Training Clinics The Good, Bad and Entertainment

 A number of years ago when someone said they were attending a “ Clinic”
it usually meant they took their horse to a trainer for an intense one or two days of training and education in a particular discipline- whether it be dressage or reining. Today, however, things seemed to have changed greatly.  Now people attend clinics by sitting in bleachers watching the person giving the clinic work with a horse in the arena. Today's “clinics” have  turned into entertainment for the masses.
  I see all the photographs of horses jumping over chairs and barrels and through hoops. I have seen videos of these clinicians standing on a horse’s back cracking a bull whip. This brings to mind the historical posters of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show or the great entertainment at the rodeo. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for those trick riders, stunt riders and entertainers, but  they don’t bill themselves as horse trainers. Of course they have worked hard and trained their horses to perform, but being able to stand on a horse’s back and crack a bull whip is certainly not a requirement for a good trail, endurance, pleasure,
driving, hunter jumper, dressage etc. rider or horse.
  Personally  I can not think of a time when I wished my horses were trained to allow me to stand on their backs  and crack a whip or swing a rope, unless I wanted to be a trick rider.  I have no need to have my horse jump over a chair or any other non-traditional item, again unless I want to start a new career as a trick rider or my horse wanted to audition for the circus, rodeo or films.
 At these “clinics”, as they are referred to, a horse has been pre-selected for the demonstration. The horse has met certain requirements for height and age. According to some “clinician’s” websites you will be notified if your horse is accepted as the “ demo horse” after you have submitted your information. Somehow I don’t feel that’s quite right.
 I think what actually bothers me the most is that some people who attend come away feeling inadequate - as if they just aren’t bright enough to get it. Some, who do take their horse, also come away feeling as though it was their fault that they couldn’t make the horse do what the trainer had done. A good trainer/instructor should educate, train and work with both horse and rider, so they come away from the clinic with some knowledge. The instructor shouldn’t make the rider feel as though he/she is incapable of understanding  what they are teaching and, therefore, it’s the rider’s fault.  If you speak to someone who has taken , say, a dressage clinic they will tell you “ Oh I really learned a lot and I’d take the clinic again, because the trainer is so good,” they won’t say “well I’m just too nervous or I don’t have the intelligence to understand what she was teaching me”.
 I know I have been on this soapbox in the past, but I feel it’s an issue worth addressing again. Over the past 17 or 18 years we have seen more and more of these people giving “clinics”  across the country.  In that time we have also seen an increase in horses with problems and more fearful riders - think about it!
 I will state again there are people like Monty Roberts and Linda Tellington Jones,
to name a few, that I respect.  I also respect many people who give traditional clinics who help horses and people.
  I just believe if you want to see trick riding you can attend a rodeo or circus and enjoy the show. If you want to further your education or seek the help of professional then it’s not about entertainment - that’s bad for everyone, most importantly the horse.
 I wrote this several years ago as an editorial for a publications. Why you ask did I choose to post it here now, well  I  feel that this subject is still as relevant today as it was when I wrote the editorial originally. Another reason I wanted to post this was I have noticed that many of the people who attend these clinics are 40plus riders who are new to horses as well as 40plus riders who have had some issues with their horses, so I think it's important for Seasoned Riders to read this.
 

We just wanted to say Happy New Year to all the Seasoned Rider. We are thrilled that 2014 is the Year of The Horse and we think it's going to be a good year. Look for lots of new features in Seasoned Rider Magazine in the new year. We would also like to thank all you Seasoned Riders who support us since we launched in 2012.  Don't forget January 30th is the Chines New Year, so be sure and ring in the Year of the Horse.  Seasoned Riders Rock On in 2014!

