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Weekly Words from Gail: (or when she gets a chance)
Wednesday November 21, 2007 I had an older woman say to me at the office, "Don't get old!” Hmmm, I thought "How do I stop THAT process?" Another year is approaching the end and it has been another year of growth and change. To run a barn is running something that is bigger then any of us. Egos have to be put aside, there is trial and error as to what works well and what needs to be adjusted, meanwhile all depending on what the students and clients want. I have learned this year to nurture the students I have and to encourage then to be independent, to try to listen to what they would like to achieve. It is different for a lot of them and our job is to help them achieve what ever their goal may be. For 2007 I have learned how to ask and listen to what students and parents want, help then achieve that and follow through. I've Learned that things I have tried in the past that didn't work for our program isn't failure, hey we tried something and decided that after seeing what the barn consensus was and how it worked that we want to alter how we approached a program or our clients. I also realize that our barn is for people that WANT to be there, want to learn and know that we have a facility that will help them. Riding is social but many of the riders recognize that they have a personal goal that they want to get to and that our facility is a tool for that. I also see how the students are striving to learn and instead of hearing that they can't do something, they are encouraged to explore and try exercises and we look at what the results are together. Usually, I'm impressed! There is a great feeling when you walk into the arena and you see students concentrating and physically riding their homework preparing for their next lesson. They are thinking and sometimes experimenting. I remember Carol Poulin-Taylor saying to me that one of her prominent words of advice came from Kyra Kirkland. Kyra was explaining the process of training a horse and she said words to the effect of "If something doesn't work, try something else, if that doesn't work, try something else". Makes sense when you are trying to unlock what makes each horse or rider tick! I also saw kids grow up and show more nurturing skills toward their horses and taking care of them. I saw adult riders concentrate and learn a difficult movement and piece together the why we train a certain way. I saw the business aspect on what clients like and what we offer and would change to make sure their horses stay with us would be a comfort to them. I'm really proud on how our students did in competition this year. Not only in their placing, but how polite and thoughtful they were. I heard over and over again, not only from other parents, but other barns on how they conducted themselves. Whether they won, lost or just had heart felt happiness for another rider that didn't ride at our farm. Thanks you guys! Good sportsmanship goes a long way. So in the Thanksgiving tradition there is so much to be thankful for. My family and I are healthy, the horses and animals are safe and fed and if the worst thing I have to worry about is keeping our aisle way clean or encouraging and educating clients on the joys and knowledge of horses, then life is OK! It's good to remember to keep things in perspective. So relax for Thanksgiving, enjoy your family friends and animals. Remember to appreciate how lucky we are to have horses in our lives and there is so much worse things that some have to worry about. 'Til next letter, G Thursday, October 18, 2007 The weather was great this year it was nice to have the sunshine and really I didn't think the heat was too bad this year (knock on wood! ) So much has gone on where do I begin? The Andersons bought One Smooth One (Moe) for Amber, their daughter. This is a good match; Amber is going to spend the winter getting to know him at the farm. By spring, they should be well on their way to a lot of joyful experiences. The Lakeman girls Abby and Haley have been 1/2 leasing Woodie and Honey although after show season, Haley will be working and riding Thor, George English's horse. Abby will be trying out some different options to see what will work for her. Kylee Sands had been leasing Fever and had been doing a great job with him. Sam Perry had been working with her new horse Timber, she does a really nice job and he is so happy to be working! Jen Hastings and her horse Kya have been here the last few months. They will bring Kya home for the winter. Jen will come and take lessons with Katie and participate in our weekly jumping groups. We are sending out a get well VERY soon to Maddy Kelly, she had cracked a bone in her ankle from (NO Not riding) but soccer. OUCH! Get well Soon, Maddy! We have Jessie Anne Noels mare back in for training, she is doing well! Also The Robinsons have Daffyd the Fjord back. He is for sale and we are putting more training on him. He is a great horse, sound and sane. Right now his price is VERY VERY reasonable! Our Frost On The Pumpkin 2-phase went well! We had about 48 people ride, 44 of them being students that chose to show from the farm. Judy Lenihan was our judge. Everyone loved her as she was positive gave Kudos when deserved and encouraged others when needed. She is a positive encouraging influence for the riders. Brenda Oldfield ran the food portion. The proceeds from the food will go into rejuvenate the 4-H program for equines in this area. FMI let me know and I will get anyone interested