48 SIDELINES JUNE 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Ann S. Reilly, Ph.D.
I often write about keeping the rider focused. It occurred to me
that an article on focusing the horse’s attention was an important
topic. The two go hand in hand, as horse and rider are mirrors
for each other.
Coping with Unforeseen Distractions
This past week I competed at a show venue that was under
construction. There were numerous workers on the roof of
the indoor arena hammering and a crane was moving around
installing lights. It was a big disruption for my horse and me. He
has a very good brain; but we must remember horses have the
inherent tendency to become sidetracked by things they may fnd
frightening.
First Step in Coping – Focus on the Basics
The frst day I worked very hard at getting my horse to focus.
This meant doing very basic work in the schooling ring to ask and
encourage him to focus on me. This included getting him straight,
forward, on the bit and bending. He was good in the show ring.
Basics encourage the horse to focus on the rider.
The second day my horse was more focused on me when
I frst started warming up. Then I had some more unforeseen
distractions. When I went into the class, for the frst time in my
life my mind went blank. I could not remember the test. I asked
my trainer to read for me, so it took away that problem. My horse
entered the ring carrying me forward --- great progress as his
tendency is to suck back going in. He was focused and trying so
hard. Going around the test he suddenly focused on the road and
not on me. I maintained my concentration on the test, did not turn
my head to look at what he was trying to look at: another KEY to
maintaining a horse’s focus.
Any Horse Will Freak Out at Fire Trucks
For the canter departure, which he usually does amazingly well,
he stopped and froze, head up, eyes popping out of his head.
I looked over and there were two fre trucks slowly, loudly, with
brakes making noise, on the road next to the other side of the ring.
Well, at that moment I had a choice. This test was going
downhill fast. My choice was give in to the horse and the fre
trucks, or keep trying and try to make up points. I chose the latter.
He fnally started cantering and going around and my next choice
was to go for his bold medium canter to try to make up points,
or play it safe and show no change in the canter. I went for the
big bold canter, alongside the fre trucks, working as hard as I
could to keep him straight and bold. He did it and then working
as hard as I could to prevent the swap and get him back into the
collected canter he did swap and jump in the air. I got a bit angry
and channeled my emotions into the challenge. I realized I had to
regroup my horse and continued the thought of making up points.
I got through the rest of the test but I wondered what my trainers
were going to say????
Always Practice Riding to Win
I was concentrating so hard on refocusing my horse it did not
occur to me to lose my composure
and quit, my response was to
keep riding and trying to make up
points lost to the fre trucks. This
judge had no mercy for the horse
being scared by the fre trucks and
blamed it on me. Maybe she did
not notice the fre trucks?? And,
what horse, unless drugged,
wouldn’t freak out at fre trucks
moving alongside the show ring?
With huge smiles on their faces,
my trainers said, “We are so proud
of you for keeping your composure
and riding as hard as you could
and taking the chances of going
for the points, riding to win.” I was
really surprised. I thought I was going to get crucifed --- the judge
did that --LOL. My trainers saw the situation unfolding and said
when my horse saw the fre trucks they might have left the ring
and they are both excellent riders and competitors. Wow, did their
comments make me feel good, despite my disappointment that
my ride was interrupted by a fre truck parade.
I patted my horse all the way out of the ring. I was proud of
him for doing the normal horse response to fear --- but hanging in
there with me and not bolting or bucking but fnishing the test well.
After all, he is a horse. A wonderful spirit whom I love dearly, who
had never seen fre trucks before.
e
Sports Psychology
Keeping Your Horse Focused in a
Distraction Derby and Fire Truck Parade
Needy Nags
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