Ladies,

Spring is coming and so is the Spring & Summer Show seasons so it’s time to get your horses, as well as yourselves in tip-top SHAPE. If you want your horse to perform at the top of their peek, then it’s your job to help get them in the condition. As riders you need to build your horse’s stamina, as well as developing your own. This log is only a means of writing down what you and your horse have been working on between lessons and shows. It is your responsibility to follow through after your lessons, work on what Lulu has told you and improve before the next lesson. Practice makes perfect and this will only help you to achieve your goals, improve your performance at shows and your riding ability overall.

Lulu will review your logs during your lessons to be sure you’re doing your homework. You will be expected to perform some, if not all, of the exercises noted below. Lulu designed this program to help everyone improve on some of the basics. She wants everyone to focus on them so that we can excel at our shows. If you have any questions, you can ask Shannon, Lindsay or Lulu.

Have a good ride

Remember: " Just do it - one more time"

Examples of exercises

• Transitions, Transitions Transitions: walk – canter, canter – halt, trot – canter

(The more transition work you do the better your horse will respond. Just be sure you’re doing it correct by stretching tall with your seat in the saddle and your heels down, looking up)

• Hill work – walking with a long rein and his head down helps to stretch the neck and back.

(Remember: not just up and down the hills but working a circle on the slant and remember to build up slowly on height/time)

• NO stirrup work – this is a must to improve your balance and quiet your lower leg

(You must strengthen your lower leg – to start you can tie your stirrups to the girth – if you don’t know how, ask)

• Pole work – not jumping, but trot poles – lots and lots

(Not just ordinary trot poles – jazz it up, move them around, canter over a single pole on the ground and concentrate on staying up in two point, balancing all the way )

• Build up your horses endurance, along with yours –

(Remember you need to breathe, let your horse gallop down the driveway or on the straightaway in the ring, settling back in the corners, only to open up again down the next long side.

• Two-point work and sitting trot –

(Be sure that you look up, heels down, keeping your upper body balanced with your shoulders open. Don’t just lean forward on your knuckles against his neck. When sitting the trot, be aware of where your lower leg is and be sure your heels are down.)

• Most important - Don’t forget to exercise your body!!!

(Walk with good posture, holding your stomach in, chest out and shoulders back. Hold your head high and lift your chin. What you do on the ground effects what you do in the saddle.

~ Stand on the edge of a step on the ball of your foot letting your heel hang over the edge. Then drop the weight in your heels, flexing your ankles.

~ Challenge yourself, increase your stamina by walking, running or even riding a bike….and this summer – swim.