Sign up today for 2 days of fun and learning at our April Clinic.
Saturday – Ground work training with Precision
Sunday – Riding with Precision (same steps as taught the day before on the ground.
Bring your horse or use one of our Marchador horses. Active participants and auditors welcome! Beginners welcome! Share the journey!
Instructor:
Ned Leigh, of Ned Leigh Equine Focus Horse Training in Paulden AZ.Ned has over 30 years experience in starting and training horses. He can teach you and your horse how to gain respect and confidence, starting on the ground. Ned trains all breeds of horses, including Marchador horses now for several MM owners and MM breeders, including Flying Oaks Ranch and Future Foal @ Summerwind, Future Foal @ Sedona.
Destination:
OutWest Stallion Station, 15419 E Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ. Rear lot facility, drive into the facility. Gate will open automatically on Saturday when you pull up. Park in trailer parking lot.
Questions – call or email Lynn Kelley 602-999-3915 or futurefoal@gmail.com
The discipline of Working Equitation (WE) was created with the objective of enhancing the equestrian techniques developed in countries whose riders use horses in different aspects of ranch and fieldwork. The aim is not only to preserve and perpetuate each country’s type of equitation, but also their various traditions, the dress, and tack comprising each nation’s unique cultural equestrian heritage. Working Equitation, therefore, provides an opportunity for the simultaneous comparison of sporting and cultural considerations.
Working Equitation was pioneered by four countries: Portugal, Spain, France and Italy, with the first International competition being held in 1996. In 2004, the World Association for Working Equitation (WAWE) was established to govern the sport. Since that time, the sport has continued to grow and is now well established in Europe and is gaining popularity in North America.
There are four trials, or tests, that make up a Working Equitation competition. The first three, Dressage, Ease of Handling, and Speed, are required for both individual and team competitions. The fourth trial, Cattle Handling, is included for team competitions. It is mandatory at national championship competitions and encouraged at all other competitions when facilities allow.
What happened in Vegas? It won’t stay in Vegas! The USMMA Annual Clinic happened in Las Vegas October 20-22nd! !
Tesoro de los Cielso, 1st in conformation, geldings. With Alessandra, trainer, Theresa Longo, owner & Aline Greene, owner of his sire.
Cathy Pierce on Jaina do Passo Fino during “Swap your Ride!”
Sandy Dory on Tory, Marchador gelding.
Valarie and Aline visit with 4 Seasons Lealdade, there to perform at the PBR.
Kate Barcelos on Flying Oaks Netuno, Alessandra Deerinck on Tesoro de los Cielos.
Gena Rome on Flying Oaks Netuno during “Swap your Ride”.
Tiago rode every horse to evaluate the marcha gait. Here he tries out Flying Oaks Netuno.
Champion Stallion Nashville with Rusty Parks, trainer.
For those who stayed on, many went to the PBR event that night! Fun! Fun!
Off to the trail ride on Wednesday!
The angles or diagram for the MM conformation class.
Tresa Smith and her gelding Lo-Borges de Lazy T, featured at the PBR.
Consentida do Cascade with owner Jake Martinez during conformation evaluation with Tiago and the class.
Mares marcha – Flying Oaks Athena, Fiesta do Campo Real and Alegria de los Cielos
Flying Oaks Athena with Karin Roberts
The gate is always the hardest obstacle at the functional test.
Blake Holtman on Flying Oaks Netuno
Tiago trying Flying Oaks Zodiac for the marcha. OVERALL SHOW CHAMPION!
Owner Rick Schatz rides Flying Oaks Athena into the ring for conformation class (bareback)
Alegria de los Cielos, champion mare.
Great scenery and good horses! Smiles all around!
Rio de los Cielos, Reserve Champion Stallion with owner/breeder Jake Martinez
Here were the end results:
Functional Test (Marchador/Rider)
Flying Oaks Zodiac – Rusty Parks
Alegria de los Cielos – Alessandra Deerinck
Flying Oaks Athena – Jeff Bosley
Flying Oaks Netuno – Rick Schatz
Geldings Marcha (Horse/Rider)
Flying Oaks Zodiac – Rusty Parks
Flying Oaks Netuno – Kate Barcelos
Tesoro de los Cielos – Alessandra Deerinck
Tory (Hilario do Lucero) – Sandy Dory
Geldings Conformation (Horse/Handler)
Tesoro de los Cielos – Alessandra Deerinck
Flying Oaks Netuno – Rick Schatz
Flying Oaks Zodiac – Rusty Parks
Tory (Hilario do Lucero) – Sandy Dory
Geldings Champion – Flying Oaks Zodiac
Geldings Reserve Champion – Flying Oaks Netuno
Mares Marcha (Horse/Rider)
Flying Oaks Athena- Rusty Parks
Fiesta do Campo Real – Kendall Melline
Alegria de los Cielos – Alessandra Deerinck
Mares Conformation (Horse/Handler)
Alegria de los Cielos – Alessandra Deerinck
Consentida do Cascade – Jake Martinez
Flying Oaks Athena – Rusty Parks
Mares Champion – Alegria de los Cielos
Mares Reserve Champion – Flying Oaks Athena
Stallions Marcha and Conformation (Horse/Rider/Handler)
Nashville (Igor do Lucero) – Rusty Parks
Rio de los Cielos – Kendall Melline & Jake Martinez
Stallions Champion – Nashville (Igor do Lucero) – Rusty Parks
Stallions Reserve Champion – Rio de los Cielos – Kendall Melline & Jake Martinez
Overall SHOW CHAMPION– Flying Oaks Zodiac!
