This article is brought to you in partnership with Athletux.Sara Kelson and Sara Kozumplik with Rock Phantom at Kentucky. Photo by JJ Sillman.Sara Kozumplik and I have a strong personal and working relationship. Working as her head groom, I have learned exactly how she wants her horses to be treated and how she likes things done. Fostering a positive relationship between the two of us has really helped not only our day-to-day, but also her horses. I really believe that there is great value in having a positive relationship with your rider. Finding somewhere you can be your authentic self Of course, grooming is not always sunshine and happy times the job is hard work! That being said, it is possible to find a place and a rider to work for where you feel like you can be your authentic self while still accomplishing the task at hand. Every horse, rider, and groom are different, so if you find yourself in a situation where you dont feel like youre clicking with a program, dont fret. It is totally fine and normal to not click with every single program out there. There is nothing wrong with continuing to find a better match. Think about a rider; when they are looking for a new horse, they might not fit perfectly with each one they try. They dont give up and continue to ride horses until they find one thats a good match. Finding a solid match as a groom is no different than that! Everyone at the top of the sport does things differently, and what works for them works! So, you dont have to do things one particular way to be successful. Dont be afraid to keep trying to find somewhere you are comfortable being yourself. Positive energy in the barn Having a good relationship with your rider is not only important for both of you, but also important for the horses. Horses are herd animals, so they pick up on emotions super easily. Having positive interactions between the people in the barn will make the horses happy as well. At the same time, having your rider happy and in a positive environment will transfer over to the horses during their rides. Sometimes, we might get laser-focused and super intense in our job, but its important to remember why we are here in the first place. Of course, we need to take our jobs as grooms seriously but its also crucial to remember that what we do with these horses is so special. Honesty is key Honesty is one of the most important traits that anyone working in the equine industry can have. Sometimes, you have to give your rider bad news and its not fun. You can be positive and supportive yet not sugarcoat anything. In the end, honesty is best for the rider and the horse. Being honest is the most you can do, especially since everyone is human and makes mistakes. Honesty is truly the best policy! Its all in the details Remembering small things can really make a huge difference. I try to remember if Sara likes specific brands of certain products and make sure to have them ready for her. I know she likes cherry chapstick, so I never forget to pack that in my backpack! Although those things may seem small, they have an impact. You obviously want to make the horse comfortable and happy, but making sure you do the same with your rider is important too! If they have items (like cherry chapstick) that theyre used to at a show, itll make them feel more taken care of and at home. Paying attention to the way your rider takes care of their horses is also important. I try to mimic what I do to the way Sara would want something done. At the end of the day, I want to see her and her horses succeed, so being attentive has great significance. Separate the personal from the professional Part of having a positive relationship with your rider is knowing when to separate the personal from the professional. This can look like knowing when your rider may need some space to relax mentally or even knowing when organizing a team bonding dinner might be exactly what they need. Remembering to do whats best for your rider and their mental and physical health is equally as important as making the horses happy and healthy.

