Work Hats

RESISTOL
The finely-woven, yet durable, 200X Sutter straw hat will be your best friend this summer (and many more to come). The vented crown, mesh lining, and genuine leather sweatband keep perspiration out of your eyes, no matter what your activity. The stitched-leather band and buckle set add a dressy final touch. Best for: Trail riding $139, 888-234-5450,
resistolhat.com

STETSON
Stetson has been crafting quality hats since 1865. The felt 6X Bar None, made with a blend of wild hare and rabbit, is ideal for cold-weather work and dress. Available in practical colors including blade, silverbelly, and black, it has a sharp self-band and silver buckle set. A tall crown and genuine leather sweatband with satin lining means your head won’t get overheated, whether you’re roping or dancing. Best for: Team roping $209, 888-234-5450, stetsonhat.com

CATALENA HATTERS
This handsome 10X Top Hand Crease in bone felt features a bound edge with matching band. Handmade and custom-shaped in Bryan, Texas, by the Catalena family, these hats are as authentic cowboy as you can get. The color makes this a great transitional dress-to-work hat. Best for: The All-Around $200, 800-976-7818, catalenahats.com

SUNBODY HATS
This versatile straw topper is named after Reata Brannaman, for the hat she wears in real life and in the movie about her father, Buck (2011). Shaped to her specifications and made of Guatemalan standard palm, it has a slightly flexible 4-inch brim that provides good coverage because of the dipped front. A slight back curve prevents it from being knocked off while you’re in the saddle or working; the telescoped 4-inch crown keeps things cool. Best for: Round-ups $53, 800-310-7093, sunbody.com

Casual Hats

CHARLIE 1 HORSE
Beloved by true cowgirls and celebrities alike, Charlie 1 Horse turns out original hats with authentic Western flair. Southern Girl is a straightforward silverbelly-dyed straw hat on the surface, accented by the iconic horseshoe brand logo, a tooled band, and shallow pinch-front crease. The underside, however, is gussied up with suede turquoise leather inlay overlapped by tooled leather. Best for: Beating out the boys $200, 972-494-0511, charlie1horse.com

GREELEY HAT WORKS
The edgy Felt Floral Tattoo is sure-‘nuff competitor-quality. It’s available in stone, with a black motif on the underside of the 4-inch brim, and a practical low crown. The final touch? A self-band with black and silver buckle set. Best for: Winning the World $400 and up, 888-367-2428, greeleyhatworks.com

AMERICAN HAT COMPANY
The straw 5050 has a catchy, two-tone herringbone-pattern that helped make it the brand’s bestseller of 2012. The vented crown provides airflow, and custom shaping allows you to further showcase your personal style (pictured: cowboy crease). Best for: Riding bulls $129, 817-625-6650, americanhat.net

ATWOOD HATS

Made with lightweight shantung, the two-tone, unisex Pendleton makes for a great summer-weight hat. A low crown, venting, two-cord band, and 4-inch brim keep you feeling and looking fresh, even in soaring temps.
Best for: Riding fences $80, 800-496-1086, atwoodhats.com

Dress Hats

AMERICAN HAT COMPANY
This custom-shaped, handmade 1000X felt hat is built to last. Made of specially blended Portuguese beaver and mink (color pictured: natural; also comes in black, silverbelly, silver sand, and pecan), this classic, dignified cowboy hat comes with a 4-inch brim finished with a 14K-gold buckle set on a self band. Best for: Living the legacy $2,500, 817-625-6650, americanhat.net

RESISTOL
The granite-hued and versatile 6X Powell is impressively fine-textured. It’s accented with a self band and silver buckle set, and the genuine leather sweatband and satin lining make for a cool, comfortable head…not that you won’t already be feeling your oats wearing this number. Best for: Date night dancing $219, 888-234-5450, resistolhat.com
 
D BAR J HAT COMPANY
This iconic Roy Rogers hat was hand-shaped by Master Hatter David Johnson in Las Vegas, Nevada. D Bar J specializes in historic hats and beloved classics, like this one in the Texas Torpedo style, with a double telescope gambler top crease. It’s available in 5X to 100X in custom colors and combinations (pictured: granite gray 10X blend with self band, gold and silver buckle set, and bound edge). Best for: Making an entrance $320 and up, 702-430-0681, dbarjhat.com

GREELEY HAT WORKS
This seriously stylish hat is handcrafted by Trent Johnson in Northern Colorado. Ultra-soft, yet sturdy, the Beaver20 in agave doesn’t show dirt and is versatile enough to use for work, dress, or performance. The low crown ensures a snug fit, while the wide, 4 1/2-inch brim is modern and practical. A self band with silver buckle makes for an understated yet classic finish. Best for: Looking like the boss $625, 888-367-2428, greeleyhatworks.com

You’ve taken stock of your barn, and have found signs of wear and tear. Or, you finally have that slice of horse heaven and are ready to build for the first time.

Either way, this article can help. We’ll give you six barn-design basics, plus tips on how to select a builder.

Barn Building 101
Today’s barn options are many, from a pole barn with dirt floors to an insulated, padded horse heaven. You can build your own barn, buy a prefabricated model, or hire a company to custom-build your barn for you.

Typically, building your own is the least expensive choice (if you know what you’re doing), a custom barn is your costliest choice, and a prefab barn lies in the middle of the cost scale.

Which type of barn is right for you? Major considerations include type/materials, size, layout/design, cost, and add-ons. Here’s a quick look at each one.

