Clinic roundup: Close your legs

Got to ride in a most lovely indoor

It's been a year since I have ridden in any type of clinic. The last one was the Kasey clinic last April - so it was a treat for me to have two days of instruction from Kim Schisler Sosobee, who is a lovely trainer who came up from Georgia.

I have not had lessons from her before, and I was delighted at her thoughtful coaching, and how everything she said aligned with my program and the instruction from my other coaches.

She was very positive, yet firm with what she was looking for. I could tell she had a great empathy for the horses. She complimented Hampton many times on his honest nature, work ethic and his willingness to do what I asked. (Obviously everyone who meets Hampton is charmed by him!)

The indoor

And she worked us.

I LOVE when I get my ass worked off at a clinic. And Hampton totally rose to the occasion - working his butt off too and never getting tired or cranky.

We focused quite a bit on bringing his hind legs closer together. He really steps wide in specific movements - namely turn on the haunches, canter piros and even in the half passes he needs to keep his legs closed (heh), instead of going so wide behind.

Back in Third level. A turn on the haunches, you can see him stepping wide here
with his right hind. The left turn is even worse

She also said that his little "dolphin" evasion is one she has never seen. When something gets difficult for him, he tries so hard to find a way to mechanically do what I want but struggles with his body so he has learned to do this humpy dolphin/rocking horse move in the canter. Hard to describe but it has dinged us many times in the ring because I am not sure what to do with it.

Wide behind

Her answer? Go forward! (duh)

He got pretty squirrely in the changes, and that's because we were working on the 2s on the Friday before the clinic and he's still in the stage where that makes him anticipate and want to take over. And when he takes over, I can't really prep him so he gets croup-high and crooked.

Some points I took away:

• Make the half pass feel "taller"
• SHORTEN MY REINS
• Think piaffe feeling in TOH to keep legs together
• If anticipating the changes, just canter straight for a while
• Make him wait. But stay straight
• Think medium canter into the bit - especially if he gets stuck
• Shoulder fore on the short sides
• Ride 10m circles and push into outside rein to help throughness
• SHORTEN MY REINS
• Hands forward
• Across the diagonal and flying change to the counter canter lead
• SHORTEN MY REINS

The clinic was hosted by another local rider, who happens to also be my dentist,
and who has built herself a STUNNING farm.

Overall a wonderful clinic. I felt like she made a difference in both of us and I have great homework coming into spring. I would definitely ride with her again!

I am so sorry for my utter lack of media. #bloggerfail

But to make up for it, check out this video of the tack room in this barn.

Want to take up in the aisle? Just swing the door around!