Antoine Nowakowski – brief encounter

Antoine Nowakowski – brief encounter

Leading dressage rider and trainer, Frenchman Antoine Nowakowski, shares with us his lockdown experience, which includes some very brave training practices!

A less structured approach

Like many peers, Antoine found his equestrian activities curtailed during the COVID-19 lockdown period, with public gatherings in his home-country of Belgium shutdown mid-March, and non-essential international travel banned later that month. The livery and training yard that Antoine runs with his partner Yanna Denis, Ecuries du Moulin, was forced to adapt to the new guidelines, and training of the horses became a lot more relaxed and less structured.

“It’s true that management of the horses during the lockdown was very different than normal,” Antoine explains. “As all the competitions were cancelled, Yanna and I wondered whether we should give horses a break, or keep them fit in case of a re-start of competitions.”

Trying out new things

With Governments advising against riding outside of one’s property, many riders were forced to focus on arena-based training, or riding within the curtails of their facility. But with no set idea of how long the restrictions would last, this indeterminable time could have proved unstimulating for horses used to the thrill of top level competition. “We didn’t want the dressage horses to be too bored with the constant training of exercises in the manege - but giving them a rest was also a bit challenging,” Antoine remembers. “If we did rest the horses, and then if dressage competitions restarted sooner than expected, we wouldn’t have been prepared for the ‘D Day’,” he continues, “ so we decided to try a few new things.”

Bridleless riding

Antoine’s top rider Quatergirl was subsequently enlisted into a new regime of bridleless riding! Pioneered by natural horsemanship trainers, bridleless riding is said to be one of the clearest illustrations of the connection between a horse and rider. “It’s a beautiful example of horsemanship. It employs the use of relief and release, and is a true test of not only your relationship, bit also your seat and body aids, and accuracy. It takes some practice!” Antoine explains. “Not having the bridle, just using a neckstrap for balance and an element of control, really allows the horse the freedom to go forward; it shows you that you can control your horse’s direction using your seat, bodyweight and leg aids.”

Not content with trying out this new training method, Antoine also tried his hand at jumping (“Very small!”) – and then, feeling very adventurous, and with immense trust in the mare, bridleless jumping! “It was really fun!”

This ingenious way of keeping training varied has meant that the seven year old Quatergirl kept her fitness and muscle-tone without her usual training regime, and was also kept mentally stimulated. “The mare was perfectly fit and happy when competitions restarted,” Antoine says.

A PB for Quatergirl

When restrictions eased, the Ecuries du Moulin team started planning their training and competing schedule, welcoming 5* dressage judge Isabelle Judet for a clinic, and venturing out to shows again. With a couple of events under his belt once lockdown was relaxed, and very pleasing mid-70s percentage scores, the team’s hard work was clearly paying off. Then Antoine and Quatergirl gained a personal best of 78.7 % in the seven year class at Saint-Trond National, winning the class in style.

The bridleless training has certainly been working well for this exciting pairing - Antoine’s is now aiming for the selection for the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in December, in Germany, and we wish him all the best.

Comfort and performance

Antoine is a big fan of Derriere riding underwear. “Remember that when the rider is comfortable within the saddle, they can move more easily with the horse’s gait. Comfortable underwear and breeches are a must and the Derriere Equestrian range is designed for both men and women; it’s hard to find great riding underwear for men, but I find these products excel at their job, offering exceptional comfort and performance,” he concludes.

 

Antoine and Yanna advise that you should only try bridleless riding only on a horse you know very well, have adequate control over, that’s highly trained to accept leg and seat aids. “Ride in a manege, and start carefully in walk, with a helper to ensure your safety,” Antoine suggests.

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“This what I have always dreamed of…” Showjumper and Derriere Equestrian ambassador Bex Mason shares hew news and views.

 BRIEF ENCOUNTER

 “This what I have always dreamed of…”

 Showjumper and Derriere Equestrian ambassador Bex Mason shares hew news and views.

Bex Mason has worked for many years breaking in horses and competing at an international level with elite riders such as Tina and Graham Fletcher, and Ludo Philleaperts. Bex specialises in producing competition horses, and has a strong team of up-and-coming, world class equine competitors. She runs popular showjumping clinics in Gloucestershire, and is the current Myloplast Foxhunter Masters National Champion with her ride Vancurtis, or Kimmy.

Bex Mason is the epitome of the hard-working showjumper, regularly taking multiples of horses to shows up and down the country, and heading to sunnier climes in Europe early spring. A busy schedule of producing and competing horses, peppered with occasional showjumping clinics when time allowed, was the norm for Bex until the end of 2019.