• Type/materials. Barn type and materials go hand in hand. Consider a wood barn if you live in an area with a low fire risk, and would like to build the barn yourself or have one custom built. Note that wood — while cost-effective for small barns — costs more and is more difficult to maintain than steel models. Prefabricated barns are made from steel, which is strong, reasonably priced, a breeze to keep up, and great for areas with high fire risk. Steel barns do, however, lack the character and warmth of a wood barn.

• Layout. Next, decide how many and what size stalls you need (the bigger the stall, the happier your horse will be), how much feed and hay storage you need, and the size you’d like your tack room to be (if any). Depending on your budget, you might want a wash rack/vet-care area, storage for wheelbarrows and other stable supplies, and even a bathroom or an office.

Layout and design is the fun part of barn building, but if your “wants” exceed your budget, it’s easy to get frustrated. Stable Wise can translate your needs into barn plans and provide you with blueprints. It also offers ready-made barn plans and barn-building information. Homestead Design, Inc., also offers a wide selection of ready-made barn plans.

• Cost. What you’ll pay for your barn varies widely, depending on the type of construction you use. A no-frills pole barn with a metal shell is around $4 per square foot. Custom barns can run you into six figures. Whatever you choose, be sure to factor in materials, insulation, excavation, grading, concrete foundation, water lines, stalls (including mats and fittings), and add-ons.

Also consider location. If you build on an uneven surface, an excavator will charge more than if you build on a flat one. If you’re tapping into a preexisting well, be sure that move will meet code in your area. Consider, too, how far you’ll need to lay your water pipes.

• Add-ons. These include such construction features as overhangs, eaves, gutters, flooring, ceilings, artificial light, doors, windows, and skylights. Give yourself plenty of electrical outlets for clippers, tank heaters, etc. Also, decide if you’d like to budget for an automatic watering system, and/or fly system.

• Ventilation. Good ventilation is critical to your horse’s health and well-being. Enclosed barns harbor ammonia fumes (from urine), hay dust, and other debris. Constant exposure to such irritants can put your horse at risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (heaves). To minimize this risk, place your barn perpendicular to prevailing breezes, install a high ceiling, and add plenty of windows. Carve inlets near the ground to draw air in, and place vents and windows up high to let the air out. If your budget can handle it, install a cupola with an air turbine on the roof.

• Natural light. The more light you let into your barn, the better. The sun’s ultraviolet rays help kill harmful bacteria, viruses, and larvae of internal parasites. Again, this means plenty of windows. Another secret to good lighting is a raised center aisle (RCA) design, in which the roof is split into three parts. Two sides slope down to each eave, and a raised portion runs along the roof line. By placing windows in this raised portion, you can increase light and ventilation.

For the one-horse owner, MDBarnmaster offers this affordable model, with one 12-by-12-foot stall, an 8-foot tack room, a rear paddock, and a 10-foot overhang.

Builder-Selection Tips
Unless you’re doing all the work yourself, the next step is to select a builder. You can check out a nationwide builder. Or, you may prefer to find a regional builder working in a multi-state region. To find a regional builder, pick up a local agriculture publication, or go to a local horse expo, show, or other horse event.

You can also talk to a local builder. To find one, talk to other horse owners in your area, check tack/feed stores, hardware stores, and your phone book.

If you drive past a barn you like, ask the owner who built it. (Note: If you go with a regional or local builder, check out other barns the company has built, and ask for references.)

You might find that your barn builder also builds stalls, can finish your tack room, and/or lay a foundation. This may be more cost-effective than subcontracting all the work needed.

Make sure you feel comfortable working with the representative from the company you’ve chosen. Invariably, miscommunications occur, you’ll change your mind, or you’ll have new ideas for your barn, so choose someone you feel will work with you.

During construction, keep a close eye on the progress, but be flexible. For instance, if the salesman who sold you the barn hasn’t visited your premises, the builder may need to make some changes.

Finally, look for a company that will guarantee its work, and is established. A new company may give you a low bid, but might not be around later. If things start to go wrong, you’ll be out of luck.

National Barn Builders

ACE Buildings

American Steel Buildings

Ameri Stall

Castlebrook Barns

Cleary Building

Heritage Building Systems

Lester Buildings

MDBarnmaster

Morton Buildings, Inc.

Universal Steel Structures

Walters Buildings

Weldy Enterprises

Wick Buildings

Andrew Nicholson clears the final fence (appropriately themed for the Rolex Grand Slam) with Quimbo

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Andrew Nicholson, the last rider to go in show jumping this afternoon at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event, kept it all together to win and qualify for the last leg of the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam at Badminton next weekend.

It was "phew" moment for the New Zealander, who rejoiced during a pre-presentation victory gallop as he flew around the ring on Quimbo once safely across the finish line.

After receiving his trophy and a Rolex watch, he did another three laps, some of which he performed while waving both hands to the sold-out crowd of nearly 20,000 that packed the stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park.

William Fox-Pitt, who also is in line for the Grand Slam if he can win Badminton, was just as happy but less exuberant, though he smiled broadly as he swept past his fans on Seacookie, who was totally fault free over Richard Jeffery's course. One four in the starting field of 29 could make that claim.

When the defending champion left the ring, however, he found he wasn't able to straighten his left pinky. He had no idea how he broke it, but was already bandaged up when he arrived at the press conference. William didn't think it would affect his riding, however.