in touch with Brenda. Most of you know I had an injury and am now doing fine. Yes, it was of the left cheek of my buttock (Haha) I have been the "butt" of many jokes. Sometimes I felt left "behind" when there was so much riding to happen. But in seriousness, it has been awhile since I could ride and just recently got back in the saddle. Judy Westlake has been here a couple of times. Judy is a GREAT USDF certified teacher and occasionally writes for Dressage Today as well as teaches clinic all over the country. Well, Judy will be giving a lecture Tues October 30th from 7-9 on Gaits of horses and what to look for. The next day she will have lesson form 9-5 before she leaves for FLA. Also, this winter Mary Guenzel is back! Mary so knows her stuff and will be teaching the 1st Sunday of every month until spring. In January, when I am away, she will be teaching 2 Sundays that month. She is popular and knows how to bring riders and horses along. I will write again soon as I know I left so much out. I will say we as a barn are learning lots having fun, finding that we really are like a big family. Schedule:
Everyone did well this year; I do need to say I am so impressed with all the riders here. The adults, that either gets up early, work around their spouses and jobs to come and get bonding and nurturing time with their horse as well as exercise. The younger crew, Teenagers and Tweenies: Their dedication, coming out after school; offering to help to around the farm and ride extra horses. I think that they are all GREAT! I will write again soon! Hope all is well, Monday, August 13, 2007 This last week (Aug 6th thru the 10th) was camp with some new faces and this week we will have event camp and immediately after, on Thursday, the Infinity Farm 2-phase (Aug 16th) at the fairgrounds. Oh, Saturday is the East Ridge dressage show too! The Gould's have brought their two horses, Camo and Fannie home. They are settling in and have a VERY nice home! I have been out once to see how it is going, which is well and will be out again to support the Gould's with working their horses at home. Yeah you guys! The kids have been to a lot of local shows and have been doing well. What I would like, is for students to e-mail Judy Wilbur Craig how they did at the shows and events and if they like, we can post the results. At the Wild West Weekend organized by North Country Riding Club We had 19 students and horses from the farm and we can have the riders e-mail their results of all the shows they entered. (We had a lots of Reserve Champs and Champs I can't keep track) Last month, we had quite a few students go to Whispering Pines Dressage Show and Ultimate 2-Phase. We also went to East Ridge 2-phase and Becca Bourgoine went to the USDF Pucker brush Show, where she got a %66.5 in T-1 and %68.5 in T-2, they had a good day! Bryanne Clawson just got back from Snowfields and got a 2nd in her novice division, Go Bry! Chellie Oldfield is going tomorrow, MeCTA will have the results. Maddy Kelly is going to Whispering Pines too, hope they all do well! The Farm has been in two parades, Bradford and Dover Days. Michelle Zambrano, as always, does a great job letting us know the lo-down as well as providing a float and decorations and Sarah Kelly has let us use her truck and had bought candy (Michelle too!). The parades are fun, in Bradford the drill team performed, the kids did a great job! Angie has been very busy organizing for the 2-phase. She does an AWESOME job Michelle Cole is scoring for us (Thanks M) and Stacia Russell will be our Judge. We have more helpers and will fill you in on who they are, after the event. Angie's niece has just purchased Lucky Ms Sandy a horse that Angie knew as a baby. To make a long story short, she found this horse for sale that she remembered from when the mare was a foal. So, she had bought her and was smitten with her attitude. Abby Ogan is the new owner of Ms Sandy now and we wish her the best! Katie has brought her new project, Zeus in that she will train. Katie has also recently ridden Geronimo, being the first person on his back and she will have fun with him. I am actively looking for a home for Toby. I want him to semi -retire to a really, really good home. He can be ridden and knows a lot but he is an older thoroughbred and has some extra TLC needs. A stall in the winter lots of comfy blankies and lots of food is basically the bulk of it. It has been so busy I think we had gone else where so feel free to remind me where and again let Judy know how we did! judy@mainewebdesigner.com I probably left a ton of stuff out and I hope that every one is having a great summer! SO if I left you out please let us know and we will give you the credit you are due! I will make up the slack next time, and again hope all are well! Wednesday, July 18, 2007 Belle is back, long story short, I found out where she ended up and we have her here at the farm. I am very happy as she is a very nice mover and has a great jump in her. Lauren Taylor has brought her horse, Rocky, in for training he was going to stay a week and they decided to keep him here longer. Harley Wellman has been riding him and can get him soft and pushing through from behind. It takes time, strength (for the horse) and patience. Cindy B has her gelding, Geronimo here for a few months with Katie. Becca W has Josie back. Meanwhile I'm waiting for some room to open up so I can bring some clients that I have waiting to come in for training! I was looking at our website and realize how much we need to update it! The kids that we see in the