The top ten dressage teams, based on scores in the Grand Prix Test competition from July 30 and 31, returned to the main arena for the FEI Grand Prix Special Test here at the Chteau de Versailles today for the 2024 Paris Olympics. After a string of four hot, humid days dotted with intermittent thunderstorms, the skies were mostly overcast (but without rain) and temps were in the high 60s (Fahrenheit) when competition began. The stands were full to witness todays battle for team medals.Teams (of three riders) competing today were Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden. While the seven judges today were the same as for the Grand Prix Tests, they sat at different letters. They were: Judge at C, Henning Lehrmann (GER); Judge at K, Raphal Saleh (FRA); Judge at E, Magnus Ringmark (SWE); Judge at H, Mariette Sanders (NED); Judge at M, Michael Osinski (USA); Judge at B, Isobel Wessels (GBR), and Judge at F, Susanne Baarup (DEN).The competition was divided into three groups of ten riders each, with one rider from each country in each group. A running score was kept to mark the ranking of each countrys team after each ride was completed. With team medals on the line, riders gave it their all.The top three performances from the first group were Becky Moody and Jagerbomb from Great Britain who had the highest score of 76.489 percent, Denmarks Daniel Bachmann Anderson and Vayron second best (75.973) and third best, Germanys Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD (75.942).The final three riders in the second group topped scores from the previous group as expected. Third to last to go in the group was British rider Carl Hester. Riding in his seventh Olympic Games, he guided the 14-year-old KWPN stallion Fame (by Bordeaux 28) to a 76.520 percent to best his teammate Moodys earlier score.Right after Hester in the order, Denmarks Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Zepter, a 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding (by Blue Hors Zack), laid down a beautiful test to top the leaderboard (but just for a few minutes) on 78.480 percent. Then, the most decorated equestrian in Olympic history, Germanys Isabell Werth riding Wendy, entered the arena as the last to go in Group 2. Werth and Wendy posted the highest score from the first two groups and one that figured heavily into the final team results of the day (79.894).With all of the riders from Group 1 and Group 2 having finished and Group 3 yet to compete, the team standings were super close in the top three. They were as follows: Germany, first (155.836); Denmark, second (154.453); Great Britain, third (153.009); the Netherlands, fourth (143.328); France, fifth (142.569); Belgium, sixth (141.565); Australia, seventh (139.863); Sweden, eighth (138.480); Austria, ninth (137.751), and Finland, tenth (137.735).After a short arena grooming break, the final group of riders began their quest to seal the deal for their country to win a medal. Among them, the reigning World Champions, Charlotte Fry and the KWPN stallion Glamourdale who would go third from last, and the reigning Olympic Champions, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the Trakehner mare TSF Dalera BB, the final pair to go for the day.Also in the final group were several others ranked in the current top ten world standings including Swedens Patrik Kittel (sixth in current world rankings) who rode the Swedish Warmblood gelding Touchdown. Another one of those, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour from Denmark (currently ranked seventh in the world) riding the Hanoverian mare Freestyle, was expected to score well possibly in the top three or four at the end of the day. They would go next to last today.Representing the home country France and going fourth in the final group was Pauline Basquin and the Zangersheide gelding Sertorius de Rima Z, who had scored very well in the Grand Prix Test three days ago (73.711) to move on to the individual finals tomorrow. Today, their Grand Prix Special test was quite nice, marred only by issues in the first piaffe and the one-tempi changes. Their score was 72.720 and kept France in the hunt for a top-five finish here.As forecast by many, the team results rested on the final three performances of the day, plus that of Werth and Wendy who had competed in the second group earlier. Fry and Glamourdale put in another fantastic test to score 79.483 percent, but it was not enough to catch Werth and Wendy.After Fry, Laudrup-Dufour and Freestyle entered and laid down the gauntlet with the first score of the day to top 80 percent (81.216) to roaring cheers from the crowd. The final pair, von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera put in a gorgeous test, but lost some points going from walk to piaffe in the middle of their test, and in the end scored slightly behind Laudrup-Dufour and Freestyle (79.954).However, it was still Germanys day. They captured gold with 235.790, just 0.121 points ahead of Denmark in silver (235.669). Great Britain persevered to garner bronze (232.492). Fourth was the Netherlands (221.048) and fifth was Belgium (215.714). Other team placings were: France, sixth (215.289); Sweden, seventh (212.811); Finland, eighth (212.036); Austria, ninth (211.505), and Australia, tenth (207.203).Interesting tidbits from today: There were at least two riders competing today who trained at famous European classical riding schools: Austrias Florian Bacher who rode Fidertraum OLD was a rider at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria, and Frances Pauline Basquin, who rode Sertorius De Rima Z, is a member of the French military and currently a trainer at the Cadre Noir in France. British rider Becky Moody was mounted on a horse bred by her and foaled at her familys home farm in Yorkshire: Jagerbomb, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Dante Weltino OLD, out of Udysee by Jazz. Isabell Werth from Germany is currently the most decorated Olympic equestrian in history with a seventh Olympic Games under her belt and 13 medals (8 gold including todays win and 5 silver). Full Dressage Team Results Judges Individual MarksFinal Day of Olympic Dressage TomorrowThe top 18 horse and rider combinations from the Grand Prix Tests held on July 30 and 31 will return tomorrow to ride the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle Test to compete for the individual Olympic medals. But, first tomorrow morning, the horses will again be presented to the Ground Jury for inspection. If for some reason a horse is not accepted to compete, then the next highest horse and rider combination from the Grand Prix would move up to compete in the Freestyle instead.Once the horse inspection is finished in the morning, an order of go will be published. Currently qualified for the Olympic individual dressage finals (Grand Prix Freestyle Test) are: Germanys Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB Denmarks Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Freestyle Germanys Isabell Werth and Wendy Great Britains Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale Denmarks Nanna Skodborg Merrald riding Zepter The Netherlands Dinja van Liere riding Hermes Great Britains Carl Hester and Fame Denmarks Daniel Bachmann Andersen riding Vayron Norways Isabel Freese and Total Hope OLD Germanys Frederic Wandres riding Bluetooth OLD Great Britains Becky Moody and Jagerbomb The Netherlands Emmelie Scholtens riding Indian Rock Swedens Patrik Kittel and Touchdown Austrias Victoria Max-Theurer riding Abegglen FH NRW Swedens Therese Nilshagen riding Dante Weltino OLD Frances Pauline Basquin riding Sertorius De Rima Z Finlands Emma Kanerva riding Greek Air Polands Sandra Sysojeva riding Maxima BellaThe Freestyle competition runs from 10:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Central European Time (4:00 a.m. 7:30 am. U.S. Eastern Time) with the medal ceremony to follow.For more coverage, visit our 2024 Paris Olympics main page.For broadcast information, go to NBCOlypics.com. All equestrian coverage is streamed live and available for replays on Peacock.Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.The post 2024 Paris Olympics: Dressage Team Final appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

A windgall is swelling of the digital tendon sheath on a horses leg usually the hind leg and one or both may be affected at the same time around the fetlock joint.The digital tendon sheath is a sterile fluid-filled sleeve that covers the flexor tendons over the back of the horses fetlock joint.Often these swellings appear with no associated lameness and are not painful to touch. In fact, windgalls without lameness are common and usually only a concern for cosmetic reasons. Theyre likely to be the result of wear and tear rather than your horse having suffered a serious injury.However, in some cases a windgall can be a sign of a more serious problem in your horses leg and may be associated with a moderate to severe lameness.What causes a windgall?Injury to the digital flexor tendon within the sheath will cause a more problematic windgall and lameness in horses, and this is known as inflammatory tenosynovitis.A wound that pierces the tendon sheath can cause infection, which will also cause swelling. Septic tenosynovitis is associated with severe lameness and requires urgent veterinary attention.Persistent swelling of the tendon sheath can also cause Annular Ligament Syndrome.The annular ligament is situated between the tendon sheath and the skin over the back of the fetlock joint; its role is to hold the flexor tendons in place.The annular ligament can hold back some swelling, which results in bulging of the sheath above and below this region, and gradual thickening of the ligament.How to diagnose and treat a windgallHeat and pain at the site of the windgall can indicate that the horse is suffering a more serious problem. The area should be checked for wounds, as even the smallest puncture can result in sheath infection.Clip the hair from just above the fetlock to the heel bulb if necessary.Your vet may decide that an ultrasound examination