Making a triumphant run around the sold-out stadium after he kept all the poles in the cups for show jumping, Andrew Nicholson celebrates aboard Quimbo

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Andrew logged 3 time penalties as he made his careful way around the fences, but that was a wise decision, since he had a comfortable cushion. His final score was 41 penalties, to 48.2 for William. Andrew's other horse, Calico Joe, isn't much of a show jumper. He also wasn't much of a steeplechase horse, which is why he originally was purchased. But he's won a good bit of money eventing, and even with 12 penalties today, he emerged in third place with 52.8 penalties.

Quimbo is a stunner, a Spanish horse bred to show jump who also is versatile enough to handle cross-country and dressage. This one is going to be a superstar. Andrew had some help from Spanish show jumper Luis Alvarez Cevera, who also has been the coach of the New Zealand show jumping team. But I wouldn't think Andrew needs too much assistance. He is a beautiful rider who know how to let a horse do its best, using guidance rather than interference.

Now it's time for Andrew and William to concentrate on Badminton, and if he had to guess which of them might earn the Grand Slam (which has been won only once in its 12-year history) a smiling William conjectured, "probably neither."

Not only will they have to cope with Badminton's demanding cross-country course, but also Olympic, world and European champion Michael Jung of Germany. Yes, their work is cut out for them.

I asked Andrew what he'll do when he gets home tomorrow as he prepares for Badminton.

William Fox-Pitt, Andrew Nicholson with his new Rolex watch and Buck Davidson

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Listen: Andrew Nicholson

Unfortunately for us, and by that I mean the U.S., this is the eighth time in 11 years that a foreign rider has won Rolex. Our event. New coach David O'Connor has a lot of work to do, but there were some bright spots on our horizon.

Buck Davidson, who had been third on Ballynoe Castle RM, dropped rails at the last two fences on course to wind up fourth with 53.2 penalties. He could take comfort from the fact that he was the spring U.S. Equestrian Federation champion, but noted, "I'm bummed to have two down," saying the effort "fell apart a little bit at the end."

Yet he noted if he had to lose, being right behind the world number one (Andrew) and William (who has won more big events than any other rider) is the place to be.

Buck Davidson, the highest-placed American, fourth on Ballynoe Castle RM

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

And I'm thinking maybe he--or anyone else--wouldn't be here at all if it weren't for his father, Bruce Davidson. It was Bruce's victory in the 1974 world championships in England that granted the U.S. the right to hold the next world championships in 1978, which he also won. That was the start for the fledgling Kentucky Horse Park, giving it a boost that enabled it to become one of the world's premiere equestrian destinations.

Notable American finishes included Lynn Symansky with Donner, who achieved a double-clear to come in fifth, and Will Faudree on Pawlow, right behind her in sixth place.

I was happy to see Australia's Peter Atkins finish 10th on Henry Jota Hampton, coming up from 28th after dressage. Big move! You may know his horse as "Henny," as in "Run, Henny, Run" for their wonderful helmet cam videos. Peter and Henny have had a soap opera's worth of problems, from an ownership squabble to Peter's leg fracture. But they're together now and going well. Next year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and perhaps the 2016 Olympics are in their sights.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Peter today. Why don't you listen in?

Listen: Peter Atkins

I still haven't gotten a consensus on the difficulty quotient of the cross-country course. I spoke this morning with Great Britain's Yogi Breisner, the always astute chef d'equipe of the British eventing team, and he felt the course was hard enough.

So when I ran into course designer Derek di Grazia, I wondered what he thought about it after nearly a day to consider.

Listen: Derek Di Grazia

The best, best, best part about it was that no one (horse or human) suffered a serious injury and it made for a day of great sport without serious consequences.

The main focus at Rolex is, of course, the competition, but for some, a bigger enticement is the trade fair. It is huge, having spread over the years from an area near the stadium to an indoor arena and beyond. One of the big features at various booths is having eventing celebrities on hand to autograph and have their pictures taken with excited fans. When I was walking through the fair this afternoon, I saw a looooong line in front of the Purina booth. So I investigated; the occasion was the appearance of Boyd Martin. He deserves all the admiration he can get; he's incredibly personable and makes everyone he talks to feel important when they come to see him.

I got a few minutes with Boyd (yes, I cut the line, I was in a rush to cover the show jumping). He told me he's undergoing surgery tomorrow for an ankle problem, a fracture and ligament damage. I asked how it happened, he told me, "falling off horses."

I hope he's back in time for Jersey Fresh in two weeks, though that may be wishful thinking. At any rate, I'll be there, and sending you a postcard on the evening of May 12. Be sure to check back at Equisearch, and go to facebook.com/equisearch and facebook.com/practicalhorseman for more about Rolex.

Until then,

With the support of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and Equestrian Events, Inc., the Carr-Hughes network production of the Rolex Equestrian Championships will be broadcast on NBC Sunday, April 28 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Leading up to the NBC telecast, USEFNetwork.com presented by SmartPak will offer live, wall-to-wall coverage of the dressage, cross-country, and show jumping phases, which can be seen on computers, tablets and smart TV/Google TV devices in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Google TV users can go to http://www.usefnetwork.com/googletv for an enhanced experience.

For equestrian fans

throughout the rest of the world, FEI TV will air LIVE coverage of Saturday's cross-country and Sunday's show jumping competitions. To sign up for FEI TV visit www.feitv.org.

