Everyone says its good to be busy..........especially when you are doing something you love :)
However the horses are consuming every waking hour and I do love it, but hard to manage the office side of life!
So here we are on a dreadful rainy day in Florida. My lessons with Conrad Schumacher postponed and my horses relegated to walking the driveway in the rain!
But I get to catch up in the office, something that is not much fun, but necessary to having your own business.
Florida is the best place to be in January! We have had so many great learning opportunities and I also get to see many friends and colleagues from all over the world, here in my own town. Mr Schumacher is here for three weeks, so that is an inspiration, to watch his lessons and to get help with my own horses. Rein Van der Schaft has been here training as well and he has been a wonderful help and exciting to train with. We also went to watch Kyra for day at Jim Brandon doing a symposium. Super super trainer and teacher.
Quadrille practice has started! We are preparing for March 7 Breast Cancer benefit that will be held at The International Polo Club.
The shows are great. Nicole Nunez was here for two weeks from Venezuela for an intense dressage study course. She was able to show at the beautiful Global Dressage Grounds and rub elbows with the best in the warm up ring (literally :) What a fantastic experience for a junior rider and what a wonderful job she did on her tests, the first time competing at first level and everyday a better score on a brand new horse!!
Dhoppler competed in his first Prix St. Georges with no mistakes! And Noah also back in the ring at Prix St.Georges was a pleasure to show and I am looking forward to the end of the month when we will be competing again. In the meantime Noah and Dhoppler are perfecting their pirouettes and learning the relaxed way of doing piaffe and passage and the not yet relaxed way of doing one tempi's!
Andrea McCauley has moved in with her herd from New York and it is so much fun to have her sharing the farm. The environment for the horses is wonderful and a wonderful group of riders make everyday a pleasure.
Jenny Goad is here helping out and we are training her wonderful 4 year old mare Virtu. Monday we took Virtu and Pnut on a field trip and they were awesome. Virtu is green but handled the new environment very well and it is great to see how much they trust each other. Chanett was so great with Pnut for his first ride off the farm, we are very lucky that Chanett is helping us bring him along. Thank you to Adam Pollack for his generosity in letting us school at the beautiful White Fences Equestrian Center.
Rosie has arrived from New York and Ariella will be joining us for the weekends to start to prepare for the NAJYRC qualifying competitions. Very exciting and a joy to work with.
Linda Powers is also her in Florida for the first time and we are putting her Hanoverian gelding Sam back to work after an injury. In the meantime though Linda has been helping me leg up Alexis for the Challenge, that is a hard job! Alexis is still feeling great at 22!
My super star Judith has been doing fantastic with Omar and what fun to see them progressing every day. Omar does not know what happened to him, but life is not the same since Judith decided to get serious about this dressage stuff and Omar has to really get his butt in gear!
Jeanette is here from Canada and brings us tails everyday of our poor friends in the North. A worse winter I do not think we have ever seen........and Figo is also working hard with a very determined Jeanette, poor boys, they thought Florida was for vacation!
The lessons are all so much fun. I am so lucky to be able to work with this fantastic group of horses and riders.
My own horses are doing great and we will write more soon, I promise!
Happy Riding!!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Clinics
Middle of September, honestly where does the time go? Last week we hosted the USDF Platinum Performance Junior Young Rider Clinic with George Williams. This was just great! A super group of talented riders from Region 8 training with a fantastic teacher. What an awesome weekend. George was incredibly precise, patient and a wealth of knowledge. He was candid in his lunch lectures and amazingly energetic all the way to the last lessons. My favorite part of the clinic was walking in on the first lesson and hearing George ask "how many beats in the walk?" ....."and in what order do they go?". That was music to my ears! then thru the whole weekend basics, basics, basics. Yes we saw lots of movements, but never loosing site of the real picture. There was no finagling, just good preparation, balance and communication. I loved watching the lessons and wish I could be a Jr again and start with this kind of training from a young age.
