|
Welcome to #EquestrianEducation with #GrandSlamEquestrian
#WednesdayWisdom, Part 2: If you want to be safe doing something or you want your child to be safe doing something, then you need to invest in excellent equipment. Educate yourself as an individual or as a parent. Find the best fitting equipment for yourself or your child based on your budget, and future plans within the industry. If your child plans to attend Summer Camp, then invest in an equestrian specific helmet and riding boots. If you or your child plan to compete in the future, then invest in the best, properly fitted black helmet and boots. Depending on the child’s age, the boot requirements may vary. A lot of boots and attire can be acquired second hand. This is a great way to get your hands on quality products without spending a fortune. Especially while they “try out” the sport. Plus you can always re-consign at the end of the season. Helmets however, should NEVER be purchased used under any circumstances. Let me break this down for you: Student A- shows an interest in horses and attends Summer Camp at a local facility. Clearly communicated- This rider has maybe 5 hours of riding experience. Summer Camp is an introduction to horses and very basic horsemanship. The Student enjoys the horses. They show an interest in continuing with weekly lessons, but not competition. Some programs will offer discounted lessons to those that attend their facility’s summer camp. Student B- began as a Summer Camp participant. Has continued with weekly lessons through the fall. Has an interest in horse showing, but does not have enough hours in the saddle to do so yet. Cost may be a prohibiting factor. Trainers do make vested interest in students with strong work ethics and a willingness to learn. Clearly communicated- This rider has roughly 55 hours in the saddle. Student C- initially began their riding career as a Summer Camp participant. Has continued with twice weekly lessons since participating in camp. 104 hours per year This student began competing in local schooling shows. Clearly communicated- This student has roughly 208 hours in the saddle. They can independently W-T-C, but they may NOT be fully jumping courses. They competed in their first horse show, but only showed in “flat” classes as they are still developing their jumping skills. Student A & Student B would be considered Beginners as part of the Grand Slam Equestrian Lesson Program. Student C would be considered Intermediate. In my professional experience, Students should not be jumping anything over ground poles or cross rails in height with less than 200 hours in the saddle. Everyone wants to jump bigger jumps, great. You need more education and saddle time. The jumps do not go up at Grand Slam Equestrian until they are jumped in correct form, speed, and rhythm. This builds confidence of both horse and rider. You need a strong core, have the ability to ride a variety of different horses within the lesson program, and can clearly communicate paths of travel while mounted. This includes ring etiquette of passing left shoulder to left shoulder in an arena with other riders. When Student’s leave my program for another, the receiving trainer probably assumes because a rider can do x, y, or z that they are capable of jumping higher. This is where honesty plays a huge role in this industry. For me it is never a question of if a rider will be over faced, but rather how long until they get hurt. Likewise, when students enter my program from another I treat each individual as if they are riding for the first time. I never assume they know anything and I never assume they know my horses. Most importantly, not all lesson program’s horses are the same. I pride myself on my invested dedication to providing SAFE, show quality & capable lesson horses to build a rider’s confidence in any situation or discipline.
