Island Life October/November 2018

Equestrian
TRAINING HORSES
with Robert Booth BHSI
Over the hot summer
months we have been
holding a series of
jumping and dressage
clinics at home, and
these have proved very
popular.
Teaching a certain theme or
subject is a little different to
my daily one-to-one lessons.
Keeping the groups
small, with no more than four
participants, meant I was able to
take more time to explain and
work through exercises, and
hopefully to get across the fact
that there is so much to learn.
Sometimes we just go through the
motions and never ask ‘why?’
I enjoy this way of teaching
and going back to the basics and
actually training, the reasons we
do this is to help in the overall
outcome.
In the clinics, we worked on
subjects such as gymnastic
gridwork for agility and rider
position, how to ride related
distances and courses and on the
flat, how to ride certain movements
and ride a simple dressage test.
There are so many more subjects to
cover and most are related to
others. Discussion is a big part
of teaching and hopefully by
me explaining what I saw and
how to improve things will help.
As the lessons progressed
I could see riders and horses
improving just from their
understanding of what they
were trying to achieve. You
never stop learning, and a good
rider is one who opens their
mind to learning and develops
a natural feel for the horse.
It was good to see some new
horse and rider combinations
coming along to take part, and
we shall continue to hold these
clinics through the winter months,
weather permitting.
Robert Booth is an equine trainer
for Rodgebrook Horses. Visit
www.rodgebrookhorses.co.uk or
telephone 01983 521870.
Training your horse:
Improving the canter
The canter is a three-beat stride
with a moment of suspension
when no feet are on the ground.
The aim is to create more
air time in the moment of
suspension, to get more jump
and balance in the canter.
The rider must learn to feel the
three beats and apply a half halt
as the horse is on the third beat,
with the horse’s inside foreleg
on the ground ready to rock
back and push up into his next
stride. How often you do this
will depend on the quality of the
horse’s paces.
RODGEBROOK HORSES
Excellent purpose built facilities,
Newport area for full, breaking,
schooling, sale and competition
preparation livery.
Tuition by Robert Booth BHSI
experienced Accredited Professional
Coach. Group or individual lessons
on your own horses here or your
home, all levels and disciplines.
Regular courses
throughout the year
Tel: 01983 521870
www.rodgebrookhorses.co.uk
www.visitilife.com 93