So then I see a young professional on face book complaining............."I did a clinic to benefit young riders, but where were all of the young riders?" she griped. She went on to say that "maybe she has not been in the Olympics, but she still has some knowledge to share"......So this whole thing got me thinking. At our clinic with George Williams there was a definite lack of auditors. Sadly even the kids that rode (for the most part) did not take time to watch the other lessons. This is a great loss in my opinion. I watched as much as I could. I learned a lot. I love to learn. So maybe I know a lot of the material that George was talking about, but to have it confirmed, to hear it applied and sometimes delivered in a different way is wonderful. So why am I interested at 49 years old to watch and the kids are not. Why did the kids that applied to ride and did not get in to this clinic not come and watch? I wish I knew, and I wish I could help them to understand. Sometimes watching good riding is almost as good as doing it. It sinks in, it helps you understand you are not the only one with that problem, it also helps you to be prepared for when you do get a chance to ride with that Olympic trainer. Getting to understand how an instructor conducts his lessons is part of the process, getting in his flow prior to riding will help you to do your best and take a lesson, which is what this is all about right? Taking a lesson?
But, that was a tangent, back to the young profi that wants kids to show up to her clinic. When I make a decision to ride in a clinic it is because I know the instructor and their background. Believe it or not there are systems in this sport. There is a way to train horses In America we have a hard time understanding that there is in fact a system that can get us from training level to grand prix. Without changing the rules along the way. There is a basic system, that builds on itself from level to level, without diversion. So when someone asks me do I want to ride in a clinic, who is teaching the clinic is very important. It is not a show, it is a lesson. Do I want to learn what they have to teach? The way I learn this is research and going to watch the lessons.
One thing that Olympic trainers have the confidence to do is to go back to basics. They will not stand in the ring when they teach a clinic and fluff up the footing and tell you about more angle when you horse is not on the bit. They will not discuss improving the quality without asking you about the feeling. They will not let it pass them by that you may need help with balance and understanding aids. However, an Olympic trainer can be from any training system. So we need to create more criteria. Where did they learn? Are they good teachers in addition to being good showman? Are they exhibiting good horsemanship?
If my students ask me should I ride with this one? Should I ride with that one? I go watch first. Is that training style for me, and then for my students? Are they old enough and advanced enough to have a system? And to stick by that system even when the student is confused? This is the hard part. Dressage is hard. But, it must not be complicated! So does that instructor know the theory and technique well enough to simplify it when things do not go easy? One thing I say to my students is....if I was teaching you in Spanish, and you did not understand Spanish would screaming the directions in Spanish help you to understand? No. So lets not do that to our horses. I am spoiled by Mr Schumacher and his fantastic ability to simplify and to come up with exercises that help the horses understand, without us having to scream.
Again, back to our young profi's....I agree they have a lot to offer. However, just because we have shown at a high level, just because we can look good on a horse this does not make us a teacher or a trainer. We have a hard enough time getting people to come to clinics with top professionals that are responsible for training many grand prix horses and trainers; with a clear system. I am completely guilty of hanging my shingle out too soon, because that is what I needed to do and the way it is done here in the States. But, at the age of 30 I went back to school. Stopped teaching and became a student again. I encourage our young professionals to not only offer their services to others but please, continue building your base of knowledge. Continue to learn, keep in the system you believe in, but never stop continuing your education. Our doctors do it, our vets do this, any one in a professional field is asked to do this. Do not let yourself be led to believe that your students will think less of you if you take a lesson. We all need a person on the ground. We all need support, guidance and direction. I do not think you will find a person at the top in the world rankings that does not have a team to help them, and that includes a coach. And please do not be afraid to confirm the basics in all of the lessons that you teach. Encouraging people to ride without developing a good independent seat, clear understanding of the aids and good horsemanship is only prolonging the agony. We all need to fight for the integrity of our sport and the good riding techniques for our horses. Sometimes in a lesson less is more.
Happy Riding!
So then I see a young professional on face book complaining............."I did a clinic to benefit young riders, but where were all of the young riders?" she griped. She went on to say that "maybe she has not been in the Olympics, but she still has some knowledge to share"......So this whole thing got me thinking. At our clinic with George Williams there was a definite lack of auditors. Sadly even the kids that rode (for the most part) did not take time to watch the other lessons. This is a great loss in my opinion. I watched as much as I could. I learned a lot. I love to learn. So maybe I know a lot of the material that George was talking about, but to have it confirmed, to hear it applied and sometimes delivered in a different way is wonderful. So why am I interested at 49 years old to watch and the kids are not. Why did the kids that applied to ride and did not get in to this clinic not come and watch? I wish I knew, and I wish I could help them to understand. Sometimes watching good riding is almost as good as doing it. It sinks in, it helps you understand you are not the only one with that problem, it also helps you to be prepared for when you do get a chance to ride with that Olympic trainer. Getting to understand how an instructor conducts his lessons is part of the process, getting in his flow prior to riding will help you to do your best and take a lesson, which is what this is all about right? Taking a lesson?