0 Comments
Welcome to the #EquestrianEducation Series with #GrandSlamEquestrian
Part 1: In his 2008 book “Outliers,” Malcolm Gladwell wrote that “ten thousand hours is the magic number of greatness.” The meaning behind this, in theory, is simple. To be considered elite and truly experienced within a certain craft, you must practice it for ten thousand hours. If you want to be good at something or you want your child to be good at something then you need to invest in excellent, deliberately focused instruction. Educate yourself as an individual or as a parent. Find the best program for yourself or your child’s learning style, your budget, and future plans within the industry. Let me break this down for you: Student A- beginning high school in the fall takes one lesson per week 52 hours per year This student does this for four years 208 hours Clearly communicated- This rider has not been riding for four years, they have roughly 200 hours in the saddle. They enjoy the sport. Student B- beginning high school in the fall takes two lessons per week 104 hours per year This student does this for four years 416 hours Clearly communicated- This rider has not been riding for four years, this rider has roughly 415 hours in the saddle. Student C- beginning high school in the fall takes three lessons per week 156 hours per year This student does this for four years 624 hours Clearly communicated- This student has been riding for four years or over 620 hours. Per our lesson program at Grand Slam Equestrian, only Student B & Student C are eligible to horse show. They need enough hours in the saddle before entering competition. All three of these students have the ability in the United States to become “Professional” or “Amateur” Equestrian’s once they turn 18 and their junior career commences. What is very important to note is that they very clearly do not have the same hours invested. People show up for their one hour lesson and leave. Sometimes the horses are already tacked up. This is where horsemanship is 100% lacking in this Country. 10,000 hours equates to practicing 6 hours per day, every day, for four or five years. As a Professional Equestrian, when you are coming to my program you are paying for my 10,000+ hours of experience which are not just “saddle hours”. In total I have over 30 years of experience. Certainly you can go to a “professional” like Student A, Student B, or Student C, but we are not the same. Invest in someone who has not only invested in themselves and their own continued education, but that of their horses and customers- both past and present and has safety at the forefront of their operation. Welcome back to #EquestrianEducation with #GrandSlamEquestrian #WednesdayWisdom, Part 3: I hear all too often many people who put “horse people” into a particular category. In particular, in a derogatory way and often toward women in sport. What I have learned over the last several decades in the industry is that there are in fact two types of people involved in horses. We have those that like to boast that their child or themselves have accomplished x, y, or z within the industry. They have competed at x, y, & z venues across the country. These are often people who have very expensive horses and very little experience and education behind them. It’s all about the “status”. At the end of the day your “status” does not keep you safe on your horse. If they can’t ride the first horse, their trainer will have them vet, import, and just buy another. Their trainer just takes their money over, and over, and OVER again. It’s always “cookie time” for their horse. They have the best attire. They have their own rig, but they only go forward. These individuals are what we call HORSE PEOPLE. Next we have the people who go to bed after sundown and are up before daylight the very next day. These are the people patiently braiding your horse into the wee hours of the night. The ones lunging in the dark. The ones shipping their own horses. They know how to back the rig they are driving like a seasoned professional in a semi, even if it’s only a two horse bumper pull. These are people cleaning stalls or filling water buckets just to help out the hired help. These are people hand walking colicky horses waiting on the vet. These are people who have inexpensive horses and are surrounded by the best instruction and the best team of individuals. They understand with the right help in your corner you can develop your own horse. They are rewarded slowly with small victories. These individuals are what we call HORSEMAN. I will admit, my parents did things very backwards at first- they bought a four year old horse for their three year old daughter. Green is usually not good for green. Fortunately, things worked out and Superboy was the greatest pony. I’ve been grateful that I’ve had excellent instruction and good, professional mentors over the years. I could have stayed a horse person, but instead I chose to invest in myself, my horses, and my business every. single. day. to become a horseman. So here’s to the fourth generation of wonderful horseman who will continue to teach the next generation. Grateful for these horseman who I also get to call “my” family. We all can learn something new from someone else in this industry. Where do you find yourself these days, as a Horse Person or a Horseman? #fourgenerationsofhorseman #horseman #horsepeople #equestrian #devon #leadline #devon2023 #professionalequestrian #grandslamequestrian CategoriesSo how do you pick a barn for your young child?
