Stride Control: Exercises to Improve Rideability, Adjustability and Performance

by Jen Marsden Hamilton, George H. Morris (Foreword by)

Overview

The only book dedicated to learning to find and ride the ideal jumping distance with fundamental skills and enlightening lessons from one of the best in the business.

Understanding how to count strides helps to develop the rider’s eye and “feel.” Stride control means producing the correct number of strides and quality of stride to jump the jumps at hand—the emphasis is on the quality of strides, not just the number. It is one of the skills that enables the rider to achieve success, whatever the size of the jumps.

Jen Marsden Hamilton has coached countless riders and horses around the world in the striding techniques that brought her success during her own impressive competitive career, and here Hamilton has compiled her knowledge in a concise book of exercises and insightful strategies. Inside you’ll find:

• Detailed setup for specific exercises.
• Connecting flatwork for between ground poles or jumps, such as transitions and serpentines.
• Strategies for completing the exercises and analyzing the outcome.
• Appropriate exercises for the rider’s desired discipline and level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646010233
Publisher:	Trafalgar Square
Publication date:	10/15/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	64 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Jen Marsden Hamilton is an internationally renowned equestrian coach. Based in Canada, she travels throughout Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and Kenya training horses and riders. For over 45 years Jen has combined her Bachelor of Education (Acadia University) with the most current coaching and equestrian training to nurture the next generation of star athletes. Jen developed and wrote the National Coaching Certification Program’s (NCCP) Canada, Level III - Jumper. As a rider, Jen gained valuable experience that informs her coaching today. She placed fourth in both, the American Horse Show Association’s Medal Finals and the Alfred B. Maclay Hunter Seat Equitation Finals at Madison Square Garden. Riding Wee Geordie she reached new heights in puissance classes, jumping six feet and higher. She also holds the distinction of being George H. Morris’ first student when he started his career as a professional horseman in 1963. In 1975 Jen was the Martini and Rossi Canadian Horsewoman of the Year. As a coach, Jen has been recognized for her dedication with the Canadian Coaching Association’s “Year of the Coach” Coaching Award in 1988, the 3M Coaching Canada Award for Coaching Excellence in 1996. She has also represented her country as a coach to young Canadian riders at international team competitions throughout North and South America. Jen lives in Sweet Corners, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Jen Marsden Hamilton is an internationally renowned equestrian coach. Based in Canada, she travels throughout Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and Kenya training horses and riders. For over 45 years Jen has combined her Bachelor of Education (Acadia University) with the most current coaching and equestrian training to nurture the next generation of star athletes. Jen developed and wrote the National Coaching Certification Program’s (NCCP) Canada, Level III - Jumper. As a rider, Jen gained valuable experience that informs her coaching today. She placed fourth in both, the American Horse Show Association’s Medal Finals and the Alfred B. Maclay Hunter Seat Equitation Finals at Madison Square Garden. Riding Wee Geordie she reached new heights in puissance classes, jumping six feet and higher. She also holds the distinction of being George H. Morris’ first student when he started his career as a professional horseman in 1963. In 1975 Jen was the Martini and Rossi Canadian Horsewoman of the Year. As a coach, Jen has been recognized for her dedication with the Canadian Coaching Association’s “Year of the Coach” Coaching Award in 1988, the 3M Coaching Canada Award for Coaching Excellence in 1996. She has also represented her country as a coach to young Canadian riders at international team competitions throughout North and South America.
George H. Morris is considered one of the most influential riders and trainers in equestrian sport. A winner as a junior and later as a representative of the United States in international competition, he has dedicated much of his career to the proliferation of quality horsemanship and fine riding, and the improvement of American equestrianism.

