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
Bill and Brasilia listening intently
Randy won the test – can you tell with his focus here?
Ned teaching with Gralha
The soft kind hands (and eyes) of a horseman.
The partnership. Bill and Brasilia do Summerwind
The Group takes a break!
Adrienne and Gralha
Karen doing the TEST.
Watching Ned’s intro.
Ned and Izzy. Izzy had the least experience so Ned used her as the demo horse.
Azenha de Maripa!
The test. Good girl Azenha!
Lynn and Koyote.
The partnership. Koyote kisses Laura.
Izzy circling Ned
Adrienne and Azenha
Carmen and Koyote
Leiticia and Caboclo
The test! Backup and put the right hind foot on the cone.
Lynn with Brasilia
Ned teaching
Izzy and Karen, Azenha and Adrienne
The backup. Ned, Carmen and Koyote
Carmen with Bossa Nova
Lynn and Brasilia. We all traded horses often.
Randy with Izzy
Randy with Gralha
Video from the Clinic! Courtesy of Adrienne C. Scheck
