OBSTACLE TIPS
JEFF WILSON
ACTHA Monthly | September 2015 | 12
by
The Bridge
The horse must walk over the bridge. For safety, horses MUST NOT be asked to trot over any bridge or slick surface.
Judge Criteria: Horse is to proceed forward at rider`s cue without hesitation. Horse may regard bridge for a moment without penalty, but must cross willingly when asked. Long hesitation will incur a penalty. Any form of disobedience or refusal is a penalty. Stepping off the bridge is a penalty. All rules for proper balanced equitation apply.
Options:
• Stop after crossing bridge
• Stop in the middle of bridge
• Stop in the middle and back off bridge
• Pick up or place something on the bridge
• On the bridge, dismount and walk off
bridge safely and quietly
Click the BRIDGE icon to see more details, variations and video >
Taking the Plunge
Can you count how many obstacles are being presented to the horse in the series of photos above? First, we have the bridge—a fairly high step up with what looks like a noisy “clunk” for the first step. Secondly, once he’s on the bridge, he and the rider have lost their ability to communicate through the reins. An obvious “disconnect” with the curb bit experience (uh-oh). Now he has to stay focused on staying on the bridge, and deal with a strange bit that he’s not sure feels “right,” and then we “ask” him to navigate a third obstacle.
“Please step down into a potentially bottomless pit of swamp water where ‘gaters might live.” Can we say overload? Gee willikers, we ask so much! How many horses could deal with this much pressure, and not get wiggly? I wonder sometimes if our horses think, “You know, Hee Haw, there is a better way to go around here!”
What’s the secret ingredient? Why did this nice gelding cowboy up and take this obstacle like a champ? You
COWBOY DRESSAGE