is necessary for significant windgalls.The fibre pattern of the flexor tendons can then be assessed together with any thickening of the annular ligament.If it looks to be infected, a sample of the fluid within the tendon sheath can be taken for investigation.When lameness is mild and theres no evidence of infection or tendon or ligament damage, then rest, cold therapy and systemic anti-inflammatory drugs may be all thats required.However, for lameness that is more severe or persistent, anti-inflammatory medication can be administered directly into the sheath.If there is tendon damage, your horse will need a longer rest period with repeated ultrasound scans to monitor progress.Treatment of annular ligament thickening is initially directed at reducing sheath swelling, but may need operating on. If infection is present, surgery is needed. The tendon sheath is flushed with high volumes of sterile saline.Preventing windgalls in horsesMost horses will develop some degree of tendon sheath swelling in their life, usually in the hindlegs.Care should be taken to minimise the risk of tendon injury through avoidance of riding on bad ground and sensibly managed exercise regimes.Leg boots can be used to protect the tendon sheath area during exercise or turnout and when travelling in a horsebox, which may help to lower the risk.Your Horse editor Aimi Clarks first horse, a Warmblood called Marcus, used to get windgalls.They were most noticeable in the summer, when Marcus was competing regularly and so his legs were working hard.Sometimes they would appear in winter too after a days hunting. Luckily the windgalls were not painful to touch and Marcus was never lame. Aimi found that they went away with exercise.Images: copyright ShutterstockRelated contentSwollen legs in horses: why it happens, possible causes and how to manage itUltimate guide to horse boots: different types, key features and correct fitCellulitis in horses: what you need to know about this sinister cause of a swollen legTetanus in horses: the signs, treatment and prevention adviceThe post What is a windgall on a horses leg? appeared first on Your Horse.

How often do you find yourself riding endless circles in your schooling sessions? There are lots of benefits to riding circles.However, they can encourage your horse to fall onto their inside shoulder, rather than stepping through from the inside hindleg and pushing forwards into a good uphill balance.To correct this, you need to work on improving the engagement and check your horse is bending through their body, not just their neck.This is much easier to do when youre riding in a straight line, rather than on a circle.It is also very easy to spend so much time working on a circle, that we forget to ride in straight lines and there are more straight lines in a dressage test than there are curves.I know I do a lot of circles when Im schooling different sizes, in various places around the arena or field, sometimes spiralling in and out.At the end of the day, though, theyre all circles. Do I practise riding in a straight line? Rarely. Do I score a perfect 10 for a straight entry at A?I never have to dateRiding cornersDressage rider and trainer Dan Greenwood challenges riders to ditch the circles and try his exercises using only straight lines.Straight lines inevitably involve riding around a corner, and these need practising too theres plenty to ride in a dressage test, after all.When youre riding a circle or making a turn its all too easy to pull your horse around the corner using your inside rein.All this does is place your horses head and neck around the corner while their outside shoulder drifts in the opposite direction, says Dan, who explains that to ride a turn correctly, you need to use your outside aids: Move your outside rein so that its against your horses neck and apply gentle pressure.Then use your outside leg to steer your horse around the corner. Your inside leg is there to keep the impulsion, while your inside rein guides and creates the bend to the inside but it doesnt pull.Learn to ride corners from your outside aids and youll have much more control over the position of your horses shoulders, adds Dan.This makes riding circles much easier as youll be able to maintain the shape and quality of the circle by riding the outside of your horses body rather than just the inside.Straight lines: square exerciseThe first straight lines exercise involves riding a large square. Pick a place in your arena or field to ride the square.How to ride itBegin by riding a square in walk a few times, so that you get a feel for riding an accurate shape. Remember, squares dont have any curves!Next, ride a square in trot. Make a transition to walk just before one of the corners. Ride the turn and then ask for trot again.Do this several times and youll begin to find your horse will start to anticipate the walk transition, says Dan. Their upward transition to trot will become more balanced too.Mix things up by riding a near-walk transition at every other corner. According to Dan, thisis a great way to