OBSTACLE TIPS
JEFF WILSON
by
Animal on the Run
A fake animal tied with fishing line (or string)is pulled across the trail in front of the horse. The horse is to stand still in a designated circle on the ground.
Judge Criteria: Horse will be penalized for moving out of the designated circle. Judge is to take note of horse’s attitude. This is a bravery test.
Options: Obstacle is pulled across the trail while horse maintains its forward walk gait.
Tips: At the beginning of my Cowboy Dressage riding clinics, I introduce people by asking them what they most like to do with their horse. I often hear the response, “I just trail ride,”…as if there were more noble pursuits. That comment makes me jump wilder than a long tailed cat in a rocking chair factory. Trail riders find ways to effectively ride through unannounced spooky-spots with their horses. Truthfully, what other discipline does that? We do walk a fine line between bravery and insanity, right? Does the fat dog fart?
Yes, this obstacle could be considered an easy one for an experienced trail horse, but for those of us who ride a lot of green horses, every path has enough puddles—it’s just enough to deal with some days. Only corn-eating horses speak into the wind; I’ve experienced enough situations firsthand. My most terrifying moment (for me and my horse) was a wild pig that ran up behind us, through the underbrush up alongside and—God knows why—plunged ahead of us to get away. I know what “unglued” means. I stole the bridle off the nightmare on that one.
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COWBOY DRESSAGE
horse) was a wild pig that ran up behind us, through the underbrush up alongside and—God knows why—plunged ahead of us to get away. I know what “unglued” means. I stole the bridle off the nightmare on that one.
The bigger picture here is something we as trail riders experience all too often: the bunny in the brush, the tweety bird in the tree, the flakey flock of adolescent turkeys that make the field come alive, or the newborn fawn that springs up under you just as you were about to step. YeeHAW! After those moments, buttoning your butt back to the saddle, holding your heart from beating out of your chest, and pushing your hoss’s eyes back into their head after buggin’ out like a stepped on toady frog are all your left with.
I know this obstacle is only a mild simulation, but it is still designed to be a bravery test, so let’s talk bravery. Obstacles like this one are great training moments for YOU the rider—to practice maintaining a balanced seat, to practice staying relaxed, and to ride the obstacle through. For any spooky-spook obstacle, keeping control of your core riding position is the essence of strong riding and the evidence of a strong rider. Sounds easy.
Animal Run
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were about to step. YeeHAW! After those moments, buttoning your butt back to the saddle, holding your heart from beating out of your chest, and pushing your hoss’s eyes back into their head after buggin’ out like a stepped on toady frog are all your left with.
I know this obstacle is only a mild simulation, but it is still designed to be a bravery test, so let’s talk bravery. Obstacles like this one are great training moments for YOU the rider—to practice maintaining a balanced seat, to practice staying relaxed, and to ride the obstacle through. For any spooky-spook obstacle, keeping control of your core riding position is the essence of strong riding and the evidence of a strong rider. Sounds easy.