Equitation: The Right Way!
The Right Mount, The Right Look, The Right Ribbon

By Nicole Carswell
©Voice, August 2005

I sat there on the edge of my chair hanging on every word. I had read every book and studied every story. It was the meeting of a lifetime and I intended to make the most of the experience. With 80% of her vision gone, she was still sharp as a tack. Helen Crabtree may have been well past her prime, but the knowledge she emanated stood ageless. Because she missed the barn environment, she had designed her office to resemble a barn with wood, leather, and memorabilia from her training and teaching years. We went in, sat down, and one of the most memorable experiences of my life began…

I had come to Mrs. Crabtree that afternoon for advice and a quote for my book. I had intended to leave the book with her in hopes she could read it, but as her eye sight was almost gone, I instead read for her the parts of the book she was the most concerned about. She wanted to make sure I understood the important aspects of a good seat and what makes a good rider. Her knowledge was as sharp and concise. She sat there and gave me a lesson in what a good instructor looks for and what should matter most. It was quite an experience.

I realized that day that an instructor with that much experience and knowledge was a national treasure. How many questions she could answer, the problem solving she had learned, the ability to teach a rider the art of truly mastering a horse. It was that afternoon that I realized how much our industry needed experienced instructors to step forward and provide an avenue of education within our breed.

Mrs. Crabtree’s most memorable experiences dated back to the early years when the Tennessee Walking Horse was a recognized breed within the American Horse Show Association (now known as the US Equestrian Federation). In those days, our equitation program followed the rules and guidelines set forth by that organization. Our breed followed the same path as that of the American Saddlebred, Morgan, and other gaited type breeds. Many shows were composed of multiple breed classes, and as a result of this, our equitation program was more in focus and aligned with the other breed programs. We were able to be more closely aligned to instructors like Helen Crabtree.

When the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry severed that union in 1971, it became its own manager of the equitation division. For many years the equitation division held its own, operating on the previously set rules. However, as the shift away from pattern work and toward rail work began, the equitation division began to falter. Even though there were still some great riders being developed, the entries were fewer and the equitation division was heading for an all time low. It was time to put more emphasis back into the equitation division and bring a focus on horsemanship back to the fore-front.
In 2003 it all started to turn around.

2003 brought many great new ideas for the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry. TWHBEA^SM announced the new Academy Program and the Certified Riding Instructors Program. These new programs have not only given hard working riding instructors an avenue to locate and communicate with each other, but have provided a basis for consistent curriculum within the instruction ranks, and have provided a place where EVERYONE can get involved with this great horse. Without a doubt, these new programs will become the driving forces behind education and breed growth in the future.

With these new programs not only in place, but thriving, it became apparent the Equitation Division needed some attention. In 2005, new rules were adapted that brought the Equitation Division to a level where horsemanship was again the focus, and rider development could occur within the show ring. This division would now be functioning on the same level that many other breeds currently participate and our riders would have tools by which to measure their progress and to challenge them. With the rider challenges, would come new challenges for the instructors as well, such as learning to teach the finer points of true horsemanship from a training standpoint. Riding lessons are now filled with learning to perfect the canter, bending and positioning the horse with the rider’s body, and a true ring awareness they may not have previously had. The new rules have created a harder working, more challenging, and certainly more rewarding environment for both instructor and student.

As I sat there that afternoon soaking up every word Mrs. Crabtree said, I realized we had a lot in common. Of course she was the seasoned veteran and I was still young and wet behind the ears, but the same desire was there: The desire to not settle for teaching riders to be adequate, but to direct them on the path to being “great” riders. She had accomplished those goals in her lifetime, for me it was a career goal.

So how do you tell a good rider from a GREAT one? That afternoon Mrs. Crabtree said it best. “A good rider is able to make instant corrections in their horses performance, but a great rider controls everything the horse does and anticipates and avoids mistakes.” Those are words to teach by, and I believe I have had those words hanging in my barn since the day she said them. It is important for all of us to realize the necessity of good teaching and the importance of discipline within the riders in our industry. When I refer to riders, I do not mean Equitation riders’ only, but all professional, amateur, and youth riders everywhere.

Now lets discuss the main points on which every rider should focus when striving for “great” horse and rider team status.

1) Correct Knowledge of Form and Application of Aids
It is important to realize that equitation is a contact sport. It means getting your body in the right place and applying it accordingly to gain maximum performance. One guideline universal to all seats is the perpendicular line through the ear, shoulder, hip, and heel. When a rider’s body deviates from this line, the rider will have to compensate with another part of his body. This weakens the aids in several areas. As a rider strives to meet the line with heels down and foot flat on the stirrup iron, a strength and balance is achieved that locks the rider into a strong, balanced position. (I will go into more detail about form to function in future articles) With all this said, it is only a strong seat if it is applied. Every rider should strive to learn to apply the aids of legs, seat, hands, body weight, and mind. Maneuvering the horse through pattern work makes application of the aids more understandable and reinforces why the rider should learn them.

2) Mental Drive and Determination
If a rider is confident and determined, there are no unattainable goals. Confidence is the “virtue” of which champions are made. When a rider is mentally free to navigate the ring, constantly work at improving the horse, and extract maximum performance both on and off the rail, the rider is well on his way to the pinnacle of “equitation.” This rider is not afraid of hard work and has produced many wet saddle pads along the way.

3) Suitable Mount
The right horse is very important. Horses should be matched to their riders in personality, gameness, talent, and stature. Color does affect the look of the team, therefore mottled or splotchy hair coats are not regularly seen in the equitation division, although they can be popular in other divisions.

4) The Right “Look”
The right color combination of suit – rider – horse can be a powerful factor in the results in the show ring. Green riders should choose darker colors such as navy, black, and dark brown because they are not steady with their horse yet. More accomplished riders can wear anything they want because they are more in tune with their horse and more discreet aids are being applied. Remember that light colors are very unforgiving and darker colors camouflage well. When you get past the basic suit color, be bold with colorful vests, shirts, and ties. Live a little!

5) Goal Setting
Every rider should set attainable goals. Never set yourself up for failure. Set goals that are realistic for your experience level. When you attain them, you can always set others!

6) Spirit
When a horse and rider team hit the ring they need to show spirit and drive. A well-schooled rider exudes confidence, is exhibiting ring awareness, and has an energy that says, “Look At Me!” This persona is what many equitation riders gain with experience and others with success.

7) “Feel”
Finally, the one element that must be learned is "feel." There is no set number of lessons one must take, for everyone is different. Each rider matures in his own time. Learning “Feel” is to read the horses emotions, body language, and thought processes. To have the feel for a horse is to know the horse completely. Only when a rider spends a lot of time in the saddle does he get to this point, but when it occurs it is noticeable to judges, spectators, and instructors alike. It is what everyone strives for whether they know it or not.

As the National Celebration spins into motion, I encourage you to strive for your personal best. Work hard toward your goals and remain focused on your dreams. I encourage you to go and watch the Equitation Division this year for it is the epitome of what learning to ride well is all about. Remember, the Equitation Division is on the rise. Lets get behind it, celebrate it, and show our support for the riders who have chosen to make becoming a “Great” rider their aspiring goal.

In the words of the great Helen Crabtree, “Equitation properly used is a learning process. Equitation is not an end in itself, but a means to an end.”

Think about that….