The Legal Equestrian

How to ensure you have a great jumper round

Since I will (hopefully) be doing some jumpers this year, I asked my Twitter followers for some tips on getting into the jumper ring. I know, personally, I’ve seen some scaaaaaary jumper rounds, and I wanted to be as prepared as possible – not that I don’t think my trainer will prepare me enough.

Here’s some of the feedback I got!

“BREATHE. Always breathe and always stay on your toes. Fast is not [t]he key, smart is.” – KatiesTackTrunk

“[W]ork on adjustability and responsiveness. Being able to pick and choose distances is a lifesaver when they come super fast[.]” – Einahpets_AM

“[I]t isn’t about going fast, but your turns. Jumpers is as technical as eq, if not more. Also, take a rail before a refusal[.]” – theazequestrian

“If you focus on a balanced powerful canter you can leave from a lot more options & everything will feel less frantic/complicated.” – HD_Eventing

“It’s all about efficiency, not speed. You want to take the least amount of strides possible, not go fast[.]” – ponyriderlife

“[S]it up and leg on! Look for you distances but don’t chase them, and it’s not all about speed it’s about efficiency.” – fulltimeeq

“Your speed is nothing if you can’t balance your corners and your horse. Just start out having fun and then build up your speed…” – Terise Cole, guest writer.

“[I]t is better to go slow and make sharper turns in control than go crazy fast and knock rails and swing wide[.]” – gpaandariat

A lot of Twitter followers also suggested dressage work, adjustability and pace work, and focusing on one of the show jumping greats: McLain Ward who exhibits great equitation while still throwing down flawless, technically correct rounds. Another Twitter follower suggested counting strides to the jump and keeping an even pace – a favorite thing my trainer tells me to do.

Do you do the jumpers? What tips do you have for making sure you have a flawless, correct round?

 

6 ways to save money on trendy equestrian items

Horseback riding is notorious for its expensive products. To help out the many equestrians that lust after the high-end and high-priced products, but can’t afford all of them, I have found cheaper alternatives to some of the most trendy equestrian items. Now you can look stylish without having to break the bank with each purchase you make.

Hermès belt

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Top & Bottom- PC: @jlrequinephotography

The brand Hermès is well known for its expensive but high quality products. Their Hermès logo belt is highly coveted by many equestrians. However, with a price tag of $815+, it can be way over budget for some equestrians. Luckily, Ovation has a super cute look-alike belt! The design features a silver belt buckle with an H-Jump being cleared by a Jumping Horse. The belt also comes in a wide range of colors just like an Hermès belt. The Ovation Fashionista belt is a steal at only $29.95 and can be purchased online.

Savings: $785.05 (Compares The 32mm model H Hermès belt to the Ovation Fashionista belt)

Le Fash Open Placket Show Shirts

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L- PC: LeFash NY R- PC: Coloumbia

Plaid shirts are totally “in” right now. The company Le Fash makes elegant riding apparel that can be worn from stable to street! Their show shirts are also being used for daily riding, but at $195 the shirts can be too expensive for some. After doing some research I found a beautiful shirt made by Coloumbia called The “Women’s Silver Ridge™ Plaid Long Sleeve Shirt.” The shirt features “quick-wicking material,” ventilation, and UPF 30 sun protection. The shirt comes in 4 different colors and is only $55! The shirt can be purchased online or from sporting goods stores.

Savings: $140 (Compares The Le Fash Open Placket Show Shirt to the Coloumbia Women’s Silver Ridge™ Plaid Long Sleeve Shirt)

Tailored Sportsman Trophy Hunter Breeches 

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Both Top & Bottom: PC- SmartPak

Tailored Sportsman breeches are known for their beautiful design, array of colors, and $190+ price tag. Equestrians on social media often joke about Tailored Sportsman having a 7 for $27 deal on their breeches. Although this would be an amazing deal, it is a bit unrealistic. However, an alternative to Tailored Sportsman breeches would be the SmartPak Piper breeches! Piper breeches are made and sold exclusively by SmartPak. The breeches boast a range of different colors, styles and even have a breech made specifically for the show ring! SmartPak Piper breeches are only $79.95 and are sold online or by catalog from SmartPak.

