ACTHA Monthly | September 2015 | 13
I am twelve-years-old and just rode in my first ACTHA ride. It was a two-day CTC and I really liked it. I got to ride with my older sister and we had a blast. The obstacles were really fun, especially the water crossing. And, we got to see wild hogs out on the trail. I won first place both days, and won my very first belt buckle. It's so cool. My little sister also just started with ACTHA, but she was sick and couldn't do this ride. I can't wait for the next ride so both of my sisters and I can ride together.
––Bridger Jesse, Florida
Bridge
could say, “He’s a nice, willing horse, and he just did it.” Well, nice horses are born, but they have to be shaped and maintained by a rider with skills that get taken out and used.
What do you communicate through your seat? Do you communicate fear, or do you communicate trust? Believe me, partner, your horse trusts you completely. If you tell him he should be afraid (because you are) he will be too. This rider has a relaxed, but secure, confident seat that says, “Hey, we can do this together. No worries.” Are you following this wagon train?
The seat is the “tell all” to the horse; it is our primary aid. That means everything else is secondary. Look at the rider’s hands. They are not holding the horse with a death grip, but remain light; disregarding the disconnected rein dilemma they both are facing. In spite of it, the rider’s legs are engaged in a steady way, both positive and confident, which Junior is hearing and responding to. He’s happy to plunge off the bridge…for her!
The magic happens when riders begin to listen to what they are saying through their own seat. How can I see all this through a picture? In this case, the horse’s willingness to cooperate is telling on this rider. He’s more content than ol' Blue layin' on the porch chewin' on a big ol' catfish head.
If the proof of the pudding is in the eating, then this purdy ridin’s purdier than a pat of butter meltin’ all over a stack of pancakes.
Like I said, the horse’s willingness to cooperate is telling on this rider. If proof of the pudding is in the eating, his willingness and “try” got me grinnin' like a possum eatin' a sweet tater.
From the Rider
"Training a 2 year old horse takes patience and time. I recently took my 2 year old gelding "Blazer" to an ACTHA AOC for the first time. He is one of the best minded 2 year olds I have ever had the opportunity to ride, so I thought this would be a good experience for both of us. I have only owned Blazer for three months, so I haven't had the opportunity to work with him on many obstacles. I wasn't sure if he would spook at anything so I chose to ride him in a western saddle, as I normally ride him English. Not wanting to cross dress in a western saddle and an English bridle I made the decision to switch him to a western bridle. Blazer seems to really trust me and always tries to do whatever I ask of him,
Foster "Buddy" Hammersla Photographer (buddyimages.com)