30 July 2010
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HORSE Magazine
Features : Freeschooling your horse with Lucinda McAlpine
Thursday 17 September 2009
If you want to try free-schooling, here's what to do:
- Make sure the enclosure where you intend to work is safe and secure. Check the walls and fences for sharp edges, and any risk of escape.
- The surface should help to avoid the risk of slipping or stumbling at higher speeds.
- Shod horses should wear boots.
- If the horse is new to free schooling, introduce him to the arena in-hand, letting him loose only when he's calm. Walk before introducing trot and canter.
- Never frighten the horse – watch his eyes and ears to read his reaction. Use your body language: be passive to calm him and animated to increase speeds.
- Dictate the direction and speed as the herd leader would. If you are losing control, return to walk and begin again.
- Make frequent transitions and changes of direction.
- Don't overstress the horse. He should never be blowing hard or sweating excessively in the session.
- Poles and jumps can add interest, and encourage the horse to work over his back, but should never be a cause of stress. If he is reluctant to jump, there is probably a reason.
- Use your voice to encourage, paying attention to intonation. “Good” and “yes” used appropriately and frequently mean that silence becomes a reprimand and the horse will seek to please you.
- The length of your session will depend on the fitness and temperament of the individual and can last from 20 minutes up to an hour. Finish before the horse becomes disinterested or tired.
This is a short extract from a feature in the October issue of Horse, on sale from 17 September.
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