Here we are in New Hampshire at Heidi and Dick Venuti's beautiful Kilgore Farm.
The sun comes up early in New England in June, it is a fresh morning and the birds are super happy, everything is clean from the rain yesterday, and they are joyful in the sunshine. The hummingbirds are happy to visit the feeders and I love to hear them buzzing around outside my window.
I still struggle with the internet, but today I am blessed with some phone service and a precarious hotspot signal from my phone. I make the riding list for today while I reflect on the training from yesterday.
The horses were all patient and worked well even though there was torrential rain for most of the day. Today we will make a point to walk and work outside, as well as give them their normal happy time in the big paddocks we have here.
Yesterday I had a very productive lesson with my new young training horse. He was not having an easy time in his transfer from the braking in stable to the hunter/jumper stable where he was to be trained, so he found himself in the school for delinquent warmbloods. Several months later we picked him up to have a summer of Carousel Coaching. He got off the truck from Florida shell shocked and distrustful. He is super smart and wants to please, but completely unsure of his body, his job and his handlers. The past month with him has been one of the most fun training experiences of my life so far. I am so grateful to Tristan Tucker who has taught me so much about reading horses and connecting the dots for them when they are fearful and reactive.
The month started with ground work only in the halter, work in the stall, work in the grooming area and work in the arena. This guy was known to be spooky and distracted, which led to fear and bad behavior. His work in the arena was amazing to watch and connecting with him as he became more relaxed and willing has been so much fun.
Working this horse with touch and noise has been amazing as his whole body was in such tension, even in the stall. Watching the waves of understanding and relaxation go through him is so gratifying. I always say we need to video this horse so we can document the progress. This one I kick myself, I would love to watch this over and over again, especially on the days when I forget where he came from.
The beginning of the week we started working on leg yield movements in hand, along the wall, away from the whip and toward the whip. One of my favorite Tristan exercises. He is so careful and nervous, watching him process the aids and think about how to move his gangly legs is so fun. As he becomes "like a cooked piece of spaghetti" as Tristan would say, it is clear that he is letting the aids through with understanding and confidence. Yesterday we were able to take it to the mounting block, where to spite a lot of tension he was able to understand and bring himself to the mounting block. We were able to repeat this several times and I was able to mount him in a relaxed and happy state at the mounting block bare back in the halter. As I took him back to his stall with his neck hanging in a relaxed way from his shoulders, his eyes soft and happy and his feet hitting the ground in a slow rhythm that reflected soft joints I was so proud of him.
I had an awesome day with my Glorious working on Piaffe and flying changes and Enzo getting stronger on his self carriage for the canter pirouettes. However, when I look back at yesterday with my new guy at the mounting block, that was the highlight.
Just another (amazing) day!
Embrace the Journey,
Nancy
Friday, June 29, 2018
A Dressage Students Handbook, Part 1
Introduction;
This blog is written by an avid student of horsemanship who has specialized in dressage. I have also become a trainer and teacher, but this is not about that. It is written to help you be the best student you can be and go forward with steady progress and understanding.
I do not plan to teach you "how" to ride here, instead to master the art of learning. To help you understand some fundamentals that exist no matter what level you ride.
I am so grateful for the experiences I have had thus far on my journey with horses. I am thankful for my students and the horses that have led me on this path of learning.
Through this blog I hope to help others grasp the principles of learning early on their path (however, as with me, it is better late than never!), thus creating a more joyful journey. Dressage is not easy, but it is not as complicated as it may appear at times. I hope you are able to use this handbook to navigate the difficulties with confidence and relaxation.
Be youthful in your approach
Know anything is possible
Connection is the key
Chapter One
The controls;
The first and most important lesson to learn is that no matter what the level is, the basic controls hold true. Your steering, brakes and gas pedal are more important than where the neck is. Always remember this. Also, how the horse gets ready to process the aid is important to train correctly, as this will be very important during stressful situations.
The left rein means turn left
The right rein means turn right
Two reins mean stop
Two legs mean go
The right leg means move left
The left leg means move right
Use the rein aids in a blocking, leading or suppling manner, do not pull back.
No matter what level your horse is, these basics hold true. When riding at the upper levels with an educated horse aids maybe processed close together to create more difficult movements and half halts. However, even the educated horse must understand how to process these basic aids correctly, instantly and without resistance.