But, that was a tangent, back to the young profi that wants kids to show up to her clinic. When I make a decision to ride in a clinic it is because I know the instructor and their background. Believe it or not there are systems in this sport. There is a way to train horses In America we have a hard time understanding that there is in fact a system that can get us from training level to grand prix. Without changing the rules along the way. There is a basic system, that builds on itself from level to level, without diversion. So when someone asks me do I want to ride in a clinic, who is teaching the clinic is very important. It is not a show, it is a lesson. Do I want to learn what they have to teach? The way I learn this is research and going to watch the lessons.
One thing that Olympic trainers have the confidence to do is to go back to basics. They will not stand in the ring when they teach a clinic and fluff up the footing and tell you about more angle when you horse is not on the bit. They will not discuss improving the quality without asking you about the feeling. They will not let it pass them by that you may need help with balance and understanding aids. However, an Olympic trainer can be from any training system. So we need to create more criteria. Where did they learn? Are they good teachers in addition to being good showman? Are they exhibiting good horsemanship?
If my students ask me should I ride with this one? Should I ride with that one? I go watch first. Is that training style for me, and then for my students? Are they old enough and advanced enough to have a system? And to stick by that system even when the student is confused? This is the hard part. Dressage is hard. But, it must not be complicated! So does that instructor know the theory and technique well enough to simplify it when things do not go easy? One thing I say to my students is....if I was teaching you in Spanish, and you did not understand Spanish would screaming the directions in Spanish help you to understand? No. So lets not do that to our horses. I am spoiled by Mr Schumacher and his fantastic ability to simplify and to come up with exercises that help the horses understand, without us having to scream.
Again, back to our young profi's....I agree they have a lot to offer. However, just because we have shown at a high level, just because we can look good on a horse this does not make us a teacher or a trainer. We have a hard enough time getting people to come to clinics with top professionals that are responsible for training many grand prix horses and trainers; with a clear system. I am completely guilty of hanging my shingle out too soon, because that is what I needed to do and the way it is done here in the States. But, at the age of 30 I went back to school. Stopped teaching and became a student again. I encourage our young professionals to not only offer their services to others but please, continue building your base of knowledge. Continue to learn, keep in the system you believe in, but never stop continuing your education. Our doctors do it, our vets do this, any one in a professional field is asked to do this. Do not let yourself be led to believe that your students will think less of you if you take a lesson. We all need a person on the ground. We all need support, guidance and direction. I do not think you will find a person at the top in the world rankings that does not have a team to help them, and that includes a coach. And please do not be afraid to confirm the basics in all of the lessons that you teach. Encouraging people to ride without developing a good independent seat, clear understanding of the aids and good horsemanship is only prolonging the agony. We all need to fight for the integrity of our sport and the good riding techniques for our horses. Sometimes in a lesson less is more.
Happy Riding!
Friday, August 30, 2013
Mr Schumacher
This is the nice letter Mr. Schumacher wrote for me last May when he came to teach our Jr/YR clinic at the Ashby Stock Farm.
To Nancy,
It is so nice for me to be in your home,
Therefore for you a little poem.
You certainly deserve a special toast,
Because you are a wonderful host.
First of all I have to say
Region 8 is the most exciting in the USA
And for me it is so much joy
That the coordinator is Nancy Lavoie!
You believe in education, your expectation is smart,
Everybody shall ride in the classical art!
You want confident riders who go for it,
And happy horses, well on the bit.
You trust my system along the way
This is the reason why I am here today
Conducting this clinic triggers reflexion
Thank you Nancy with much affection :)
Conrad
I am so lucky to have such a wonderful mentor and we look forward to our clinics in October.
THANK YOU MR. SCHUMACHER!