The first step in selecting a barn is likely location. However, the horse crazy child in your family is not your only child. You’ve got other children you need to chauffeur to soccer practice and gymnastics. There are only so many after school hours in the day for extracurricular activities, I understand. But you have to ask yourself is the closest option your safest and best option? The second factor is likely the lesson cost. Is the person the cheapest in that area or are they competitive with their pricing? What credentials do they possess? Will the facility owner or head trainer be the one instructing your child or will their assistant be teaching? Will it be a combination of the head trainer and the assistant trainer? Fostering relationships with the trainer is particularly important for their growth and comfort. The third determining factor is if the facility has an indoor riding ring? In order to continue lessons through the winter should your child show a serious commitment to the sport, you'll likely want to be at a facility that has an indoor. If the facility doesn't boast an indoor you run the risk of inconsistent lessons due to the unpredictable weather. However, there are a lot of lessons that can be taught and learned in the barn even if riding doesn't occur. I encourage you to take to social media and look up the facilities you’re considering on all of the social platforms. Check out their reviews on their Facebook page as well as on Yelp or Groupon. What makes them unique? What are people saying about their experiences there? What are people saying about the instruction? About the horses? The fourth thing you should REALLY be asking yourself is is this place safe? How do you know it’s safe? What makes it safe? We'll cover this topic next. So your horse crazy child wants to ride a pony, what are the next steps?
It goes without saying “you get what you pay for,” but what should you look for and expect in an establishment that offers horseback riding lessons? First, I’ll say that everyone thinks horseback riding is expensive. I do not disagree. I believe it to be true that parents try to put off the equestrian experience for their child based solely on cost. “What if my child decides they don’t like it after we purchase the boots, helmet, and pants?” Well, I will tell you that their is absolutely NO price on safety, in a multitude of ways. Parents should make sure the child commits to a certain number of lessons before either stopping or continuing lessons. This can be a tough, yet teachable moment for kids that sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do, or work with people we don’t want to work with, but making them try it for a short period of time is an invaluable lesson beyond the riding lesson itself. Horseback riding lends MANY learning opportunities for children. How to care for something else, how to work as a team, how to communicate verbally and nonverbally, peer mentoring, teaches problem solving, following directions, increases balance and dexterity, improves mental health, and is physically conditioning, to only name a few benefits. You will certainly get your money’s worth with the “right fit facility.” Math is all around us. If you take a moment to stop and think about how mathematically you spend your day, you will start to notice the numbers.
Their are several ways math is used in the horse industry. When students come for weekly riding lessons, they're not just learning about the horse or the time in the saddle, they are actually practicing their math skills, public speaking skills, fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Here is how: Coming to take a lesson at the barn requires an exchange of money for a service that has been provided. Horses are measured in hands A braider counts the number of Braids they complete on a horse's mane for competition (Do they prefer an even or odd number?) Grain and hay are all measured by weight which could be in ounces, pounds, or quarts. Do you know what kind of hay and grain your horse eats? Water buckets and troughs are filled and measured by the gallon or Liters. Do you know how many gallons a standard water bucket contains? Do you know the approximate weight of a single water bucket? How many gallons per day should the average horse drink? Those adorable horse show bows are crafted with several types of ribbon, all of which is measured in yards. Traveling to and from shows, sales appointments, etc. Miles are calculated and recorded for tax deductions. Jumps are measured in inches, feet, and meters. Flowers are counted for filler at all of the hunter jumps based on the number of holes drilled into the flower boxes. Do you know how many bones are in the horses body? How many ribbons are needed to host a horse show? It is determined by the number of classes held at the horse show. Typically each class awards up to six ribbons. The electric is turned on in the barn so you can see to groom your horse or ride under the arena lights. Do you know how the electric is measured or on average what the cost of the electric is?  Rosstar Superboy qualified for Arabian Sport Horse Nationals in Raleigh, NC! This was Superboy's first rated horse show over fences EVER as well as this rider's first rated show. Clean sweep in the greens here in NJ. Very proud!
Helmet- This is the most important piece of equipment. When parents complain that a helmet costs $250+ my response is, "How much is your child's head worth?" Ice hockey & Football players are constantly getting new helmets. Equestrian's should be doing the same. I replace my helmet every six months REGARDLESS of falls.