You may be saying "But I thought we turn from the outside rein?". (Indirect rein.) I believe in "direct aids". I believe the horses want to participate. I start my training from a belief that horses want to please us. If that is where we start, from then on all aids need to come from this place. Positive aids that make sense and can be clearly given and then released because the horse gives the correct reaction.
I do not want to get into training philosophy, however, just a small note; the outside rein only makes sense to the horse if he is supple and following the inside rein. Non of this includes pulling back. The rein aids are given in a leading or blocking manner, pulling back already creates confusion, so should be avoided. When the horse prepares for the aid with active resistance this must be worked through to create the correct response before moving on in the training.
When a horse does not understand the basic aids it is time to step back and teach them. One can teach from the ground first and then from the saddle. As a beginner student of dressage this might be something you ask your instructor to help you with. It is important to note that when the basic aids get the wrong result, complicating the matter by trying to put aids together into half halts or complicated movements will only further confuse your horse. If you are a beginner student have your instructor teach you how to teach your horse. Be honest when things do not feel right. Sometimes this is hard to see from the ground, if you find yourself in a situation where the reins mean go and the legs mean stop, do not agree with your horse that this is how it is. Discuss this with your instructor and go back to the basics to correct the problem, then move on from that correct base again.
If this is helpful to you please send me an email and let me know how it improved your ride.
nancylaterdressagehorses@gmail.com
Embrace the journey,
Nancy
To be continued.
This blog is written by an avid student of horsemanship who has specialized in dressage. I have also become a trainer and teacher, but this is not about that. It is written to help you be the best student you can be and go forward with steady progress and understanding.
I do not plan to teach you "how" to ride here, instead to master the art of learning. To help you understand some fundamentals that exist no matter what level you ride.
I am so grateful for the experiences I have had thus far on my journey with horses. I am thankful for my students and the horses that have led me on this path of learning.
Through this blog I hope to help others grasp the principles of learning early on their path (however, as with me, it is better late than never!), thus creating a more joyful journey. Dressage is not easy, but it is not as complicated as it may appear at times. I hope you are able to use this handbook to navigate the difficulties with confidence and relaxation.
Be youthful in your approach
Know anything is possible
Connection is the key
Chapter One
The controls;
The first and most important lesson to learn is that no matter what the level is, the basic controls hold true. Your steering, brakes and gas pedal are more important than where the neck is. Always remember this. Also, how the horse gets ready to process the aid is important to train correctly, as this will be very important during stressful situations.
The left rein means turn left
The right rein means turn right
Two reins mean stop
Two legs mean go
The right leg means move left
The left leg means move right
Use the rein aids in a blocking, leading or suppling manner, do not pull back.
No matter what level your horse is, these basics hold true. When riding at the upper levels with an educated horse aids maybe processed close together to create more difficult movements and half halts. However, even the educated horse must understand how to process these basic aids correctly, instantly and without resistance.
You may be saying "But I thought we turn from the outside rein?". (Indirect rein.) I believe in "direct aids". I believe the horses want to participate. I start my training from a belief that horses want to please us. If that is where we start, from then on all aids need to come from this place. Positive aids that make sense and can be clearly given and then released because the horse gives the correct reaction.
I do not want to get into training philosophy, however, just a small note; the outside rein only makes sense to the horse if he is supple and following the inside rein. Non of this includes pulling back. The rein aids are given in a leading or blocking manner, pulling back already creates confusion, so should be avoided. When the horse prepares for the aid with active resistance this must be worked through to create the correct response before moving on in the training.
When a horse does not understand the basic aids it is time to step back and teach them. One can teach from the ground first and then from the saddle. As a beginner student of dressage this might be something you ask your instructor to help you with. It is important to note that when the basic aids get the wrong result, complicating the matter by trying to put aids together into half halts or complicated movements will only further confuse your horse. If you are a beginner student have your instructor teach you how to teach your horse. Be honest when things do not feel right. Sometimes this is hard to see from the ground, if you find yourself in a situation where the reins mean go and the legs mean stop, do not agree with your horse that this is how it is. Discuss this with your instructor and go back to the basics to correct the problem, then move on from that correct base again.
