Equine Affaire 2009 Clinician Bruce Davidson
American Eventing Rider Teaches About Producing Event Horses
Nov 16, 2009
The annual Equine Affaire, held at the Eastern States Exposition (Big E fairgrounds) in West Springfield, Massachusetts, pulled in thronging crowds of horse owners and lovers throughout New England and New York. Bruce Davidson, a featured clinician, gave two presentations in the Coliseum on training event horses. His topics were “How to Produce an Event Horse: Bringing Along a Young Eventing Prospect” and “How to Produce an Event Horse: Training for the Upper Levels.” He proved to be quite knowledgeable and the results were evident in the horses used for his clinic. He added his own style to teaching – he was straightforward, had a sense of humor, and was a touch sarcastic!
His clinic “Training for the Upper Levels” featured two riders; one's horse was a bit sluggish and unresponsive, the other a bit hot – but both horses were attentive and looking great by the end of the lesson.
Warm-up for Jumping
Davidson explained why he used a lot of “dressage stuff” in his warm up, such as the leg-yield, shoulder-in, half-pass and turn on the haunches. He said that the lateral work made a horse “obedient, submissive, and brave on the cross-country course.” The horse becomes used to listening to the rider and that carries over to competition time.
Davidson warmed up the riders by having them “walk in place,” shortening the walk to a march and therefore improving collection. He wanted the horses to have suspension in their hind legs at the trot, showing some elevation. He had them leg-yield across the diagonal to change direction at the trot, then practice transitions and responsiveness by walking two steps and then trotting on. The riders practiced haunches-in at the sitting trot, then half-pass across the diagonal to change direction. He encouraged them to school the half-pass with haunches leading.
On a circle, the riders cantered, walked two steps, and cantered on. They cantered using the whole ring, then changed direction without changing lead. Then they performed a flying change of lead, and resumed the 20 meter circle. The last warm-up exercise had them cantering in shoulder-in. They leg-yielded in to X down the long side, then leg-yielded back out. They then walked on a loose rein, and Davidson said this relaxed walk should not be quick.
Cavaletti Exercise
There were four cavaletti set up, six feet apart. Davidson had the riders jump this grid at the canter, with no crest release over them. The riders were expected to sit down in the saddle through the cavaletti and not give forward with their hands. The horses were expected to stay on the bit and move their feet much more rapidly. He explained that the key to success in this exercise was lots of half-halts before the grid and while in it. One of the horses knocked every one of the cavaletti over on his first trip through, while the other was a bit hollow-backed. By the last trip through, both horses were jumping cleanly and with good form. Davidson explained that a crest release would actually make the horse chip in while jumping the grid, and by keeping it on the bit, the horse would have to use his feet and body better.
Oxer Exercise
Four oxers were set up, with one stride in between each. The riders were told that straightness comes from their legs, not the bridle. They were also not supposed to pick up much contact between the fences, since the horses must learn to balance themselves. He told them to push as close to the fence as possible before take-off, and the horse will learn to move his feet more quickly. He also advised to “ride to the top of each fence, not just to take-off.”
Oxer and Fence Exercise
An oxer and one jump were set up, with approximately four strides between each. The riders practiced the line with four strides, then by adding a fifth. Davidson remarked that the quality of the canter decreased once the horses had to put five strides in between the jumps. He insisted that the riders must be able to touch the horse's face while in the line. He recommended landing from the second jump in shoulder-in, then leg-yielding out to the rail before turning.
The improvement in the two horses and riders was obvious to everyone watching the clinic. Davidson’s straightforward, no-nonsense approach was excellent to watch, and the results of his teaching were positive and easy to see.
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