National Capital Horse Trials Association

Our Draw is now available for downloading:  March 2014 Draw

Please take the time to read the notes properly.

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

NCHTA Committee.

It’s all go, go, go for the NCHTA committee and our wonderful volunteers.  Here are some snaps from the recent “flag-makeover” working bee. Thanks so much to those who came to lend a hand!   We a having another working bee on the long weekend (8^th – 10^th March).  Please come along and help us prepare for the event.  Let us know if you can make it (for catering).

We are still desperately looking for jump judges for the 16^th of March – please tell your friends who may be able to donate some time.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.  Don’t forget that entries close tonight!!!

Hi Everyone,

Before we plunge any further into event mode in the lead-up to our CNC, we wanted to give you a quick recap of the recent Lucinda Green clinic. Below is a review provided by NCHTA Committee Member and dedicated Volunteer Coordinator, Felicity Moran…..

Lucinda Green, six times Badminton winner – on six different horses – and a former World Eventing Champion, is an eventing legend. She is also an excellent teacher. Her Safe Way eventing course is a must-do for up and coming eventers competing confidently at intro or above.

Lucinda’s philosophy is based on the rider allowing a horse to learn to think for himself in tackling cross-country obstacles, as this will ultimately make him a safer ride.  Her emphasis is on forming a partnership – with the rider the senior partner, to be sure – rather than a relationship based on domination by the rider which can lead to the horse relying on the rider for direction in the face of incipient problems offered by ‘technical’ xc obstacles: – fine when the rider is in balance and ready to direct, but what if you’ve had a disastrous A element and you’re (hopefully temporarily) something of a wayward passenger as Element B rushes towards (or past) you?

Exercises in the first day used SJ equipment and footing to create open ‘galloping’ fences interspersed with small combinations. The combinations included ‘skinnies’ with random striding and ‘impossible’ angles to subsequent combination elements, to illustrate the extraordinarily demanding technical questions posed by today’s xc courses.  The focus was on getting horse and rider to adjust between the fence types and to take the initiative in getting themselves over obstacles however they were placed.

Despite my misgivings, the angles proved not to be impossible when ridden properly, but they were very tough.

Lucinda’s tenets:

1. The rider must use a defensive position jumping xc; better to look untidy but clear the obstacle in sufficient balance to ride for the next one; and anyway, being too far forward, apart from being dangerous for the rider, inhibits the horse’s ability to jump.
2. The horse needs to see the fence to assess distance and lock on to it, and he can only see at a reasonable distance through the lower half of his eyes, so his head carriage needs to allow this on the approach. He cannot see forward if he is on the bit, nor if his head is too high.
3. The horse’s near vision is through the upper half of his eyes – which is why he’ll drop his head at the last moment to look into that ditch or the water. In this instance, rider (in glued-in defensive seat, not half-way up horse’s neck, of course) may need to slip the reins before the obstacle, then ‘aeroplane’  the arms to resume contact while pushing him vigorously over the fence. Aeroplaning the arms is quicker than gathering the reins, and the rider’s response must be instantaneous to maintain forward momentum and get the horse over/ into the ‘looky’ obstacle. (Lucinda attributed this tip to observation of Andrew Nicholson.)
4. Never re-present a horse to a small fence. Make discomfort the consequence of his refusal (immediate tap with whip) and rein back if necessary in order to then provide enough impulsion to jump the fence.
5. Circling prior to jumping is not necessarily helpful! (see point two).
6. Straight-line halt on completion of each exercise. Lucinda regards this as the final and essential obstacle in an exercise, teaching the horse to listen and to stay straight for the next jumping exercise.

If NCHTA can persuade Lucinda to return in future years – on a weekend would suit most NCHTA members – it is worth saving up for. It may be one of the toughest clinics you’ll do, but it will enrich your xc training and riding methods and will provide helpful pointers on handling and educating your horse in general.

Hi everyone! Please come down to equestrian park this weekend for the easiest working bee ever! We are giving our xc flags a makeover. Help us repaint them in the shade whilst listening to some good tunes 🙂 There is no hard physical labour required. Just bring yourself! Both Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 1pm! Please let us know if you can make it by replying to the Facebook post or emailing Lindsey at canberraht@gmail.com. We really appreciate your help!

There are still 5 places left in the clinic with Lucinda.  If you wish to have a lesson in a group that appears full on nominate, let Kate know and we will work around it for you.
Also, it is with regret that we are in the situation of having to cancel lessons with Andrew McLean for a couple of reasons. Those who have entered have been sent an email already regarding this. He is coming to Canberra in April, so there is still an opportunity to learn from such a talented horseman.

The clinic to be held on the 13 and 14 of February will be open for entries tomorrow on http://www.nominate.com.au/equest/nominate.asp

The 2014 Safe Way Cross Country Clinic by Lucinda Green ACT clinic at Equestrian Park, Cotter Road, Canberra.

Lucinda is one of the greatest cross country riders the world has seen, with a record 6 wins at Badminton CCI4* on 6 different horses, 2 World Championship gold medals, and 4 gold medals and 2 silver medals at European championships! Lucinda Green’s ‘Cross Country the Safe Way’ clinics aim to give riders a refresher and concentrate on safe riding techniques. These clinics are designed to develop mutual confidence between horse and rider and encourage the horse to think for himself. Day one focuses on cross-country technique using mainly skinnies and arrowheads in an arena. Day two is out on the cross-country course. The clinic is limited to 20 spaces and will be on a “first in- first served” basis. All those who miss a place will be placed on a waiting list and if unsuccessful in gaining a space you will receive a full refund. Refunds for scratchings will be processed once the space is filled. Clinic fee is $370. Don’t miss your chance to secure your space in the 2014 clinic. All horse and rider combinations must be confidently jumping a minimum of 80cm. As per EA rules an approved helmet and back protector must be worn. Please bring a spare bridle, reins and girth. Lucinda also requests that you bring a jumping whip, spurs, martingale and any bits and/ or nosebands that you may require. Additional costs if requested: Yard: $15 for the two days

Andrew McLean: Winner of the highest Australian Science award, the Eureka Prize for Science, Andrew McLean developed and manages the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, the most internationally recognised horse training and behaviour modification centre in Australia.

Andrew McLean holds a PhD in equine cognition and learning, has been an accredited horse riding coach for over 30 years and has written 5 books (including an International Best Seller) and authored 35 peer-reviewed journal articles. Andrew has lectured at The University of Tasmania for 11 years in animal behaviour, cell biology, genetics, anatomy, ecology and Tasmanian fauna. In 1977 he wrote 5 distance-education books on cell biology and genetics. A past winner of the Advanced section of the famous Gawler Three-Day-Event, he has also represented Australia in Eventing, been short-listed for World Championships and competed at State and National events in FEI level dressage and eventing. Andrew has show-jumped to Grand Prix level and held a Racehorse owner-trainer’s licence and raced bareback in Australia and New Zealand in the 1970 and 80’s.

In great demand as a trainer, coach and speaker, Andrew currently conducts lecture demonstrations at Universities and conferences around the world. He teaches throughout Australia, Europe, South Africa, USA, Canada and New Zealand. Andrew continues to coach riders and National Federations on the optimal use of learning theory for improved welfare of the trained horse as well as improved performance.

Thanks again to all our hardworking volunteers who worked so hard in the build up and running of the event over the weekend.  Results can be found on nominate and excellent photos will be up on our sponsors Mainevent photography soon and Equiscape website now.