Hidden Spring Farm

𝗔 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 (𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀):

Most of the time, it’s not the judge.

When I watch tests back with riders, the issue is rarely the movement itself.

It’s the basics underneath it.

Here are 𝟲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 — 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁 👇

1️⃣ 𝗔 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱

If the horse loses balance, changes rhythm, or drops onto the forehand,

the transition wasn’t good — even if it was on the letter.

2️⃣ 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁

Straight lines need to be straight.

Circles need to be round.

“Nearly right” geometry is an easy way to lose marks.

3️⃣ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱

Impulsion is engagement and connection.

If the horse is running or the contact isn’t consistent, the movement won’t score.

4️⃣ 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲

If you’re crooked, the horse will be crooked.

If you’re busy, the horse will be tight.

Good riding is quiet, stable, and clear.

5️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

The way you enter, halt, and present the horse sets the tone.

It’s not about being fancy — it’s about being organised and confident.

6️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

You either look at the test honestly…

or you start blaming away.

Only one of those leads to better scores next time.

Most riders don’t need harder movements.

They need to make the simple things 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.

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Great weekend in Aiken at Bruce’s Field! First show for both Nicole Kriak and her horse Nic. They had excellent scores in the mid 60s in all four rides! Diane Ritz rode Paramour, owned by Elizabeth Brown, in his first show as well. Paramour won both of his Materiale classes with excellent remarks from both judges and scored 83.5% on his very first test! Both of these young horses handled the horse show environment like seasoned competitors, which is impressive considering they are 7 and 5 years old!!!