horses’ instincts, saddles and cooling down

Need some coaching suggestions from Ingrid Klimke? The eventing and dressage championship medallist shared some pearls of knowledge at Wellington Using earlier this month…

1. Horse ought to exit daily: “Typically an proprietor will deliver a horse who’s 10 and say she’s not allowed to exit and I’ll say depart her right here two weeks and I’ll ship you a video of her grazing, going for a hack!”

2. Selection is vital in coaching. Even Ingrid’s dressage horses will prepare over cavaletti and go up the racetrack.

3. Don’t change the routine earlier than a giant occasion: “Over time I’ve learnt issues occur within the lorry, within the steady – if they will occur, they are going to occur. It’s important to preserve horses as very similar to horses as you possibly can and hope they’ve the instincts to remain alive.”

4. Be aware about what order you experience horses and whether or not they exit earlier than or after work. “I experience those who want all their power for coaching first.”

5. Be versatile about competitors plans – you’ll have to make modifications in response to the climate and floor and the way the horses are going. “We have now one mare who’s delicate and she or he wants extra time to get better after competitions. In case you have 10 horses, you’ll have 10 schedules in thoughts.”

6. Horses want a break of seven or eight weeks after a protracted format three-day occasion and nonetheless solely do one or two lengthy codecs a 12 months on the prime stage. Younger horses compete extra usually to realize expertise.

7. Attempt to see a cross-country course by way of the horse’s eyes if you first stroll it – after which bear in mind you might be coming in canter.

8. As a coach, don’t attempt to change greater than three issues directly. And bear in mind how troublesome it’s to alter a behavior.

9. When you rush the fundamentals and miss out steps on the ladder, you’ll have to return and fill them in in the future. Take it step-by-step, be affected person.

10. Don’t attempt to prepare one thing troublesome three days in a row – it received’t be any higher on the third day. Lunge the horse on the third day, allow them to stretch ahead and down as a lot as they need, then begin once more the subsequent day.

11. Cooling down is actually essential after a check, whether or not the horse comes out tense or has achieved a great check, and after cross-country too. Stretch them in trot and typically even in canter in a light-weight seat.

12. It’s essential the saddle is comfy for the rider in addition to the horse: “I favor saddles that don’t have enormous knee rolls, so I can shorten the stirrups and go for a hack or do a leap after dressage.”

13. Work exhausting on your self. All the time ask your self what you are able to do to be higher. And deal with the horse as your finest pal.

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H&H journal editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L stage, and has labored within the trade on a prime occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest stage, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.