I was asked by someone Why is a barrel racer having a clinic with a dressage trainer on Biomechanics? My response, How could I not. Like all dance ballet is the foundation, learning how to isolate muscle groups to achieve certain movements properly. To build the body in a well- balanced fashion to NOT cause injury, basically it creates strength, balance and power. It all takes time. All of my horses that I compete and train have a very basic core of dressage. In addition, if you come by you may see poles on the ground in my indoor arena. Gymnastics and riding off weight not hands is equally as important for my sport. If I go threw a set of poles and I sit at the end of the line my horse needs to stop on their hind end.. Later in training it will carry over to the barrel pattern. My Tucker horse (some may remember) took me over a year to build his top line and to get him to have self-carriage. For those that have walked into my barn I do not have gadgets to force them into a frame. I have tried them a few times and it just gets in the way with no benefit... Woodie who I trained and jockey all last year and took to the NBHA Worlds, I was always working with him on balance and building his top line. He has wonderful self-carriage with little help to run the barrel pattern. I work on my balance as a rider as much as I do with the horses I ride. If I’m not balanced neither are they. In my sport these horses have to accelerate quickly, keep moving forward around a barrel coming from behind- picking shoulders up- bend at the ribs- come around the barrel - square the hips push -straighten back out to run to the next barrel. All of this must happen with little help from the rider. Barrel racers do not have time to handle the horse in a run our hands a forward and should move very minimal on a turn and we in most instances are kicking them forward during the run. These horses have to be able to understand how to use their bodies as efficiently as possible to minimize injury have the speed needed to run with balance.. How could I not have a clinic on Biomechanics and riding for soundness??? This for all styles- all disciplines- all ages from the beginner to advance ... What is it you want from yourself and horses, what is your plan to attain your goals?
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 10:37:32 +0000
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