Riders put to the test in schooling show

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This article was published 20/02/2022 (1415 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With equestrian show season just a few weeks away, English dressage competitors in Westman are honing their skills.

To get ready, horses and humans are being put through their paces with a series of smaller shows at their home stables through the Behlen Industries LP Icicle Schooling Show Series. The second edition ran on Saturday at 4B Ranch and Equestrian, three kilometres west of Brandon, with five participants showing their skills to two judges.

“This show tours from barn to barn so people don’t have to trailer their horses, which during this time of year isn’t comfortable or practical for such a short show,” said Westman Dressage board member Lori Versavel, who was co-judging with Shirley Neudorf. The first show was on Jan. 30 at Phoenix Ranch, about 10 kilometres east of Brandon.

While this is supposed to mimic a formal show, it is an informal event so riders can be comfortable, Versavel said.

The testing format was through Canadian Dressage Riders and Owners (CADORA).

The purpose of these shows is to get riders ready for the rigours of a formal show, but with the added comfort of presenting close to home and in a stable where they already practise instead of travelling to an event further away. Riders were tested on their ability to work with their horses with a judge watching them and grading their efforts. Each one rode in the indoor arena, following commands from Jane Thornton to walk, trot, and canter their horses along lines and circles to letters posted on the walls.

Some tests also had riders showing off their ability to leg yield, or push their horse over while moving using subtle leg movements against their sides.

Riders received written notes and verbal advice from judges after each test. Each manoeuvre and ability to demonstrate following command for both rider and horse is graded from zero to 10, depending on performance.

Versavel explained everyone who participated was a dressage rider, but the discipline itself is a fundamental one to all facets of riding.

“There are a lot of hunter-jumpers around here, but dressage is what happens, as we say, between the fences,” she said. “It teaches straightness, connection, maintaining speed and ability to control and work with your horse.”

Those lessons were front-of-mind for Wendy Brownlee, who was tested on her ability to perform with her horse, Mr. Gibson. During lessons and informal riding, she said it is easy to shrug off when she misses a turn, or not maintaining speed, but in a show and being judged, it has to be done. Schooling shows like this are great opportunities to get feedback from another source besides their instructors.

For herself and Mr. Gibson, she said he has some trouble picking up his right lead canter.

“I’ll think to myself ‘Oh, I’ll try again down here. He’s still not getting it, I’ll throw in a 20-metre circle and try again,’” she said. “In a test, you have to do it [when told], so it helps you to raise the bar.”

The next show is scheduled to happen at Many Horses Close, south of Brandon, in April.

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