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How to plan a free workout At some point in your showing career you will probably have to do a workout of your own choice for a judge. The “Free Workout” is usually asked for in Champion or Supreme Champion events. I’m sure that free workouts would be asked for more often at shows if there was time to do so. The structure of shows in recent years (particularly with the introduction of 3 ring shows) forces judges to judge in a very efficient manner because if they don’t they would still be judging at 5pm. Personally, I am a supporter of the free workout. For five years, when I was in charge of the VASA Saddle Horse Championships, I insisted that all finals be free workouts. It created a competitor friendly show which was different to the other major HOTY show and made the finals more interesting from a spectator point of view. The benefits of a free workout are many. From a competitor’s aspect, all of the horse’s strengths can be emphasised and his weaknesses either omitted altogether or, at least, kept to a minimum. The pressure of accurately completing a complex workout is removed. This creates more relaxed, confident work and often work that pushes a partnership to their maximum abilities. From a judge’s aspect, the judge gets to see every horse performing its best work. It also removes the temptation to penalise horses for minor hiccups in the work. Sometimes a judge will stipulate certain things he would like to see within the free workout. For example, a judge may say that he would like see the horse work on both reins, show some extension in trot and canter but the rest is up to the competitor. These elements would be advisable in any case. The important things to keep in mind are; 1. Don’t make the workout resemble an endless list of dressage movements you can barely do. A flying change, for example, is appropriate if you can do it well. However, any judge would prefer to see a smooth, relaxed, obedient simple change (through the walk) rather than a tense and unconvincing flying change. 2. Don’t get carried away and remain working longer than is appropriate. Often, less is best. You would be surprised what work you can put together in a smooth flowing routine in under 3 minutes. Try it at home when you have devised a few test workouts. 3. If you have enough room to gallop, this can be effective towards the end of your workout as long as it is controlled. If not, it looks disastrous and is probably unsafe. However, even a strong canter (in a forward seat) around your ring can look very impressive. Follow this with a halt which lasts for a good 5 or 6 seconds to show relaxation, obedience and control. 4. Use diagonal lines across the ring to show some good medium trot (or extended trot if you have one). By activating the horse through a corner, prior to extending on the diagonal, you should get some impressive work. 5. Finally, a halt at the end, a salute to indicate to the judge that you have finished and the final 15 or 20 metres back the line up at a free walk on a loose rein indicates to the judge that your horse can do some forward, expressive work yet can finish totally relaxed. One last thing to keep in mind is to be flexible. Remember the judge doesn’t know what you are about to do. If something happens that you didn’t intend to do, sometimes quick thinking can save the day. ie: A wrong canter lead – if you have room, just take that new direction. Who knows that you didn’t intend to do that except you? Now get busy and plan yourself a workout! Leigh |
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