Speak Up

 I don’t know how many of you have read, or have heard of, the children’s book the Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen. It is about about two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes made out of the finest cloth money can by and the very vane Emperor who gives them the money to buy that cloth. However, the two weavers don’t spend the money on the cloth so they come up with a rather clever plan.
They convince the Emperor and everyone around him that the cloth is invisible to those who are unfit for their position, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes everyone acts as though they can see the clothes, except for a child who cries out "But he isn't wearing anything at all!” Okay, what does this have to with anything horse related? Well I’m about to explain that.
  I think we oftentimes have Emperor’s New Clothes syndrome in the horse world. We are sometimes convinced by people in our industry that we should see things a certain way and do things a certain way. They convince some of us if we don’t do that it’s because we are not smart enough or savvy enough to understand what they are doing. Not wanting to look foolish, people often go along without questioning what they are being asked to do or what they are seeing - which can lead to problems for the horse and the human.
  For example, there has been a real trend lately of people standing on the their horse’s back which (unless you have a trick saddle, are a trained trick rider and your horse is trained for trick riding) could very well get you hurt, but nobody seems to want to say that to those people standing on the back of their horses. In other words - let’s not tell the Emperor he is naked, because we might look as if we are not smart enough to understand why people are doing this.
  People are also riding their horses with no bridle or halter and using a stick to control the horse, which, in my professional opinion is not safe, especially on the trail. We need to tell the Emperor that what he is doing is dangerous.
  I have seen a video of a clinician, at an event, asking those participating to stand up in their stirrups, put their hands behind their backs and ask their horses for a trot. Thankfully, those participants were wearing helmets. That was a dangerous thing to ask anyone to do on horseback. Those riding in that clinic should have said “ No, are you crazy?”, but they wouldn’t have wanted to appear ignorant or unable to understand what the clinician wanted them do, so they dutifully did what they were asked.
  Sometimes at these clinics the horses aren’t being treated with kindness and sometimes it borders on abuse, but nobody is willing to stand up and voice that opinion. You know what’s coming - they don’t want to tell the Emperor that he’s naked.
  This syndrome can be found in showing circles as well, even at the Olympic level. A trainer/rider begins to consistently win and they will become very sought after because of those wins. People don’t concern themselves with the methods that person may be using which could be harming the horse - all they can see is those Blue Ribbons, Trophies and Medals. Again, people don’t want to speak out against these methods. After all, those people are the experts and they certainly wouldn’t want to question them. That would make them appear ignorant.
  When you see a person doing something that is dangerous to themselves and their horse speak up - maybe you can help that person before someone gets hurt. If you feel a horse is being abused speak up, don’t just stand idly by and let it happen. This applies to everything in life - stand up and say “That’s not right!” Go ahead - tell the Emperor he is Naked.

Ugliest Dachshund

 Several years ago  I wrote an article about a Fell Pony breeder and I remember her commenting that they wanted to have a  number of mares so when they started their breeding program the foals would be raised in a herd of Fell Ponies. Okay I’m going to be honest I thought that was a ridiculous statement. I mean really.  I thought what does she think - it would be like the Disney movie the Ugliest  Dachshund where the Great Dane was raised with Dachshunds and thought he was one. Well I may stand corrected now.
 My sister purchased a Rocky Mountain filly back in 2006. The filly was a weanling when we brought her home. She was,  of course, the only Rocky in the barn, but we didn’t think anything of that. What did it matter that her stablemates were three Arabians,  a half Arabian and a Paso Fino. The herd would teach her lessons and she find her place in the herd.
  At two years of age she was your typical two year old horse - challenging authority and sometimes finding herself being put her place by the other horses. She hadn’t really perfected her gait at that young age, but we were told it might take a while. Everything was going along fine, or so we thought.
   I guess it was in Spring of her third year that I noticed, while she was gaiting very nicely, that every once  in a while when she trotted in the pasture her trot had some suspension to it. One day I commented she looked kind of like an Arabian out there, but didn't give it much more thought.
  At four I really started her ground training. She was a little slow to mature, mentally, so I wanted to give her some time. While lunging her one day I again noticed her gait at the extended trot.  I thought maybe it was me and I shouldn’t ask for  an extended trot since she was a gaited horse.
  So I talked to some Rocky owners and did some research. Rocky Mountain horses don’t get a lot of suspension when they trot. Words like amble, pace or even rack were used, but  not floating or suspension. No problem, I thought, I won’t ask for an extended trot.   Don’t get me wrong she can gait like a Rocky Mountain Horse and it’s a lovely gait.
  Then one day ,late this fall she was turned loose in the pasture and at first I didn’t pay much attention to her, as I was cleaning stalls or something, but then I caught a glimpse of her trotting across the pasture. There it was again that floating suspended gait and her tail was up, too, more like an Arabian. The thing that really stopped me in my tracks with the wheelbarrow was when she arched her neck and raised her tail as she reached over to the paddock fence to talk to one of the other horses. She looked like an Arabian.
  I knew she had picked up some habits from both the Paso Fino and the Arabs. She would often mimic the Paso Fino’s behavior. I had a friend tell me they are sponges, but I didn't think much about it.
  Well during a clinic I was holding this fall I used the mare to demonstrate some training exercises. When we turned her loose in the arena, because everyone wanted to see her move  , there it was again,  that Arabian trot. Everyone commented about that gait. Oh, she didn’t do it  in hand or being lunged, but at liberty she did.
  A few weeks after that clinic I was judging  a fun show that some Rocky  Mountain horses were attending. I watched those horses in the barn being handled and, being the judge, I watched them in the ring under saddle. It was crystal clear to me  that we had raised a Rocky Mountain Horse who thinks she’s an Arab/Paso Fino.
  I guess it is a case of the Ugliest Dachshund  ( not that the mare is ugly) and she should have been raised with Rockies, but  in my own defense the first few months of her life she was with Arabians and Friesians.
   Oh, well she’s a good horse and I just won’t take her around other Rockies so she won’t get laughed at. Besides she might make a great dressage horse.   

