WIT 2016: The Adequan/USDF FEI Level Traners Conference

Jessica Jo Tate and Kynynmont Gunsmoke's Gideon

Every season, the WIT participants volunteer at the USDF FEI Level Trainer’s Conference. The FEI Level Trainer’s Conference takes place in Loxahatchee, Florida every January. A group of instructors from across the country congregate to train and watch lessons. This year, we had the privilege to watch this year’s group of riders. There were many good horses and riders. This year, the conference was run by Johann Hinnemann. Johann is a top German dressage trainer.

Johann Hinnemann had a common theme of stressing the importance of suppleness and thoroughness in every lesson. He also worked on the quality of the half pass with all of the riders. When referring to the half pass zig-zags, Johann said “the change of bend is what you really need to practice, you can’t have a good half-pass without good preparation.” In addition, he focused on the placement of the tempi changes.  For example, if you are doing a line of four tempis, your third change should be over X.

Ayden Uhlir and Sjapoer

Finally, it was interesting how Johann never referred to anything as a movement. He referred to it as an exercise. I liked his teaching style very much. Johann focused more on the training aspect rather than the test riding aspect. Each exercise had a purpose. For example, shoulder-in is a straightening and balancing exercise. He also worked more on improving the gate. He said “always prepare the basic gate before moving onto the more difficult exercises in that gate.”

Here are some other notes from the clinic:

• A good extended trot should push more at the end then it did in the beginning.
• The only way to fix a change that is late behind is to develop the canter with more engagement in the hind legs.
• Do not pick a fight with a stallion.
• The placement of the changes in a sequence is very important.
• The horse must stay attentive and awake in the walk.
• Suppleness is the key to success (physical and mental).
• Suppleness plus obedience will equal submission.
• A horse is straight if it is following the line it’s on.
• To keep the haunches from leading in the half pass, start the half pass on a diagonal line for a step then add the haunches.
• You should be able to do any downward or upward transition straight on the centerline.
• You want to feel like you are doing your half pass in a medium trot. Keep the collection with the same amount the expression.
• Try riding a half pass without bend to improve forward crossing. The next step is to slowly add the bend back.
• Use forward and back transitions within the gate to increase responsiveness to the aids, activity in the hind legs, and expression in the front.
• Ride without stirrups for  fifteen minutes a day. Include posting.
• Dropping your stirrups can sometime naturally fix the rider's position.
• Suppleness and relaxation bring the horse to a state of letting-go-ness.
• Continuing to breath is essential in any discipline of our sport.
• The number/sequence is not what is important in changes. It is the absolute control of the center in between the changes.
• Use the whip on the shoulders to give the horse a forward desire, instead of more of a punishment on the hind end creating a rhythm mistake.   

Mica Mabragana and Tyara

WIT 2016: A Horse Box

Free show sheen keeps the horses extra shiny.

We had a lecture from the CEO of The Horse Box. The Horse Box is an equestrian subscription box service. Alex De Armas started this business a few years ago when subscription boxes were just taking off. She originally worked in public relations. This work has helped her promote her business on social media. Alex gets many requests for sponsorship on a daily basis. She talked to us about the do’s and don’t of sponsorship.

A Horse Box is an equine subscription program that sends you a monthly assortment of new products and some old favorites. The product caters to the horse and rider’s daily needs. This product is great for the busy everyday equestrian, because you can sample products and see how they work without having to buy a huge amount. A Horse Box also benefits businesses. The Horse Box supports new brands especially, by putting their products out there. This increases sales and brings in more long term customers. This is a great example of turning your passion for horses into a thriving successful business. I highly encourage you to make a subscription to help support the fellow equestrian community.

Here are some main points from the lecture:

• Writing blogs are a good selling point.
• When asking a company for sponsorship, make sure that they make products you love.
• When writing sponsorship requests or letters triple check spelling and grammar.
• When requesting for sponsorship don’t put together a “Wish list”.
• List your sponsors on your webpage or athlete/business Facebook page.
• Try not to send sponsorship requests via social media.
• Don’t copy and paste your pitches.
• Sell yourself.
• Tag the company, and hashtag the photos when representing the company.
  

Koa found a new favorite treat!

In addition to a wonderful lecture, Alex De Armas gave us all a free Horse Box! The box was filled with free samples of horse care products and many of horse treats. A few days later, Alex also gave us some of her left over stock. We received multiple bags of supplements, bottles of showsheen and Lasersheen products, more horse treats, shampoo, and much more. Some of the brand companies included in the box were Lasersheen, Absorbine, Silverquine, Vet Set, Cow Girl’s Kitchen, and Omega Fields. Each WITee had to do a write-up on a product that we received and especially liked. I wrote the following review on my assigned product, Charleigh’s Horse Cookies.

“My horse loves treats. He always likes to lick my hands after he has eaten one. One day, he was very good in training so I wanted to feed him an extra special treat. I leaned towards the Charleigh's Cookies because they are certified organic. I knew what all of the ingredients were. I fed the treats to my horse and he loved them! He was licking my hands nonstop for almost fifteen minutes after I gave him the treat. You could just tell that  he liked them more than the simple carrots that I normally feed him. Thank you to the Horse Box for giving me a sample to try out!! I will definitely be buying more from this source.”