If this is helpful to you please send me an email and let me know how it improved your ride.
nancylaterdressagehorses@gmail.com
Embrace the journey,
Nancy
To be continued.
Friday, April 20, 2018
Positive aids
Hello!
I have a feeling I might have touched on this subject before, because it is super important to me. So you have to suffer through my soap box again. However, I think this is a really great subject and for some, may be a life changer, if you can hold on to the concept.
Why do we start riding horses? I cannot answer the question for you, but for me it was about partnership, connection and team work. I competed in all horse sports; jumping, eventing, competitive trail riding even arabian park horses, riding was all I ever wanted to do. I got stuck on dressage in high school and that is all I have ever known since then.
I believed it could be a partnership, yet it did not feel like this when I was taking my lessons. It was super clear that I was not good at saying what I wanted and the horses could not hear me. There were all sorts of reasons the instructors gave me, at the time I could not hear the right words and my body did not respond the right way.
I was almost 30 years old when I met Conrad Schumacher and he said the words "the horse can positively anticipate what needs to be done and work with you toward that outcome" I wanted to hug him! This is the knowledge I had been looking for, this makes sense, this is what my heart wants to participate in.
So many times I had heard that the German Principles were so strict, don't go there. to Germany, it is too hard, they are not nice. Why did this German guy say what I had been looking for? Because he understood the Principles!! And what fun is that.
So my lesson for today is positive aids and I learned it from Conrad Schumacher, Ellen Bontje and Tristan Tucker.
Believe that your horse actually wants to please you. This is number one. If you start out your ride with this in mind everything you do from that moment forward will be different. EVERYTHING.
Believe that if you train your horse to go forward from a normal aid, and then actually go forward with him forward is what you will get.
Believe that if you ask your horse to wait with an aid that he understands, wait is what you will get.
HOWEVER!! if you tell your horse to wait and push the crap out of him and he does not understand how to let the rein through and bend his hindlegs and hips then you get a million pounds in your hands and have to squeeze with your thighs to keep your tight butt in the saddle it is not going to work over the long term. NOT!
And from here it all goes south.
Half pass turns into aids that actually tell the horse what not to do instead of what to do. Pirouettes are a terrible confusion of manipulation and strength.
We have amazing, talented horses.
Why would you put your butt in the saddle if you were just there to manhandle a horse around the arena?
Start by believing your horse wants to participate, and train from there. Positive aids; turn, go stop, it all starts and finishes there.
I have a feeling I might have touched on this subject before, because it is super important to me. So you have to suffer through my soap box again. However, I think this is a really great subject and for some, may be a life changer, if you can hold on to the concept.
Why do we start riding horses? I cannot answer the question for you, but for me it was about partnership, connection and team work. I competed in all horse sports; jumping, eventing, competitive trail riding even arabian park horses, riding was all I ever wanted to do. I got stuck on dressage in high school and that is all I have ever known since then.
I believed it could be a partnership, yet it did not feel like this when I was taking my lessons. It was super clear that I was not good at saying what I wanted and the horses could not hear me. There were all sorts of reasons the instructors gave me, at the time I could not hear the right words and my body did not respond the right way.
I was almost 30 years old when I met Conrad Schumacher and he said the words "the horse can positively anticipate what needs to be done and work with you toward that outcome" I wanted to hug him! This is the knowledge I had been looking for, this makes sense, this is what my heart wants to participate in.
So many times I had heard that the German Principles were so strict, don't go there. to Germany, it is too hard, they are not nice. Why did this German guy say what I had been looking for? Because he understood the Principles!! And what fun is that.
So my lesson for today is positive aids and I learned it from Conrad Schumacher, Ellen Bontje and Tristan Tucker.
Believe that your horse actually wants to please you. This is number one. If you start out your ride with this in mind everything you do from that moment forward will be different. EVERYTHING.
Believe that if you train your horse to go forward from a normal aid, and then actually go forward with him forward is what you will get.
Believe that if you ask your horse to wait with an aid that he understands, wait is what you will get.
HOWEVER!! if you tell your horse to wait and push the crap out of him and he does not understand how to let the rein through and bend his hindlegs and hips then you get a million pounds in your hands and have to squeeze with your thighs to keep your tight butt in the saddle it is not going to work over the long term. NOT!