 Several years ago  I wrote an article about a Fell Pony breeder and I remember her commenting that they wanted to have a  number of mares so when they started their breeding program the foals would be raised in a herd of Fell Ponies. Okay I’m going to be honest I thought that was a ridiculous statement. I mean really.  I thought what does she think - it would be like the Disney movie the Ugliest  Dachshund where the Great Dane was raised with Dachshunds and thought he was one. Well I may stand corrected now.
 My sister purchased a Rocky Mountain filly back in 2006. The filly was a weanling when we brought her home. She was,  of course, the only Rocky in the barn, but we didn’t think anything of that. What did it matter that her stablemates were three Arabians,  a half Arabian and a Paso Fino. The herd would teach her lessons and she find her place in the herd.
  At two years of age she was your typical two year old horse - challenging authority and sometimes finding herself being put her place by the other horses. She hadn’t really perfected her gait at that young age, but we were told it might take a while. Everything was going along fine, or so we thought.
   I guess it was in Spring of her third year that I noticed, while she was gaiting very nicely, that every once  in a while when she trotted in the pasture her trot had some suspension to it. One day I commented she looked kind of like an Arabian out there, but didn't give it much more thought.
  At four I really started her ground training. She was a little slow to mature, mentally, so I wanted to give her some time. While lunging her one day I again noticed her gait at the extended trot.  I thought maybe it was me and I shouldn’t ask for  an extended trot since she was a gaited horse.
  So I talked to some Rocky owners and did some research. Rocky Mountain horses don’t get a lot of suspension when they trot. Words like amble, pace or even rack were used, but  not floating or suspension. No problem, I thought, I won’t ask for an extended trot.   Don’t get me wrong she can gait like a Rocky Mountain Horse and it’s a lovely gait.
  Then one day ,late this fall she was turned loose in the pasture and at first I didn’t pay much attention to her, as I was cleaning stalls or something, but then I caught a glimpse of her trotting across the pasture. There it was again that floating suspended gait and her tail was up, too, more like an Arabian. The thing that really stopped me in my tracks with the wheelbarrow was when she arched her neck and raised her tail as she reached over to the paddock fence to talk to one of the other horses. She looked like an Arabian.
  I knew she had picked up some habits from both the Paso Fino and the Arabs. She would often mimic the Paso Fino’s behavior. I had a friend tell me they are sponges, but I didn't think much about it.
  Well during a clinic I was holding this fall I used the mare to demonstrate some training exercises. When we turned her loose in the arena, because everyone wanted to see her move  , there it was again,  that Arabian trot. Everyone commented about that gait. Oh, she didn’t do it  in hand or being lunged, but at liberty she did.
  A few weeks after that clinic I was judging  a fun show that some Rocky  Mountain horses were attending. I watched those horses in the barn being handled and, being the judge, I watched them in the ring under saddle. It was crystal clear to me  that we had raised a Rocky Mountain Horse who thinks she’s an Arab/Paso Fino.
  I guess it is a case of the Ugliest Dachshund  ( not that the mare is ugly) and she should have been raised with Rockies, but  in my own defense the first few months of her life she was with Arabians and Friesians.
   Oh, well she’s a good horse and I just won’t take her around other Rockies so she won’t get laughed at. Besides she might make a great dressage horse.   