Time to reflect

A routine ankle operation in December came at the right time for Bex, at a quieter time of year, but it was not a time for festivities, as David Fudge, owner and breeder of horses including Bex’s top ride, Kimmy, very sadly passed away just after Christmas. 2019 had seen a very successful year for Bex and David, with wins on a number of his horses under Bex’s care at events including HOYS and Hickstead, and the prestigious Foxhunter Masters National Championship. His passing was a terrible blow to Bex. A freak fall in February 2020 saw the showjumper tear both ankle ligaments, so when lockdown came around, in some ways, she must have been ready to pause and take time to reflect, and slow down her busy schedule.

The resulting months in lockdown have been revelatory for Bex, allowing her to train at home, invest time in her coaching business, and devote time to self care and development.

She has subsequently spent the spring and summer working on the horses’ training, notably with her top ride, Kimmy, now part-owned by Bex, since David Fudge’s family gifted a half share in the horse to her.

 “I had some sad times with bereavement and other personal issues over Christmas, so in some ways, the recent, slower pace of life has been a blessing,” Bex says. “Lockdown has been crazy – we’d never have believed that such a situation would happen – but it’s allowed me to re-focus on my coaching,” says Bex, a British Showjumping accredited coach.

Incremental improvements

“After my fall, I ended up doing lots of work without stirrups, focussing on my core – I am now so much stronger! I did lots of schooling and also safe hacking without stirrups,” she explains. As part of her rider performance programme with Hartpury College, Bex has been working with senior equine science lecturer and osteopath, Liz Launder. “I regularly do exercises from the rider performance programme, which help give me incremental riding improvements; I work on my core, incorporating yoga stretches and working on my proprioception and flexibility,” Bex continues. “It’s all rider-focussed, so you perform the correct riding exercises out of the saddle; I have set routines that also help my ankle strength. Rider fitness and balance can be the decider between being placed or not – for example, if I land too much to the right with my bodyweight after a jump, and I need to turn left, that’s half a second gone. The programme has helped me immensely,” she says.

Appreciating the small things in life

Bex has also been working on her own mental health of late. “Every morning I wake up especially a little earlier, to meditate, and do some affirmations and journaling. I like to appreciate the little things in life – it gives me a really good start to the day,” she explains.

Bex’s horses have not been resting on their laurels either, during lockdown – normally the youngsters would be contesting age classes, but Bex says as they still have lots of growing to do, the lockdown period has allowed them valuable growing time. “Longevity is everything – there’s no rush for them,” Bex states.

 Kimmy will now be targeted at grand prix and international stairways classes, as well as the county circuit, and the Hickstead All England Jumping Championships at 1.40m. “There will also be some local shows to contest all year round to keep the horses ticking over, and then we will head to Spain or Portugal in February,” Bex explains. In fact, the rider is off imminently to a show at Rectory Farm with all seven horses in her string, including the nine year old Pure Pleasure, who’s competing at 1.30m, and the five year olds Korenosa and Feins Cornet. No rest for the wicked!

Taking a step back

Aside from the rewarding riding, Bex has seen her coaching business take off in 2020. “It’s given me a whole new perspective in terms of my business. “There’s a lot of ‘fluff’ in our usual lives, so it has been good to take a step a step back and see everything more clearly. It’s helped me see what’s important, and the balance I have now what I have always dreamed of; good horses, good people, living my dream,” she explains. “With lockdown, some horses got sent home to their owners, so I had my four that I own, or part own, and more time on my hands. I got together with my friend Rachel, who also grooms for me, and we started the clinics – I am so enjoying the coaching,” Bex says. “This year has reignited my passion for training, and I feel like I have a really good balance of riding and coaching now,” Bex concludes.

Ultimate comfort

For ultimate comfort in the saddle, so you’re not thinking about discomfort when trying to hone your sitting trot, try the Derriere Equestrian DE SPORT Seamless Shorty, in male and female designs, designed to eradicate seamlines visible through breeches, and ensure no rubbing, chaffing or abrasions. The new, integrated waistband further ensures no restriction or discomfort for the wearer. Visit http://www.derriereequestrian.com.

“I find myself expressing love for my Derrieres daily,” Bex says of the underwear range. “I openly discuss the results and versatility of the products, whether it’s to customers at my yard, or fellow competitors at shows; I don’t even realise I’m doing it - these pants change riders’ lives!”

www.derriereequestrian.com 

Sitting pretty – how to develop a more effective sitting trot, with dressage riders Matthew Burnett and Laura Eve Thyer

We asked two of our Derriere Equestrian dressage ambassadors, Matthew Burnett and Laura Eve Thyer, to share some top tips for achieving that elusive, harmonious sitting trot. Read more about Mat and Laura far-below.

The facts: Under British Dressage rules, trot work may be ridden sitting or rising for all tests at Elementary level and below. At Medium level, all trot work must be ridden sitting except extended/Medium trot movements, which may be ridden in rising. At Advanced Medium level and above, sitting trot is mandatory.

