Instructors during the week, Scott Hassler and Lendon Gray.
Lendon Gray's Dressage4kids has opened doors for youth riders, of all levels, and is promoting and enhancing dressage in the US like never before. I am forever grateful to her for that and so thankful to everyone wo took a part in organizing and who volunteered for the 2015 Courtney King-Dye Horsemanship Clinic that took place in Maryland this past week. The owners of Riveredge Farm, the clinicians, the guest speakers.. all who were more than generous with their time and so insightful, thank you. And, to Donna Stockton, who owns the beautiful Adagio who I was able to ride in the clinic, words cannot express my gratitude. Here are some of my notes from the week of training and lectures.
From Scott Hassler:
1. Coach your horse to produce results. When the going gets tough there may be some resistance, and he needs your help as the rider to get through it. Help him become the athlete he wants to be! Correcting your horse is necessary… As Scott pointed out, without guidance many of us would've been in a juvenile prison!
2. "Our aids are our conversations with our horse. How much pressure is the tone of our voice, and our goal is to have a nice tone."
3. Be creative with your riding. Use turns to create energy and suppleness. Use your corners to prepare and collect your horse.
4. Ride in short, useful sets to keep your work positive and keep your horse fresh.
5. Think forward! When a horse comes back he should want to go forward.
6. "The quickest way to access the horse's body is through the mind."
7. Develop exercises to improve weaknesses and to help your horse progressively improve.
8. Develop strategies when riding to motivate your horse to improve mental and physical state and build confidence.
9.Understand resistance in your horse and develop gymnastic exercises to break through it.
10. Ride proactive, not reactive. Use half halts as reminders to maintain your conversation to be proactive in your riding. This way you don't have to be reactive.
From Courtney King-Dye:
Courtney teaching rider Nicole Nowak
1. When riding a new horse, test the responses from leg and hand.
2. Use the dressage tests to help you. Don't skip things along the way!
3. Nervousness comes from feeling unprepared.
4. It is a waste when people don't ride corners.
5. Bend your horse! Use leg yield, half pass, leg yield exercises to improve bend in the neck and body.
From Susanne Hassler:
1. Good riding starts with good intentions.
2. The rider's posture is the rider's responsibility.
3. Equitation needs to be functional. Actively look to improve your riding. The way you sit affects your horse.
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