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Monday, January 02 2012 / Published in Weekly Feature

Richard Lamb: A Well-Balanced Horseman

Horses have taken Richard Lamb around the world.  His most recent adventure took place at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico where he coached the US Pentathletes:  Margaux Isaksen (individual women’s gold medal), Suzanne Stettinius, Dennis Bowsher and Sam Sacksen.  It started 20-some years ago when Richard taught riding in Pennsylvania.  One student, Mike Gostigian, had been to three Olympics in Pentathlon:  fencing, shooting, swimming, cross-country running and show jumping, which he wanted to improve.  “Through Mike I met some of the others and ended up going to San Antonio where the US Pentathlon was headquartered at the time,” said Richard.  “It was leading up to the Atlanta Olympic Games.  I worked with them there and volunteered at the Games.  I didn’t have any contact with them until this summer.”

The Pony Club Connection

That’s when his United States Pony Club background proved that what goes ‘round, eventually comes ‘round.  For two decades, Richard has been a National Examiner and designer of show jumping courses for various disciplines at the USPC championships.  He served on the Board of Governors for two terms and during his chair of the Show Jumping committee, assisted in developing the standards for upper level ratings.

Richard Lamb conducts one of many Pony Club course walks. Photo Courtesy of the USPC

Last summer at the Kentucky Horse Park during the National Pony Club Championships he crossed paths with someone he hadn’t seen in about 15 years: Rob Stull, executive director of Pentathlon.   “About a month before the Games Rob called and asked me if I wanted to coach the team in Guadalajara,” recalled Richard.  “I went to Colorado Springs to have a training session.  Two men, two women:  gold for the girls and seventh; the men were fourth and sixth.  I had never done anything like this before, and I was glad to experience going as a member of a team to represent the US.  Pentathlon took place at the beginning of the Games and I marched in the opening ceremonies.  The Games were huge and a whole lot of fun.”

Believe in the Basics

Richard’s teaching emphasizes the basics:  balance, rider position and self-carriage of horse and rider, not necessarily in that order.  He wants “riders to allow it to happen, not make it happen.”  In 2008 he earned the Level III rating to teach riding, training, competing and horse care through Intermediate, CIC**, and CCI** in the US Eventing Association’s Instructor Certification Program.  He isn’t a ‘bells & whistles” clinician and his approach – to improve the rider – might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he stays very busy on and off the horses.

“I’m not competing much because I travel so often,” said Richard.  “I have places where I’ve been teaching for years where I go four, five, six times a year, other places I go just once a year.  I ride horses for people:  young horses, foxhunters and some horses that don’t know what their job is yet – might be eventers, dressage or show jumpers.  I don’t own horses anymore because I travel so much.  I always can find horses to ride, especially for foxhunting, mostly with Whiskey Road Foxhounds.”

Richard Lamb stays busy, fielding calls even when out hunting. Photo by Cat Davey

A Lifetime of Horses

Richard’s lifelong involvement with horses began in early childhood in Vermont where he helped with his family’s horse farm and riding camp, keeping 80 horses, as well as their ski lodge.  The Lambs showed hunters and jumpers, evented and foxhunted, and the kids participated in Pony Club activities.

After college, Richard moved to Ireland from 1975-80, helping his father to run a guesthouse and riding center, taking advantage of every opportunity to ride jumpers, event horses and racehorses.  He spent two years working for Eric Horgan, Irish 3-day team, Olympic veteran and two-time winner of Punchestown.

Currently based in Aiken, Richard has more than 35 years of experience as a coach.  Since 2002 Richard has been chef d’Equipe or coach for the USPC team at the USEF National Pony Jumper Championships, harvesting two team bronze medals and an individual gold and individual silver in that time.

“The main theme is balance.  It’s all about balance for the horse and all about how the rider’s balance affects the horse,” said Richard.  “I focus on the rider, because horses already know the things we want them to do:  walk, trot, canter, flying change, passage, piaffe – horses turned out in a field do those movements.  As riders and trainers we have to learn how to stay in a balanced position that allows them to do that.  Otherwise, we end up using strength, but in the long run, strength is not effective.  When we as riders learn to re-balance ourselves, we fix the problems.”

As a course designer, his credits include USPC championships, the Foxhall Cup (GA) and Jackson Hole Horse Trials (WY).  Again, he emphasizes the basics for the particular level.  “Making a course tricky does not teach riders how to jump better, especially on the lower levels,” said Richard.  “For eventing, as you work your way through the levels, you start with a 20meter circle, then 15 meter circles, then flying changes.  I try to relate the show jumping courses to the requirements for the dressage.  As you get to the higher levels, Intermediate, two-star, three-star, you start to add some of the technical questions with the power questions – bigger jumps – because the level of training and experience can handle that.”

Richard’s mantras include the basics.  Breathe.  Carry your hands.  Look up.  Let it happen.  The bottom line is always balance.

-By Lauren Gianinni

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1 Comment to “ Richard Lamb: A Well-Balanced Horseman”

  1. Amarinthia says :
    December 6, 2012 at 10:15 am

    i love riding with Richard Lamb! i love the way he teaches:) i had a clinic with him last year around this time! i am in aiken county pony club so he came to jumping branch farm to give us a clinic:)

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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