Foxwin Farm Riding Program
- The Longe
- Arena Schooling
- Hacking Out
- Regularity of Schooling
- Competition
- Opportunity to Lease
Foxwin Farm believes whole-heartedly in developing the special bond between horses and people, and we know that the relationship between horse and rider only goes so far in a schooling session. Students who find themselves wanting more from their experience with horses, and who demonstrate maturity in their horsemanship and riding skills may be offered the opportunity to lease a Foxwin school horse. Leasing a horse gives a student an intermediate step between reliance on lessons alone for their horse education and the full-blown responsibility, commitment, and cost of horse ownership. Students will continue their schooling, but will also have the opportunity to provide care for, and ride independently with, their leased horse, but will have the freedom to “walk away” from a horse should circumstances change; i.e., rider injury, financial challenges, going off to college, relocation due to job change, etc. Details on the leasing program are available from Foxwin staff.
New riders at Foxwin Farm will be put “on the longe”—they will tack up and ride the horse, but the trainer will have control of the horse via a long “leash,” called a Longe Line. The trainer will instruct the rider in how to communicate with the horse about when to start, when to speed up, slow down, or stop. Throughout, the trainer will instruct the rider in giving those cues to the horse, but the trainer will aid the rider by adding to those cues so the rider can learn the feel of the horse as she follows proper instructions.
The June 2005 issue of Dressage Today explains the tradition of riding on the longe at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria:
"Longe-line lessons are the primary tool used to develop a strong, secure and harmonious seat in riders of all levels. Longeing creates an optimal situation for the rider. He only needs to think about his riding while gaining fitness, coordination and body control. As the rider is put through various exercises, he learns to follow the motion of each gait. A good sense of "feel" for the horse is a natural talent that can help riders go on to be exceptional, but riders who lack that innate ability can still be trained to have skilled seats through longe lessons."Lessons will be given within the confines of the Longe Ring, or, for more advanced students, in the fenced arena. New riders have the safety of a small, enclosed space and proximity to the trainer for ease of communications.
Longe line lessons are always available for riders of all levels, and the most advanced riders truly know the value of this classical training technique.
As the rider progresses and develops a balanced seat and independent hands, she will be given greater autonomy and independence in her riding. She will be asked to control and guide her horse through various schooling exercises in the fenced arena. Circles, Figure-Eights, Work over Cavaletti (ground poles), Changes of Gait (walk-to-trot-to-walk), Changes of Direction are all exercises the rider will practice to develop her skills.
When the rider has control of her horse and is ready to manage traffic, the rider will be permitted and encouraged to ride, or take lessons with, other riders in the ring. There is great value to learning in this shared environment. Ring etiquette, the "rules of the road," will be introduced and practiced. The rider will learn to make quicker decisions and ask her horse to respect her instructions more earnestly, as any hesitation could lead to collision. The rider will have the opportunity to watch others learning, trying, and demonstrating skills she may or may not yet have. Seeing the exercise performed greatly enhances the rider’s own understanding and processing of the instruction being given. And the value of a shared laugh at the challenge and struggle this discipline requires cannot be over-valued. Community begins to develop as riders give and receive support and assistance in the learning process.
As the rider develops the advanced skills required for riding in unpredictable situations, she may be invited to “hack out” her horse during a riding lesson. Under supervision from the trainer, who will be mounted on her own horse and providing guidance in trail etiquette, the student will ride in the pastures, lanes, and even trails of the farm. This training requires advanced riding skills, but is very good exercise for the horses, who appreciate the change of scenery and challenge of new obstacles. In addition, the uneven terrain and hills are excellent for the physical conditioning of the horse. The rider is introduced to new riding challenges, such as maintaining a balanced seat as the horse travels over this terrain, handling spooking or balking as the horses look around and react to a living environment. The rider must think, act, react, and predict, all while maintaining control of her horse. On top of it all, the rider experiences the joy of the natural world and the thrill of a horse freshened and energized by the hacking opportunity.
As in any athletic or artistic endeavor, regular practice is vital to the development and maintenance of good riding habits and abilities. One lesson a week is a perfectly adequate schedule for those just starting, allowing for proper mental and physical rest and reflection time, but not giving too much time for students to forget the last lesson. Scheduling is always a challenge in these hectic times, but students should strive for at least three lessons a month in order to give themselves adequate opportunity to acquire this very challenging skill. Riders wishing to progress will want to ride more often, both in lessons and independent schooling.
More About Lesson PolicyThere comes a time in a student’s riding progression when the student is ready for independent evaluation of her skills and accomplishments. While Foxwin Farm is not primarily oriented toward competition, we recognize the intrinsic value of this external assessment. In addition to riding before impartial judges, the experience of practicing for a competition, and the added focus and drive this goal presents often kick-starts or elevates a student’s motivation. Preparing for and taking a horse off site to a busy competition grounds presents the student with an entirely new set of challenges and responsibilities, and offers a unique opportunity for accomplishment and satisfaction.
We do not school and train specifically for “showing.” We will support and assist any student we feel is serious, disciplined, and prepared for a competition, but the decision to compete will rely solely with the student, and, if a minor, the student’s parent or guardian will be involved in the decision. We do not consider showing our ultimate goal, and absolutely do not chase ribbons, but happily engage in healthy competition as an opportunity to garner feedback and a chance to continue learning.