develop your half-halt.Things to focus onMake sure the lines of your square are straight. Keep your horses head and neck straight.Just before you turn, position your shoulders to the inside and put a little more weight into the outside of your seat.Ride a slight leg yield through the turn and picture pushing your horses tummy to the outside.Straight lines for collectionDans next exercise involves riding half a diamond in canter.Its a good way to start teaching your horse to shorten their stride without you using too much rein and holding onto them, he says.How to ride itRide a half diamond wherever you like.For example, on the right rein, turn off the outside track at E and ride a straight line to G.Then turn right again and ride a straight line to B.Alternatively, you could ride a longer half diamond from C to E and then E to A.Vary where you do it to keep it interesting for your horse.Things to focus onDan recommends focusing on the following while riding this exercise:Keep your horses neck straight and use your legs to keep their body straight.Just before you turn at the point of your diamond, turn your shoulders in the direction of the turn.Keep your horses neck straight through the turn and use your outside aids. Resist the temptation to pull them round with your inside rein.Ride your horses inside hindleg through the turn.After a few attempts, youll feel as if you can let go of the inside rein, says Dan.To test your horse is in self-carriage, and that youre not holding onto your inside rein, try giving and re-taking the inside rein while riding your diamond.Straight lines: engagethe outside hindlegIf you stay on a constant circle when schooling, your horse is likely to become heavy on your inside hand, advises Dan.To prevent this, Dan suggests riding leg yield in canter away from the outside track.This will encourage your horse to listen to your outside leg. It also improves engagement of their outside hindleg so that they become lighter in your inside rein.Depending on your horses level of training, you may need to do this in trot first and build up to leg yielding in canter as your horse develops.How to ride itLeg yield away from the outside track by about 2m. Then continue down the long side.As you ride off the track, have a little more weight on your outside seatbone.If youre riding this exercise on the right rein, the aim is to have the right side of your horse straight and the left side in a slight curve. The horse should be moving to the right.As you ride the leg yield, youre aiming for equal weight from your horse on all four feet and not on their inside shoulder, which can sometimes happen.Improve your connectionAnother exercise to encourage your horse to be reactive to your leg aids while remaining straight in their body is a turn on the forehand, states Dan.The exerciseRide a large square in walk a little off the outside track.At each corner ride a turn-on-the-forehand.Depending on your horses level of training, you dont need to halt.Simply steady the walk before each corner before riding the movement.Once youve mastered this in walk, add a trot transition out of the corner.How to ride itShorten the stride until your horse almost halts.Ask for a little flexion to the inside.Have your inside leg at the girth and your outside leg a little behind the girth.Use your inside leg to ask your horse to move their inside hindleg to step under their body. They can now pivot around their inside front leg, which steps ever so slightly forward, and move their quarters around their front end.Look up where you want to go.Keep your hands level as you turn.Your inside rein gently leads, balanced by your outside rein to avoid too much bend in the neck.Once you complete the movement, ride your horse forward in walk.Repeat in the next corner.Benefits of riding straight linesThe more you practise and concentrate on straight lines in a schooling session, the better and more accurate you will get.They will automatically become a regular part of your routine without you really having to think about riding straight lines too.Remember to do it outside of the arena too, so that youre not always relying on an arena fence to keep your horse straight.Its actually a lot trickier than you think when youre in an open space, because its easy to overthink it and therefore over-ride, which causes your horse to wobble and lose balance.Yep, Im talking from experience. Now Im off to practise for that perfect 10Dressage trainer and rider Dan Greenwood has won numerous national titles and has competed for Great Britain in small tour and big tour. He is based inthe Cotswolds.Main image: copyright Your Horse Library/Kelsey Media/Matthew RobertsRelated contentHow to ride turn on the forehand *VIDEO*What is give and retake and how do I ride it?Learn to ride better corners on the flatWhy riding on the correct diagonal is important for keeping a horse soundWhat are the Scales of Training for horses in dressage and flatwork?The post Practice makes perfect: four flatwork exercises using straight lines appeared first on Your Horse.

Ocala, FL The $75,000 R+L Carriers Grand Prix was the highlight of the penultimate week of the 2024 Summer Series at World Equestrian Center Ocala. Thirteen countries were represented in the field of 34 horse-and-rider combinations, but it was New Zealands Sharn Wordley who emerged victorious aboard Della Wordleys Hagelin (Stolzenberg x Graefin Top) after a thrilling 14-horse jump-off. FEI Level III course[...]Read MoreThe post Sharn Wordley and Hagelin Go Two-for-Two With the Win in the $75,000 R+L Carriers Grand Prix appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by US Equestrian (@usequestrian)I had no choice but to fill todays post with my favorite Olympic champion USAs newest mascot Snoop D-O-Double-GAfter virally losing his mind over Steffen Peters rave horse dressage during the Tokyo Olympics, Snoop has been nothing but vocal about his excitement over the horses and as an official commentator and correspondent for NBC in Paris, of course he had to go all out. Calling in friend, cohost, and Friesian owner Martha Stewart, they took to Versailles dressed in full kit, including custom shadbelly, Samshield helmet, gloves, white breeches, and even half chaps over his black sneakers. I love him, Im obsessed, were all obsessed, we need more, someone get Snoop on a horse. And honestly, this might be one of the best things that couldve happened to dressage these days.Thanks Snoop View this post on InstagramA post shared by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) View this post on InstagramA post shared by Official FEI (@fei_global) View this post on InstagramA post shared by Official FEI (@fei_global)U.S. Weekend ActionArea VII Young Rider Benefit H.T. at Caber Farm (Onalaska, WA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]Bayou Gulch H.T. (Parker, CO) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]Catalpa Corner Charity Horse Trials (Iowa City, IA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]Cobblestone Farms H.T. II (Dexter, MI) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]Hoosier Horse Trials (Edinburgh, IN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] Olney Farm Horse Trials (Joppa, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]River Glen Summer H.T. (New Market, TN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]Links to Start Your Sunday:Show Jumping Gold: Great Britain! 12 years after Peter Charles won Team Gold in London with Scott Brash and Ben Maher, his son wins Team Gold with the same team partnersDressage Gold: A 15th Gold for Germany! Isabel Werths 13th medal, Jessica von Bredow-Werndls third, and Frederic Wandres firstLaura Collett: I felt like an outsider but I was determined to win goldA very good Gold Medal Boy Laura and London are home and posing and so are Ros and Walter!Morning Viewing: Last week, Japan had only one Olympic medal hanging in its equestrian cabinet a Gold belonging to show jumper Takeichi Nishi from the 1932 Los Angeles Games. After a surprise qualification last year due to Chinas Team disqualification, Japan knew they needed to step up. After a mass purchase of top horses by the December 2023 deadline three of which are owned by the Japanese Equestrian Federation themselves the team of middle-aged Japanese men met up in the UK to hold a pre-event training camp before loading up for France. Little did they know that theyd soon be making history to win the first eventing medal for their country.

Today is the individual dressage final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Freestyle. Competition kicks off at 9am (BST), with the British riders entering the Versailles arena fresh from their bronze medal win in yesterdays team final.First to go for Team GB is Carl Hester and Fame at 10.35am (BST), next up is Becky Moody and Jagerbomb at 10.55am (BST), and completing the British line up is Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale at 11.50am (BST).Reigning team champions, Germany, will ride at the following times: 10.15am (BST) Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD, Isabel Werth and Wendy at 11.40am (BST), and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Delera BB at 12.10pm (BST).Yesterdays silver-winning team, Denmark, will complete their tests at 11.05am (BST) Daniel Bachmann-Anderson and Vayron, 11.30am (BST) Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Zepter, and last to go at 12.20pm (BST) is Cathrine Laurdrup Dufour and Freestyle.Stay on top of the action with our how to watch guide and equestrian Olympic timetable, including Monday and Tuesdays jumping times.Lead image by FEI/Benjamin ClarkUseful linksFull start list for the Freestyle and live resultsTimetable and how to watch equestrian actionFurther readingBrilliant Bronze! Team GB third behind formidable Germany and Denmark, securing Britains fourth equestrian medalGold! Team GBs showjumpers outstanding and ice cool in Paris 2024 victoryWe brought it home!: Britain wins historic fifth team eventing goldYou can never dream too big: Laura Collett wins individual medal in ParisThe post Start times released for todays individual final, the Freestyle, at Paris 2024 appeared first on Your Horse.