The broadcast schedule is listed below and is available under the Live Broadcast Schedule tab at USEFNetwork.com. Times are subject to change.
April 25: LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET
April 26: LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET
April 27: LIVE Cross-Country on USEFNetwork.com, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET

April 28: LIVE Show Jumping on USEFNetwork.com, 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET

Awards Ceremony on USEFNetwork.com, 3 p.m. ET

Rolex Equestrian Championships on NBC, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is held annually at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. and produced by Equestrian Events, Inc. The prestigious competition is part of the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins three of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing competitions in succession. The Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing competitions include the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, and Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Rolex Kentucky is also one of six CCI4*competitions that compose the HSBC FEI Classics™ and features riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event will crown the 16th Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion. The only Four Star event in the Western Hemisphere, Rolex Kentucky will draw an estimated 70,000 spectators and be seen by millions more on the worldwide telecast.

Limited advertising opportunities for the television broadcast and on USEFNetwork.com are available through Scott Carling, USEF Managing Director of Sales and Sponsorships, at (859) 225-6928 or scarling@usef.org.

For media inquiries, please contact Classic Communications at (508) 698-6810 or info@classic-communications.com.

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover visit www.rk3de.org.

The Horse&Rider Ride More Tour is an interactive, fun roundup of equine experts offering advice and inspiration to horse enthusiasts of all levels, will kick off its 2013 tour at Brighton Feed & Saddlery on April 5

Fueled by the expertise of the Equine Network, the nation’s leading publisher of horse-related content, including Horse&Rider, Practical Horseman and EQUUS, and the experienced staff of Brighton Feed & Saddlery, the evening features a very hands-on presentation about the skills, knowledge and gear people need to Ride More.

“We want to arm horse owners and enthusiasts with the best information to improve their horse lives—from health and management tactics

to tack tips to riding skills,” says Horse&Rider managing editor Jennifer Paulson.

Since having the wrong saddle can lead to discomfort and pain for both horse and rider, Roger Allgeier will discuss proper saddle fit for both horse and rider, saddles for different disciplines, tree construction and materials, what to look for when purchasing and much more. He will also demonstrate proper saddle fit with different horses.

Horse&Rider Managing Editor Jennifer Paulson will talk about the latest in horse care, including horse nutrition, colic prevention and deworming. Attendees will be able to try, touch, sniff and taste (if they want!) the latest products from the horse industry’s leading manufacturers.
In addition to a flood of knowledge, attendees will also have a chance to win prizes from Ride More Tour sponsors, such as Weaver Leather and USRider, a roadside assistance program for horse owners.

Free refreshments will be served.
Location: Brighton Feed & Saddlery 370 North Main Street, Brighton, CO 80601 Date and Time: Friday, April 5, at 6 p.m.

For more details, please go to http://www.equisearch.com/horse-and-rider-ride-more-tour

Louis (Paddy) Neilson is shown here on Haffaday jumping the fabled 13th fence in the 1971 Maryland Hunt Cup. Paddy knows as much about riding over obstacles at a high rate of speed as any man alive. When he tells you “speed magnifies mistakes,” he means that the increased velocity of racing over fixed obstacles will expose even the slightest ­weakness in your position. Position always—always—starts with the lower leg because the ­stirrups are the ground for the rider. If you look closely at this photo, you can see that Paddy has a classic leg position: His stirrup leather is vertical, his heels are down and his toes are turned out to a natural angle. The solidity of his lower leg allows him to have a soft touch on his reins. I have never seen a rider with good hands who did not have a secure lower-leg ­position. This is true regardless of the jumping discipline—timber racing, cross-country ­eventing or hunters and jumpers in an arena. I teach people to have a more erect body position over fences than you see here, and by that measurement, Paddy has brought his upper body too close to Haffaday’s neck. ­However, as your speed increases, your hip angle must close if you are to stay with your horse. ­Considering that Paddy and Haffaday are going between 20 and 30 miles an hour (800 ­meters a minute), Paddy looks about right to me. If eventers are to improve in all three of their disciplines, they must learn from riders who specialize in that discipline, be it dressage, show jumping or timber racing. Eventers who ­focus entirely on the two technical disciplines are missing a third of their education. As an aside, if you look at the photo of Bill Steinkraus in the online continuation of my March 2013 column and ­compare it with this photo, you will be struck by the similarities of position between two ­masters of their art.

© Douglas Lees

In February and March, I reviewed the correct positions for dressage and show jumping, respectively. This month we are going to study the basics of your cross-country position.

The first thing people notice about the cross-country phase of eventing is that speed is a factor, one that becomes increasingly important as you progress from Novice to Advanced. One reason is “speed magnifies mistakes.” That is a quote by Louis (Paddy) Neilson, one of our greatest timber-race jockeys. Paddy knows something about riding at speed over fixed fences, having won the Maryland Hunt Cup three times between 1968 and 1989. The Hunt Cup features fences constructed of wooden boards and posts and rails that can reach nearly 5-feet tall.

Paddy’s statement is a chilling reminder that the basics of your cross-country position must be as flawless as possible if you are to avoid accident and injury, because the speed of this phase will magnify your every error.

Higher Level, Shorter Stirrups
The correct cross-country position at the lower levels (Pre-Novice through Training) is the same as the show-jumping position: You should adjust your stirrup leathers until you have a 90-degree angle behind your knee when you are seated. If you’re riding at these levels, you are accustomed to this length due to your work in the show-jumping arena. At these levels, the required cross-country speed is not fast enough and the variation in the terrain is not dramatic enough to require you to change your position.

You must, however, change your position as the requirements of the levels change. Beginning at Preliminary level, your speed and the size of the drop fences increase and the variation in the terrain becomes much more challenging.

