And the rains came in July too. We appreciate the horses’ efforts at grooming
Lynn on Gralha M.U.G. Great mare!
Bill on Koyote Libertas! They clicked.
Audrey at the San Juan river
Leticia Ribeiro came and rode with us!
Lots of friends came to meet and try riding Marchadors!
Azenha de Maripa, a beautiful Marchador!
Ready to ride!
Adrienne on Bossa Nova de Miami
Joia and Beethoven at Laurie’s, SK. “Beethoven has not groomed another horse since I put Mint down 1 year ago”
Lynn on Caboclo. He was also Leticia’s favorite.
Almost a selfie! Lynn and Gralha!
Carmen and Bossa Nova reunited too!
Arun is coming!!! Arun is coming!!
Seamus and Gus hanging out.
Izzy got a person on her back for the first time!
John on Artemis. Hair by Leticia.
Leticia on Gus
Guinness meeting Gus.
Hawke do Summerwind headed home from the back fields.
Great visit by Kristy, Audrey and Adrienne
Guinness, a yearling filly arrived in July. Owned by the Leatherwoods.
Day 2 and Day 3 of the SW Clinic focused on riding and learning to feel the different gaits and speeds of the Marchador. SW offered:
Artemis do Summerwind – marcha picada
Siglioso do Rav – marcha picada
Seamus da Boa Fe – marcha picada and marcha batida
Bossa Nova de Miami – marcha de centro
Gralha M.U.G. – marcha batida
Koyote Libertas – marcha batida
Caboclo da Piedade – marcha batida
Carmen on Bossa Nova, her favorite!
Randy and Karen – the big winners!
Laura, Gus and John
Leticia on Caboclo da Piedade
Gus
Sarah2 on Artemis
Karen tries Izzy for the first time!
Randy on Seamus doing poles
Artemis gets his hair done!
Sarah on Koyote
Karen on Gus
Bill on Artemis
Leticia on Gralha
How many people does it take to groom a horse?
Randy and Karen, Seamus and Gus
Karen on Koyote
Karen on Artemis
Ned on Koyote
Randy on Seamus
Randy on Artemis, Ned on Seamus
Laura and Carmen
Laura on Gralha in the meadow
Randy on Artemis
The LINEUP
John on Bossa Nova
Ned on Seamus
Laura, Karen and Artemis, stretching exercise
Brasilia gets a beauty treatment!
The marcha – triple support
Bill and Carmen, Artemis and Bossa Nova
Adrienne on Koyote
Leticia on Caboclo
Koyote Libertas!
Adrienne
Teaching on horseback
Lynn on Koyote Libertas
Artemis
Lynn and Karen and Izzy. Someone on her back is NEW!
Ned on Koyote
Laura and Gralha
Lynn on Seamus
Bill on Artemis do Summerwind
Leticia and Caboclo
Laura riding Gralha M.U.G.
Adrienne on Koyote
Randy on Bossa Nova, stretching
Learnings from Laura: (see also clinic post from last year )
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.
Create a dream that will last a lifetime….