To Nancy,
It is so nice for me to be in your home,
Therefore for you a little poem.
You certainly deserve a special toast,
Because you are a wonderful host.
First of all I have to say
Region 8 is the most exciting in the USA
And for me it is so much joy
That the coordinator is Nancy Lavoie!
You believe in education, your expectation is smart,
Everybody shall ride in the classical art!
You want confident riders who go for it,
And happy horses, well on the bit.
You trust my system along the way
This is the reason why I am here today
Conducting this clinic triggers reflexion
Thank you Nancy with much affection :)
Conrad
I am so lucky to have such a wonderful mentor and we look forward to our clinics in October.
THANK YOU MR. SCHUMACHER!
Adult Camp
One of my goals as an instructor is to create thinking and feeling riders. I would like to give you the tools you need to problem solve and succeed even when I am not present. As a rider you need to be open to suggestion in order for this type of training to work. It is so delightful to spend a weekend with a group of ladies such as the group we had at the Ashby Stock farm last weekend. Everyone supported each other and we were able to work together as a team to make improvements and gain awareness. There was only relaxation and learning.
I teach a lot. One of the hardest things about teaching is just getting the student to relax enough to hear what I am saying. What makes students tense? The worry of what their horse may do, especially in a new place. The worry of what their peers may thing when they make a mistake or do not do well enough. Disappointment in themselves and their horses. So when you have ten ladies that allow all of those fears to disappear in the safety of the indoor arena at The Ashby Stock Farm anything is possible.
The theme of the weekend was balance. For me this took on three different meanings: balance in your daily riding routine, the balance of your horse and independent balance between the horse and rider. No matter who was riding we could solve all of our problems thru the fantastic concept of balance.
Jennifer Waurinen, Susan Raineville, Patrice Lagrant, Tamison Rose, Martha Goodwine, Karen Chevalier, Liz Shepard, Deb Brewer, Marlene Berghout and Wendy Terebesi were our participants. The camp would not have been possible if not for the help I received from Matt Lavoie, Ariel Matisse, Linda Powers, Lynn Simonson and Gayle Price. Thank you everyone for such an inspiring weekend and happy riding!
Monday, August 19, 2013
Words of Wisdom from Lendon
Just home from Centerline Events at Hits. What an absolutely perfect weekend weather, horses and good friends, who could ask for more?
Glorious had his first big boy horse show and he was just so good it makes me cry. He looked around at this new world on Thursday with big eyes, but he said if you think it is safe then I am with you. Friday I had one of the most fun tests of my life. He was such a blast attacking every movement with determination and confidence, I felt like I did not even need to be there, he was so good!
Dhoppler did two very very correct and relaxed tests and he has grown up so much since our last time out at Hits. No mistakes, no taking over, just very attentive and trying his best. So much fun!
So here I am in my office and I came across a little project I had wanted to do a while back, and of course did not have time for.
Here it is:
Who has time to read the show program? Not many people, so I just wanted to post part of Lendon's letter from Dressage 4 Kids show program. I think it is great advice we all need to hear now and then. Thank you Lendon.
" Let each one of us do everything we can to make this a great few days for everyone. Take a moment now and think about what needs to happen for you to have fun, and then you take responsibility to make it happen for those around you. This might involve helping a fellow competitor or a volunteer with their work, thanking as many people as you can, cheering up someone having a tough day, helping your child learn how to lose graciously, seeing a problem and coming forth to try to solve it. I hope everyone will say as they drive out the gate on Sunday, "Wow, that was a fun three days."
Remember riders, you have already proven that you are a winner just by qualifying to compete. For those who take home medals, my heartiest congratulations. For those who maybe don't have their best days of competition, hey, that happens to all of us. I hope you have fun anyway. I had some really disastrous competitions in my day but still made two Olympic teams. The one dressage test sheet I have kept from all my years competing is the one where I got 38%! There are lots of ways to win; Overcome a difficulty, be a super sport, have your horse stand still in the halt for the first time, do your first test ever in the pouring rain, keep smiling even though you just had the worst test of your life.
My hope is that each of you goes home with a new friend, a new technique for riding, and wonderful memories."