The clinic was taught by 2 Brazilian professionals from the ABCCMM, both of whom have taught at our past USMMA clinics. We welcomed them back!
Tiago de Resende Garcia – Tiago is the ABCCMM Director of the ENA – the National School of Judges. The ENA trains MM judges on how to evaluate conformation, gait and functionality of the Marchador. Tiago and his team judge every sanctioned ABCCMM show in Brazil, including the National Show in July which brings 1500 horses to the show ring over 11 days. Tiago has taught Marchador symposiums and lectures around the world.
Kate Moura da Costa Barcelos – Kate is a licensed vet and an ABCCMM inspector (the 1st woman). She has been the ABCCMM inspector for North America for several years. She is also an ABCCMM education program director. Kate is an accomplished rider, competitor and instructor; once the #2 dressage rider in all of South America. Studying for her doctorate, she balances work, school and her farm.
Attending the clinic were a mix of trainers, breeders and owners from far and wide.!
AB, Canada – Bill Dory, Sandy Dory, Blake Holtman, Patty Horner
BC, Canada – Gena Rome
AZ – Lynn Kelley
CA – Alessandra Deerinck, Linda Holst, Theresa Longo, Jake Martinez, Kendall Melline
OK – Rusty Parks, Rick Schatz
MO – Karin Roberts
MT – Tresa Smith (there for the PBR and clinic. Lori Silcher and her MM friend were also there because of the PBR so they joined in too!)
NV – Jim Hannah
TX – Cathy Pierce
NC – Jeff Bosley
SC – Aline Greene
UT – Valarie Giacalone
Spread over 3 days, the clinic featured some classroom parts, but mostly hand-on riding and teaching the marcha gait, Marchador conformation and the functional test. On Wednesday, the day was more relaxing with a beautiful trail ride in the red rock country of Nevada. Jim Hannah did a great job organizing this day.
Everyone helped throughout the clinic and one of the best parts of the clinic was getting to meet other Marchador owners and breeders! That actually may be the best part, for me. I had a great time there
Thanks to the clinic committee, the trainers and the participants for helping us pull off our 4th annual clinic! Special thanks to those that brought Marchadors – Bill and Sandy Dory, Jim Hannah, Flying Oaks and Rancho de los Cielos. The clinic cost is partially underwritten by the USMMA and the ABCCMM, so thanks to them too!
Next year’s clinic moves EAST to the Carolinas or Tennessee! A new format and new classes will be added – send in your suggestions – perhaps Working Marchador would be fun!
Our goal is to keep learning and enjoying our Brazilian Saddle Horses – the Mangalarga Marchador!
p.s.
Attached is the pdf file that described the clinic if you are interested in learning or reading more.
Use the land to improve the gait. We left the arena and used a hillside meadow to speed up the footfalls and get more reach when coming down the hill.
We also used the road to listen for the sound of the gait. Excellent feedback to the rider to hear and adjust the speed, collection or himself to get the perfect sound.
Focus on proper posture – no leaning! Tuck your seat under you slightly so your hips can move.
The star exercise used poles in a circle on the ground and a pattern to ask the horse for concentration, bending and stretching.
How to work on the gait when not under saddle – free movement or running with the horse.
Lots of obstacles and patterns on many different horses raised everyone’s confidence level.
Lead Line Management – it sounds so simple, doesn’t it? We learned from Ned – everyone needs this course! Basics are the building blocks of horsemanship and what we learned in class also translates into riding exercises as well. Find out more about Ned Leigh on his website: http://www.nedleighequinefocus.com
Our learnings from Ned during the clinic:
The backup: This is an important command! It primarily establishes our boundary between us and the horse. This boundary must be maintained and consistent if the horse is ever to truly understand. There should be at least 4 different commands or ways the horse understands as a request for a backup.
The horse should never be disciplined if they come into our space! It is the fault of the person if this happens. It is the responsibility of the person to control the horse’s approach to the boundary. We want a relationship with our horse and we’d like them to want to be close to us and not punish them for this.
The forward command is a 3 step process. Always use the least amount of pressure or request when asking the horse and then move to the second and third step if needed.
Allow the horse the time to think and make decisions.
ALWAYS BE A TEACHER! It is easy to find ourselves in the mindset to make the horse do what we want and the horse will always suffer for that! To be a teacher we must try to see the lesson from the horse’s point of view.
Timing is everything!
Photos from the class! All Marchador horses in the photos! Most photos credit to Brasilian instructor for Day 2 and Day 3
Adrienne and Gralha
The soft kind hands (and eyes) of a horseman.
Lynn with Brasilia
The Group takes a break!
Carmen with Bossa Nova
Izzy and Karen, Azenha and Adrienne
The test! Backup and put the right hind foot on the cone.
Ned teaching
The partnership. Koyote kisses Laura.
The backup. Ned, Carmen and Koyote
Randy won the test – can you tell with his focus here?
Lynn and Brasilia. We all traded horses often.
Karen doing the TEST.
Izzy circling Ned
The partnership. Bill and Brasilia do Summerwind
Leiticia and Caboclo
The test. Good girl Azenha!
Bill and Brasilia listening intently
Carmen and Koyote
Ned and Izzy. Izzy had the least experience so Ned used her as the demo horse.
Watching Ned’s intro.
Azenha de Maripa!
Randy with Gralha
Lynn and Koyote.
Ned teaching with Gralha
Randy with Izzy
Adrienne and Azenha
Video from the Clinic! Courtesy of Adrienne C. Scheck
