The group of keen newcomers/introductory riders
The second day of the Chris Burton clinic in Canberra saw all the riders looking forward to a cross country lesson. I followed a group of newcomer/introductory riders as they headed out to the course.
Amy and Perry
Amy Holland spoke about her pinto gelding, Wat Imperial, more affectionately known as Perry. “He’s four years old … after yesterday’s lesson I’m really happy with him because he proved himself as a jumper. I’m very excited to get lessons with Chris. I’ve seen him ride at Melbourne 3 day event and he is always good to watch - he does everything right for the horse. The best part of the clinic has been seeing Chris get on other peoples horses and prove it’s not the horse’s fault. You can see they not being naughty for the sake of it they just don’t understand”. Amy hopes to compete in newcomers early next year and work her way up slowly from there. After seeing other riders push their young horses too high too fast she wants to take it slow with Perry. The combination hopes to be competing at the young event horse class in Sydney in April next year.
Perry takes a good look at what is coming up next
During the lesson Amy and Perry had some trouble at the ditch. The way that Chris wanted the riders to approach the fence was different to anything they’d experienced. He asked the riders to trot straight towards the ditch then a few strides out walk and let the horse look at the ditch while lengthening their reins so the horse can stretch the neck down. The horse is allowed to stand still but if they take a step back they must be kicked (but only once), if they turn to the side they must be corrected with the opposite rein. None of the horses were being kicked towards the ditch but they all kept going towards it – they all knew what the riders wanted without being nagged with leg aids. “It was something that took a bit of getting used I was always told in pony club to kick and keep kicking till they go over but Chris only wanted us to kick once,” Amy said after her lesson.
Sophie and Tahlia chat about their lesson
Tahlia Wells from Young NSW was riding Wundurra Revelation (Guy) and was very pleased with the instruction she received from Chris. She’d never had a lesson with him and didn’t know what to expect. “It was a great lesson. He was nice, some Olympians don’t care about kids but he helped everyone the same.” Tahlia’s gelding, Guy, is a 5 year old stock horse and today was only his second time out on a cross country course. Tahlia will be training Guy herself as an eventer whilst getting help from riders like Chris Burton. She knows it will be hard work but she believes that Guy has the makings of a great little horse. “I want to event him and next year the plan is to do introductory level at EA and some pony club events,” Tahlia said.
Another rider from Young NSW, Sophie Parish, found that the cross country lesson was helpful and relevant. “The lesson gave me a lot of techniques that are helpful,” Sophie said while waiting to wash down her horse Shadow who is a 10 year old ex-showjumper. “My horse was a showjumper but we’re just getting into eventing. We will do some competitions in Young and Canberra at introductory level and maybe carry on to a higher level during the year,” Sophie told me.
Two happy riders and two happy horse- well okay one looks a little grumpy!
Natalie Doolan also hopes to compete at introductory level next year on her 13 year old gelding Eddie. “I’ve only had Eddie for six months so we haven’t done much competing yet but I’m looking forward to doing introductory next year,” Natalie said after her lesson. “I had no idea what to expect from the lesson but I was very happy with it and I learnt a lot”.
Natalie and Eddie learning to go forward
During the cross country lesson Natalie had a very stylish fall, which saw her rolling down over Eddie’s neck when he stopped at a painted fence. Chris then hopped on and schooled him, demonstrating that when you ask the horse to go forward he must listen. As he jumped Eddie he also showed his students how to use a whip effectively, “to make sure this horse doesn’t stop on you again today” Chris said before he cantered away. On his approach to the fence he took the reins in one hand, ensured that the horse would reach the fence at a good distance, and smacked the horse on take-off. Chris believes that riding the horse this way makes them listen to the rider because they know if they don’t go forward when being asked they will get a smack. Natalie found Chris riding her horse ‘very exciting’ and well worth the fall!
Natalie, still smiling after her fall
For those of you who didn’t manage to attend a clinic with Chris Burton book yourself in for one next year – you’re sure to learn something!
Article and photos: Elizabeth Habermann