Additionally, the helmet must FIT your head. Two fingers should be able to go snugly under the chin strap and when you bend forward the helmet should not move down and cover your eyebrows. It should sit tightly just above them. The inside foam stretches with use. It's great if you're wearing a helmet, but if it's not fastened correctly it is not going to serve its actual purpose. Helmets should be replaced if a fall occurs. The manufacturer will replace them within two years of their production date. In year three or four of a fall, a discounted rate will replace the same helmet model. Every four years you should be buying a new helmet because that is their life expectancy. My preferred brand is Charles Owen. I wear the Wellington Pro model and it fits my head shape the best. Safety of myself and my students is my number one priority. http://www.doversaddlery.com/m/charles-owen-wellington-pro-15/p/x1-36520/ Hairnet- This piece of equipment goes hand in hand with the helmet component. The hair net is a very important piece in the helmet equation. If you're trying on a helmet to purchase one wearing a hairnet, then that is how you should be wearing your hair when wearing the helmet. However you have your hair when you are trying the helmet on determines the fit. If you like to wear your hair down when schooling at home, then I recommend having a helmet for schooling and for showing. Both ways you wear your hair determines this. Messy hair is a no fly zone in my world! Braids should be re-braided if you start seeing flyaway hairs. Guys, you don't know just how lucky you are! My preferred brand is the Aerborn heavyweight hairnets. For thicker hair I use two. http://www.doversaddlery.com/m/heavyweight-hair-nets/p/x1-36051/ Gloves- Gloves are great for anyone from beginner to professional. They help keep fingers from slipping through the reins and being subject to blisters. My preferred brand is Roeckl Equestrian. They don't stain my hands black from the dye. These are solely my show gloves. My everyday gloves are my Nike brand batting gloves. http://www.doversaddlery.com/m/roeckl®-chester-riding-gloves/p/x1-3959/ Boots- Should be clean and polished for BOTH lessons and shows. My preferred tall boot brand is Cavallo Couture Company designed DeNiro boots with caprice leather. For schooling I love my Ariat International, Inc. Paddock boots paired with my Custom Leather Designs half chaps hand crafted locally in Pennsylvania by Pat Young. Belt- If your riding breeches have belt loops, a belt should always be worn with those pants. I love something traditional that matches my boots and crop. My show belt is handmade by the Amish In Lancaster, PA, but I love my C4 Belts Equestrian custom Welsh Wear one that I wear when schooling at home. http://welshwear.com/products/ambassador-item Shirt- A well fitted shirt is a must. I try to avoid very large graphic print on shirts with writing. Absolutely no tank tops or any other spaghetti strap type shirts should be worn when riding. Keep those girls under cover, no matter how endowed you may be! In winter, fitted sweatshirts without hoods are great. I like riding in a vest so that my arms are not restricted by a bulky coat. Too much clothing prevents me from being able to view & correct my students position. You will catch me in my Welsh Wear tees daily. Thank you Welsh Wear for your continued sponsorship! http://welshwear.com/products/where-corgis-meet-blue-womens-vneck Breeches- should be free of stains. Colored pants for lessons are fine, but always tan breeches for showing. My absolute favorite breeches are the R.J. Classics Gulf low rise sock bottom breeches! I got rid of every other pair of riding pants I have owned. These are the most comfortable pants I've ever worn in all the years I've been riding! Get your pair at Devon from Andrea in the Boot & Bridle booth. Crop- if you own your own crop it should be either all black or brown. It should be no longer than 18" in total length. I love the fleck brand. If the crop is too long it will spook the horse. It flops around in little hands when resting on the thigh. The shorter, the better for small children especially. http://www.doversaddlery.com/m/fleck-rubber-grip-bat/p/x1-14159/ Your overall presentation shows respect to both your trainer and the establishment in which you are taking lessons. Even if you are not riding in the clinic but are there to audit, show respect and dress like you actually WANT to be there to learn. In IEA & IHSA shows your attire helps you to stand out. Clean and neat is key! |
Nina M. ShafferProfessional Equestrian Archives
May 2023
Categories
All
people have viewed this publication
|
Grand Slam Equestrian
RSS Feed