And from here it all goes south.
Half pass turns into aids that actually tell the horse what not to do instead of what to do. Pirouettes are a terrible confusion of manipulation and strength.
We have amazing, talented horses.
Why would you put your butt in the saddle if you were just there to manhandle a horse around the arena?
Start by believing your horse wants to participate, and train from there. Positive aids; turn, go stop, it all starts and finishes there.
Monday, March 26, 2018
Weeeeeeee! Certified Personal Coach!
Today marks a big day for me ! I finished (and passed, and am now Certified!) my Core 100 Coaching Course ! This is an exciting step toward my future goals. I have really enjoyed the class. The program has been so helpful to my already motivated mindset! Now I have many more tools to utilize in my dressage lessons, training business and my new endeavor, Personal and Performance Coaching, Carousel Coaching. MToday y website will be online soon. In the meantime interested clients can email me at nancylaterdressagehorses@gmail.com for a free introductory session. If you need support in any area of your life; competition, health, family or you know someone that could use a boost please email me for more information. My passion is to help young people with their riding goals, identifying and nurturing strengths and gifts and balancing the complications of life as they move through the inevitable challenges of growing up.
In the meantime, the winter in Florida has been wonderful. We have had beautiful weather. I have been able to catch up with some old friends and make new ones. I have had the honor of showing two super horses at Global and I am eager to continue keeping them in the ring and successful. My Glorious has been struggling with some stamina issues. I am excited that we may have answered some of the questions about why we are experiencing these problems. I am always and forever grateful to my amazing vet Brett Gaby for his consistent support, advice and creativity as we travel this road together. This winter I have also had some great expert help from Meg Miller and I value her input and feel extremely lucky to have her close by.
Karen Barth has entrusted her beautiful Enzo to my care and training and this has been one of the highlights of the winter. Karen is a force to be reckoned with and I have needed her encouragement and energy at times, I am so lucky and I feel blessed to have her on my team. Her partner in crime Vicky Canuso has also been a delight and I am eager to see Vicky moving forward with her own Truman in the months to come. Vicky's loving care has brought Truman back from layup and he is getting stronger every week, this is beautiful to watch.
Andrea McCauley has been a super help with her watchful eyes at the horse show and continued support. Andrea and Casey have been diligent about keeping up with their lessons, and the improvement over the weeks is great. Roxanne is always getting stronger and Casey figuring out this difficult sport, getting more and more feel for the movements and it is always so powerful to watch as the horse and rider come together. Andrea has been working with her own Rubin to get him up and running after a pasture accident a while back. The fact that he is working and even doing the upper level movements is nothing less than remarkable. Andrea has been diligent in his care and rehab and Rubin is looking better than ever after a long road. I look forward to their continued improvement and for her to reenter the show ring in the summer.
We are sad to loose our Brittany :( This week she will head back to Massachusetts to embark on the next stage of her life. Brittany has made some fantastic progress with her own horse Ravi, including getting him out to a real dressage show this winter!! Ravi has grown up this past year so much and Brittany has done an amazing job of supporting him through some real problematic health issues. He is on his way now up the levels he will climb and we wish them all the best of luck and success in the years to come.
Brittany's departure leaves me looking for my next working student, so please pass the word along if you know of any ambitious young person looking for some education to use in the horse industry. I am incredibly thankful to Paul for his hard work and expertise as we say good bye to Brit.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Florida
I am constantly surprised by the speed at which time goes by these days.
Brittany and I are in Florida and enjoying Half Pass Heaven Farm and some beautiful weather.
The horses all acclimated well and are progressing in their training. We have eight horses in our care presently and it is a perfect work load for challenge and success. The horses are getting fantastic individualized care through the great work of Paul and Brittany. They are all working hard, happy and participating in their learning which makes it all more fun.
Glorious was able to show in the first show at Global and he was great. I am so proud of his confidence after not showing in quite some time, last June actually! He was second in the Prix St Georges with 67%. I have had some issues with his stamina, which we are investigating and until I get that resolved I will not take him out again, however, my goal is by the end of the month. We did the Prix St Georges a couple of weeks ago and I think the Inter 1 is well within reach. He is also gaining in his understanding of the piaffe and passage and one tempis are coming along!
