Having spent the majority of her life in the show ring, Ryan Roy has perfected the art of the hand gallop. She shares some tips for executing this important and often under-performed gait which is incorporated into equitation tests, handy hunter rounds, and derbies.
At 20 penalty points each, the last thing you want is a refusal on a cross-country course.
Although it is no longer a movement in lower-level dressage tests, the turn on the forehand is a wonderful exercise for training the horse and educating the rider.
Randy Roy is a senior international judge, course designer and author. He owns and operates Hunters Glen Show Stable in King, ON, with his daughter, Ryan Roy.
A rider should be aware, with the help of a good eye on the ground, of what distance works for their horse, a good distance is different for every horse.
One of the most important preparations at a horse trial is the cross-country course walk.
Canter pirouettes are first introduced in the tests at fourth level, with what are called working half-pirouettes.
The automatic release is a skill that has fallen by the wayside in recent decades, much to the chagrin of many of today's top riders and trainers. When executed correctly, it gives riders the advantage of a direct line of communication with the horse, from beginning to completion of the jumping arch.
The rein back is found in dressage tests from second level to grand prix.
Even though these lessons should be taught from the get-go, riders often let their horses get away with 'moving violations' during mounting and dismounting.
