Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas!!! We spent a couple of days prior to Christmas Day in Panama City Beach with my dad. So relaxing and beautiful there! Those white sand beaches go for miles. Fortunately, Hurricane Michael only grazed the PCB area. |
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| | Stacia and Dino Stacia had leased Dino to someone who rode in a supposed "lightness" style that's being taught out there. He was being ridden in a double bridle, which if the horse is ready, that's fine. But to put a training/1st level horse in a double bridle just to make a frame is poor training. I have to warn you all that there is a lot of nonsense being taught in the name of Classical Dressage these days. Stay away from it! Make sure you are following true Classical principles, educate your eye, read up on people who are considered Masters. You can see the overall weakness showing up in Dino. He's having to lift his hip to swing his hind legs, notice the under tracking. He also did not want to accept contact, which is one of the major faults of the "lightness" nonsense. I'm not saying I want horses heavy in the reins, but they must accept contact to build a connection and throughness. Dino would vacillate between no contact and too heavy. He had no back or true topline muscling. You can see the lack of energy and connection clearly in this photo. Dino almost looks like he would slip out below and behind her. He's been able to negatively influence Stacia here, with his back down and lack of energy. His push back is greater than her push forward. Riders tend to ride horses like this by giving away the reins in the hopes the horse will go more forward with a lower head/neck. The horse will usually comply, but collection, which I hope is everyone's ultimate goal, will not happen. | | |
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| | Stacia and Dino 2 months later Stacia is a professional and a good rider. Two months of strengthening, steady, purposeful work show the difference in Dino. She was able to build energy and activity, talking him into accepting contact more correctly. Notice his overall balance, how much more uphill he is. The bending of his hind joints, versus the prior stiffness. You can see he looks like he would trot right off the page! Stacia is having a better influence on Dino. She's being able to suck his back up, her shoulders and back are more closed which helps keep the horse more in front of her. She's got the upper hand here, with her push forward greater than his push back. There's still more to fix with Stacia's back and arms. She could be even more shoulders together and down, narrowed across her back, hands closer together. Overall, she is in a much more effective place. For many of you, there may not be a big difference in the rider between the two pics. For those of you who have experienced a ride with myself or Mary, you get it! RWYM has so much more to do with the use of your body, rather than just equitation. Another pet peeve of mine is the number of people who are calling themselves "BioMechanics" Instructors these days. Mary has done the research, she's now got proof of why/how her stuff works (her new book). Again, be careful who you ride with. Quote from Mary Wanless: "You pay your money, you make your choices." Choose wisely!!! | | |
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By now you guys should all know who Nancy Conley and Truly Unsurpassed are (big smiles here!) This pair has won so many awards in the Western Dressage world that it would take a whole newsletter to name them all! Most recent awards: 2018 World Champion Level 4, 2018 Reserve World Champion Level 3, 2018 Reserve World Champion Musical Freestyle, 2018 USEF Western Dressage Horse of the Year Level 3. They were also awarded the WDAA Lifetime Achievement Supreme Champion. And IF all that wasn't enough, Breyer is coming out in 2019 with a Truly Unsurpassed Breyer Horse and the pair will participate in the 2019 Breyerfest!!! I'm looking forward to receiving an autographed model! I still have all my Breyer horses from when I was a child. Success is the result of goals, hard work, and dedication. Please join me in Congratulating Nancy and Calico on their incredible journey! | | |
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Upcoming Schedule Looking forward to another stellar year in 2019. I appreciate all of my students and hosts. I truly am "for the horse", as the way the rider sits definitely influences how the horse goes, for better or worse. Thank you for all that you teach me when you ride with me! I also finally get a chance in 2019 to ride with Mary Wanless again. It's been a while since I've had the opportunity and I need my Mary "fix" !!! She's my mentor and I always learn so much from her, which of course, I then get to share with you all. You can contact me about any of the upcoming dates. Some I organize, other times the host organizes. I can give you contact and location info. If you are interested in organizing a clinic with me, I am always looking for new venues! January 11-13 Fairhope, AL January 18- 20 Havana, FL January 25-27 Cottondale, FL February 8-10 Auburn, AL February 22-24 Mary Wanless Clinic March 15-17 Lafayette, GA March 29-31 Fairhope, AL April 5-7 Huntersville, NC April 12-14 Havana, FL April 26-28 Wausau, WI | | |
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