current pictures look SO much older know and their riding has changed SO dramatically! With a young barn the students tend to be new too and a lot of people don't realize that many of them have been riding 3 or less years! A big comment I get is that people want to see action pictures of our students riding so with in the next month we will have some for all. Some of the students went to Young Riders in Starks ME . We might have some pictures from that next month. This summer we have been going out to different farms to school Cross Country. This week it's Carmel. Over the next year, the kids will be going out and doing more and more XC. SO if you are interested in how our students do you are able to go onto the MeCTA website or site for EMDA and USDF. Any student is welcome to send in to Judy Wilbur Craig their results and we will put them on the website. Sometimes at the local shows because we have so many students there, I forget what they got and what they got in each class if it was a round and round show. Carol Poulin-Taylor is coming this Friday to give a lecture and such. Mary Guenzel will be back in the fall. In January I will be heading back down to FLA to work with Judy Westlake. I am also planning on getting in touch with a really good jumper person and taking some extra lessons while I'm there. Oh, Katie is having a western clinic at Dexter show grounds. FMI call Katie at 285-7615. GO Katie! I'm going to hit the hay and get ready for another day! Hope to see and hear from all of you soon, Gail Thursday, June 21, 2007 The kids did well at North Country Riding Club in Dexter I think the results are probably on the website and our kids did well. At East ridge 2-phase we had about 7 kids go and they all did well and had a great time. For Puckerbrush and Whispering PInes the Bourgoine's went there and Lena and Sam went to one of Whispering pines. Our 2-phase went really well; the turn out was big, the weather held and we all had a great time working the show and chatting with people we know! It was funny B/C at least 3 people I have talked with since the show, had mentioned they would have to plan when they needed to use the restroom. This was because they knew they would meet at least 3 friendly faces and it would take a while! Our working student is in full swing. The kids are great, listen well and do things right. We have Bella back the small Appy cross mare back. She is very cute! Bre Clawson just bought a really cute re-sale project and every one will have to check "Snitch" out! Judy Westlake was here today and of course our lesson program was full ! so she is so easy to get along with and I am looking forward to another January in Florida! I will write more next week. I hope all is well! Wednesday, May 16, 2007 This been a very long and trying week. As most of you know, we had to put Karisma down last week. It was really devastating to all of us here. To have a great lesson horse, it takes a lot of luck to find the horse that has patience and tolerance and at the same time needs to enjoy their job. Karisma was this horse. When Karisma came to us a year and half ago, I knew he was a really good solid school horse. He was really creaky though, I would joke that he sounded like Rice Krispies when he went by. Visitors would be in the ring when he went by and wonder what that popping sound was ... it was Karisma. Everyone rode him at one time or another. He was the horse that we would put the most timid riders on. His gaits were so smooth, we could teach riders, adult and child, walk, trot, canter and they would learn with confidence. Karisma was the perfect show horse that first time showers would ride. He was so obedient and smooth that students would do really well placing high and had great show experiences because of him. When you have a school horse they become part of your working family. The school horse is right with the instructor trying to help a student learn. The instructor depends on an agreeable horse while a student learns. The patience that a school horse must have makes a huge difference in how a student learns. Karisma was the most patient and sweetest horse for any of our students to learn with. I can't tell you the times that Angie, Katie, Bry, Kim, Michelle and I would comment on how awesome and great Karisma was and how lucky we were to have him. Really the times we would shake our head and be so happy he was part of our school program was frequent. We only would use Karisma for people to get their confidence on. Although he would go in front of the leg, round with his top line, and could jump 2'6" plus (also had clean flying changes, see story below) I decided that he would just get our students to a level that they felt comfortable on a horse then I would move them on, never asking much of Karisma just simple WTC and jumping mo higher then 18". Karisma loved this light work. I think of the time that Dover Days parade was coming up and Foxcroft Vet was going to have all the vets ride horses in the parade. I offered Karisma to Dr. Jeff Kelly. He kind of hemmed and hawed. Now, Jeff hadn't ridden a lot in the last 20 years. I will say one Christmas night at our house, Jeff did trot Baba around in the indoor so I knew although he hadn't ridden, I have to say he could post the trot w/ Baba with in 5 minutes of mounting the horse, so Jeff was physically OK. I brought Karisma in the trailer with the drill team crew, tacked him up and handed him to Jeff saying" You'll be fine Karisma will take care of you" and Karisma sure did! Karisma took Dr. Kelly the whole