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Wednesday, October 10 2018 / Published in General

Show Jumper Brian Walker Answers Your Questions

Brian Walker
Photo by Hervé Bonnaud, 1clicphoto.com

Brian Walker, a dual Canadian and American citizen, has trained, worked and ridden alongside the best in the world over the last 25 years. As a junior, Brian won the Maclay Medal Equitation Championship in 2001. Brian has made a name for himself by developing quality horses into successful competitors in both the hunter and jumper arenas, earning accolades for himself and his clients. Do you have a question you want Brian to answer? Send questions to editor@sidelinesnews.com.

I recently tried to do an open water jump with my horse, but he got scared and ever since has refused to go near the open water course. How can I get my horse to gain more confidence and be ready for the open water jump?

Open water can be a tedious jump for both horse and rider. Most of the time, the rider tends to be more afraid of the water than the horse. When a rider doesn’t want to really go to the other side, neither does the horse. On the occasion a horse jumps the water and has an accident, then the horse, justifiably, will have an excuse to not want to go.

First, the rider needs confidence jumping open water, so it’s best to practice on a horse that jumps it with ease, no matter how it’s ridden. A horse that needs confidence jumping open water needs a good ride and practice jumping smaller waters in different environments. I like to make a small water with the same setup as if it were a big water. You can gradually make the water larger, and with time and good training, it should become a non-issue. Keep in mind, a horse that’s shy on the water with a rider that is also shy isn’t typically a good combination when attempting a successful water jump.

My horse and I have been working on our Liverpool jumps without rails over the past few months, and we’ve basically mastered it. However, when we do the same jumps with rails, my horse’s back legs hit the rail and we don’t make it completely over the water. Do you have advice for practicing?

 A Liverpool is simply to change the horse’s perspective of a jump. If the horse tends to knock it down, it’s because they spooked at the Liverpool underneath it. Jumping it without rails might be good, just to get the horse accustomed to the Liverpool, but it’s unrealistic because you never have to jump one in the ring without poles over it. If your horse doesn’t jump it well, then more practice is in order. Start with just a small jump, then gradually make it higher. You can use a voice aid to encourage the horse to go forward; if the horse is spooky, you might also need use more leg at this jump. Repetition is the key, and with time, it should be like any normal jump.

 At competitions, my horse is well-behaved during the hack. However, when we have to line up in the center of the ring, I can’t get him to stand still, which sometimes has a negative impact on our results. How can I get him to stand still at the end of a class? 

 Horses can be agitated at the end of the hack. But with some smart horsemanship, you could use this to your advantage to say, “remember me.” Take your time getting to the line to avoid having to stand in line for longer than you really need to. Once they start calling the results, you can let your horse walk a small circle. Figure out where your horse is most comfortable. Maybe it’s best to be on the end closer to the in-gate, or be on the opposite end, or with horses on either side. I like to be on the ends with a horse that doesn’t like to stand. Don’t make a big deal about it and just let them keep moving. If your horse is a good enough mover, it won’t matter.

 Whenever I’ve practiced jumping, I’ve always ridden with a horse that isn’t my own. I’d like to buy my own horse to compete with, but I am unsure as to whether to give more consideration to the breed or to the age. What would you suggest?

If you are in the market to buy a horse, let your trainer find the right one for you. Green riders should not be buying green horses; in this case, the older the better. Breed should have no relevance or influence on your purchase decision. A good horse is a good horse and the right match is the right match, no matter what breed or color it is. A horse with experience can teach a new rider more than one would think.

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Tagged under: brian walker, q&a, show jumping

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Sneak peep into the rest of October! 👀🍂 As Sneak peep into the rest of October! 👀🍂

As always thank you to out photographers for the amazing pics!
📸Portraits by
Kirsten Hannah
Julia Dags
Adrienne Morella
Melissa Fuller
Lindsey Long
Sara Farrell
Get your entries in for the TerraNova Dressage II Get your entries in for the TerraNova Dressage II CDI W & USEF National Level 5 dressage competition, hosted October 19-22, 2023 at TerraNova Equestrian Center in beautiful Myakka City, Florida. Conveniently located near Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota, TerraNova Equestrian Center is Florida’s premier equestrian destination.

Discover TerraNova’s peaceful showgrounds and luxury facilities for a world-class competition experience. TerraNova Dressage II is managed by Thomas Baur and Monica Fitzgerald and has quickly become a favorite venue amongst dressage competitors. 
National Judges:
Cindi Wylie
Anne Cizadlo

CDI Judges:
William Warren (4* / USA)
Elke Ebert (5* / GER)
Agniezka Majewska (4* / POL)
Debbie Rodrigurz (3* / USA)
Christof Umbach (5* / LUX)

View full prize list: https://www.terranovaequestrian.com/terranova-dressage-ii-cdi4 Enter CDI: https://equestrian-hub.com/public/show/165165 Enter USEF: https://equestrian-hub.com/public/show/184795 Closing date: October 12th – enter now!

#showterranova
HELLO OCTOBER!!! Kicking off the month with Intern HELLO OCTOBER!!! Kicking off the month with International-level dressage rider Amelia Newcomb. Who is committed to making dressage accessible to anyone who wants to learn and improve in the sport. With a mantra of “Dressage for All,” Amelia, her husband, Germán Schneider, and the rest of her team at Amelia Newcomb Dressage believe that anyone and everyone can learn to love their ride. 
With over 100,000 YouTube subscribers around the globe, Amelia is able to share her joy and 
enthusiasm for the sport with more equestrians than she ever dreamed of through her online training 
platform. Amelia’s curriculum breaks riding down into a simple, proven system that anyone can follow 
and get results, regardless of age, discipline or location.“My goal is to make good dressage training accessible to everyone who is interested in learning. One way I do that is by producing quality videos to educate and encourage dressage students along their dressage journey,” Amelia said. “The transformations that my students get are insane and my business is changing the entire sport of dressage and the way people learn to ride.”
While Amelia is a talented USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist today, she knows the struggles 
associated with trying to make your way in the sport without abundant educational resources. “I grew up in Colorado, where there weren’t that many dressage resources available. I was so hungry for knowledge, I would go to big shows just to watch the big-named trainers work,” Amelia said. “That’s why, when given the opportunity to share what I’ve learned along the way, I decided to go for it and start my YouTube channel.” 
➡️Catch the full story at the link in our bio!! 
⬇️For more information, visit amelianewcombdressage.com and on Instagram 
amelicanewcombdressage

📸Photos by Lindsey Long, lindseylong.com
#Sidelines #sidelines2023 #sidelinesmagazine #magazine #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople
The WPCSA American National Welsh Pony and Cob Sho The WPCSA American National Welsh Pony and Cob Show is happening now! Don’t miss another second by streaming it live! 🐴

📹👀HOW TO VIEW THE LIVE STREAM
The WPCSA will again be streaming footage live from the ring at the American National Show next week. You will need two free passes to get to the feed this year.

1️⃣�The first is a USEF fan membership which you can get through this site:
Join or Renew | US Equestrian (usef.org)

2️⃣ Once you become a fan member, you will need to log in to the USEF Network on ClipMyHorse. A video demonstrating how to do this can be found here:
Existing USEF Fan - Watch the USEF Network - YouTube 

📸Pictured- Grand Champion Section B under UK judge. 
Owner-Barbara Chappell
Handler-Paul Maye /Maye Show Ponies Fairfield, VA
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