Table of Contents

Foreword George H. Morris viii

Foreword Clark Johnstone x

Preface xiii

Introduction

Counting Strides Becomes the New God 4

Not Just Luck 7

What's Ahead 11

Never Stop Learning 11

Be a Star 15

Chapter 1 Before We Begin: Thoughts on Training and Coaching 17

A Solid Foundation 18

Responsibility: The Ability to Respond Correctly 19

The Importance of Having a Coach 20

Form Good Habits 26

The Thing About Winning 27

Chapter 2 Back to Basics: Position and Rein Aids 31

Correct Position 31

Rein Aids 36

Chapter 3 Putting Theory Into Practice 41

Strategy and Stride 41

Exercise 1 60-Foot Line of Ground Poles 44

Further Education: The Importance of the Short Side 46

Exercise 2 Increasing Rideability 52

Chapter 4 Rideability 57

Taking Responsibility for the Ride 57

Exercise 3 Stride Control Over Jumps 58

Exercise 4 Making Decisions Based on Feel 62

Exercise 5 Practicing Adjustability 64

Developing Your Options 66

Strategy for a Good Ride 67

Chapter 5 Improving Your Horse's Technique 71

Improving the Jump 71

Reviewing the lumping Releases 73

Exercise 6 Cookbook Gymnastic 74

Developing Collection (The Ability to Shorten) 79

Chapter 6 Problem Solving 83

First Things First 83

The Importance of Flatwork 84

Problem Story 1 Krista and Missy 85

Exercises 7-9 Stengthening Cavalletti 88

Problem Story 2 Jill and Fiamo 90

Exercise 10 Plank Jumps 94

Understanding Training Principles 96

Chapter 7 Developing Your Options On Course 99

What Makes You a Winner? 99

Developing Options 100

Exercise 11 Slicing the Jump 102

Turns In and Away From Jumps 104

Exercise 12 Turning Away 106

Exercise 13 Turning In 108

Exercise 14 Put It Together 110

Exercise 15 Angles and Turns Combined 112

Exercise 16 Change the Track to Change the Strides 113

Efficient and Effective Use of Different Stride Lengths 114

Chapter 8 The Curse Walk 117

Course Design 117

Walking the Course 118

Exercise 17 Striding 120

Walking the Course at a Competition 122

Competition Day 126

Class Strategy from a Pro 129

Chapter 9 Final Thoughts 133

Mentors, Students, and Friends: A Coach's Journey 140

Special Dedication and Acknowledgments 150

Index 153

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Jen Marsden Hamilton is a teaching icon." —George H. Morris

Preface

Sport is an emotional phenomenon that often combines tremendous status, important relationships, and winning and losing in a public forum where it is usually very difficult to conceal how well or poorly you’ve performed. To be good at sport demands tremendous psychological and physical skill.

Some of the most intense competitors in sport and life have the insight to occasionally remind themselves that sport is only a game, a recreation. Emotion gives life meaning and is what makes us human. It enhances our potential in more ways than we realize. It can fuel our lives, drive us crazy or break our hearts. Passion can ignite potential in a wide range of human performance fields including sport, business, teaching, parenting and the performing arts. Our passion energizes and motivates us. By developing our passion we can achieve our true potential.

Why does riding inspire passion, perhaps more than many other sport and hobby?

There is a dedication threshold — once you cross it you are heavily committed by the sheer amount of time and money that is required.

There is a unique mix of adrenalin, competitive spirit and variety each day—new challenges due to changing weather conditions and the horse’s frame of mind.

There is the concept of bonding with a noble creature. The trust and empathy you get from partnering with a powerful and kind creature. (Have you tried looking into the solemn brown eye of a running shoe?)

There is the growth of technical knowledge that never ends: “The more you know, the more you realize how little you know.”

There is the fact that every horse is an individual who can teach you something about yourself as well as your training techniques (it is difficult to say the same of a bicycle).

Passion is the link to achieving your true potential. Through sport, you can grow as a person only if you recognize what it offers you.

Over the last 20 years I’ve traveled to many places to teach clinics, coach at horse shows, look at horses to buy and spectate at competitions of the highest level. I’ve been to New Zealand and Australia, Kenya, Columbia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Ecuador. I’ve been to Europe, India and across the United States and Canada. I have spent hours watching horses and riders. It’s my passion.

My most interesting and memorable horse-related trip started with a phone call at three o’clock in the morning. I traveled to India to teach one very wealthy seventeen-year-old boy. I was to teach him to jump. It was to be a huge challenge because the first day of training the horses wouldn’t even go near a pole on the ground, much less step over it. We persisted and eventually the boy was able to jump a simple 3ft course.

Balance, rhythm, straightness and pace were the foundation of any success we achieved. Everyday we worked on basic equitation, position and riding forward and straight. Stride control exercises between poles and jumps were practiced every day: “Do the line in five strides. Now a steady six. Now a forward four.”

Some days the boy was quite good and other days he was not so good. On one particular day, the boy was awful. I said, “You have three tools to help you ride down the line properly: your eyes (and while I’m saying this I’m thinking to myself he rides like a blind man); the feeling of the stride (I’m thinking that one is not going to happen); and the counting of the strides—half way down the line you should be half way through the strides.”

“Are you counting the strides?” I asked. “No!” he said, “you count them for me!” “Yeah…” I replied, “but what happens when I’m not here?” The boy turned in his saddle and pointed: “My man will count for me!”