way through Dover Days parade with out a mis-step! Not even a month ago Mary Guenzel was up for a clinic and Kathleen Fox was riding Karisma. The lesson was simple changes across the center line of a serpentine and Karisma would do flying changes (clean changes) instead of coming down to a trot. Mary went with it and Kathleen hanging on (she had no idea what flying changes even were) and Karisma would flying change (again clean!) through the whole exercise. It was so sweet and I could only think of what a trooper Karisma was. Kathleen was a little over whelmed and she was a great sport! This last few months were great for Karisma. I had noticed he was getting pretty plump for an old thorough bred. He sounded much less creaky. In the past he would rush over jumps, now he was trotting contently. I was thinking I would have one more year with him then I was going to give him to the Kelly Family for retirement. It is nice to see a horse pay their dues and get to retire to pasture with a friendly, knowledgeable family. Unfortunately my plan didn't work out for Karisma. To lose a horse that lives with you on your farm is the same as losing a family member. The thoughtful people that send cards and cry with you and give condolences, it really is like a wake for the days following their death. This kind animal that stays patient and works right next to you in the ring for lessons, that at the end of each lesson you pat and ALWAYS appreciate what a good horse he is. We were very very lucky to have Karisma at our farm and I am so glad that I got to know him and will always appreciate his work ethic, quietness and kindness. People have been sending pictures of Karisma with their family member or themselves, and we would like people to continue to do so, we would like put a collage together by the end of May. Thank you Karisma, we all hope you are running and an enjoying yourself now. Wednesday, May 02, 2007 Katie Bragdon and Kim Shaffer have been helping out with Angie students while she is gone. Kelsey Peach has moved on to stay with relatives for a while. Kelsey had done morning chores for the past couple of years here as well as living on the farm in the apartment we wish her the best! We have a couple moving in, Chantelle Pelletier and Scott Stetson who will be taking over some chores on the farm. Chantelle is going t o school to be a Vet Technician so this is exciting for her! She also brings her Horse Adeena and dog Isabella. Welcome! Courtney Edgerly has a new horse, Kiwi a horse that Becca White had been training here. They are a nice match and Courtney will be boarding him here thru the summer. The Gould's are leasing Tianna and keeping her here for the summer too. They are going to have a lot of good experiences with her. Eva Peach's Mare Abby is back for some training with Becca and to get her going for the year. I had a funny thing said to me the other day and I have to share this. I had someone say that they love to come here because we aren't so serious. I laughed and said I hope not, riding, although intense, should be fun, creative, educational and a release for people. To have a child learning, you need to use different tools to communicate to the child proper riding and make it not all seem like work. Because we aren't "serious" it doesn't mean that people don't learn the proper way to ride and learn how to take care of their animals! We have many adults that come from a long day at work and enjoy learning about communicating with horses and taking time out for themselves. People forget that our barn is young still, we are still building it up and we do little advertising. We have a waiting list of boarders who want to come in and all three of us instructors stay busy. We accommodate many different backgrounds of people. People are surprised when I say in the summer we have over 100 students; yep. That is a lot! In the off season it is about 65 to 70. Although clients see our barn as busy, they don't realize the broad range of students we have because we keep things relaxed. Some days are the aisle messier by the end of the day then the beginning, Yup. Do we have some great workers that make sure it gets taken care of? Absolutely! Our younger students take part in a working student program. We offer this program to encourage children to take responsibilities for the animals. They learn and work with adult supervision and are able to earn lessons. How great is that? We keep our prices low, because we want to make riding accessible and have people experience riding lessons and enjoy horses like we do. Our students get out to clinics and are always complemented on how well their horses are trained and how well the riders ride AND how polite they are. We encourage clinicians to come to our barn and have our students ride with them. I want the BEST for our students and want them to see different angles of correct riding . There are many roads to Rome and I want them all to succeed and learn. I keep it mainstream with great qualified clinicians that really know their stuff. Many of our students put training into their horses learn how to teach a horse and can bring it to other horses. They are allowed to explore any avenue of horsemanship and can go to any clinics they like. They hold their own and I always hear how well they do. I can see the concentration of our riders as they work to comprehend the lesson at hand. Many of the students can rider a variety of horses and learn for themselves what make each horse happy in their work. When we teach I go into the complexity of contact