Ugh, the pandemic has been hard, right? If you feel like there’s hardly a light at the end of this “lockdown tunnel”, here are some strategies that might help you finding your motivation to practice – even if there’s no show season around the corner. (Good news is: It looks like there is…)
Heels down, chin up – well, if it were only those two things you had to master, Hunt Seat Equitation would probably be easy. But it is a very complex combination of seat, posture, cues, riding a pattern while presenting a horse as a Hunter horse. We have talked to two competitors who have successfully mastered this class for their advice.
It looks like a dance, two souls guided by an invisible bond – that is the ultimate goal in Showmanship. Whereas in other events, riders can rely on cues with their legs, voice, a bridle and the impact of shifting their weight in the saddle, Showmanship exhibitors only have a little chain – and ideally, it looks like they’re not even using that. But what does it take to create that picture? We have talked to a World class trainer, Jenny Jordan, and three successful European Amateur exhibitors about the first steps of the event and how to ultimately master that skilled dance that high-class Showmanship is.
It’s a little object. Maybe a plastic bottle or a pink balloon. But your horse reacts as if the thing is about to kill it. Sounds familiar? Usually, every equestrian has been in such a situation where they ask themselves whatever is going on inside their horse’s head. But the good news is: You can work on that. We have talked to Swiss trainer Linda Johansson about her way of making horses “bombproof”.
Since it’s Sunday and Valentine’s Day, we had to publish another part of our series “#stallionsunday”. This time, we have featured N Somnia. Owners Meinou de Ruijter and Dolf Desmedt have shared some details about this stallion who is a full brother to the famous Get Some Sleep.
In our series, #stallionsunday, we introduce several European Western Pleasure and All-round stallions. Today’s star of the article is Whatta Hit. We talked to owner Manuela Both about the roan stallion.
Our series “A Day in the Life of…” gives you an insight on the lives of famous show horses. The next one does not need an introduction, but we will do one anyway: She is a multiple Golden Series Champion, European Champion and International DQHA Champion. Power In The Canyon is known in the industry as the Showmanship Queen. We have talked to owner Sophie Gillioz about the 18-year-old AQHA mare.
Since breeding season is just around the corner, we will start 2021 on The Showlife with a new part of our series #stallionsunday. This time, we have talked to Leonie Fischer whose family owns the multiple European Champion Disavowed.
One thing that separates the European horse show industry from the one in the States is the fact that Europe actually has an off-season. While that is sad in a way – not showing for a few months? Ugh – it also has its perks. Plus, it would be too cold for showing anyway. We talked to three young trainers who told us how they make use of the off-season.
Maybe it’s still warm where you live – or it’s getting colder day by day. Winter is coming and with that there are a lot of questions regarding horses: Which blanket? How to train? And: Should I clip my horse? We have talked to Sara Dippold who some might know as the awards presenter at the VWB shows, but: Sara also clips horses professionally and has a lot of experience.
