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!