ACTHA Monthly | June 2015 | 48
Trail
Talk
With
Lisa Wysocky
Approach is everything. How you approach a project, your spouse or other family members, or even a horse, will determine the outcome. An angry approach to a teenager’s messy room will most likely result in returned anger. But a calm, patient, and very firm approach often gets the job done.
Approaching a horse when you are unfocused, in a hurry, or distracted can result in a horse galloping gleefully away from you. An approach from the ten o’clock or two o’clock position, with your eyes on the horse’s feet and a casual demeanor, however, usually produces better results. The focused intent of your approach to just about anything in life often requires a bit of thought. This includes your approach to ACTHA trail obstacles.
In trail competitions, decisions often have to be made quickly. Whether you have seen the obstacle before and watched other competitors navigate it, or whether you round a bend in the trail and suddenly come upon it, your approach still must be the perfect one for you and your horse. Just because other horse and rider teams successfully navigate an obstacle a certain way, does not necessarily mean your horse and you will. Another horse might be more sensitive to leg yields, or your horse might excel in sidepassing.
It is a must that you have a plan, but the plan must be flexible enough to be changed moment to moment. You might expect a certain outcome from a planned approach to a water obstacle, but if the expected does not happen, you must have a Plan B approach in mind, and even a Plan C.
In general, many riders make three similar mistakes when it comes to the approach of an obstacle. The first is rushing. Yes, there is a time limit on the obstacle, but the time allowed is usually generous. If you tense up and hurry your horse, your horse will also tense and become more focused on trying to decide why you are tense, than on your navigation cues.
The second is not giving your horse enough room. The average length of a full sized horse is about eight feet. A horse needs a straight approach to most obstacles, so as far away as you can start that, the better. Remember, too, that horses have difficulty in seeing objects that are closer than four to six feet in front of them, so it is important to let your horse drop his nose to sniff the obstacle, if he wants.
The third is lack of planning and a lack of Plans B and C. A good competitor will prepare for many eventualities for each obstacle, and smoothly switch gears when needed. The old saying practice makes perfect is true, as is this quote by Tony Robbins: “Stay committed in your decisions, but be flexible in your approach.” I am sure that Mr. Robbins was not thinking of horses or trail riding when he said that, but when it comes to trail obstacles, his is a very appropriate thought.
recognize these physical signs that our horse may not be what she was last year, or the year before, and adjust our expectations. have to repeat the hands forward, leaning forward, and all the rest that you did to help your horse get up on the bridge, to now help your horse step down safely.
horse and rider teams successfully navigate an obstacle a certain way, does not necessarily mean your horse and you will. Another horse might be more sensitive to leg yields, or your horse might excel in sidepassing.
It is a must that you have a plan, but the plan must be flexible enough to be changed moment to moment. You might expect a certain outcome from a planned approach to a water obstacle, but if the expected does not happen, you must have a Plan B approach in mind, and even a Plan C.
In general, many riders make three similar mistakes when it comes to the approach of an obstacle. The first is rushing. Yes, there is a time limit on the obstacle, but the time allowed is usually generous. If you tense up and hurry your horse, your horse will also tense and become more focused on trying to decide why you are tense, than on your navigation cues.
The second is not giving your horse enough room. The average length of a full sized horse is about eight feet. A horse needs a straight approach to most obstacles, so as far away as you can start that, the better. Remember, too, that horses have difficulty in seeing objects that are closer than four to six feet in front of them, so it is important to let your horse drop his nose to sniff the obstacle, if he wants.
The third is lack of planning and a lack of Plans B and C. A good competitor will prepare for many eventualities for each obstacle, and smoothly switch gears when needed. The old saying practice makes perfect is true, as is this quote by Tony Robbins: “Stay committed in your decisions, but be flexible in your approach.” I am sure that Mr. Robbins was not thinking of horses or trail riding when he said that, but when it comes to trail obstacles, his is a very appropriate thought.
Lisa Wysocky is a horsewoman and clinician; a PATH instructor, mentor, and ESMHL; and the author of many books..
Find her at LisaWysocky.com
or on Facebook.
THE PERFECT APPROACH