General Reminders

Parents whose children ride in the last lessons of the day are required to be at the barn at the finish of the lesson. Instructors are not able to leave children at the barn unattended. Please be courteous to the instructor who has worked a long day and is eager to get home to her family.

Please be respectful of Marian, Ann and Giana's cell phone number – it should only be used for cancellation within 24 hours of your lesson or in an emergency. The cell phone can be very disruptive during lessons

Check Shoeing Board, Bill Box in Office

24 hour cancellation policy for lessons, or be charged

Please do not change your lessons without talking to the staff!

When the staff is not present, no jumping is allowed – for your own safety.

And, for your own safety please be sure to close the gate to the rings when you are riding

Giana Roberge will be conducting a horsemanship class on April 9 th . The class will cover wrapping (polos, shipping, standing), pulling manes, assembling bridles, care for your tack, clipping, and many other key aspects to riding and caring for your horse. The cost is $25 per person - please pre-pay. The class will begin at 10 am and go until 2 pm.

On April 7 th , there will be a veterinary clinic. The cost will be $48. Please ask Marian if you have any questions. Flu, Rhino and worming are required.  

The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears
-Arabian Proverb

It is not enough for a man to know how to ride; he must know how to fall.
- Mexican Proverb

  "A horse gallops with his lungs,
Perseveres with his heart,
And wins with his character."
- Tesio

  Half the failures in life arise from pulling in one's horse as he is leaping.
- Julius & Augustus Hare

There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse.
- R S Surtees

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.
- Winston Churchill

Riding: The art of keeping a horse between you and the ground.
- Author Unknown

No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.
- Winston Churchill

The gallop- a gait so fast that your worries can't keep up
-Anonymous

  "If riding were all blue ribbons and bright lights, I would have quit long ago."
~George Morris

  Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyways.
~John Wayne

The gallop is the speed of life
-Anonymous

A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care.
- Pat Parelli

PLEASE BE SURE TO LET MARIAN KNOW ASAP WHAT SHOWS YOU ARE PLANNING ON COMPETING AT! THANK YOU

What is a judge looking for in an equitation rider?

EQ108 Position.

1. General. Rider should have a workmanlike appearance, seat and hands light and supple,
conveying the impression of complete control should any emergency arise. Exhibitors may ride side saddle in Adult Equitation classes but not in classes restricted to Juniors.

2. Hands. Hands should be over and in front of horse's withers, knuckles thirty degrees inside the vertical, hands slightly apart and making a straight line from horse's mouth to rider's elbow. Method of holding reins is optional and bight of reins may fall on either side.
However, all reins must be picked up at the same time.

3. Basic Position. The eyes should be up and shoulders back. Toes should be at an angle best suited to rider's conformation: ankles flexed in, heels down, calf of leg in contact with horse and slightly behind girth. Iron should be on the ball of the foot and must not be tied to the girth.

4. Position in Motion. At the walk, sitting trot and canter, body should be a couple of degrees in front of the vertical; posting trot, inclined forward; galloping and jumping, same inclination as the posting trot.

5. Mounting and Dismounting. To mount, take up reins in left hand and place hand on withers. Grasp stirrup leather with right hand and insert left foot in stirrup, toe in girth and mount. To dismount, rider may either step down or slide down. The size of rider must be taken into consideration.

Do you know the equitation tests you can be asked to perform? You should! Below is a list of what a judge can use a test in equitation classes. You can find this and more in your USEF rule book. If you do not have one – get one and fast! The show season is here – you can contact the USEF at www.usef.org

EQ113 Tests from which judges must choose.

Tests may be performed either collectively or individually but no other tests may be used.
Instructions must be publicly announced.
NOTE: In Hunter Seat Medal classes, any exhibitor who does not participate in the testing is placed last of those competitors called back to test. Should more than one exhibitor fail to return for testing they will be placed at the judge's discretion. (Note: Judges should refer to the Dressage division rules for the correct definitions). If exhibitors are called back collectively to test, they must remain in the ring until all exhibitors have completed the test. Equitation tests must not have exhibitors trotting or cantering through in gate or out gate.
© USEF November 2004 EQ9

EQ-EQUITATION

1. Halt (4 to 6 seconds) and/or back.
2. Hand gallop.
3. Figure eight at trot, demonstrating change of diagonals. At left diagonal, rider should be sitting the saddle when left front leg is on the ground; at right diagonal, rider should be sitting the saddle when right front leg is on the ground; when circling clockwise at a trot, rider should be on left diagonal; when circling counterclockwise, rider should be on the right diagonal.
4. Figure eight at canter on correct lead, demonstrating simple change of lead. This is a change whereby the horse is brought back into a walk or trot and restarted into a canter on the opposite lead. Figures to be commenced in center of two circles so that one change of lead is shown.
5. Work collectively at a walk, trot or canter.
6. Jump low obstacles at a trot as well as at a canter. The maximum height and spread for a trot jump is 3' for horses, 2' for ponies.
7. Jump obstacles on figure eight course.
8. Question(s) regarding basic horsemanship, tack and equipment and conformation.
9. Ride without stirrups, riders must be allowed option to cross stirrups.
10. Jump low obstacles at a walk as well as at a canter. The maximum height and spread for a walk jump is 2'.
11. Dismount and mount. Individually.
12. Turn on the forehand.
13. Figure eight at canter on correct lead demonstrating flying change of lead.
14. Execute serpentine at a trot and/or canter on correct lead demonstrating simple or flying changes of lead.
15. Change leads on a line demonstrating a simple or flying change of lead.
16. Change horses. (Note: this test is the equivalent of two tests.)
17. Canter on counter lead. (Note: no more than twelve horses may counter canter at one time.)
18. Turn on the haunches from the walk.
19. Demonstration ride of approximately one minute. Rider must advise judge beforehand what ride he plans to demonstrate.

EQ114

A pre-described flat-work ride may be offered as part of a competition upon application and approval from the Hunter Seat Equitation Committee.

Did you know?

Hunt boots (high boots) have evolved over the years. The brown tops on hunting boots evolved from the 18 th century when boots had flaps that extended above the knee, exposing the light colored inside leather. This necessitated, moreover, the addition of the now ornamental garter straps below the knee to keep the soft boot from collapsing down the leg.

A traditional hunt boot, shown above.

Tonya Johnston, MA, conducts sport psychology clinics to help riders prepare mentally for riding and showing. She has been doing clinics for Marian Nelson since 1997 - helping her riders build focus, confidence and consistency. Tonya teaches performance enhancement skills such as visualization, positive self talk, goal setting and relaxation skills. Her sessions are appropriate for every level of rider, as everyone can polish their "mental toolbox". Tonya feels it is very important to have fun while learning, and her sessions always include take-home materials. Individual follow-up appointments are always available.

We will be scheduling a Saturday/Sunday clinic soon. Please let Marian know if you are interested.

Tonya's website is www.TonyaJohnston.com