My beautiful PW stayed in Rhode Island and is working for Lynn Phipps at the Beachwood Center for Wellbeing. She is so personable and in tuned with people that I have no doubt she will be instrumental in changing some lives for the better.
Pnut has landed in the capable hands of Olivia Suker and is participating in Lendons WIT program here in Wellington. I am so proud of both of them and happy for Olivia with all of the progress she is making with her riding.
Brittany and Ravi are progressing well. Ravi had his eyes opened wide coming here to Florida. He was a trooper on the long trip and settled into his new lifestyle well. Brittany is developing her dressage seat with lessons on all of the horses and Ravi is benefitting from her experience. She is working with him consistently on the 1 st and 2 nd level work and we are looking forward to showing him soon.
Florida is just amazing this time of year. The opportunities to learn are endless. The shows have been interesting. There are some amazing riders here for the winter. For me I would also love to see more developing of real throughness and balance in the shows. I feel that we have made little progress in this area even over the past couple of years. The sport is growing and the horses are amazing. The whole disaster on face book with amateur rider from California being picked apart as well as the judges giving her inappropriate scores brings me back to the idea that we need to implement a better system for allowing riders to move up the levels. Such a sport already has a systematic and proven way for teaching riders and training horses, it would behoove us in America to adapt the system in our show requirements as well. Just a thought :)
Where ever you are this time of year I hope you are opening yourself to learning, if it is not easy up North go online for inspiration. There are many, many options available. Your horse will thank you! Even if it is not until spring. Stay inspired!
I am excited to be opening my new coaching practice. I have been studying hard and am now taking clients for personal and performance coaching. Email me for more information, my website is going to be online soon.
We will also be doing a weekly boost on facebook, so if you have not already done so follow my carousel dressage page!
All the best! Ride Forward!
Nancy
Brittany and I are in Florida and enjoying Half Pass Heaven Farm and some beautiful weather.
The horses all acclimated well and are progressing in their training. We have eight horses in our care presently and it is a perfect work load for challenge and success. The horses are getting fantastic individualized care through the great work of Paul and Brittany. They are all working hard, happy and participating in their learning which makes it all more fun.
Glorious was able to show in the first show at Global and he was great. I am so proud of his confidence after not showing in quite some time, last June actually! He was second in the Prix St Georges with 67%. I have had some issues with his stamina, which we are investigating and until I get that resolved I will not take him out again, however, my goal is by the end of the month. We did the Prix St Georges a couple of weeks ago and I think the Inter 1 is well within reach. He is also gaining in his understanding of the piaffe and passage and one tempis are coming along!
My beautiful PW stayed in Rhode Island and is working for Lynn Phipps at the Beachwood Center for Wellbeing. She is so personable and in tuned with people that I have no doubt she will be instrumental in changing some lives for the better.
Pnut has landed in the capable hands of Olivia Suker and is participating in Lendons WIT program here in Wellington. I am so proud of both of them and happy for Olivia with all of the progress she is making with her riding.
Brittany and Ravi are progressing well. Ravi had his eyes opened wide coming here to Florida. He was a trooper on the long trip and settled into his new lifestyle well. Brittany is developing her dressage seat with lessons on all of the horses and Ravi is benefitting from her experience. She is working with him consistently on the 1 st and 2 nd level work and we are looking forward to showing him soon.
Florida is just amazing this time of year. The opportunities to learn are endless. The shows have been interesting. There are some amazing riders here for the winter. For me I would also love to see more developing of real throughness and balance in the shows. I feel that we have made little progress in this area even over the past couple of years. The sport is growing and the horses are amazing. The whole disaster on face book with amateur rider from California being picked apart as well as the judges giving her inappropriate scores brings me back to the idea that we need to implement a better system for allowing riders to move up the levels. Such a sport already has a systematic and proven way for teaching riders and training horses, it would behoove us in America to adapt the system in our show requirements as well. Just a thought :)
Where ever you are this time of year I hope you are opening yourself to learning, if it is not easy up North go online for inspiration. There are many, many options available. Your horse will thank you! Even if it is not until spring. Stay inspired!
I am excited to be opening my new coaching practice. I have been studying hard and am now taking clients for personal and performance coaching. Email me for more information, my website is going to be online soon.