Peace On Earth

There are a number of Christmas Carols that have the phrases “Good Will Toward Man” and “Peace On Earth” in their lyrics. I really believe those words  should be far more than just lyrics in a song that are just thought about during the Christmas holiday season, then forgotten the rest of the year.
   There wasn’t much good will toward man during the recent election. These days peace of earth feels more like an impossibility than ever before, yet every once and a while I have been lucky enough to see just a glimmer of good will toward man and peace on earth. Where, you may ask, did this happen? Well, it happened at a horse show while I was standing in the middle of the ring judging the show.  That’s right - a horse show is where I saw  peace on earth and felt good will toward man.
  This year I had the pleasure of judging a Fun Horse Show that was being held as a fund raiser for a charity and that’s where I saw the glimmer. I have seen it before at other fun horse shows in the past too. As in the past I was amazed by the, yes,  good will towards men, women and children at the show.
  Standing there in center ring I couldn’t help but notice, not only, all the different breeds of horses, but all the differences in the people there as well. Their differences were of little importance to anyone the day of horse shows.
There were people of all ages,  genders, races, religion and,  I image, political beliefs, but nobody cared. There were non-horse people there that day and, again, nobody cared. We were just a group of people sharing common interest in horses and sense of community. We were all their to help raise funds for a good cause which would help our fellow man.
  I think horses give people a different perspective, in a sense. As one young man, who was helping out commented,  “ horses don’t care about color or anything else,” and he had that right.  Horses just look at one another as horses not at the color, or breed or where they came from they just know they are all part of the greater herd. Wouldn’t it be great if humans had that great gift?
  It just feels, of late, that we are so divided. Even friends and family seem to be taking sides on issues and missing  what family and friends are all about. . That day of that show I didn’t feel that at all. What I felt was people putting aside differences and enjoying one another on and the passions for horse they all share.  There was friendship and camaraderie that day.
    I found Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Man in small corner of the world, a horse show are arena .  It gives me hope that maybe someday we will  see Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward man around the world.
    I wish you all a wonderful Holiday season with family and friends gathering near. For those of you like my family who may have lost a love one  or perhaps life has been diffcult this year I wish you strength this holiday season and some peace this coming year.

Good Will Toward Men and Peace On Earth .

 Today there seems to be some confusion about what collection is exactly. There seems to be some confusion these days about how to achieve collection , as well.
 There are a number of people giving clinics out there today who give people the impression that collection is just the horse putting his nose down and that it’s achieved by asking the horse to back up, tying his head down or reaching around and pulling the horses head around to the stirrup. This isn’t collection or achieving collection.
 Okay, for those who are about to stop reading and move on, because “I don’t need to know this I just trail ride” or who are saying “that’s for Dressage riding not Western”, not true. Every horse should be able to collect his/her gaits whether ridden at Prix St. George level dressage, reining or just going up the trail. So just keep reading.
 Collection is basically  the bringing together of both the front and rear of the horse for the purpose of lifting and lightening the forehand. Collection is when a horse carries more weight on his hind legs than his front legs - which is what is meant by lightening the forehand.  The horse has engagement from his hindquarters which means the energy to move the horse forward is coming from his hindquarters rather than just from his front legs or shoulders.
 When the horse has his hindquarter engaged he will have a slight bend at the poll, you will see that the high point of his hindquarters is slightly lower than the withers and you feel like you are riding “uphill”, so to speak, rather than “ downhill”.
 How do you achieve collection? Well, you want to start out asking  for a collection at the walk.That’s the easiest for both you and the horse. Once the horse understands what you are asking you can move on to the trot and even the canter/lope if you like, but lets just talk about the walk and trot for now.
 Ask your horse to walk and as he does take a slight contact with the bit , not enough to bring him to stop, but just a very light contact. At the same time apply slight pressure with your legs. When you do this your horse should bend slightly at the poll and you should be able to feel the impulsion coming from his hindquarters. It should feel as if he is driving himself “ uphill” with his hindquarters. You should feel the horse literally lighten up in your hands even though you have more contact with the bit.
 I always say I don’t care if you’re riding down the trail or in an arena, showing or just pleasure riding your horse should learn to collect his/her gaits because it makes for a more pleasurable ride for you and the horse. Collection should be part of any horse’s training, for your sake as well as the horse’s.