Happy Riding :)
Nancy
Glorious had his first big boy horse show and he was just so good it makes me cry. He looked around at this new world on Thursday with big eyes, but he said if you think it is safe then I am with you. Friday I had one of the most fun tests of my life. He was such a blast attacking every movement with determination and confidence, I felt like I did not even need to be there, he was so good!
Dhoppler did two very very correct and relaxed tests and he has grown up so much since our last time out at Hits. No mistakes, no taking over, just very attentive and trying his best. So much fun!
So here I am in my office and I came across a little project I had wanted to do a while back, and of course did not have time for.
Here it is:
Who has time to read the show program? Not many people, so I just wanted to post part of Lendon's letter from Dressage 4 Kids show program. I think it is great advice we all need to hear now and then. Thank you Lendon.
" Let each one of us do everything we can to make this a great few days for everyone. Take a moment now and think about what needs to happen for you to have fun, and then you take responsibility to make it happen for those around you. This might involve helping a fellow competitor or a volunteer with their work, thanking as many people as you can, cheering up someone having a tough day, helping your child learn how to lose graciously, seeing a problem and coming forth to try to solve it. I hope everyone will say as they drive out the gate on Sunday, "Wow, that was a fun three days."
Remember riders, you have already proven that you are a winner just by qualifying to compete. For those who take home medals, my heartiest congratulations. For those who maybe don't have their best days of competition, hey, that happens to all of us. I hope you have fun anyway. I had some really disastrous competitions in my day but still made two Olympic teams. The one dressage test sheet I have kept from all my years competing is the one where I got 38%! There are lots of ways to win; Overcome a difficulty, be a super sport, have your horse stand still in the halt for the first time, do your first test ever in the pouring rain, keep smiling even though you just had the worst test of your life.
My hope is that each of you goes home with a new friend, a new technique for riding, and wonderful memories."
Happy Riding :)
Nancy
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Open House
Yesterday we had an open house at our beautiful summer location, The Ashby Stock Farm. It was a great day! First of all it was great because people got to come and spend a day at The Ashby Stock Farm, which in itself is something I cherish. But, it was also great because we got to share what we do with other dressage enthusiasts and I think this was great fun!
Ariel, Chanett, Darwin and Linda helped and prepared the day so nicely, I cannot say how lucky I am to have such great staff as well as such great friends and supporters. Ariel, Kate, Chanett, and Gayle rode wonderfully and worked hard to give the audience a real feeling of what it is to train horses. The riding was super and we were able to show a really nice training system as well as show of some beautiful tests! Thank you!
I was so happy and relieved that people showed up to share our day.
We had a silent auction to benefit the Jr/YR kids as well as Tulip feeding (carrots), the kids loved her, and braiding by Ariel, refreshments and raffle.
The weather outside was a bit hot and humid, but inside we were cool and able to work without breaking a sweat. How lucky am I to have such a great arena to ride in?!
My goal is to be able to have more training clinics at The Ashby Stock Farm. To make this location available to the interested dressage enthusiasts in our area and beyond to come and learn, work together and enjoy good horsemanship.
Riding dressage is our passion and I am excited to get to meet others with the same passion and goals.
Ride Well :)
Nancy
Ariel, Chanett, Darwin and Linda helped and prepared the day so nicely, I cannot say how lucky I am to have such great staff as well as such great friends and supporters. Ariel, Kate, Chanett, and Gayle rode wonderfully and worked hard to give the audience a real feeling of what it is to train horses. The riding was super and we were able to show a really nice training system as well as show of some beautiful tests! Thank you!
I was so happy and relieved that people showed up to share our day.
We had a silent auction to benefit the Jr/YR kids as well as Tulip feeding (carrots), the kids loved her, and braiding by Ariel, refreshments and raffle.
The weather outside was a bit hot and humid, but inside we were cool and able to work without breaking a sweat. How lucky am I to have such a great arena to ride in?!
My goal is to be able to have more training clinics at The Ashby Stock Farm. To make this location available to the interested dressage enthusiasts in our area and beyond to come and learn, work together and enjoy good horsemanship.
Riding dressage is our passion and I am excited to get to meet others with the same passion and goals.
Ride Well :)
Nancy
Monday, May 13, 2013
Home again home again :)
Hi there,
We have been back in Ashby for a total of 13 days and I feel like I have been on a month long marathon!
