself for your own individual performance.

 

You will likely be asked to back your horse. As the judge approaches, you should have your horse alert. Give the correct aids and back up the required number of steps. Some judges ask for a specific number of steps back, but most only want to see if the rider is giving the right cues and the horse is responding to them. Five or six steps straight back is okay if you have not been told a definite number. Even if your horse backs up like a dream, do not be tempted to do the width of the whole ring. After backing, bring your horse quietly forward into line again.

 

If you receive a ribbon, accept with a smile and a sincere “thank you”, even if you thought you deserved a higher placing. What if you do not get a ribbon? If you prepared well and rode to the best of your ability, be very proud. Everyone can’t win on one particular day. There will be other shows and other judges.

If you rarely get pinned, and ribbons are important to you, you may want to pay more attention to details in your preparation, or your basic riding skills. You may need to work with your instructor to correct some riding weaknesses.

 

But remember, although winning ribbons is great, the best part of showing is making friends with other riders, enjoying the companionship of your horse, and doing your personal best.

 

Keep having fun – that is what showing is all about.