We will also be doing a weekly boost on facebook, so if you have not already done so follow my carousel dressage page!
All the best! Ride Forward!
Nancy
Monday, August 28, 2017
Tristan Tucker Clinic
Last weekend we were very fortunate to host a clinic with Tristan Tucker. For anyone who has not seen Tristan's work you can find him at TRTmethod.com and you can find his alter ego Brett Kidding on youtube.
I am grateful to be able to get a date in his busy calendar. Tristan is inspiring on many levels. His ability to communicate with the horses in a positive and productive way is always amazing to watch. I also feel that with every student he finds a way to encourage them to be the best they can be without ever being negative. I personally learn as much from how he delivers the information as what information is being delivered.
This past weekend we had a wonderful group of diverse horse enthusiasts. High level horses that needed to find a way to deal with the stress of the environment and lower level horses that are trying to find their balance and learn to accept the aids better. It is my dream to be able to bring this information out to more and more people so that they are able to get the maximum enjoyment out of their horse experiences while their horses are understood better and able to benefit from this education.
The way that Tristan is able to read each horse is extraordinary, and although he understands the reason for the mistakes the horse makes he does not justify the need for it to continue. He is able to help the horses to find better answers to hard life questions and he is awesome helping his students to get through the fog of doubt and indecision and get on the right track quickly and with confidence. I am also positive that when people go home from this weekend of learning they have many more valuable tools in their tool box to use in all of the challenging situations that arise when we are training and showing horses.
With the speed of technology these days we are informed of news so quickly and from all corners of the earth. It is heart wrenching to hear of all the tragic accidents and injuries. So many times these things can be prevented by being better prepared and with more education. I for one am very motivated to help anyone who comes into my path to better understand how to communicate better with their horses and I know this will push the enjoyment level up for many horseman, dressage riders and kids. This year for the second time I was able to participate in the Pony Club Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park as an instructor. It was awesome to catch up with some colleagues I have not seen in a while. It was also super exciting to work with these talented and enthusiastic kids. My ability to help these kids has multiplied ten fold because of the work I have done with Tristan, it adds a whole new dimension to the training system that I already have in place and it is so much fun to always be progressing and exploring the limits.
All the best for you and for your horses!
Nancy
I am grateful to be able to get a date in his busy calendar. Tristan is inspiring on many levels. His ability to communicate with the horses in a positive and productive way is always amazing to watch. I also feel that with every student he finds a way to encourage them to be the best they can be without ever being negative. I personally learn as much from how he delivers the information as what information is being delivered.
This past weekend we had a wonderful group of diverse horse enthusiasts. High level horses that needed to find a way to deal with the stress of the environment and lower level horses that are trying to find their balance and learn to accept the aids better. It is my dream to be able to bring this information out to more and more people so that they are able to get the maximum enjoyment out of their horse experiences while their horses are understood better and able to benefit from this education.
The way that Tristan is able to read each horse is extraordinary, and although he understands the reason for the mistakes the horse makes he does not justify the need for it to continue. He is able to help the horses to find better answers to hard life questions and he is awesome helping his students to get through the fog of doubt and indecision and get on the right track quickly and with confidence. I am also positive that when people go home from this weekend of learning they have many more valuable tools in their tool box to use in all of the challenging situations that arise when we are training and showing horses.
With the speed of technology these days we are informed of news so quickly and from all corners of the earth. It is heart wrenching to hear of all the tragic accidents and injuries. So many times these things can be prevented by being better prepared and with more education. I for one am very motivated to help anyone who comes into my path to better understand how to communicate better with their horses and I know this will push the enjoyment level up for many horseman, dressage riders and kids. This year for the second time I was able to participate in the Pony Club Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park as an instructor. It was awesome to catch up with some colleagues I have not seen in a while. It was also super exciting to work with these talented and enthusiastic kids. My ability to help these kids has multiplied ten fold because of the work I have done with Tristan, it adds a whole new dimension to the training system that I already have in place and it is so much fun to always be progressing and exploring the limits.
All the best for you and for your horses!
Nancy
Sunday, August 13, 2017
To Catherine Haddad Staller and everyone that took offense
It came to my attention that Catherine's blog from the chronicle several years back made another journey around face book the last couple of days. I had spoken briefly with Catherine about it when it first came out, and I am still interested in her point of view.
