Equestrian Clinics

Yesterday, I audited Linda Allen’s clinic hosted by Liz Denny’s Show Stables in Somis, CA.

http://www.lizdenny.com/news.html

During the session I attended, I was reminded of how beneficial participating in clinics is in our never-ending journey towards better riding. There was a girl in the session I was watching that was a very good rider but also fell prey to some of the same mistakes I make when I ride: over-active hands. As I am coming out of a turn I tend to pick, pick pick…take and take if I don’t see a distance then wind up burying my horse or over adjusting with my reins in an attempt to get him straight and wind up bulging. The mistakes this girl made were far less than the ones I make, but the principle was still the same. So when a world-class trainer such as Linda Allen started giving her advice I leaned forward in anticipation as I knew it was like she was talking to me.

Linda explained that this girl had to fight her natural instinct to override. “The most important thing here is to get organized and balanced in the corner, with the right pace, then…DO  NOTHING. You have to get out of your horse’s way.”

This is the exact same message my trainer, Patrick Spanton, was telling me two days earlier as I picked, picked, picked at my horse into a nice chip. I have learned so much training with him because he explains things in a way and trains in a series of steps that I can really learn. Not just do as you are told learning…but really understanding the concept and the feeling of riding it right kind of learning.

Sitting on the sidelines at Linda Allen’s clinic I had a similar experience. She explained the why behind the correction in a way that made me understand the correct ride. I found myself seeing the issues three or four strides out as well as seeing that the rider too understood the teaching point and nailed it. And that was a nice learning experience for us both.