STAGES OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Performance success for both horse and rider depends upon the progression of mastering skills.

1. perceiving
2. patterning

1 & 2.... movements occur in right order but not smooth

3. adapting
4. refining

3 & 4.... particular skill executed under changing conditions

5, 6 & 7 performance situations

Define the skills required by horse / rider for the particular discipline or activity; competition hunter, jumpers, equitation or recreational jumping. Coach and rider can better understand which stage the horse & rider are with mastering the skills required.

Example of a few skills required for riding a Hunter course:

Horse:

• Stay in balance with rider

• Develop physical co-ordination; technique for jumping, maintaining canter step between jumps, balance through corners, straightness

• Understand communication of the various rider aids

• Take off distances to jump

• Concentration / attention

• Problem solving

• Memory retrieval, patterns

• Create trust

Rider:

• Stay in balance with horse

• Apply aids for communication to the horse

• Feel for rhythm

• Strategies: precision planning of pattern, corners, straight lines

• Take off distances

• Concentration / Attention

• Problem solving

• Anticipation

• Memory retrieval

• Create trust