Young Event Horse Symposium

I attended the Young Event Horse Symposium on Monday. It was basically in my backyard, although I did meet people who had travelled from Montana and Delaware for the symposium. The morning portion started with critiquing the gallop of two experienced event horses and then watching four young horses (two six year olds, one seven year old, and one four year old) tackle an actual YEH course. The panel and the riders then shared their thoughts. 

Buck's very nice gelding - the panel couldn't find anything they didn't like about his conformation

The afternoon session was a YEH Masterclass. Peter Gray discussed warm ups while Jon Holling and Leslie Law rode. Then they each discussed their rides. The second half featured Phillip Dutton and Olivia Dutton riding while Phillip discussed what they were doing and why.  

While I'm not sure I'd ever compete a horse in the YEH classes, particularly because they're geared towards future 4 and 5* horses, I did pick up many, many useful tidbits. 

Some of my favorite tidbits: 

• Especially with OTTBS: teach them to push from behind. Means letting them have their head up and out for a long time. Lots of transitions, changes in balance. Teach them to stay in a rhythm so they can soften and the rider can soften. If you have to hold they get tight and don’t follow through behind and have rails behind.
• Generally everyone preferred horses that tried a lot of different shapes over fences. One comment was that "even if they make a good shape if they make the same shape every time, that won't work for UL XC". But also, these are YOUNG horses, so they should be trying different things.
• Lesley Law pointed out that the pros give the same ride every time. No matter what the horse is doing under them, they focus on straightness, but NOT on the distance to the fence. She also said every single fence that a young horse jumps should have a rolled out ground line.
• The veterinarian on the panel emphasized the importance of hoof and distal limb conformation because that is where the vast majorities of unsoundness comes from. He said a longer ilium helps generate more power. He also commented on the thoroughbred's gallop that "desperation burns energy". He was more willing to forgive less than perfect distal limb conformation if the horse was very light on the ground and on its feet. He said that a downhill build will be hard on their SI as they collect.
• Alex O'Neal had one of my favorite comments about his young mare. She was hesitant coming to the first XC jump, but he just stayed balanced and clucked to her and she carried on forward albeit with a funky jump over the fence. Someone commented on his confidence and he said "Since we bred her, she's never been in an impossible situation. So when she says she's not sure, you just keep telling her she's okay and she'll keep trying" (forgive possible paraphrasing there)
• The hand has to follow in the canter. Lots of rhythm deficiencies are created by a still hand and trying to force too much collection too fast.

Even just watching all the riders was educational enough. They all had that steadiness and stillness no matter what the horse was doing.

Anyways, a short, picture deficient post, but it was certainly an educational experience and one I'd repeat again.