and in front of the leg. That can be such a tangled knot to unravel but the students struggle and as they persevere and the light bulbs go off it is so awesome. Many of them get the idea of it with in 4-5 lessons then that opens new doors for them and their riding. So we may not be "serious", but we are effective, relaxed, informative, happy, educational, open, confident, correct, human, and down to earth, community oriented, sometimes silly, compassionate, friendly, busy barn. Hmm does that cover it? So I want to thanks everyone that has made this barn, it is done for you all really; I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! P.S. I love feedback so any comments are always welcome. I want to make this place even better for you. Monday, April 23, 2007 Mary had her clinic April 14 and 15. We had some riders from other barns, Sarah, Julie and Kathleen came from "away" and we had mostly adults although Maddy Kelly and Jenna Jones joined in. Mary was her usual great self and she will be back on May 6th. Camp week has come and gone it was a lot of fun, Bry Clawson and Kim helped to run it. Carol Poulin Taylor came on Friday, we had her give a lecture then each rode a test of two with her. She had a lot of good insight and clarified some exercises with the students. I saw some light bulbs going off and I feel many of the students really enjoyed it. Carol thought the students did a great job and encouraged them all. Michelle Zambrano, who runs drill team and Stacia Russell who owns Stoneridge Stable (check out their website! The place is beautiful! ) attended as they ride with Carol as much as they can. After spending the day with Carol and getting out and about more I am realizing this. The trainers/ and experienced riders that feel confident in their knowledge and really know their stuff are
So that is the goal of our students to be able to recognize what needs to change (or stay the same) with their horse and have the ability to be able to fix it on their own. To be effective and be able to be solid enough as riders to institute change for the positive in the horse. Yes, we all needs to work on rider position because ultimately that will help you with your horse but you need to RIDE your horse too. These past years I've really gone out and am learning so much that theory is getting so much clearer and I feel that the concepts are clear and it shows in our students. Everyone has to learn and mistakes will happen but its better then doing nothing. I remember another instructor was having a lesson with Lendon Gray. The student/instructor was riding around not being very effective and Lendon would yell out "Do SOMETHING, do SOMETHING!" I love that one! So Angie is due any time now, hope everything goes really smoothly. In another week or so I will have another update with some more interesting news! Tare Care from all of us! Gail Monday, March 26, 2007 First Angela Coy is getting lots of organizing of the barn agenda and getting our forms up to date as barn manager. She is also organizing the show schedule and letting students know what is happening when and how they can participate. There is a lot to offer in the way of local shows going on and there is something going on just about every weekend, we are hoping to fit in as much as possible. Angie is really doing an amazing job and she deserves a lot of credit. We had a "last minute” barn meeting Sat the 24th and gave everyone who attended lists of shows as well as news that will effect our clients. Mary Guenzel will be coming April 1st for lessons and on the 14th and 15th we will be having a two day clinic with her. I believe the clinic is now filled and have a waiting list. Mary is always a lot of fun and has a great eye for horses and position. Carol Poulin-Taylor is coming Fri April 20th for a clinic and although we originally were going to have it for the younger students here, I decided to offer it to adults and had a really great response from that! I really happy too as Carol is so informative and tactful I feel she knows her stuff and am looking forward to that date. Michelle Zambrano and Michelle Cole the drill team co-coordinators had Infinity drill team day on Friday. They decorated the local Shiretown pizza shop with pictures and info on the Infinity Farm Drill team. I am so impressed with them! Both Michelle Z and Michelle C are such an asset for our drill team. We really couldn't do have the drill team with out them! Kudos to them! (Hey, Kudos is a cool horse name! ) At the drill teams' last meeting we had 26 interested students show up! In interest of the huge response Michelle Z elected to break them up into two groups; the Regal Riders and the Dream Catchers. I am constantly amazed on Michelle Zs and Michelle Cs ingenuity and creativeness! Please look out for the Infinity Farm drill team window at Shiretown Pizza. Thanks you guys! Samantha Perry has just started a half lease on Woodie, AKA Semper Fi. I am really happy with this match and feel that Sam is a good fit for Woodie. Hannah Rothlauf has started her half lease with Hershey. Hannah adores Hershey and she and he will have a fun show season. Able Striker, one of our students June Williams, has 4 yr old is in for training this month. His is a nice grey QH-TB cross and is coming along nicely. June's niece, Amanda Bubar who also takes lessons here is involved with the process of training Abe so she can hopefully get him out and about locally this year. June and Amanda are really down to earth and are so friendly, take time out to say Hi to them. Thor, Georges