Getting Back in the Saddle After a Bad Experience When Your a Seasoned Rider

by Cheryl Childs

We all know that old saying “If you fall off a horse get right back on the horse,” and that’s good advice, but, honestly, getting back on the horse immediately is the easy part. It is a day or two later that things become more difficult, because that is when fear sets in - after you have had some time to think about what happened. There are also times when you aren’t able, physically, to get back on the horse. When you have to wait to recover from an injury it becomes even more difficult to get back in the saddle. After a fall, whether it’s just a minor one or something more serious, fear can take over and become a huge obstacle to overcome when you’re trying to get back to where you were before the incident.

Fear robs you of your confidence, which in turn robs you of enjoying one of your passions in life - your horse. Oftentimes we feel guilty because we don’t want to ride the horse we have enjoyed, trusted and loved to ride so much in the past. We are often embarrassed, as well, not wanting to tell anyone we have lost the confidence to ride because we are afraid that would seem weak or silly to others. Sometimes we begin making excuses not to ride such as “I don’t have the time” or “ I’m too tired today, it was a long day at work” or

“The weather is not good for it” and so on. That, in turn, brings more bad feelings - guilt and sadness about not wanting to be with your beloved horse.

When you’re having all these feelings your horse is picking up on them. Horses need a confident leader and when you become nervous or anxious your horse loses confidence in you as a leader and more problems can occur. This becomes a vicious cycle - the more fearful you become the less trust your horse has in you, so basically you are feeding off each others’ fear and lack of confidence.

The most important thing anyone can do is admit their fear to themselves, to their horse and to the people around them. It can be very difficult to admit to a fellow horse person that you have lost your confidence to ride. Some people will understand while others won’t. Friends or riding companions who advise you to “Just get back on that horse and ride,” aren’t helping you, even though they believe they are helping. In some cases taking that advice may make matters worse for you and your horse. The best advice is to find a friend or family member you can confide in and who will help you work through the problem. If possible find a professional riding instructor who has had experience dealing with adult riders with fear issues.

Since you have lost your confidence and your horse has lost his/her confidence in you as a leader you need to do something to start building trust again. Doing ground exercises with your horse can often aid in getting some of that confidence back. Do simple obstacles such as walking around cones or barrels, walking over ground poles or through a labyrinth. These exercises can very easily be transferred to mounted work. You should always work at your own speed and within your comfort zone, whether doing ground work or riding. Again, having a friend, family member or a professional helping you with these exercises is better than working alone.

Once you begin working your horse under saddle again you need to work on relaxing in the saddle. As a rider you are always telegraphing how you feel to your horse. Try just sitting on your horse and taking deep relaxing breaths as you would in a Yoga class. You will find that when your body relaxes so will your horse. When you feel you are tensing up while riding just take some deep breaths and relax. Don’t be afraid to take your time and do some ground exercises. Then ride in an arena or an enclosed area for a time - there is no shame in that. When you are comfortable and feeling confident again take a short trail ride with a friend, but again at your own speed.

You will find that the sooner you admit to yourself that you have lost your confidence and need help, the sooner you can work through the fear and get back to enjoying your horse again. Don’t let pride or fear (or both) rob you of your passion in life or of the special relationship that has grown over the years between you and your horse.