Savings: $110.05 (Compares The Tailored Sportsman Trophy Hunter breeches to SmartPak Piper breeches)

Baker Blankets 

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Top- PC: @jlrequinephotography
Bottom- PC: Dover Saddlery- Rider’s International

Baker offers gorgeous plaid print blankets for all types of weather conditions. While the Baker blankets are gorgeous, the $250 price tag can be too expensive for some; especially when you have a horse that likes to destroy blankets like it is its job. Rider’s International offers an attractive Plaid Turnout Rug for only $134.95! The Plaid Turnout Rug is waterproof and breathable! It can be purchased online or by catalog through Dover Saddlery.

Savings: $115.05 (Compares Baker 400 Gram Turn Out Blanket to Rider’s International 340 Gram Plaid Turnout Rug)

Samshield Helmet

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Top- PC: @jlrequinephotography
Bottom- PC: One-K Helmets

Samshield helmets have really burst onto the equestrian scene this year and have had everyone wanting a “Sammy.” The Samshield helmets start at $420 but can exceed that if you decide to customize it or want a different model. For equestrians out there who want the similar look and style of the Samshield but without the price, there are One-K helmets. One-K helmets start at $229.95 and increase in price depending on what model and style you get. One-K helmets are available for purchase online and various tack stores.

Savings: $190.05 (Compares the Samshield Shadow Mat to the ONE K™ Defender- Gloss/Matte Helmet)

Ogilvy Jumper Pad

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Top- PC: @jlrequinephotography
Bottom- PC: Wilker’s Custom Horse Products

Ogilvy Equestrian has soared into popularity thanks to its quality products and huge social media following. Ogilvy Equestrian offers “off the rack” or custom jumper half pads in memory foam ($199) or gummy ($239). While Ogilvy pads offer excellent comfort to the horse the price can be too much for some. Wilker’s Custom Horse Products offers custom Hunter/Jumper Memory Foam pads for only $139.95. According to their website, Wilker’s Hunter/Jumper pads have a customizable pad, trim, and piping color. They also have a 1″ memory foam interior and usually ship in 5 business days. Wilker’s Hunter/Jumper pads are available for purchase online from their website.

Savings: $59.05 (Compares the Ogilvy Equestrian Memory foam pad to the Wilker’s Hunter/Jumper pad)

What ways do you save money on equestrian products? We want to know, comment below!

How to battle riding anxiety

Breathe, breathe, breathe, okay… I can do this. TRUST. It’s going to be okay.

These are the main thoughts I have every time I ride, or even just get on a horse. Being a rider with extreme anxiety is something that affects a lot of people, and learning how to manage it is key. If you don’t manage it, your anxiety begins to take over you, and in turn, making riding not enjoyable.

I’m sure people have said, “It’s just nerves, you’ll get over them,” but in fact, anxiety is a mental illness. It’s not something that someone can simply “get over.” For me, it causes me to have anxiety attacks at the barn out of nowhere, which (for me) are uncontrollable hyperventilating fits followed by sobbing. Shouldn’t the barn be a happy, calm place?

You can kick anxiety’s butt before it kicks yours. There are a couple of things you can work on:

  • Surround yourself with a great team, barn, and a trainer that knows you like the back of your hand. Instead of ignoring your anxiety, learn to face it head on. Work on building your riding up, instead of constantly worrying about everything. Perfection isn’t possible, regardless of what anyone tells you. Everyone makes mistakes, even George Morris. Focus on the positives in your lessons, and learn to improve on what you’re unsatisfied with.
  • Manage your nerves. I always talk to myself when I ride. When I get on a new horse, I’ll sing the alphabet or just count to 10 over and over. It gets your mind off of the fact you’re uncomfortable. Also, STOP THINKING EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM IS JUDGING YOU. Yes, they probably are, but who cares? You do you. Everyone rides differently.
  • Do more things that make you uncomfortable. I know that sounds like it defeats the purpose, but battling anxiety head on is what gets rid of it. For me, riding new horses makes me anxious, so my solution for that is to get on a bunch of new horses to break my feeling about it. Start setting small anxiety-reducing goals for yourself for every lesson.

Managing your riding anxiety isn’t something that just gets “cured” overnight. This requires patience, time, and belief in you. Work on yourself every day, and you’ll start seeing changes in your riding. You can do it.