As your speed increases, you need to shorten your stirrup leathers and close your hip angle. This allows you to stay balanced and connected with your horse’s motion. In general, I suggest you shorten your stirrup leathers 1 inch for each star level. This means at the Preliminary or one-star level, you should ride cross country 1 inch shorter than your show-jumping length, for Intermediate, ride 2 inches shorter, and so on.

Some trainers have recently begun suggesting we return to a position that was widely used in the 18th century, standing straight-legged in the saddle with long stirrups. Fortunately we have scientific research to confirm that this is not the most effective galloping position for your horse—hence, it is not correct. I discuss this research in “The Science of Galloping.”

Regardless of length, your stirrup leather should form a vertical line at all times: uphill, downhill and on the level. The stirrup leather can support your weight only when it is vertical. Many riders try to ride shorter in a saddle not ­designed for shorter stirrups, with the ­result that their leg gets pushed back when landing over fences. Riders in this unstable scenario typically let their stirrups back out to show-jumping length to compensate, even if the speed for their level requires them to ride shorter. (For more on the interaction of saddle design and rider position, click here.)

If you are going to ride at speed cross-country, you owe it to your horse to be able to ride in a balanced and harmonious fashion—and the shorter the stirrup length you ride with, the fitter you must be to be able to sit quietly at speeds up to 20 miles an hour. We ask our horses to do difficult things; we should not make their task more difficult by interfering with their natural movements.

You will be able to partly improve your fitness while you practice this position. During both your trot warm-up sets and your conditioning canters, shorten your stirrups at least one hole from the length you use for your competitive level. Do your warm-up trot sets in a two-point rather than posting. If you listen carefully, you can hear me laughing … most of us cannot trot in a two-point for three five-minute sets, much less stay there for our conditioning canter sets. Even though you will probably fail, stick with it. Make a project of your fitness while you condition your horse. When you gallop through the finish line with a clean and fast round, feeling as if you and your horse could both go back through the start line and do the same course again, then your efforts will have been worth it. Working with short stirrups is hard, but once you return your stirrup leathers to your competitive length, your position will become second nature for you.

In my February column, I talked about the beneficial effect of riding without stirrups. Riding without your dressage stirrups makes your position more independent; when you regain your stirrups they will feel shorter, even though you have not changed the length of your leathers. In the same way, after you practice galloping with very short stirrup leathers and then let them down to your competitive level, you will feel as if you are riding longer than you actually are, which will make you more confident and secure in your cross-country position.

Swap Sensitivity for Security
The speed of cross country requires a few more adjustments. You may recall that for show jumping, I want you to place the ball of your foot on the tread of the stirrup, with your little toe against the outside branch. Once you start galloping at increased speeds, however, move your foot a little deeper into the stirrup and place the ball of your foot against the inside branch. This foot position is not as supple and sensitive as the show-jumping position, but it is more secure. The shorter your stirrups, the more dramatic the penalty for losing them—­remember, speed magnifies mistakes.

Bruce Davidson is famous for his Olympic and World Championship gold-medal-winning ­exploits as an eventer. What we should think about is that his results are based on a ­thorough and complete understanding of each of the three disciplines that comprise eventing: dressage, show jumping and cross-country. Shown here on Appolinax over the 13th fence in the 1983 Maryland Hunt Cup, Bruce looks as if he is out for a Sunday canter. His confidence is based on his secure lower-leg ­position. His stirrup leather is just behind the vertical, which means that Bruce “saw a long one” in the approach and closed his legs to make sure Appolinax stood off. His slightly ­defensive upper body confirms my suspicions. At this speed, the slightest hiccup can ­catapult you out of the saddle. Bruce is making sure that when his horse lands, he will be in a ­secure balance. Once eventers become comfortable timber racing, the speed of upper-level ­eventing feels slow by comparison.

© Douglas Lees

When you are competing in rain and mud or have just been through a deep water jump, the tread of your stirrups and the soles of your boots may become slick. In these cases, I encourage you to place your foot “home” in the stirrup—your foot is so far into the stirrup that the heel of your boot is against the tread. There are situations where it is wise to sacrifice sensitivity for security.
Remember to keep your reins shorter when you will be galloping. If you ­adjusted your reins when you were seated, you will find them too long when you rise to your two-point position because your upper body will be closer to your horse’s neck.

Stillness at Speed
Now that you have made all these adjustments, it is time to discuss your actual galloping position. Cross-country courses typically have 20 to 30 jumping efforts. That may sound like a lot, but it will take you several hundred galloping strides to complete the course. My point is that you will spend a great deal more time galloping than you do jumping. Therefore, now that you have a saddle suitable for cross-country work and have gotten yourself as fit as your horse, it is time to talk about the position that is safest and most effective for galloping cross-country.

The terminology varies, but to be in the most efficient galloping position, you are in what I call a “two-point,” meaning your weight is carried in your knees and ankles and you are suspended above your horse’s back.

I want you to keep your seat close to the saddle while you gallop, without sitting down or—even worse—“posting” at the canter/gallop. Your back should form approximately a 45-degree angle to the ground, and your elbows should be well in front of your hip bones. When you practice your dressage and show-jumping positions, you can often look at yourself in the arena mirror to check on your position. While this is not possible outdoors, all of us can have a friend take photos or a short video with a smartphone.

Make sure you absorb your horse’s motion in your knees and ankles, not in your hip joints. Have the feeling that you are standing on a trampoline, allowing the trampoline mat to push your knees up into your hips and back down. Watch your shadow as you are conditioning your horse; does the distance between your seat bones and your saddle remain constant, or is your upper body moving back and forth? If you can see this extraneous motion, your horse can feel it and will be unbalanced by it.

