April 2022 Issue

Page 30 April 2022 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN By Haylie Kerstetter Spring is here and that means that the hustle and bustle of show season is just around the corner. Whether you are plan- ning to take your young horse to their first shows or move up with an experienced partner, you can never be too prepared for the first competitions of the season. After a winter of going back to basics and troubleshooting some problems from last year, it’s time to start ramping up the training again. Cavaletti work can strength- en the horse’s musculature, improve his rhythm and balance, and increase suppleness. It can also be used to troubleshoot jumping difficulties without creating as much stress on the horse’s legs. No matter the dis- cipline, these exercises will help prepare both horse and rider for the upcoming challenges of show season. Exercise 1: Countdown to a single cavaletti This exercise is as simple as it sounds. It is easy to set up and only requires a single cavaletti. Place the cavaletti in an area of the ring where it can safely be done at the canter off both leads, preferably on a circle. Canter the cavaletti, counting one single stride before take off, continue on the same lead and count two strides before takeoff, then three, and continue on to see how many strides can be counted before takeoff. Try to get eight or even ten if possible- then repeat on the other lead. This exercise helps the rider to fine tune their eye and begin to recognize where they are in relation to the jump much earlier than they might normally. This can also be helpful for a rider who may be indecisive or not ride to the base of the jump to learn patience, while practicing with a cavaletti allows for more mis- takes than a larger fence would. Exercise 2: Four Leaf Clover Place four cavaletti in a square with the ends of the cavaletti touching one another. Start this exercise at the trot, going through the center of the square in any direction. Once completely through the square, turn either left or right to go back through the middle and create the first loop of the clover. Contin- ue riding in this pattern until an entire four leaf clover shape is completed. This exercise will keep the horse focused on the rider’s aids, as well as test the rider’s ability to plan ahead and keep an even rhythm and track. Throughout this exercise, the rider should be sure that the horse remains on the correct bend, and continues to come forward, rather than getting backward in the loops. Exercise 3: Fan of cavaletti This exercise requires three or four trot cavaletti set in one corner of the ring, making a fan Spring Stretch Exercises to Prepare for Show Season shape, with four feet between the middle of each cavaletti. The outside of the fan should be slightly more than four feet between each and the inside slightly less. Begin by trotting on a circle through the middle of the cavaletti. For a horse with an average stride, this will allow them to keep their normal trot step. Once the horse is comfort- able, ask him to shorten his stride by riding the inside track, or lengthen his stride by riding the outside track. Repeat this in each direction until the horse feels relaxed and balanced. This exercise will help the horse develop rhythm and bal- ance in his step, as well as learn to shorten and lengthen the stride. The cavaletti also help to create a suspended step without signifi- cant rider interference. To make this exercise more difficult, place three trot cavaletti in one corner of the ring and three canter cavaletti in another. The canter cavaletti should be set at nine feet apart if walked middle to middle. Ask the horse to trot the first set of cavaletti, have an organized transition to the canter, canter the second set of cavaletti, and then return to the trot. Continue this pattern until he relaxes through the exercise, then repeat in the other direction. Exercise 4: Circle of Death This exercise requires four cavaletti to be set on a circle, evenly spaced from one another so there is one cavaletti in every quarter of the circle. Although the exact number of strides is not necessary, it is helpful to know how many strides to expect between each cavaletti, so it is ideal to walk the distances before riding it. Begin this exercise at the trot, allowing the horse to remain on the circle and become com- fortable with the placement of the cavalettis- repeat this in each direction. Next, canter the exercise, counting the strides between each cavaletti. Ideally, the horse should get the same number of strides between each, while maintaining an appropriate take off distance to each element. Repeat this exercise on each lead, making it as smooth and even as possible. The goal of this exercise is to help both horse and rider regulate stride length. The