That boy just didn’t get it. That boy just didn’t have the passion. What he considered boring and of little importance, we—the passionate people—consider essential, challenging, exciting and fun. That boy will probably never master the simple exercises and he won’t progress. He lacked passion and will never be a true winner!

There are different outlets for passion in equestrian sports, such as schooling, teaching, competing, breeding and officiating.

Some people can train all their lives without competing and get total satisfaction from creating harmony, balance and a partnership with their horse. Teaching and coaching are about passing knowledge on. The love for the horse and our sport is what compels some of us to teach, and there is a clear distinction between teaching to make a difference and coaching for the money. It’s that passion thing again!

A show jumping round is all over in a matter of minutes but riders are always thinking of the next class and dreaming of the next show. There is a compulsion and passion to get it right the next time.

For breeders, there is the whole mysterious mix of nature, nurture, genetics and education. It’s this mystery that inspires passion in breeders.

For the show organizer, judge, course designer, steward or in-gate attendant who spend countless hours behind the scenes at horse shows, there has to be passion.

I’ve coached hundreds of riders and watched countless horses jump over colored sticks. I’ve schooled some Olympic riders and helped to school horses that competed in the Olympic Games and at World Championships. It’s my passion.

The equestrian skill-base and attitude which can take you on lovely hacks, galloping down a beach, hunting, competing at local shows and all the way to the Olympics, are developed from your first learning session at home. The skills and attitude you develop here and now are what will carry you through your life.

It isn’t where you’re from that’s important. What’s important is who you are. Channel the passion that you learn at home with a strong work ethic, a belief in yourself, hours of sweat and equestrian correctness into a positive passion and it will lead you to success and fun...

Dare to be a winner!

Editorial Reviews

Jen Hamilton’s Stride Control is easy to read and easy to understand. It’s nice to read something that emphasizes the basics of correct riding and the use of gymnastic exercises. Many of her gymnastics are ones that we use all the time in our training and teaching.” —Beezie Madden, Olympic Gold Medalist, Show Jumping

"Stride Control by Jen Marsden Hamilton includes a great combination of sound basics, correct techniques, and excellent exercises to improve both horse and rider. Jen gives excellent advice on work ethic and valuable tips on how to be successful in competition. From the novice to skilled professional, Stride Control is definitely well worth reading.” —Jeff Cook, Hunter/Jumper Trainer

"Jen Marsden Hamilton is a teaching icon." —George H. Morris

“This book is more than a treatise on stride control. Someone once said, attitude is everything. Jen’s positive attitude is evident on every page: “You can do it and here’s how.” It’s no surprise she’s an excellent teacher, trainer, coach. I’m grateful she made the effort to write it all down clearly and concisely, so even a rider who is mostly on her own can follow her directives. Of her many pertinent sidebars, my two favorites are that you have to have unbridled passion for the horse and for the sport, and you must know when enough is enough, and when to quit for the day. The photographs and testaments from her students over the years reaffirm the validity of her treatise. I recommend it highly to serious riders of all ages and in all stages." —Judy Richter, Rider, Trainer, Judge, Author, and Former AHSA Horsewoman of the Year

Jen Marsden Hamilton's Stride Control is one of the only books that I know of that fully addresses just this specific paradox. It is loaded with actual examples of ways to develop that feel, and full of real examples of training strategies. Want to kick up your riding a few notches? Here's something to help." —Denny Emerson, USEA Hall-of-Fame Inductee and Author of Know Better to Do Better and How Good Riders Get Good

"This fun, approachable guide will help all riders train with correctness and form good habits at home so they can be stars at their next jumpiong or eventing competition. ...Throughout, Hamilton's straight-talk and wry humor entertain as well as advise, providing an all-around superb guide to an invaluable jumping skill." —Elite Equestrian

"Jen Marsden Hamilton is an icon in the world of equestrian coaching, and her latest book, Stride Control: Exercises to Improve Rideability, Adjustability, and Performance is essential reading for any horse person. And it’s a fun one!... This book is a gem, filled with color photos, but what really bounces off the pages are all the clear diagrams showing how and why…. Stride Control is an absolute must-have for anyone in the jumping sports disciplines." —Horse Journals

“If you possess any passion for horse sport at all, it will be hard to read this book and not feel that passion reignite. Hamilton’s passion for horsemanship is what really shines through the entire book, and it is horsemanship that ultimately needs to come first. Stride Control is a treasure, and we would all do well to own a copy!” —Atlantic Horse & Pony

From the Publisher