We Ride Sport and Trail Magazine September 2019 | Page 43

Since 1961, we’ve helped riders of all ages learn the sport of competitive trail riding. Alongside other equine enthusiasts, you can deepen the relationship with your horse while learning new skills and setting your own competitive goals. There’s no place better to do this than on the open trail.

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NAWD offers virtual shows each month from March-October, learn more and sign up at www.nawdhorse.org.

To learn about NATRC and competitive trail riding, visit www.natrc.org. Come Ride With Us!

Left, your morning routine may be in the dark. Allow time for the inevitable fumbling around. Jim Edmondson, opticalharmonics.com

Photography by Optical Harmonics:

Cheryl Edmondson, Brandy Steele and Jonni Jewell

face backward so your horse is looking at other horses and riders who are just standing around waiting to start.

• pick up a rein and turn your horse’s head.

• do a one rein stop.

• turn you horse in tight circles (like turns on the forehand) until when you release rein and leg pressure, your horse stops and stands quietly.

Do this away from the other riders. Also, it helps to have worked on this behavior modification at home so your fire breathing dragon knows what you expect.

Chose where start in the group to best suit you and your horse. Open goes first. The Competitive Pleasure (CP)/Novice, who are sometimes intermixed, go next. With time, you will learn who likes to be up front (like to move out, have more go than whoa, or ride gaited horses); who likes last (slower horses, horses who do not buddy, or rider preference); and, who likes being in between (have calm, quiet horses accustomed to being passed). Knowing your horse allows you to select where to start.

Thinking, planning, and adjusting to changing conditions are all part of a successful and pleasurable competition.

quiet horses accustomed to being passed). Knowing your horse allows you to select where to start.

Thinking, planning, and adjusting to changing conditions are all part of a successful and pleasurable competition.

Next month: strategies on the trail.

After you are in the saddle, execute a few pre-ride attitude adjustments – sidepassing, backing, turning – to assure that your horse is listening to you. Being the morning entertainment as a bronc rider is embarrassing!

Also, it can affect your safety as well as others if the herd responds similarly.

Open riders usually travel at a trot with some walking to achieve, typically, a 5 mph or better, pace. If riding Open and you plan to start trotting within site of camp, consider warming up your horse’s muscles as you wait for your turn to start.

There are several strategies to engage if your horse is anxious to head out. Depending upon her/his degree of excitement, you can: