horses & music: tunes as a training tool
DESCRIPTION
Using music as a training tool for horses and ridersTRANSCRIPT
Horses & Music: Tunes as a Training Tool
Horse World Expo 2009
Elaine Long Bailey
Calvert County 4-H Educator
A Quick Survey
• Why do you ride?– Fun– Pleasure– Relaxation– Competition– Exercise
http://flickr.com/photos/95427472@N00/1909269534/
Important Pieces of the Puzzle
• The Horse– Quality of gaits– Timing of gaits– Adjustment within gaits
• The Rider– Relaxation– Position– Influence on horse
The German Training Scale
Collection*
Contact
Rhythm
Suppleness
Impulsion
Straightness
Zettl, 1998
The Gaits
• Walk– 4 beats– Purity
• Trot or jog– 2 beats– Adjustability
• Canter or lope– 3 beats– Moment of suspension– Expression
http://kellyshorse.com/pages/4e%20Lope_JPG.htm
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1405/1455790457_4172bbe4a1.jpg
The Horse’s Gaits
• What impacts them?– Strength of horse– Balance of horse and rider– Tempo of horse and rider– Rhythm of horse and rider
Strength
http://www.mustangs4us.com/New4/09-08-07%20Dome%20Rock%20Trail%20Ride%20014_small.jpg
Balance
• Longe work• Hill work• Flexibility work• Strengthen abdominal
muscles
Rhythm vs. Tempo
• What is the difference?
• Rhythm or “beats”• Tempo or “speed”• How do we control it?• What influences it?
Why do you listen to MUSIC?
• Relaxation• Motivation• Excitement• Fun
How does MUSIC impact us?
• What defines music?
• What kind of music?
• What happens to these physiological functions?– Pulse rate– Muscle movement– Breathing patterns– Mood
A Little Research
• Tell me the following as you listen– My mood is . . . – My heart rate is . . . – My breathing is . . . – My muscles are . . .
Think about . . .
• Mood• Heart rate• Breathing rate• Muscles
How About Here?
• Mood . . . • Heart rate . . . • Breathing . . . • Muscles . . .
This one . . .
How Do We Combine Music and Riding?
• Fun• Relaxation• Motivation• Competition• Entertainment
Watch the Horses During Music vs. None
Relax
Regulate
The German Training Scale
Collection*
Contact
Rhythm
Suppleness
Impulsion
Straightness
Music & Horses
• Some horses have musical preferences• Use your imagination• Make it fun
Acknowledgements & Resources
• Thanks to Mark Bailey, Ann Newton, Kelly Quesinberry, Kate Shoup, Kim Thomas, and to Lucky Cricket Farm for their help with the horses and the music
• For further reading . . . – Anderson, Libby and Leigh Ann Hazel-Groux,
2003. Dancing with your Horse.– Zettl, Walter, 1998. Dressage in Harmony:
from Basic to Grand Prix.
Thank you!