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Erin is a junior in college who also dabbles in the equestrian world. Although she doesn’t currently show, she rides every chance she gets. She has learned to balance working, a full time course load, and working on becoming a better rider. In the future, she plans on getting a job in communications or marketing for an equestrian company. She can be found on:

Tack Trunk Organization: Part II

Written by Liv Godfrey, Senior Editor.

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Hello everyone! The long awaited updated tack trunk post is finally here. Yay! As many of you know, and as an informative to those who don’t, I had a very popular first tack trunk post with my Stanley tack trunk. However, I bought a bigger Husky trunk (originally used for power tools, etc.) and I’ve gotten many requests (ask.fm/parlantisnpolos) for an updated version of my new trunk organization tips. So without further ado, here’s my new trunk organization.

This is what the inside of my trunk looks like when you open it up. FullSizeRender (2)

On the right hand side, my sliding tray holds rider necessities.

FullSizeRender (4)My tray keeps all the things I may need through my rides and little must-haves such as Advil, feminine hygiene products, chapstick, tack cleaner, brush cleaner, hair trimmer, Kiwi boot shiner, spurs, gloves, keys, coffee, hairnets, extra hair ties, my cell phone, and invoices/bills.

Underneath the hovering tray, my Parlantis, CWD cleaning kid, and standing wrap holder reside (Yes, I know my

FullSizeRender (1)

boots aren’t in the picture, I had them on).

Moving to the middle, I have extra saddle pads under the two silver wire baskets. The silver wired baskets hold extra boots and polos (top), and grooming necessities/extra tack cleaner and bit wipes (bottom).

Onto the left side, I keep treats, poultice, hoof pack, Epsom salt, poultice paper, a white first aid Tupperware, Samshield helmet, and my grooming bucket.

My first aid Tupperware is the most important part of my trunk. You can purchase a first aid kid from your vet or make a custom one. I decided to grab a list of recommended items off my vet’s website and customize it a bit.FullSizeRender

In my first aid kid I keep different sized gauzes (rolled and non-stick pads), duct tape, scissors, Bute, diapers, vet wrap, vet cream, emergency Robaxin, human Band-Aids, EquiFit AGSilver Spray, Perfect Prep, Banamine, Ulcergard, and Neosporin.

Don’t be afraid to customize your trunk and play around with what works for you! My setup took a couple tries to perfect, but it ended up working out really well.

Happy organizing!

How to stop negative behaviors in your horse while bathing

Although I know it’s winter, and some residents in some states may not be able to bath their horses, I know I have readers all over the States (and the world). I after owning a baby, leasing a horse that paws while being bathed, and having another baby, I have learned some good ways to stop negative behavior while bathing a horse.

Some negative behaviors that can occur include:

  • Dancing either in hand or on the cross-ties while being hosed;
  • Pawing;
  • Kicking out;
  • Biting

First, it is important to check that your horse does not have any health issues. Calling out a vet can help in this endeavor. If you’ve eliminated this. Then you can move on to the next tips:

Second, I’ve noticed that some behaviors have to do with the water being cold. Imagine taking a freezing cold shower when it’s cold out – you probably wouldn’t be happy either.For warmer climates, and if you have access to warm water, I would recommend making the water a bit warmer for bathing. This can help eliminate the aforementioned behaviors. However, if you live in a cold climate and need to bathe your horse, this probably isn’t possible. You can do one of two things: Get the water from a warm water source, or one method I have found helps with a variety of negative behaviors: Continue to spray the horse until the behavior stops. When the behavior stops, stop spraying the horse. This is called positive reinforcement. You are showing that horse that when he or she displays good behavior, the negative stimulus will be removed.

Third, spray the horse until the negative behavior stops. For example, if your horse kicks out at the spraying, spray the horse until the negative behavior ceases. Please make sure you are out of the way of kicking as you don’t want to be hurt while trying to train your horse. Once this has been done a few times, your horse will most likely stop the behavior.

I have found a great deal of success with both training methods, and I highly recommend them if your horse is displaying these negative behaviors during bath time.

You can also reward your horse with treats when he or she displays positive behavior. However, I would not recommend motivating your horse with food as they will expect it every time, and this may cause the horse to return to bad behaviors when he realizes he won’t always be rewarded with a treat when displaying positive behavior.

These tips are easiest when training a young horse, but an older horse can be trained to display positive behaviors – though it may take longer. I’ve found success both with older and younger horses when trying these training tips.

Have you tried these tips? Let me know how they work!

Happy training and bathing!

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