Lightness Foundation April 2014 Newsletter

UPDATES TO THE LIGHTNESS AND GAMES TESTS AND RULES

The Lightness Foundation has had two lightness tournaments and participated in a show in the last year. Since we are constantly striving for excellence, we have made a few updates to the tests, score sheets and rules of the Lightness and games classes.

We have added a presentation score to the lightness and games classes. We feel that following the traditions of the tack and attire for the discipline you have chosen to represent is very important. We also feel that presenting your horse clean, clipped and mane/tail groomed according to the discipline is just as important.

We are going to now allow the riders to see their scores from technical composition and artistic presentation in the lightness tests. We feel that allowing the riders to see these scores will help them know what they performed well and the areas that can be improved.

Here are the links to the new tests, score sheets and rules. All of the changes are in red:
Lightness Tests
Lightness Rules
Game score sheets
Game rules

LIGHTNESS TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

We have created a video of some of the classes from the 2013 Colorado Lightness Tournament. The video shows quick examples from each of the classes or disciplines. We have links for a full class example on our website. Enjoy!

Click here to view the video

UPCOMING EVENTS

The following are clinics being given in the next month:

Clinic Working Equitation - Doma Vaquera de Trabajo – April 5-6th
Loma Vista Farm
15217 E. Rio Verde Drive
Scottsdale, Arizona 85262

Alta Escuela Basic Levels Clinic - April 19-20th
Haras Dos Cavaleiros
26427 Peden Road
Magnolia, Texas 77355

Collection for Dummies II - May 3-4th
Ghost Rider Ranch
100 West Noe Road
Larkspur, CO 80118

Lightness, Proof of Balance III of IV - May 10-11
4 Winds Equestrian Center, LLC
9031 Hwy 337
Estancia, NM 87016

For more information on these clinics, click here.

Pencil in your agenda the next exciting events to participate in the Lightness and other classes:

Colorado Lightess Tournament
Golden, CO
August 30 - 31 2014

Go to the Lightness Foundation website for more details, coming soon. Don't miss these opportunities to ride with us!

Q&A of the Month

We asked a few questions to Manuel Trigo we thought would be helpful.

Q: What are the judging criteria for the Spanish Walk?

A: There are many criteria involved in judging the spanish walk (SW). It is not only how big the Jambette or for how long the horse keeps it for every step. First, it is a walk and the characteristics of the walk have to be preserved. Most of the people watching the spanish class don't realize that the jambette is only one part of the SW.

So, what is the SW?
-In this movement, the horse raises the foreleg off the ground in an extreme upward and -forward motion with a lot of expression and cadence.
-The walk cadence should be maintained and the focus is on the front legs
-The steps should be even, balanced and cadenced without rushing
-It should be performed in a calm and cadenced manner while remaining in a light contact with the bit with a round back

As you can see in the score sheet for the SW (click here for the score sheet, click here for rules) in the context of the Lightness Tournament, the following criteria are scored from 0-10:
-Cadence: the slower with impulsion the more magnificent
-Regularity: Each step the same way, no breaks, no loss of balance, etc
-Elevation: Elevation of the jambette and how much the horse stitches its foreleg at the horizontal
-Straightness: straightness in the body of the horse. He should not be crooked, bending in one direction or swinging from left to right
-Engagement of hind legs: if the horse is tracking or passing the track of the foreleg, like in a regular walk
-Discretion of the riders aids: how discreet the rider uses his/her aids
-20 seconds: if the horse keeps the SW for 20 seconds without interruption
-Presentation: how well the horse is groomed and tacked up for the class
Those criteria totals 80 points and the participant with the highest score is the winner of the class.

Q: If I mastered my Level I in Lightness, can I re-ride to try to master with brilliance?

A: Of course, yes! Actually this should be a goal for all riders. After mastering a level, the rider should strive for mastering with brilliance at the next Lightness Tournament. Light, Lighter, Lightest....remember?! This is a process of getting better and better. The riders should challenge themselves after mastering a level to strive for brilliance as well as participating in the next level. This is will keep the horse and rider on a training schedule with clear goals, as well as looking for challenges. However, to participate at a higher level the previous level must be at least mastered.

If there are any questions you would like answered, please send them to info@lightnessfoundation.com

MEMBER OF THE MONTH

Now for the Member Spotlight that we have all been waiting for! (drum roll please)

The Darlings of the 1st Lightness Tournament: The Fabulous Family!

Camryn & Bria McGrath, with their Mother, Debra Whitman

“Such an amazing journey from where we started with the Fjords leaning heavy on the bit, to how light they are now! First, I would teach the horses how to do things by lessoning with Manuel , and then teach the girls.” Debra Whitman

Want to know more about ? Click here

HERO OF THE MONTH

Our Hero for April 2014 is Marc Dinnerstein.

Marc credits Manuel Trigo as an inspiration and a mentor. Marc and Wendy Dinnerstein come from a Natural Horsemanship background, and have been so excited and inspired how Manuel takes dressage, Working Equitation, Doma Vaquera from the perspective of the original Baroque Masters of Horsemanship; which really is “natural horsemanship.”

Click here to read about this month's hero

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