That we should be quiet in the saddle at the canter and gallop is easy to understand but difficult to put into practice. You will have to study videos of yourself, watch other riders who have discovered how to gallop in balance and persevere until you find the answer. Success in modern eventing requires technical perfection in all three phases. It is not enough to study the subtleties of dressage collection or develop accuracy in your approach to show-jumping obstacles. You need to study every aspect of your cross-country riding—because, after all, speed magnifies mistakes.

Week eleven, sponsored by Artisan Farms, will conclude on Sunday, March 24, with the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix, Don Little Masters Classic and $101,000 Pennfield Feeds CSI 4* Grand Prix all held on the derby field at The Stadium at PBIEC. The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9-March 31, 2013, and will be awarding almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.

Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England, set the course for 48 entries in Saturday night's 1.50m final, held under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Only six were able to master the track to advance to the jump-off and four went double clear in an exciting race against the clock for the tie breaker. McLain Ward and Zander, a nine-year-old KWPN gelding by Cantos x Saygon, took the win with their pace of 43.86 seconds.

Finishing in second, Janne Friederike Meyer and Cellagon Lambrasco, owned by Meyer, Friedrich and Anne Sophie, stopped the clock in 45.12 seconds. Pablo Barrios and ZL Goup, Inc.'s Zara Leandra were close behind in 45.32 seconds, and Reed Kessler and Ligist had the fourth double clear round in 45.94 seconds. Brazil's Carlos Ribas and Ronaldo, owned by Ribas and Roberto de la Real, actually had the fastest round of the jump-off in 43.53 seconds, but had the second to last fence down for fifth place.

In a class that is usually held during the day, it was a different environment for many of the horses on Saturday night, showing under the lights with a big crowd. Some of the horses had more experience than others, and even though it was his first night class ever, Zander seemed to flourish in the impressive atmosphere.

"He's a horse I'm really excited about," Ward said after the class. "We got him at the beginning of last year with high hopes and then I got hurt and lost almost four months. He was really good last year at Spruce Meadows and he won a nice grand prix at Valkenswaard in the summer. We've done him in a bunch of WEF (Challenge Cup) classes here and he won one and he had the fastest time in two others. We hoped he would develop through this Florida and it was just a really nice way for him to end. [It was] the first time under the lights, [and there was] the water under the lights, which he was a bit a green about as a young horse. I think he's a really exciting horse and I'm lucky to have him."

"He's got a really big stride and he's a very careful horse," Ward detailed. "He's such a flamboyant jumper, he loses his parts once in a while, but through this Florida he has kind of figured that out, where you can really gallop at a fence and he really has control of his body. I think that's going to continue to get better. He's been fast from the beginning. He can do some numbers that a lot of other horses have to struggle to do a little bit, so I think the future is bright for him. We'll keep our fingers crossed."

Each new course and different atmosphere continues to cultivate Zander's knowledge and Ward counts the competition in Wellington as a great platform for development.

"We have been building his confidence and just showing him a million different experiences," Ward stated. "Florida, on one hand, is very hard when you're trying to develop a young grand prix horse because they are always a little bit over their head, but if they can make it through and come out on top at the end and they get a rest, they gain a year's worth of exposure here. It's just making sure they survive it. I think he finished much stronger than he started, so hopefully it worked well for us."

Second place finisher Janne Friederike Meyer was in Wellington for the first time this winter and has had a great experience herself.

"For me, it's a really nice time," Meyer noted. "It's pretty expensive to fly all the horses over and if you don't know everything, you have to take a little time to get in the system. Like from the warm-up to the office, until you know everything maybe you take one or two weeks and then it's like normal. But the courses are pretty nice, the money is good and for me it's kind of a little showing and a little vacation. It's a little bit in between, so it's a really nice time for me."

"The last weeks, every jump-off was really fast, so you have to learn that here," Meyer described. "I hurried up a lot, but in the end McLain was faster. What can I do? I think my horse tried his best."

"It's funny, when you work him at home he is really a lazy horse and he's relaxed and not hot at all, but when you go in the ring, then he wants to go," Meyer said of Cellagon Lambrasco. "I think that's a special thing about him. You just go in and he really wants to jump. He wants to run and is looking for the first fence. He likes it here. He likes the weather and he likes the floodlights. It's good for him. I really have had some nice rounds with him here."

Pablo Barrios finished third with Zara Leandra and was very happy with her performance. The pair won a smaller grand prix pre-circuit under the lights and has been gradually moving up to the bigger classes.

"I'm really pleased with that mare and the way she's jumping now," Barrios stated. "She won one class in the pre-circuit and then I had a little trouble in the big classes. I think she was not ready, but she grew a lot and she learned a lot. After week eight, in the Nations Cup, she started approaching the jumps in a different way. She was calmer in the ring and she has been amazing the last two weeks. She's had only one rail in the last two weeks, so I am very pleased with her."

"I know McLain is super fast, but I think the mare was ready to go fast today," Barrios said of the jump-off. "Today I really tried to go for the class, but there were good horses and good riders and I'm still very happy about it."

As the conclusion to the eleven-week Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series, Saturday night's class served as the final allocation of points for the overall standings. $50,000 worth of bonus money was presented to the top three leading

horse and rider combinations that accumulated the most points throughout the eleven weeks of competition. Awarding their consistency overall, Ben Maher took home the top bonus of $25,000 with Mrs. Phillips' Quiet Easy 4, Alise Oken won $15,000 for second place with Hi Hopes Farm LLC's Teirra, and Laura Kraut finished third and was awarded $10,000 for her performance with the Evita Group's Nouvelle.