I for one appreciate what she is saying. The part that people are taking offense to is only 5% of the point! I did not spend as much time in Germany as Catherine did, however, I do feel her frustration. I personally have spent a lot of time and money trying to learn how to ride dressage. I do host clinics with top trainers. I do this so that I can continue my education.Thankfully due to my time in Europe I understand that there is a system to training and I pick trainers that are consistent with each other and my core beliefs. Did you notice the part where she said "the trainers need to work together"? When we have these clinics and invite other trainers from the area to join we are improving our sport. I am not saying our students should not participate, I do not think she is saying this either, what she is saying is that TRAINERS should participate! I went to Europe to learn, definitely when someone that is such a top trainer is nearby I can travel an hour or two to watch or take a lesson. As trainers we need to continue our education. We need to keep developing our eye, our feel and technique. Training horses is a journey, not a destination. In every sport, in everything! we are always learning, growing, evolving. We must stay close to the masters of the sport so that we grow in the right direction. Our students should benefit from our knowledge and should trust us to put them in positive, constructive learning situations.
People blame the judges for some of the things that are going wrong. I do not think this is entirely the problem. Just because you ride a test and the feeling was bad but the score was good does not mean you need to continue to train that way!! The problem is that because trainers do not continue their education they let the horse shows train them. In America the fundamentals are lost! Seat work, balance, suppleness all get diluted into a show frame, scores and horses that are far from relaxed and through.
So when you go back now and read Catherine's blog again, read it believing that this lady dedicates a lot of her personal time volunteering for our sport. In addition to making money teaching clinics she gives her time for free to help move the sport in the right direction. As a clinician myself I am happy to train anyone who steps into my arena. I am also very happy to work with the resident trainer to create better teaching skills to move his/her students in the right direction. I know that Catherine feels the same way. What I also believe is that there are too many trainers out there unable and unwilling to teach proper basics. This is not healthy for our sport. It now becomes second and third generation misunderstanding. Where trainers are trained by people that did not ride their horses, did not teach them feel and did not teach them the fundamentals. Now these people are training a whole new generation, no idea of seat mechanics, balance and principals.. And to top it off they can afford to go to a show, but they cannot afford to go take a lesson. So they are getting trained at the shows by the judges.
Let's look at what she is saying. Why is the clinic filled with your students, not other trainers....... this is a good question. Try not to take personally that she does not want to teach your students, that is not the point. Her time will be better spent training people that train people, right? Then she would be touching even more riders. She asks us to work together to build up the quality of our riding, should we be annoyed? Or should we join her and say yes please!!
As someone who hosts clinics I hope to provide clinicians with riders and horses that will provide them inspiration and be able to understand the basics well enough that they can work on other things beside the basics. We all need to be reminded of the fundamentals, but when we go to a clinic with Catherine or Rein or Mr. Schumacher or who ever, we should be able to sit independently from our reins, swing with the natural movement of the horse and understand the basic principals of riding. If a rider is unable to do this his/her trainer should help develop these skills. The TRAINERS need to work together to uphold these basic skills. When we work together to host clinics, provide education and push the level of riding up we will all be better off. My students come and watch my clinics. They are happy to get the knowledge that I glean from my continuing education. When I host clinics it is not easy to get the trainers to join in. In order for us to afford these clinics we need people to join in. However, I can tell you that I have paid plenty out of my pocket to make sure I got my lessons. I challenge you to find any type of business that you are not required to go to continuing education. I also would tell you that it is not free. This is continuing education, it is our responsibility to our students and our horses. I have also benefited by my students paying for me to ride their horses in some clinics. I am very appreciative of every learning experience I am able to have. I would never truly fund a clinic by putting students of mine that are unable to do basics into a situation where they would be totally over their head, this would not be fair to anyone.
When these top professionals step out and address these undesirable subjects I think it is up to us to look at what they are saying with interest. Let's not take it as a personal affront, but instead a challenge to be better and do better. This kind of post does not gain Catherine ( or me for that matter) popularity. That is not what she is looking for, she is looking for progress, interaction and team work to make our sport better. I say "Thank you Catherine" , I will work to be a better clinician and student and I challenge all of you that complained about her point of view to try and look at it from another perspective.
