Prime riders typically discuss creating their very own system, however modest Irish dressage rider Abi Lyle says she’s “nonetheless figuring this out”.
“I don’t know the way a lot of a mode of my very own I’ve but. I’m clearly closely influenced by Carl (Hester) and Gareth (Hughes), however I’m additionally influenced by being Irish in that I really like leaping and doing a little bit of every part,” she says.
Maybe surprisingly for an Olympic rider, it’s not competitors that motivates Abi.
“It’s not that I’m not grateful for the success I’ve had competing, however I simply actually love working with horses, coaching them and being with them,” she explains.
Abi Lyle is extra desirous about coaching horses, and constructing a partnership with them, than competing. Credit score: Peter Nixon
“I beloved the covid lockdown, I thrived a lot. For some motive if I couldn’t compete it wouldn’t hassle me… I take pleasure in it once I compete, but it surely’s not the place my motivation lies,” she explains.
“Some individuals may say I’m not an awesome sportsperson for that motive, however I feel it’s a superb mindset to have as an equestrian. I’m extra desirous about partnership and longevity with horses, than scores.”
What does Abi Lyle search for in a horse?
“I don’t actually have a set ‘one thing’ I search for, and any horses I journey have come to me. However I would like horses that appear like they need to do it; they appear comfortable to be tacked up, and work together with me,” she says, including {that a} good temperament is vital.
“I wish to determine all of them out and I wish to work out what they want by way of their persona. I’ve by no means had a longtime horse to journey, they’ve all the time been younger or inexperienced. The oldest horse I’ve ever had was six, and that was Farrell [Abi’s 2023 Europeans ride].
Abi Lyle is worked up for the long run with Olenza (Lenny), who’s by Glamourdale and out of her Olympic journey Arty’s dam. Credit score: Peter Nixon
“I don’t actually have a desire relating to bloodlines, I feel all of them have one thing to supply. I’ve Arty’s half-sister (Olenza) and he or she’s by Glamourdale and out of Arty’s mum Valenza (by Flemmingh). Temperament comes quite a bit from the mare; they’re those giving the foal their first experiences and laying the boundaries, so I feel wanting on the mare is absolutely vital.”
Coaching for achievement
In the case of coaching Abi believes much less is extra, and he or she says having somebody on the bottom is a crucial issue for gauging progress.
“I do lots of driving the horse on each side; for those who’re spiralling in, then spiral out, do left and proper shoulder in on the identical rein. Transferring the horse round quite a bit is one thing I all the time do with all of them, even within the warm-up,” she explains.
Abi believes in selection relating to coaching, and whereas she enjoys hacking and that is included in most of her horse’s routines, together with her Olympic journey Arty, she provides that it isn’t important for all horses in the event that they don’t take pleasure in it.
Abi enjoys hacking and incorporates it into the train regime of these horses who additionally take pleasure in it.
“It relies upon the place you’re by way of roads, and the horse. I’ve two horses that don’t take pleasure in it, one which I had a collision with a bicycle owner with. However each these horses love leaping, so when the others hack they’ll bounce that day. Why make them do one thing they don’t need to?,” she says, including that being based mostly at showjumper Georgie Spherical’s yard helps along with her leaping coaching.
“Georgie may need an train out, and we’ve poles out quite a bit. I completely love leaping, and used to compete as much as 1.20m in Eire – although I emphasise poorly! But when I had a horse that would, I’d bounce round 1.30m tomorrow.”
Abi “loves leaping and doing a little bit of every part” as demonstrated with Francesca II (Jesse). Credit score: Peter Nixon
Abi applies the “rule of age” when working with younger horses.
“4-year-olds work 4 days every week, five-year-olds do 5 days, and if they’re six and up they’ll do six days. For the four-year-olds Monday is mostly a lunge to get their our bodies going, they’ll then do a education session, a hack, and one other faculty. In the event that they’re 5 they may hack once more, or faculty,” she explains.
“Some individuals may flip a three- or four-year-old away however I favor to all the time have a hand on them so mine get much more intermittent holidays, and in the event that they’ve simply performed their first present they may get every week or two after that.”
Francesca II (Jesse) exhibiting how Abi makes use of polework in her dressage horses’ coaching. Credit score: Peter Nixon
“I’m a giant believer in reward, I prepare all my horses to cease once I whistle,” says Abi. “It means if I need to rapidly stroll and provides them a break, I whistle, they’ll stroll, get a pat, after which do a circle, after which we decide up and go once more. However, if it’s one thing a bit extra intense, like coaching piaffe, the pockets will very a lot be stuffed and the treats shall be administered.”
And coaching piaffe is one motion Abi might be significantly pleased with.
“The 2 horses I’ve produced from kids to grand prix are Arty and Farrell. Arty’s piaffe isn’t all the time his finest within the precise take a look at as a result of he can get a bit tight, however they’re each excellent at piaffe. Carl did say to me as soon as ‘This isn’t a coincidence’ – which was a very nice factor for him to say,” says Abi.
Abi Lyle has knack for educating piaffe, in accordance with Carl Hester, as demonstrated right here on Farrell. Credit score: Peter Nixon
“I additionally love educating a flying change. My methodology has modified through the years, and for me it’s concerning the form of the horse and the canter. You want a bouncy canter, the sort that you simply’d need coming to a giant vertical fence. On a line I do lots of easy adjustments; I’m not fearful concerning the stroll transition, however I would like it to be actually snappy once I ask them to canter once more. From that I put them into a bit little bit of renvers so their our bodies are positioned the place they should change.
“It’s extremely unglamorous initially, and I all the time say with adjustments you’ll want to tear your hair out, then rapidly they’ll come.”
Turnout is vital, says Abi Lyle
One factor you’ll be able to all the time look forward to finding at Abi’s yard is turned out horses.
“I like them to go within the discipline and transfer – that’s my greatest factor. All of them have buddies and exit as a pair,” she says. “And I don’t like them to be ridden then not depart the secure once more, they’ll both return out, or go for a stroll, or on the walker.
“I’m fairly old style relating to administration and I imagine much less is extra. However I do like to make use of a therapeutic massage rug, and when I was close to a water treadmill everybody went each week, however I don’t have one very shut now.”
Arty and Farrell having fun with themselves within the fields at Abi’s yard. Credit score: Peter Nixon
Abi additionally takes a much less is extra method to tack from time to time…
“If I can journey them and not using a bridle I’ll. I wouldn’t say I’m doing pure horsemanship or something like that, however I’ve ridden just a few and not using a bridle, and jumped one. If I can do stuff like that I’ll,” she says.
“Typically I’ll shut the doorways, allow them to unfastened within the faculty and muck about and have enjoyable. I bear in mind as soon as driving a mare and getting off her considering ‘This isn’t taking place’, so I simply ran across the faculty along with her and had a stunning time.
“You will get too regimented in considering that you simply’ve obtained to journey and ‘do that’, and also you’ve obtained to be reaching each time, however spending time together with your horse remains to be reaching.”
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