rider should ensure that the horse maintains a correct bend, as well as an appropriate tempo. To make the exercise more difficult, the rider can practice shortening and lengthening the stride by adding and taking out strides between the cavaletti. Each of these exercises will help to strengthen the horse and prepare him for course work and show season. By beginning to stretch the ability of both horse and rider, questions that may be asked in a competition environ- ment will be familiar and more easily navigated. FREE Print subscribers get FREE classifieds! Print subscribers get FREE non-commercial classified ads! Just email your non-commercial (events, horses/trailers/tack for sale, boarding/lessons/training etc.) classified, 35 words or less to steph@eastcoaste- questrian.net . Be sure to include your name and mailing address as it appears on your subscription label. (Not a print subscriber? Sign up online at eastcoastequestrian.net .) Classifieds can run in more than one issue but must be resubmitted each month. Deadline is the 12th of the month before publication. EVENTS FARMS MISC. FARMS Saddlin' Up for Breast Cancer Trail Ride and All Pinked Out Parade/Contest September 17 to benefit The Red Devils...lunch, raffles, prizes and more...camping available at Tuckahoe Equestrian Center... https://www.tuckahoe equestriancenter.com/events or jacquiecowan@comcast.net OVCTA Spring Dressage Show, Sunday May 29th, 2022, Ludwig's Corner Horse Show Grounds, Glenmoore, Pa. Judges S Marylin Payne, R Anne Moss. Visit ovcta.org for prize list. Entries open 4/4/22. APRIL 10, 2022. BEAUFORT SPRING HUNTER PACE. Ride new territory from Twin Brooks Show Grounds, Harrisburg. Timed event over 8-10 miles; Ribbons. Ride at speed or leisure! ENGLISH/WESTERN/ TRAIL RIDERS WELCOME! Info: Beaufort Hunt USA facebook. Tack Swap, Saturday, April 9, 2022. Northampton County 4-H Center, 777 Bushkill Center Rd., Nazareth, PA. 11 AM-2 PM. FMI: 610-554-6201; Email: foxmoore4H@gmail.com. All Sales require table/area; no consignments. MASKS and Social Distancing requested. Food available. HORSES Sporting Chance Farm has a few openings for raising & breeding. Not a typical boarding farm. Top quality Hay and Nutrition (no riding). Veterinarian lives on premises. FT knowledgeable staff. Foalout w/ Video, audio, "Birth Alarm USA". Dutchbreeders@aol. com or 610-721-0110. TRAINING: Westfield Farm LLC, Tailored for horse and owner. ALL Breeds and disciplines. We will make your trail horse safe or a winning show horse. More info at Westfieldfarmllc.com or CALL 717-432-2828. We get results. Beautiful Blue Roan athletic 18yo Tennessee Walking Horse needs new home because of owner's health (breaks my heart)... thrives on human interaction...pees in hand makes for perfect stable & hi-line manners...awesome gaits. jacquiecowan@comcast.net For Sale, Lordenzo a six year old imported Oldenburg gelding. 16 hands, great brain, show miles in USA, prospect for 3ft. 6in. Contact Vicki Peters for more information 267-337-0749. Omega Horse Rescue located in Airville, PA has a variety of horses and ponies ready for their forever homes! Please visit our website to see pictures, videos and how you can help! www.omegahorserescue.com Better than right off the track! The PTHA's Turning for Home, Inc. always has OTTBs that are properly rehabbed, retrained and ready for their new carteers. Find your next horse at www.turningforhome.org or call 215-808-7562. Lovely cross bred 3 y.o. Grey gelding. Well started in the ring and cross country. Quiet, lovely mover, clips, ties, trailers great. Also Western saddle and tack for sale. Call 610-384-5540. Or text 610-914-5317 Three 4-FOOT ALUMINUM GATES with mesh wire, pow- der-coated brown. Includes slam latches. Hardware included. Per- fect for paddocks, pastures, barns, animal pens. Excellent condition. $150 each; all three for $395. 717-269-5151, michelles352@gmail.com . Beautifully tooled 15.5" CIRCLE Y WESTERN EQUITATION SHOW SADDLE. Basket weave/floral tooling; flashy two-tone silver. Regular tree. Circle Y's Certifi- cate of Authentication. Excellent shape. $1295.00. Shipping at buyer's expense; local pickup Lebanon County. 717-269-5151, michelles352@gmail.com . CATS: Barn homes in Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, PA. are needed to give rescued strays a chance at life. Cats are neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated; delivered and acclimated. Fill out an application to adopt at StrayCatBlues.org or call 215-631-1851. Remember...tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian! COMING IN THE MAY ISSUE! To advertise call (717) 509-9800 or visit eastcoastequestrian.net/advertising_info.php Devon Horse Show Preview! The news East Coast horse owners need to know Distribution from racks on the Devon show grounds! Deadline: April 12