Boot Camp Exercises Week Two with AQHA Judge Stephanie Lynn

This week boot camp riders continue to build strength and control through better positioning. At this point you are still not stringing together moves for patterns, you are simply building strong muscles that maintain the correct position throughout your ride. Perfecting your position enables you to harmonize your ride. First things first, build a better ride through strength and correctness.

Showmanship Week Two: Transitions

Days 1-3: Set up three cones anywhere around the arena. Move from one cone to the next using the cones to build anticipation. The anticipation encourages the behavior you desire from your body language. Don’t worry you will take the cones away and the cone anticipation later. For now to build consistency, use cones.

ADVERTISEMENT

1. Starting at cone 1 walk to cone 2 trot to cone 3 walk to cone 1
2. Walk-stop/no set-up-walk
3. Trot-walk-trot
4. Trot-hesitate-walk-trot
5. Trot-stop and set up-trot
6. Walk-stop and set up-walk

Repeat this exercise every day for three days. Use the same technique every day. You want your horse to identify your cues with an undetectable sense of understanding. On day four remove all of the cones or work between the cones if your horse became too reliant on the cones. School any delayed transitions.

1. Walk-stop and set up for 30 seconds-walk
2. Trot-stop and set up for 30 seconds-trot
3. Walk-stop and set up-trot
4. Trot-stop and set up for 30 seconds-walk

Days 5 & 6:

ADVERTISEMENT

1. Walk-trot-stop, set up-360-walk
2. Trot-stop and set up-360-trot
3. Trot-stop and set up-back-walk
4. Walk-stop and set up for 30 seconds-back-stop and set up
5. Trot-stop and set up for 30 seconds-back-stop and set up-trot

Build on the above but stick the drills – no pattern work yet…

Horsemanship Week Two: More Position Perfecting

This week you will build on the exercises from last week. You will continue to alternate between riding with and without your stirrups also alternating between a forward, standing, position and being seated.

Horsemanship Week Two

ADVERTISEMENT

1. Begin at a jog without stirrups: 5 min alternating directions
2. Ride 5 strides at seated jog and 5 strides in forward position without stirrups: 2.5 min
3. Return to seated jog, pick up stirrups. Walk in forward position: 1/2 lap
4. Maintain forward position and jog making a small, 20′, circle on each side of the arena. Repeat in the opposite direction keeping your seat out of the saddle.
5. Lope and sit down then drop your stirrups. Make a large 60′ circle on one end of the arena. Keeping the outer edge of the large circle, reduce the circle to a 25′ circle then return to the large circle: 5 min
6. Walk and rest legs then repeat the above in the opposite direction: 5 min
7. Walk and rest: 1 lap
8. Return to forward position then jog. Jog a small circle then lope a 60′ circle, draw down to a 25′ circle, return to the 60′ circle then return to a jog maintaining the 60′ circle.
9. Repeat in opposite direction.
10. From a seated position with stirrups, jog through center of arena and pick up left lead. Lope a circle, 60′, to the left, drop stirrups repeat, pick up stirrups, draw circle down to a 25-30′ circle, drop stirrups, repeat small circle then return to large circle, walk.
11. Repeat in opposite direction.
12. Walk on a long rein with legs hanging loose. Work is complete

Alternate between the exercises above and below for one week. Take a day off somewhere during the week. You may need to put in an easy ride one day as well. Do what you can to work your muscles and develop proper form. Muscle memory will kick in keeping you in tip top shape with the ability to maintain good position without thinking about it.

1. Begin at jog in forward position: 1 lap each direction
2. Small circle off one side of arena then lope making a large circle on one end still in forward position.
3. Sit, drop stirrups and reduce circle size to 25-30′.
4. Without stirrups, return to a large circle, ride through center line of arena and change directions and leads through a jog. Jog for at least three horse lengths before picking up the opposite lead and making a large 60′ circle in the opposite direction.
5. Draw circle down to small circle. Close before returning to a large circle then change leads again keeping horse straight through the center and repeat in the opposite direction: 2 repetitions each direction.
6. Return to rail and walk: 1 lap
7. Jog on rail in forward position: 1/2 lap. Seated jog: 1/2 lap
8. Lope on rail in forward position: 1/2 lap. Lope seated: 1/2 lap
9. Walk on a long rein, workout complete.

Follow this routine making subtractions and additions as needed to keep it fresh.

Week two Equitation builds on week one and you continue to develop stronger legs and an improved position. This is key to becoming connected to your horse. Strong position, strong rider.

Equitation Week Two

1. Warm up at sitting trot without stirrups for 5 minutes alternating directions.
2. Alternate between sitting for 5 strides and rising for 5 strides: 5 min
3. Pick up irons and trot in two point position 1 lap.
4. Rising trot: 1 lap
5. Walk/rest: 1/2 lap
6. Jumps with irons: sit trot 5 strides, 10 steps, rising trot 5 strides, two point 5 strides, repeat: 5 min
7. Canter without irons each directions: 2 laps
8. Walk 1/2 lap without irons, resting legs and 1/2 lap with irons in two point.
9. Rising trot 60′ circle: 1 circle
10. Drop irons, reduce circle to 30′ sitting trot return to rising trot without irons in 60′ circle. Repeat in opposite direction: 5-7 min
11. Rest at walk: 1 lap
12. Left lead canter circle without irons alternating between 60′ and 30′ circle: 2.5 min
13. Repeat above to right: 2.5 min
14. Complete workout by returning to jumps this time without irons: sit trot 5 strides, rising trot 5 strides, two point five strides: 5 min
15. Walk without irons on a long rein rotate ankle and stretch leg.

Follow the above exercises for three days. Rest a day then on days 4-6 follow the below plan:

1. Repeat above steps 1-6 reducing time for each to 2.5 minutes.
2. Canter a 60′ circle either direction without irons 2 circle.
3. Through the center or diagonal of the arena, return to a sitting trot trotting in a straight line for at least three horse lengths. Pick up the opposite lead and repeat cantering twice each direction and returning to a straight line for at least three horse lengths with each change of direction and lead.
4. Walk resting legs: 2.5 min
5. Pick up irons and stretch into the two point pressing hard on heel and stretching leg muscles.
6. Repeat the above circle exercise at the trot and canter always returning to a sitting trot, centered in a straight line for three horse lengths before changing directions.
7. Finish with jumps with irons: Sit five, rise five, two point five and repeat: 5 min
8. Walk and complete.

You are done for the week. You should be feeling more centered on your horse and your horse should feel relaxed and balanced underneath you. As you gain strength and balance, your horse will become more supple and cooperative. Your horse’s response from your cues and subtle changes in weight will also improve. Becoming a good rider is all about building trust. By becoming a stronger, more centered rider, you are automatically more dependable and more trustworthy. In return, your horse will become less defensive.

Have fun and work hard. Remember Tiger Woods? He practices 7-8 hours every day…. Be the best rider you can be for your horse.