ANRC STUDY GUIDE
ANRC STUDY GUIDE
FOR RATING CENTERS AND COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Vladimir Littauer, a Russian, who came to this country in the thirties and established a riding school, set up the basic Forward System of Riding. He was the most influential individual that has come to the equitation foreground in our country and his disciples are many and varied. They include such names as George Morris, Bernie Traurig, and Jane Dillon, to name a few. We use his system as the foundation for the Affiliated National Riding Commission's Rider Rating Program and for the National Championships with modifications to reflect the changes and developments that are ongoing in our sport.
Littauer set up three classifications of control. The first, Elementary Control, means authority over the horse with quick and efficient control. This level is used by beginner riders while developing their positions and by intermediate and advanced riders when schooling or re-training horses. It is characterized by:
- Hands - loose or semi-loose reins used in a check-release fashion for control and direction of the horse
- Legs - tapping or kicking
- Voice - used liberally
- Gaits - the horse should be working toward stabilization or for the beginner rider already be stabilized and demonstrating even speeds on loose rein, moving on the line.
Four Fundamentals of a Good Working Position
1. Unity - of the horse and rider while standing or in motion.
2. Non-abuse to the horse by the rider's weight and the aids.
3. Security of the rider in the saddle.
4. Use of the aids efficiently and effectively to control the horse quickly and softly.
Physical Qualities Needed to Achieve the Fundamentals of a Good Position
1. Correct Design of Position
Profile - Rider close to the pommel, legs bent at knee, heels pulled down, stirrup leathers straight to the ground, rider upright or inclined slightly forward (depending on the gait), rider's back straight, shoulders open, head up, rider's arms bent at elbow and close to the sides so that the forearm and its rein form a straight line from elbow to bit.
Front - Weight evenly distributed in each stirrup, ball of the foot resting near the outside branch of the stirrup, ankles flexed and rotated toward the horse sufficiently to allow the upper calves to be in contact, rider looking between the horse's ears, hands about 6 inches apart, slightly above and in front of the withers.
2. Correct Distribution of Weight
Rider's center of gravity will coincide with the horse's, influenced by the gait and speed.
3. Balance in Motion
Stability of the rider in the saddle without gripping and regardless of motion. Balance depends on relaxation and is brought about by compensating movements of the body, especially the torso.
4. Spring
In the rider's body, resulting from three important angles, the hip, knee and ankle being semi-relaxed.
5. Rhythm
Of movement with the horse.
6. Physical and Mental Relaxation
These are interdependent. By developing confidence and physical skill, the body can become alert and ready to follow the movements of the horse without being sloppy or stiff.
7. Grip
Frictional and muscular are dependent on a correct design of position allowing the lower inner thigh, the inner knee and the upper inner calf to be in contact with the saddle and the horse's sides. Muscular grip should be used only when necessary to maintain unity with the horse's efforts and reactions. Frictional grip is always present.
Potential Rider Qualities - suitable physique, boldness and willingness, quick mind, sympathy for the horse and the ability to work hard, logically and patiently.
All disciplines have a specialized language, which allows for more efficient communication of important ideas and concepts. Knowledge of the following terms should enable one to better grasp the theory of the forward riding system.
Two Point, Galloping or Jump Position - rising slightly out of the saddle, closing the hip angle and balancing over your lower leg (at the elementary level rider should hold the mane to help insure non-abuse of the horse).
Cavaletti - poles on the ground that you walk, trot or canter the horse over to help in his physical development. They may be low or raised poles.
Aids - what the rider uses to communicate with the horse. They are divided into natural (hands, weight, voice, legs) and artificial (crop, spurs, martingales, etc.)
Transitions - a change from gait to gait. Includes "upward" or "forward" transitions such as from walk to trot, and "downward" or "slowing" transitions such as canter to walk.
Equitation - Riding in a position in which the rider's aids are most efficiently and effectively used, thus achieving the best possible performance from the horse. In the show ring an equitation class is judged solely on the rider's position and his/her ability to produce a good performance of the horse against whatever standard is being used.
Stabilization - The horse's ability and willingness to maintain by himself a steady, even pace set by the rider on loose reins, in all gaits and transitions, alone or in company, on the flat or over fences, in a ring or outside.
Contact - The rider's feeling of the horse's energy through the reins. Urging legs generates the energy. The feel of what you hold in your hands should be elastic and alive. Through the use of contact, the rider can achieve softer and more precise transitions from the horse than is possible on the elementary level. A rider is ready to learn contact when he/she has mastered the elementary level of control and has a strong enough working position that his/her hands can function independently of his/her body.
Forward Balance - The horse when standing still carries approximately 60% of his weight on his forelegs and about 40% on his hind legs; he is exhibiting static balance. The horse's balance in motion, dynamic balance, is a constant losing and regaining of his equilibrium.
Engagement - The swing of the hind leg under the horse's body and the placing of the foot on the ground.
Disengagement - The thrusting of the hind foot off the ground and the swinging of the leg back preparing to re-engage. Optimally, engagement and disengagement should be equal.
Connection - The horse's front end and hind end are working together in unity to produce quality efficient movement (not strung out/disconnected).
Impulsion - The horse's reserve energy, energy that is there when asked for, so that the horse moves freely and energetically forward. Sometimes impulse will be natural and at other times it will have to be created by the use of the rider's urging legs.
Good Hunter Movement - is long, low, efficient, ground covering strides, moving on the line.
On the Line - The horse's head and neck are bent in the direction of travel, and the hind feet track in the path of the fore feet.
Balancing Gesture - The horse uses his head and neck to help him keep his balance when in motion. At the trot there is almost no gesture because a diagonal pair of legs is always on the ground lending the gait stability. At the walk, canter, gallop and jump the balancing gesture is significantly more pronounced.
