How I Prepare For Horsemanship With 2015 AQHYA World Champion Harley Huff
Harley Huff and GW Jack Bar
By: Brittany Bevis
Only a few days remain until the 2016 AQHA Youth World Championship Show kicks off in Oklahoma City. After months of preparation, the moment has almost arrived when each horse and rider team will enter through the Gateway of Champions in hopes of becoming the 2016 World Champion and snagging a coveted golden globe.
What better way to get some last minute advice on how to excel in the World Show arena than from riders who’ve done just that?! EquineChronicle.com is proud to present a new web series entitled How I Prepare For ______ With 2015 AQHYA World Champion _____. Stay tuned to EquineChronicle.com each day leading up to the Youth World for interviews with last year’s World Champions as they share tips on how they prepare physically and mentally for their respective disciplines, specific exercises they use to hone their skills, and their top three tips for those hoping to win a golden globe this year.
Stay tuned for How I Prepare For Showmanship With 2015 AQHYA World Champion Sydney Scheckel, How I Prepare For Working Hunter With 2015 AQHYA World Champion Emma Graf, How I Prepare For Equitation With Natalie Vargo, and more this week!
1. How did you go about preparing physically and mentally for your event last year?
“In preparing for the World Show, physically, I worked out and conditioned with my volleyball team, which made me fit and strong. I also wanted ‘George’ to be in the best shape that he could be in. Since I keep him at home, I could ride him multiple times a day. I also rode young horses in the barn, which helps me appreciate George. Mentally, I would read the pattern over and over and think in my head about what I needed to do when I’m actually doing the pattern. I spend a week before the World Show with John and Jill Briggs in Texas. Jill always tells me, ‘If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.’ That helps me not stress so much and worry about what might happen in the arena.”
2. Give some specific exercises and routines you used to hone both you and your horse’s skills.
“We think about all the maneuvers that might be in a World Show pattern and work on them individually. We also work patterns from previous World Shows. Knowing that all World Show patterns have several transitions in them, I practice those until I’m completely comfortable with how well George is responding to me. I also practice a lot without stirrups, both in patterns and rail work.”
3. What are the top three most important things to remember in this class if an exhibitor is hoping to take home a golden globe?
#1. Know your pattern! At this level, the judges will notice any little mistake and that could cause you not to make it back to the finals.
#2. Don’t overthink a certain maneuver. For example, if your horse doesn’t change leads as well in one direction, don’t stress about it too much. If you spend too much time stressing over it, something will go wrong for sure.
#3. Stay calm and don’t be nervous! Your horse will be able to feel how nervous you are and that nervousness will feed into him. Horses get nervous too!
4. If you could give one piece of specific advice to help competitors looking to come out on top in this event at the Youth World, what would it be?
“An important piece of advice for this class is to really trust your horse and know what his strengths and weaknesses are. Really show off his strengths and ride through the weaknesses to the best of your ability. Having a strong bond with your horse will really help you be able to trust him and help him be able to trust you. You have to really want it and go for it. I was always told that it’s better to go out there and ask a lot out of your horse and possibly have a big mistake than to be too conservative and not stand out to the judges. Believing in yourself and the connection you have with your horse will help you be successful!”
Check out other articles in this series below:
How I Prepare For Hunter Under Saddle With 2015 AQHYA World Champion Jenna Jacobs
