Rider Feature (continued)
is always happy to see me. I was given the task to get Raider back in shape and could not wait to start working on ACTHA obstacles with him in my lessons. It has helped us to become a team and have fun together.
This past April, my mom, Kheri Bussey, co-hosted an ACTHA ride at the Calvin Center. It was mine and Raiders first ACTHA ride together. During the ride we both started getting antsy and I let my nerves get the best of me and Raider and we did not do well at all. Knowing we both needed to trust in each other and that we were not ready to give up just yet, my mom and I went to the Great Oaks ACTHA ride, 3 weeks later. This time, we rode out with Kiley Merritt and her mom (some of our first ACTHA friends). With their help, and the encouragement of the rest of our ACTHA friends, I was able to relax and I had my best ride yet. Raider and I came in first place! I am looking forward to many more rides with him. ACTHA has taught me a lot and I am so happy to be able to participate.
Thanks to ACTHA, I have great memories of being together with Spud. One of my favorites is when we had to do a water crossing obstacle. I have never tried anything like that with him before and knew he had a bad experience with a flood in the past. I was scared of how he would react and then right before my turn his fly bonnet came off. I was a mess. Then the judge’s assistant came over and helped me with the fly bonnet and told me it would be ok and just give it a try. When I did Spud walked right through the water like he had done it thousand times before. We all laughed at how I got worked up for nothing. I learned a bunch from that one. Spud had a way of teaching me like that.
Now, I am training and making lots of fun new memories with Raider. We are looking forward to many years of being a strong ACTHA team. It's the best way to have fun and compete with your horse friends!
If your horse does not stop straight, make sure that your legs are engaged to hold him straight. If he swings his hind quarters right, put your right leg behind the girth, and “close the door on the right hand side.” Vis versa, if he swings left, put your left leg behind the girth and close that door. If you are still running into problems with straightness, use something else like a bush or a pole as a barrier to help you.
In competition you need the horse to hold his straightness. If you were to stop crooked, it would cause a point deduction. By teaching your horse to stop off your seat and your voice, it will really help you to keep his head in a good position. The less you have to mess with his mouth, the more likely his head will not fly up. You want your horse to stop with his head in a vertical position. If his head raises, his back becomes inverted. This will not look pretty! And, who doesn’t want a horse that will stop when you say “Whoa” ?! Good luck with your training, have fun, and see you on the trail.
Troubleshooting
By Carrie Scrima
Carrie co-founded ACTHA in 2008, she is a life-long, avid horsewoman. Carrie and her husband Tom, advocate trail riding as a conduit toward the preservation of equine employment, which has become their life pursuit.
Carrie
ACTHA Monthly | August 2015 | 22