So happy that 13 horses moved safely from Florida to Massachusetts. Many thanks to Chanett and Darwin for there hard work along the way and to Ariel for closing up the farm in Florida while taking care of her last days of school and exams. And a big thank you to Meadowbrook transport for their awesome service and a trip well executed.
I am always a bit nervous about the trip and it usually takes me a couple of days to realize that we all made it without a hitch and start to relax. But, this time it took 13 days to realize we are safe and home ...because.........when we arrived to Ashby we had a couple of big jobs ahead. Our clinic with Conrad Schumacher was fantastic. Thank you so much to everyone that joined in to make it such a special weekend. Mr Schumacher is in great form with his teaching. I think everyone got alot out of every lesson. So awesome that the riders not only get so much out of his lessons, but by their open approach to the lessons we all learn from every lesson! Thank you also to Bill McMullin and Dr Brett Gaby for their guest apperances as our lunchtime lecturers. It was such an awesome weekend of positive horsemanship, I am thrilled.
The Bill's were kind enough to fit me in their clinic with Mr Schumacher as well, so my well travelled boys Wesley and Dhoppler got to go for more instruction and we had even more fantastic help form the master at Dry Water Farm. :) Never enough!
Then it was off to NEDA Spring....I had a wonderful time catching up with our Jr/Young riders some at their first qualifyer for the season. The support for the fundraising is starting to build momentum, thank you girls! We are looking forward to our first Silent Auction to be held at Centerline Events at Hits this coming weekend. This is alot to manage and I cannot do it without your help!
Dhoppler was a star at the show and has earned himself a couple of easy days out in the beautiful fields at The Ashby Stock Farm. I am so lucky to have the support of Scott and casey Satriano. Dhoppler is so fun to train and I hope to help him become the best most confident competitor for his next owner.
So here we are monday morning, a look back at the fast paced couple of weeks brings a big smile to my face, memories of a job well done by my staff and my wonderful husband. A look forward to alot of work that needs to be done, but with energy and enthusiasm toward our wonderful sport and fantastic horses.
Ride well!
Nancy
We have been back in Ashby for a total of 13 days and I feel like I have been on a month long marathon!
So happy that 13 horses moved safely from Florida to Massachusetts. Many thanks to Chanett and Darwin for there hard work along the way and to Ariel for closing up the farm in Florida while taking care of her last days of school and exams. And a big thank you to Meadowbrook transport for their awesome service and a trip well executed.
I am always a bit nervous about the trip and it usually takes me a couple of days to realize that we all made it without a hitch and start to relax. But, this time it took 13 days to realize we are safe and home ...because.........when we arrived to Ashby we had a couple of big jobs ahead. Our clinic with Conrad Schumacher was fantastic. Thank you so much to everyone that joined in to make it such a special weekend. Mr Schumacher is in great form with his teaching. I think everyone got alot out of every lesson. So awesome that the riders not only get so much out of his lessons, but by their open approach to the lessons we all learn from every lesson! Thank you also to Bill McMullin and Dr Brett Gaby for their guest apperances as our lunchtime lecturers. It was such an awesome weekend of positive horsemanship, I am thrilled.
The Bill's were kind enough to fit me in their clinic with Mr Schumacher as well, so my well travelled boys Wesley and Dhoppler got to go for more instruction and we had even more fantastic help form the master at Dry Water Farm. :) Never enough!
Then it was off to NEDA Spring....I had a wonderful time catching up with our Jr/Young riders some at their first qualifyer for the season. The support for the fundraising is starting to build momentum, thank you girls! We are looking forward to our first Silent Auction to be held at Centerline Events at Hits this coming weekend. This is alot to manage and I cannot do it without your help!
Dhoppler was a star at the show and has earned himself a couple of easy days out in the beautiful fields at The Ashby Stock Farm. I am so lucky to have the support of Scott and casey Satriano. Dhoppler is so fun to train and I hope to help him become the best most confident competitor for his next owner.
So here we are monday morning, a look back at the fast paced couple of weeks brings a big smile to my face, memories of a job well done by my staff and my wonderful husband. A look forward to alot of work that needs to be done, but with energy and enthusiasm toward our wonderful sport and fantastic horses.
Ride well!
Nancy
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