Canter Travers
Half-Pass
Travers and
half-pass
I always do travers (quarters
in) as preparation for the half
pass as the two are very related. I
would start just in the walk and
going down the long side I keep
the bend slightly to the inside,
keep the horse’s chest looking
down the track where I am going
and then bring the quarters in
with my outside leg behind the
girth. Once the horse understands
the movement you can do it in
both trot and canter, down the
long side or around a circle. If
you visualise a wall across the
diagonal and ride travers along
that line then you will actually
find yourself doing a very nice
half pass!
Fast results
with Nettex
Arthri-Flex
Nettex Arthri-Flex is an
advanced joint care supplement
that delivers long-lasting
results. It is suitable for every
horse or pony to maintain
healthy joints, whatever
discipline you ride or compete
in. During winter months some
horses and ponies can get quite
stiff from being in the stable
or can be affected by the cold
weather or just show their age.
Arthri-Flex contains the key
components of cartilage and
synovial fluid, providing the
building blocks to help horses
maintain their joints.
Arthri-Flex contains
high levels of bio-available
molecules of Glucosamine
Common problems when
riding lateral work:
•
•
•
•
Too much neck bend. Normally this
comes from the rider trying to 'make'
the movement with too much inside
rein, or the horse not being responsive
enough to the inside leg. Remember
that you have two legs, two hands and
two seat bones, and even when you are
travelling sideways the horse should
remain between these 6 things.
Losing energy. Often the horse will try
and lose energy because it is finding
it hard work, or the rider will forget
to keep the energy because they are
thinking about so many other things!
However keeping the energy is one of
the most important things if you want
to make the lateral work productive.
Resistance in the contact. As with the
energy you may well get resistance
because the horse is finding it harder
or because the rider is and then they go
a little too tight! Make sure the horse
understands what you want and keep
the forwardness.
Rider loses straightness. One of my
golden rules of lateral work is to do
with rider straightness - the rider's
weight must be slightly to the inside,
their shoulders should be parallel to the
horse’s shoulders and their hips parallel
to the horse’s hips.
18
Saddle Proves a
Winner for Julia
TEN years ago, Perthshire
based Julia Craig bought a
brand new Black Country
Wexford saddle for her event
horse.
Now 10 years on and four
horses later the saddle is still
as good as new.
Said Julia: “A saddler
came out to fit a saddle for
my horse and I ordered
the Wexford after the
consultation. The model has
a wider seat than normal
for a jumping saddle and
when it arrived it was just so
comfortable and fitted my
horse perfectly.
Image right:
Poor example
of a shoulder in
Everything Horse UK • Issue 27• December 2015
and Chondroitin to ensure
higher absorption into the
bloodstream. It also contains
high levels of Hyaluronic Acid
and MSM, supplying all of the
key components of cartilage
and synovial fluid. Arthri-Flex
provides the building blocks
to help horses maintain their
joints. Healthy joints help
reduce the consequences of
regular concussion and general
wear and tear.
Arthri-Flex also contains
botanical extracts to help
maximise mobility and
flexibility. These include
curcumin, the active ingredient
in turmeric, as well as panex
ginsing and bromelain. Used
on a regular basis, Arthri-Flex
will promote good joint health
and help ease joints and assist
in the maintenance of joints in
later years.
Nettex Arthri-Flex is part
of the Nettex Joint Care range
- a collection of fast working
products that really do work.
Used by leading riders Carl
Hester and Francis Whittington
– these products allow equine
friends to perform to the best
of their ab [] H