April RIDE BETTER CLINIC at Warfield Park

We were blessed with perfect weather, footing and friends for the first RIDE BETTER clinic of the year. Many thanks to the five dedicated riders that came to learn. I took my three young horses to ride also and make use of the great facility. Many thanks to Hannah and her staff for her hospitality and for having the facility in tip top shape.

We always start with flatwork. It is a review for the familiar with the system and an introduction for the newer riders to the group. As it was the first session of the year, I start with what I call stop and go, to check the brakes and adjustability and size of stride. What is your horse thinking while you are riding him? Is he nervous, anxious, inattentive, spooky in a new place?

While doing this I am assessing the alignment of the rider to the horse and watching the location and application of the stop aid.This will lead to more advanced adjustability exercises. Everything in riding is cumulative. If your horse doesn't want to stop, if he leans ,pulls , or passes your aid physically or mentally I will work on this until the rider understands the true benefits of submission!

It is important the rider understands the theory of how a horse thinks and reacts [ or evades] to your aids. We discuss location of the aids meaning the how to the where and when to ask your horse to come back to you. Often it is surprising to riders how much I mean. So when you say wait to your horse you really mean it.If they wont wait they wont stop well. They wont be adjustable.

We also used poles on the ground that were set at normal distances but riders thought they were very short. I feel there is always confusion in understanding the term "forward". To me it refers only to a direction. Not energy, size of stride or volume. It took me AGES to figure that out. I find the majority of people ride their horses in a stride that is too open, strung out and the horses are not thinking about their back ends at all , leading to a downhill way of going.

I felt the riders learned a lot about the three ways to adjust your horse and keep him thinking about you. Longitudinal, lateral and vertical aids.

Riders progressed from trotting into the line of 6 poles to cantering out to changing leads on the landing and get away and flying changes.They made sure they learned to adjust and talk to their horses continually around the ring. I was thrilled and impressed with their efforts and results! This is pretty good for the first session of the year! Now not everyone does that. Some people had to stabilize the gaits first but they darn sure knew what to work on in the end! Mistakes are welcome. That's how we learn. And we had lots of time to give everyone a chance in a relaxed manner.

While I do wish more people would come, or at least watch for FREE, I do not like being rushed by the clock while teaching.The lessons are by the concept not the clock. Of course if there are more riders we have to stay on schedule. When riders feel they have had enough they are free to say so. That is called rider responsibility.

Sunday we started again over the same pole exercise then added two jumps. Again we worked on the attitude of the horse. Did he rush, get anxious, think the line was a big oxer and over jump? We are looking for the horses to leave the exercise lighter and calmer than he went in. Balance means not pulling. The riders were phenomenal. Flying changes and correct landings were everywhere rather than bolting off in a cross canter! I was truly impressed.

Cross country came after that. Now most people think cross country means galloping. I am less interested in the gallop and more interested in the balance (not pulling) and the reception of the riders aids. How quickly did the horse respond to their rider?

NOTHING teaches the rider a better cross country position that going downhill or riding drops. Learning to jump from the walk teaches horses to engage behind. it teaches the rider how to sit and how active they need to be to give that message at take off. Cantering away from the jump and then a clear stop creates engagement. trotting away signifies lack of engagement. we want the horses to be mentally and physically connected to their hind ends. so we started out walking up banks to develop pushing power and cantering away for engagement and connection. then the riders had to get an uphill stop.horses must not think run away. they need to know there will be another adjustment after each jump.

Drops were next. I always liked the expression, "drip off the drops".We want to discourage launching.Riders needed to work hard to keep their positions upright on landing and then of course train the stop.There is always some other question after a drop and riders must learn how to reorganize for the next question.

We went onto add jumps, turns and changes of the canter stride. Riders were directed to emulate that small bouncy canter they had in the morning session before they were allowed to canter on. Most of the time riders lose the mental connection of their horse when traveling on an open , large stride.

Riders were cooked after all that information and went home smiling and pooped out.

Then it was time for me to ride! I haven't schooled anything cross country in years due to injury. Ha. I had three first timers. I walked and catered away from tiny jumps.I just asked these babies to sight the jumps . hop and canter away and stop.We jumped lots of small logs and a few house looking things. It took me three hours to ride them all. I had a great friend video the sessions. I was delighted with my horses. It was fun to be back in the saddle.

Our next clinic at Warfield Park is May 10 and 11. Please come join us. Contact Hannah or visit Warfield Park or www.ridebetterwithlellie.com for link to enter.