Debbie Kay Sams - Storey Publishing

Debbie Kay Sams has written for Practical Horseman, Equine Journal, and Instructor magazines. For many years she has organized and led drill-team riding for all ages at her stable and at her local 4H camp. Sams is a member of the Eastern New York Dressage and Combined Training Association.

Books by Debbie Kay Sams

101 Drill Team Exercises for Horse & Rider

Build teamwork and good horsemanship as you work through these fun and rewarding exercises. With clearly drawn arena diagrams and step-by-step instructions for each exercise, your team will become a cohesive unit as you progress from basic skill-building drills to fun and challenging synchronized formations. Debbie Kay Sams even includes 10 complete performance routines with choreography that incorporates the skills and exercises you’ve mastered. Get ready to dazzle the crowd at your next event!
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Related Articles

Drill Team 101 — Opposing Spirals

Opposing Spirals on the Diagonal 1 Here’s how: Form two lines. Ride across the diagonal from F and H toward X. At X do a spiral/reverse. Continue back to the corner your line started at. Note: X is … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Plugged In at Canter, Plugged In at Lope: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Plugged in at Canter, Plugged in at Lope Seat Connection Problem: Leaning forward or backward Leaning forward or backward works against the horse and unplugs the seat bones. Leaning forward causes you to bounce. Leaning backward will cause you to be left behind … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Plugged In at the Walk, Plugged In at the Trot: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Plugged In at the Walk At the walk you will feel and move with the swinging motion of the horse. Some horses have a side-to-side sort of swing. Others swing the rider’s hips forward and back. And still others have a combination of forward, back, … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Plugged In on a Turn: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Being Plugged In on a Turn The turning plug: When turning, the plugged-in seat bones will turn along with the hips and torso. This tells the horse that a turn is in order (Illus. 44). Imagine you have flashlights or eyes on your hips and … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Getting Plugged In: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Getting Plugged In Problem Imagine that your seat bones are the prongs on an electrical plug. When the plug is falling out of the wall outlet, your appliance cannot do its job properly because it is lacking a consistent connection. The plug must … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Not Using Shock Absorbers: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Not Using Shock Absorbers Problem The hip, knee, ankle, and lower back joints are stiff, not allowing absorption of the shock (Illus. 42A). Solution Know where the shock absorbers are and how to use them … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Twisting: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Twisting Problem The pelvis is turning so that one seat bone is sitting farther ahead than the other. This also causes one shoulder to be placed farther forward than the other shoulder. It is possible for only the shoulders to be twisted, but … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Collapsing Hip: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Collapsing Hip Usually, a rider is not aware that she is collapsing on one side, but this is a very common problem. Take time to evaluate whether you have even contact with both seat bones. If not, you are in danger of being unseated and … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Looking Down: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Looking Down Looking ahead will help you stick to your horse. Here’s how: Problem When you look down, your whole torso is thrown off balance. The head is very heavy, so its weight pulls your torso forward. To compensate, the spine curves, trying … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Heels Up: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Heels Up When your heels are up, you are in diving position. Unless you are in the lake, I do not recommend diving off your horse. It has been known to be hazardous to your health. Problem

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Behind the Motion: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Problem There is trouble brewing if you are leaning behind the motion. When you are behind the center of balance, you are more likely to get left behind and fall off backward if your horse makes a sudden move. Have someone watch you ride or … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Gripping with Knees: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Gripping with knees When your horse spooks, your first reaction is to grip tight with your knees. After all, you want to stay on, right? Well, yes, staying on is the priority, but gripping with the knees is not the key to sticking … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Toes and Knees Turned Out: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Problem Many people naturally toe out when they walk. Therefore, it is only natural for them to turn their toes out when riding (Illus. 24); it feels more comfortable that way. A little bit of toeing out is acceptable and even desired. There are several … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Knees and Heels Creeping Up: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Problem Tension in the leg muscles causes the knees and heels to creep up. You will notice this most often when you are learning something new (Illus. 21). Illus. 21 Problem: Knees and heels creeping … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Rounded Shoulders, Collapsed Chest: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Problem The root of this problem is often that the rider has her hips tilted backward and chest collapsed. The shoulders just add to the fetal position (Illus. 19). When an adult female rider’s shoulders are rounded, you will notice that her bra strap often … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Torso Leaning Forward, Collapsed Chest: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Problem The rider collapses the chest by allowing the rib cage to sink toward the abdomen in a somewhat fetal position (Illus.17). This position is a natural defense position that is detrimental to riding because it will cause the rider to bounce and not be … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Arched Back — Horeserider’s Problems and Solutions

Problem The root of the problem is that the rider is tipping her hips forward. This causes the back to arch and the seat bones to not be connected to the horse. It also causes the rider’s shoulders to lean forward, which can put the … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
A Deep-Seat: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

Each week during this series I will present a rider problem that interferes with a deep seat and rider stick-to-it-itiveness. Stiff rider: Not breathing Illus. 7, 8 Problem When you notice that a rider is sitting very stiffly and … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Deep Seat versus Light Seat: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

The deep seat can be defined as sitting in the center of the saddle with both seat bones firmly connected to the saddle. The pelvis moves with the motion of the horse. The seat is tucked deep into the saddle, and the back is flat, … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams
Sticking to Your Horse with a Deep Seat: Horserider’s Problems and Solutions

A deep seat is essential for every rider to learn, whether she is headed for bronc riding, jumping, or dressage. The ability to stick to a horse is paramount when riding. Once a rider learns to ride in a deep seat, she will have the … Read More

Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

by Debbie Kay Sams

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