Let’s look at why the scales of training require sitting trot after a certain level. It isn’t for aesthetics. Sitting rather than rising allows you to stay in harmony with the movement of the horse, while maintaining your position over his centre of gravity; a good sitting trot allows the horse’s movement and own posture to be optimised, not compromised. The rider’s aids can be used more subtly and effectively!

Balance and ‘feel’

“Sitting trot can be used for the training and improvement of all horses. You will forge a stronger connection in your partnership, and sitting trot can be especially useful to engage the horse’s hocks, and perform the more advanced movements,” Mat Burnett explains. “It is also essential for your balance and rider ‘stickability’, and will give you a far better feel for the way the horse is working beneath you than rising. Because all of the elements and objectives being worked on en-route to Medium level are extensive, the rider’s pelvic and hip mobility develops over time, as they move up the scales of training. In fact, the strength and muscle memory is often found in the rider’s thigh; as the hip joint extends and flexes, the thigh absorbs the movement from the higher joints,” Mat adds.

A neutral spine

“Perhaps one of the most common issues seen with less experienced riders is a sort of protective, flexed position, when the seat bones angle too far back in the saddle,” Laura Eve explains. “You can push your pelvis forward and your bottom back, to recreate this off the horse, and will feel an exaggerated curve in the lumbar area of your back. The other extreme is to tuck the pelvis under and extend the back, which often looks as if you’re sitting behind the vertical. In fact, in between the two extremes is where the pelvis is most comfortable, akin to a ‘neutral spine’ in pilates or yoga. It’s this ‘middle ground’ position, with ‘engaged’ yet relaxed thighs, that allows a nice sitting trot to develop in dressage.”

Girding the loins

The main hip flexor muscles in our body are the ‘iliacus’, covering the wide pelvic bone, and ‘psoas major’ which connects the lumbar vertebrae. The name ‘psoas’ is of Greek origin, meaning ‘muscle of the loin’ – so, to coin the biblical phrase, it’s time to Gird Your Loins, or prepare and strengthen! Effective hip flexing, and thus sitting trot, requires a strong core, so in order to be effective, you will need to develop and strengthen the muscles that support both the pelvis and the spine, including those in your bottom, back muscles, stomach and hips. Postural work like yoga and pilates may help.

“In terms of mounted exercises, you could start by working without stirrups. Start by crossing your stirrups across the pommel to give you more depth of leg, keeping your legs long and low. Aim to be very upright in your body, but allow your hips to relax and absorb the movement of the horse,” Mat advises. “Send him forward from walk into a slow jog trot to ease you into the gait, and not bounce you out of the saddle. When you’re happy with this, ask for a little more impulsion, opening up into a working trot. Little and often is the way to accustom both of you to train in this way, if you’re still developing your sitting trot, which will soon become second nature. This could be part of your training every time you ride, gradually increasing the duration and tempo. You will probably also find working without stirrups useful when you’re working on leg yield, shoulder in and transitions. When regaining your stirrups, you may wish to lower them a hole or two.”

Utilising lungeing

“It is very easy to be out of ‘sync’ with sitting trot, bouncing against the movement, and going from the extended to flexed positions described earlier. But this will make your horse hollow, and inevitably you will be out of balance, says Laura Eve. “To avoid this happening, it is a good idea to sometimes be lunged in sitting trot without stirrups and not holding the reins, giving you the opportunity to concentrate solely on your position, whilst the control of the horse is in the hands of a friend or trainer. Once you feel more balanced and in sync with the horse, you can then add exercises with your hands and arms to ensure you are relaxed, and develop your core strength. You can then move on to controlling the horse’s gaits with your seat. This will ensure the horse is really listening to your seat aids, and develop your control for half halts and transitions” Laura Eve suggests.

For ultimate comfort in the saddle, so you’re not thinking about discomfort when trying to hone your sitting trot, try the Derriere Equestrian DE SPORT Seamless Shorty, in male and female designs, designed to eradicate seamlines visible through breeches, and ensure no rubbing, chaffing or abrasions. The new, integrated waistband further ensures no restriction or discomfort for the wearer. Visit http://www.derriereequestrian.com

Mat Burnett

Mat’s famous dressage training camps with originalequestrian.com are due to start running again shortly, and he’s also busy training clients at his Herefordshire-base. After spring’s lockdown, he has also been out competing, campaigning the eight year old Nibeley Black Pearl, and the nine year olds Graxieux SSH and Humus Von Singing at medium level, winning a clutch of regional classes. Mat also offers dressage training at his stables in Herefordshire and throughout the UK at various venues.

Laura Eve Thyer

Laura has been using the lockdown period to focus on training and plans for the future. She made the decision to try and breed her most advanced Dressage horse, Chablis Sinclair, during this ‘downtime’ period. Her younger prospect, Chianti, is about to make his competition debut, along with a young horse Florian, an exciting hope for the future.

www.derriereequestrian.com