I for one appreciate what she is saying. The part that people are taking offense to is only 5% of the point! I did not spend as much time in Germany as Catherine did, however, I do feel her frustration. I personally have spent a lot of time and money trying to learn how to ride dressage. I do host clinics with top trainers. I do this so that I can continue my education.Thankfully due to my time in Europe I understand that there is a system to training and I pick trainers that are consistent with each other and my core beliefs. Did you notice the part where she said "the trainers need to work together"? When we have these clinics and invite other trainers from the area to join we are improving our sport. I am not saying our students should not participate, I do not think she is saying this either, what she is saying is that TRAINERS should participate! I went to Europe to learn, definitely when someone that is such a top trainer is nearby I can travel an hour or two to watch or take a lesson. As trainers we need to continue our education. We need to keep developing our eye, our feel and technique. Training horses is a journey, not a destination. In every sport, in everything! we are always learning, growing, evolving. We must stay close to the masters of the sport so that we grow in the right direction. Our students should benefit from our knowledge and should trust us to put them in positive, constructive learning situations.
People blame the judges for some of the things that are going wrong. I do not think this is entirely the problem. Just because you ride a test and the feeling was bad but the score was good does not mean you need to continue to train that way!! The problem is that because trainers do not continue their education they let the horse shows train them. In America the fundamentals are lost! Seat work, balance, suppleness all get diluted into a show frame, scores and horses that are far from relaxed and through.
So when you go back now and read Catherine's blog again, read it believing that this lady dedicates a lot of her personal time volunteering for our sport. In addition to making money teaching clinics she gives her time for free to help move the sport in the right direction. As a clinician myself I am happy to train anyone who steps into my arena. I am also very happy to work with the resident trainer to create better teaching skills to move his/her students in the right direction. I know that Catherine feels the same way. What I also believe is that there are too many trainers out there unable and unwilling to teach proper basics. This is not healthy for our sport. It now becomes second and third generation misunderstanding. Where trainers are trained by people that did not ride their horses, did not teach them feel and did not teach them the fundamentals. Now these people are training a whole new generation, no idea of seat mechanics, balance and principals.. And to top it off they can afford to go to a show, but they cannot afford to go take a lesson. So they are getting trained at the shows by the judges.
Let's look at what she is saying. Why is the clinic filled with your students, not other trainers....... this is a good question. Try not to take personally that she does not want to teach your students, that is not the point. Her time will be better spent training people that train people, right? Then she would be touching even more riders. She asks us to work together to build up the quality of our riding, should we be annoyed? Or should we join her and say yes please!!
As someone who hosts clinics I hope to provide clinicians with riders and horses that will provide them inspiration and be able to understand the basics well enough that they can work on other things beside the basics. We all need to be reminded of the fundamentals, but when we go to a clinic with Catherine or Rein or Mr. Schumacher or who ever, we should be able to sit independently from our reins, swing with the natural movement of the horse and understand the basic principals of riding. If a rider is unable to do this his/her trainer should help develop these skills. The TRAINERS need to work together to uphold these basic skills. When we work together to host clinics, provide education and push the level of riding up we will all be better off. My students come and watch my clinics. They are happy to get the knowledge that I glean from my continuing education. When I host clinics it is not easy to get the trainers to join in. In order for us to afford these clinics we need people to join in. However, I can tell you that I have paid plenty out of my pocket to make sure I got my lessons. I challenge you to find any type of business that you are not required to go to continuing education. I also would tell you that it is not free. This is continuing education, it is our responsibility to our students and our horses. I have also benefited by my students paying for me to ride their horses in some clinics. I am very appreciative of every learning experience I am able to have. I would never truly fund a clinic by putting students of mine that are unable to do basics into a situation where they would be totally over their head, this would not be fair to anyone.
When these top professionals step out and address these undesirable subjects I think it is up to us to look at what they are saying with interest. Let's not take it as a personal affront, but instead a challenge to be better and do better. This kind of post does not gain Catherine ( or me for that matter) popularity. That is not what she is looking for, she is looking for progress, interaction and team work to make our sport better. I say "Thank you Catherine" , I will work to be a better clinician and student and I challenge all of you that complained about her point of view to try and look at it from another perspective.
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