Maher and Quiet Easy finished second in the series last year, and this year the rider made it a goal to come out on top. The pair had such great results that they were well ahead of the others without even showing in all of the classes.

"He has been great," Maher said following the presentation. "We missed a few of the classes and he just proved that he was pretty consistent in all of the other classes to be so far ahead today. He loves to show here and he has been on form. He jumped well all circuit, so I am happy with how he finished up."

Also showing in the International Arena on Saturday, Peru's Michelle Navarro-Grau rode Alfi to victory in the $15,000 RCG Farm SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Victoria Colvin and Waminka, owned by Rivers Edge, were victorious in the $10,000 Griffis Residential High Junior Jumper Classic. Colvin was later honored with a special award during the night class. She was presented with the Potcreek Meadow Farm Junior Sportmanship Trophy, in memory of Candida C. Fortsmann.

Final Results: $100,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final

1. ZANDER: 2004 KWPN gelding Cantos x Saygon
MCLAIN WARD (USA), McLain Ward: 0/0/43.86

2. CELLAGON LAMBRASCO: 1998 Holsteiner gelding by Libero x Coriolan
JANNE FRIEDERIKE MEYER (GER), Meyer, Friedrich & Anna Sophie: 0/0/45.12

3. ZARA LEANDRA: 2004 KWPN mare by Metropole x Ahorn
PABLO BARRIOS (VEN), ZL Group, Inc: 0/0/45.32

4. LIGIST: 2000 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Levantos II x Robin Z
REED KESSLER (USA), Reed Kessler: 0/0/45.94

5. RONALDO: 1998 KWPN gelding by Ahorn x Stuyvesant
CARLOS RIBAS (BRA), Roberto Villa Real Jr. & Carlos Ribas: 0/4/43.53

6. TACKERAY: 2000 KWPN stallion by Quick Star x Sandro
LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Nordic Lights Farm, LLC: 0/RT

7. CAMILLE Z: 2003 Zangersheide mare
ATHINA ONASSIS DE MIRANDA (GRE), Athina Onassis de Miranda & Victory Equestrian: 1/85.38

8. KING KOLIBRI: 2002 Hanoverian stallion by Kolibri x Achill-Libero H
LAUREN TISBO (USA), Tequestrian Farms LLC: 1/86.19

9. UNICO: 2001 KWPN gelding by Odermus R x Wuzo
MARIO GAMBOA (COL), Stransky's Mission Farms, Inc: 4/77.94

10. HH LET'S FLY: 1999 Hanoverian gelding by Lordanos x Forrest
RODRIGO PESSOA (BRA), Double H Farm: 4/79.98

11. GRACE 319: 2002 SATHU mare by Armitage x Beach Boy
JANNE FRIEDERIKE MEYER (GER), Juergen Fitschen & Janne-Friederike Meyer: 4/80.74

12. G & C SONNY: 2001 KWPN gelding by Lux x Concorde
RODRIGO PESSOA (BRA), Gustavo Mirabal: 4/81.84

Contemporary competition coats, shirts and breeches for all disciplines increasingly are being designed like athletic wear, using the latest construction techniques and high-tech fabrics that stretch, wick and breathe while allowing full range of motion in the saddle. At the same time, manufacturers have added mainstream fashion details, like contrast trim and frilly necklines with a little color or sparkle, to give you a stylish alternative without straying too far from tradition.

Then there are the functional design features, including flattering seams and color blocking, hidden zippers, magnetic closures and longer shirttails, that give you

a professional, custom-tailored appearance without breaking your budget.

Check out these new styles of show shirts in addition to 36 more competition separates in the April 2013 issue of Practical Horseman magazine.

And that’s too bad, because the quality of gaits is so important in our sport that Gaits is the first Collective Mark on every dressage test. There is an emphasis on “freedom,” which is manifested by the reach and scope of your horse’s limbs, and “regularity.” This involves his ability to maintain an even rhythm—the recurring sequence and timing of his footfalls at a suitable and consistent tempo.

What We’ll Do
In this article, I’ll explain the differences between the types of gaits, and when and why, in the course of your horse’s training and competing, they appear.

I’ll also demonstrate the types of gaits in photos, so you can contrast, compare and, I hope, sharpen your eye. As you do, please note: The difference between an extended and collected gait isn’t merely about the length of a horse’s steps. I always tell my students, “Don’t only follow your horse with a ruler and measure the distance between his footprints. The lengthening or shortening of his step is important, but only as it relates to his overall outline, the elevation of his steps, the raising of his forehand and neck relative to the lowering of his croup and even the lengthening or shortening of his neck.”

Another point to remember is that dressage training is a slow, logical, step-by-step progression. It builds the strength, muscle, balance, animation, activity and ­cadence (the sum of rhythm plus impulsion, which is expressed by an ­energetic lifting of the feet from the ground and gives any gait an extra quality).

The test levels at which the different types of gaits appear mirror the “building blocks” of the Training Scale: rhythm, relaxation, connection, impulsion, straightness and collection. (In fact, the tests are sometimes referred to as a “blueprint” for your training.) I’m sure that if you pushed your green 4-year-old, you probably could get a nice extended canter, no problem! But when you got to the severe down transition, he wouldn’t be physically strong or balanced enough to carry it off.

That’s why, at Introductory Level, you simply want to show that your horse can be ridden on a light but steady contact (or allowed complete freedom to lower and stretch out his head and neck in the free walk).