Lateral Agility - The horse's ability to bend and turn, suppleness. This may be improved by practicing circles, half circles, serpentines, etc.
Longitudinal Agility - The horse's ability to lengthen and shorten his stride within a gait. Exercises to develop this ability include, 1) ordinary trot, slow trot, ordinary trot, 2) lengthening and shortening the stride as you work up and down hills.
Zig-Zag – A zig-zag is three or more quarter turns on the haunch where the horse stays on the line and demonstrates a bend in the direction of travel. Done well there should be little change in pace. The horse should be in cooperation with the rider's aids.
Four Phases of the Jump - Approach, take-off, flight, landing.
Three Types of Jumping Release - Elementary level rider uses an early release and holds the mane. Intermediate level uses the crest release. The Advanced level uses following arms in the air.
Crest Release - The intermediate jumping release, the rider presses his hands on either side of the horse's crest. This release may be short, medium or long, depending on the rider and horse's level.
Following Arms - The Advanced level jumping release, which is also used at the walk, canter, and gallop. The rider follows the horse's head and neck gesture in the air over the jump or in the gaits, maintaining a constant soft contact with the horse's mouth, and keeping a direct line from the horse's mouth to the rider's elbow.
Perched - Riders who are consistently ahead of the horse's motion because their upper body is too far forward. It may result from working too much in two-point position.
Pinches at the Knee - Riders who tighten through the thigh and knee, which does not allow them to develop the base of support in the lower leg. This rider is often insecure and may be perched as well, the lower leg may seem to pivot or swing from the knee down.
Behind the Motion - Riders who sit too upright - often their upper body is behind the vertical at the canter and they are behind the horse's forward balance. This habit makes it very difficult for the rider not to get left at the jumps. Often this rider will pump with the upper body or shove with the seat, which may agitate the horse or cause it to invert.
Driving Rein – The rein is held as if driving horses in a cart. The rein goes from the bit down through the hand from the thumb to the pinky rather than up through from pinky to thumb.
Jumping Information
When riding a course of jumps, riders should be aware of their major responsibilities. They are responsible for choosing the pace relative to the height of the fences and the terrain. They are responsible for keeping the horse on the line, so that they will have good turns and approaches. As your skill develops, you will also learn to regulate the length of the horse's stride in relation to the jump.
The rider should be familiar with cavaletti and simple gymnastics and the most common distances for setting these.
Cavaletti One Stride Combinations Bounce
Walk - 3' apart Trot in - 18' to 2nd element Trot in - 9'-10'
Trot - 4'6" apart 21' to 22' to 3rd Canter in - 12'
Canter - 12' apart Canter in - 24' to 2nd element
The average length of the horse's stride at the canter is 12'. When you set a course of jumps at 3' or higher, you normally would put 60' between two fences to have four cantering strides between them. This distance allows 6' for the horse to land inside the line from the first fence, then four 12' cantering strides, and then 6' for take-off before the next obstacle.
The Horse's Gaits
WALK TROT CANTER BACK GALLOP
2 4 1 2 3 2 2 1 4 3
1 3 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 1
4 beats 2 beats 3 beats 2 beats 4 beats
lateral diagonal left lead diagonal
The Speeds of the Gaits (All speeds given are approximate)
The ordinary walk 4 miles per hour
The ordinary trot 8 miles per hour
The ordinary canter 10 miles per hour
The slow or semi-collected walk 2 1/2 miles per hour
The slow or semi-collected trot 5 miles per hour
The slow or semi-collected canter 6 miles per hour
The hunting pace 18 miles per hour
Lunging Techniques
Reasons for Lunging: 1) Training-to teach the horse the voice commands,
Cooperation and stabilization
2) Retraining-to stabilize an upset or nervous horse
3) Get a buck out without the rider on
4) Exercise
5) Work with a rider on position
How to lunge:
1) Use a lunge line, whip and lunging caveson or leather halter. If a horse is ridden in boots, it should also be lunged in the boots. If lunging in a bridle, put the halter over the bridle or put the lunge line through side of the bit on the inside, over the horse's poll and attach it to the other side of the bit. This prevents the bit from being pulled through the horse's mouth. It is safest to wear gloves when lunging to prevent rope burns on your hands should the horse pull.
2) Lunge in an enclosed area if possible. If one is not available, use a corner of the ring and set up standards or some kind of portable barricade to define your lunging area.
3) In the “lunging triangle” the lunger is the top point of the triangle, the whip and the lunge line are two sides and the horse is the bottom. The lunge line should be neatly organized with the excess in the whip hand. It should be folded rather than wrapped to prevent it from getting wrapped around the lunger’s hand. The person lunging should stand opposite the horse's shoulder or slightly behind the shoulder with the whip pointing toward the horse's hip. If the horse is afraid of the whip it can be held behind the lunger’s body by turning it around in the hand.
4) When starting to lunge, the lunger may be closer to the horse walking a large circle with the horse. The tone of the voice is extremely important, as this is what will carry over to the riding. As the horse begins to walk well on the circle the line may be let out. When you want the horse to increase the pace step slightly behind the horse’s shoulder and increase voice tone up. When you want the horse to decrease the pace step in front of the shoulder and use a softer slower voice. To keep the horse from coming to the center when stopping, step toward the horse rather than pulling the horse’s head in to the middle. You can use checks down on the line. These short checks are also carried over to the riding. Be alert that a frisky horse can sometimes kick out. Keep the horse's head in on the line of the circle so that the hind legs stay away from the lunger, being careful not to reel the horse in to the middle. Be sure to lunge both directions.
|