At Training Level you want to ­additionally confirm that his muscles are supple and loose and that he moves freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm, ­accepting contact with the bit.

At First Level, he has additionally developed thrust (pushing power) and achieved a degree of balance and throughness (the state in which your aids/influence go freely through all parts of him, from back to front and front to back).

At Second Level, he accepts more weight on his hindquarters, has an uphill tendency and stays reliably on the bit. He does this with a greater degree of straightness, bending, suppleness, throughness, balance and self-carriage.

At Third Level he shows increased engagement with rhythm, suppleness, ­acceptance of the bit, throughness, balance, impulsion, straightness and collection.

At Fourth Level and above, he has a high degree of suppleness, impulsion and throughness, plus a clear uphill balance and lightness. He remains reliably on the bit. His movements are straight, energetic and cadenced, and his transitions are precise and smooth.

Now, how do these requirements ­determine when and where the various types of gaits appear? Keep them in mind as you read on.

But...do they actually work? Do they enable horse people to find real love-with a soulmate who shares their enthusiasm for country living and all things equine?

To find out, we decided to talk to the folks at EquestrianSingles.com, the most recognized dating service for horse people worldwide. Founded in 2001, the Texas-based Web site boasts over 10,000 marriages and success stories around the globe, according to founder Marcia Zwilling. She helped us locate five couples willing to tell us how they went about finding their horsey sig-o through cyber dating.

Here are their stories.

Connie and Han courted and wed on horseback; they and son Wyatt, now 2 years old, live on their Colorado guest ranch, the Rusty Spurr.

Photo courtesy of Connie Smith

Connie and Han: Best First Date Ever
Connie Schuh of Fort Collins, Colorado, had just lost her childhood horse to old age when she decided to try online dating. She joined EquestrianSingles.com in January of 2004—but with some trepidation.

“I was nervous about putting myself out there for strangers to see,” she explains. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to get to know someone well enough via e-mails to feel comfortable meeting him in person.”

A month later, she connected with A. J. “Han” Smith, owner and general manager of the Rusty Spurr guest ranch in Kremming, Colorado. The two corresponded by e-mail for three weeks before speaking on the phone.

“Han didn’t brag or boast about his achievements,” she recalls, noting that e-mail turned out to be a good way to get acquainted, after all. “Instead he’d write about how amazing it was to watch the moon rise over his cabin, or the wonderful smell of sage when he galloped his horse through it. All that evoked a feeling and image that can’t be portrayed in a regular conversation.”

When they did finally connect by phone, they talked for hours, “as if we’d been friends for a long time,” says Connie. They also planned a day to meet in person a week later.

“I’m cautious, so for our first meeting I had my sister in tow, and we all went skiing. A short time later, we had our first real date—he took me horseback riding through the snow all around his ranch.

“It was a gorgeous, sunny Colorado day in February, and the horses were perfect,” she continues. “Han packed us a saddlebag lunch and even remembered what I liked to drink. We never ran out of things to talk about. I believe it was the best first date ever because we’d had a chance to get to know each other so well through all those prior e-mails.”

Connie says she knew things were serious several months later, on another ride.

“He took me out along a beautiful stretch of the Blue River. We stopped for a break and got off the horses, and he held me in his arms. The look in his eyes when he told me he was falling in love with me was when I knew he was ‘the one.’”

They were married in 2008 on horseback, at the ranch. “We gave each guest the option of a trail ride through the ranch with one of our wranglers at some point over the weekend. People still talk about that!”

Today, the couple manages the guest ranch together, providing cattle drives and trail rides through the Rocky Mountains with a string of mostly Quarter Horses, which are treated “like family.”

And speaking of family, the couple’s son, Wyatt, is now 2 years old. (You can visit the Smiths’ ranch online at rustyspurr.com.)

Christy and David went to see her horse and would up driving to the coast; a year later, they wed.

Photo of Christy Hartman DeCourcey

Christy and David: Skip the Horse, Take the Girl
A client prodded real estate broker Christy Hartman of Gresham, Oregon, to join EquestrianSingles.com in 2005. She’d earlier tried Match.com without much success, but over the next few years, she met many interesting people on the equestrian site, some whom she dated and some who were just friends.

Then, in 2010, the need to sell her Quarter Horse gelding Commando (because of the economy) prompted her to put out the word through the Web site. This eventually led to contact with David DeCourcey, a real estate title examiner from Bend, Oregon, who was also a member of the site. Christy sent him photos of her horse, and the two began corresponding by e-mail and phone.

“On the phone he was warm, witty, and smart,” Christy recalls. “He was comfortable talking about anything from politics to raising kids.” Eventually David said he wanted to come see Commando—and his owner—in person.

“I told him I prefer a cowboy, not some city-slicker type,” Christy recalls with a laugh. “The day he came, he showed up at my door early, and my hair was still in curlers. I told him I wasn’t ready, so he went out for breakfast. When he returned, he was adorable—all dressed up in Western clothes and a cowboy hat and with two-dozen red roses in his hand. The chemistry was there, and it really was love at first sight.”

They went to see the horse, and wound up driving to the Oregon Coast, “singing crazy songs we both knew by heart, eating great food—the day seemed to last forever and it was wonderful,” she says.

The pair wed a year later. They now live on a 40-acre farm outside of Bend, with five horses they use for trail riding, sorting, and cowboy mounted shooting. One of the horses, by the way, is Commando—Christy wound up keeping him.

“Friends tease David that he should’ve just bought the horse—and saved himself a lot of money,” says Christy. “He always laughs and says he’s very happy with how it all turned out.”