English's' Horse went home after a month of training and will be back in another month or so for more education. We have awaiting list still of horses to come in, every time it goes down someone else calls or asks! Katie Bragdon is taking over the training of Okie, Bonnie Shorey horse, which Kelly Wilson had been riding and doing nicely with. Katie, who is such a natural at riding and training, LOVES him and is enthusiastically working Okie. Katie is preparing Okie so Bonnie can ride him western and she is doing a great job. Katie also has another horse coming in July for a few months of training as well as some other of her "regulars". Becca White, who boards her horses that she has in for training has been helping me out by working Kiwi, a very nice Pintabian. I was originally going to keep him for a school horse but may offer him for sale. I'm hoping that if he does go for sale he gets a super nice home. Ashley Shaffer has started assisting Becca with riding and training of Kiwi. Jubo soon will go to her new home with Kathleen Fox. Kathleen and her husband Bill O'toole both who ride at the farm, will be moving up full time so are hoping we see them around the barn more. Sandy Porter Bean was looking for a nice easy going pony for a four yr old client of theirs so I lent them PB for how ever long they need her. I know in Sandy's hands she will be well taken care of and Her client is SO cute ,both she and PB have red "manes". Also looking forward to seeing Sandy's new indoor arena near Skowhegan. March 25th Katie and I will be in Newburgh at the USPC Standards and Ratings for instructors. This is a "pony-do”, as it's nice to keep teaching on and standardized level. I am ALWAYS looking for different approaches and input. April 28th Judy Westlake will be in Detroit. I saved a bunch of spots and am getting students together to bring with me. Chris, Mike and Matt are great. When the four of us are together standing around I feel like I'm surrounded by three big trees, they are all so tall! Hope everyone is great I LOVE input so any questions and/or comments are welcome Monday, February 05, 2007
Hellooo! SO Florida was so amazing! I had a fantastic time and learned so much. It was like Judy Westlake said to me before I came down, "It'll be like going to graduate school". Boy it was and then some! I'll start the story with arriving at my folks in Tampa, they gave me a car and away I went. Arriving in Loxahatchee I went directly to Judy's place. She has a quiet small farm nestled in to Loxahatchee Groves. It is so tranquil and low keyed, perfect for sitting back and absorbing information and sunshine. I stayed with Denise Molinaro's brother and wife, Sandy and Ken, in Boca Raton. They were so gracious and easy to live with it was great! Judy and her husband Brian have a 5 stall operation when they come down for the winter months. Currently, at her farm for horses were;
During my stay I met;
The Loxahatchee/Wellington area is very equestrian friendly. You will actually go by signs that say "you are entering an equestrian Area, please be courteous ..." You will go down roads and there are tiny farms and gorgeous houses on 2 to 5 acres of land. Some houses, instead of front lawns, are out door rings or paddocks. There are tons and tons of these type homesteads. There is a Trail system that runs all through the area and going down any roads you are bound to see people hacking out on their horses. Monday is the Horseman's Sunday, a day of rest for horses and horse people. Most of you probably had heard there was an equine/herpes virus out break that had affected most of the equine area in terms of quarantine and barn bans. We, at Judy's farm didn't feel the effect because Judy cancelled any show she was thinking of attending and no horses came in or out of her place. At Judy's and anytime we went to a tack shop we would step into a disinfecting bath and wash our hands. If you were traveling from farm to farm then you were asked to wash and change clothes. Unfortunately the trainers conference was cancelled with Jan Brinks. That would have been a great opportunity, but then again Judy was SUCH a wealth of information that I ended up being totally satuated in information right at the farm. Fortunately though, in terms of the city, with in the last two weeks the ban was lifted in time for the winter equestrian festival. Now to the funner stuff! First Judy who I have been riding with as much as I can over the last 4 years was totally amazing as a mentor. Judy (she has a website www.JudyWestlake.com) Judy had gotten her bachelors in Animal Science and had accepted a place at Johnson and Wales teaching and lecturing about equitation. She also has earned her USDF silver and gold medals in dressage and is successful in the show ring. She has attended and ridden many clinics and conferences with well respected dressage riders. Recently Judy had been riding at the German Riding School in Walendorf Germany, where they offered her a job. Not bad for a Yankee! So every time I say "Hey Judy, can I have a rider position lesson?” I felt she must have thought “You asked for it..." Now to learn from Judy it was so much fun as well as having the feeling that I could converse with her on any horse subject and she could have an intelligent and thoughtful response and conversation. Unless you asked her about her student base you wouldn't realize that, hey, she teaches at so many clinics and teaches and coaches at least, over 200 students. Many of them showing upper level through Grand Prix, which you also wouldn't realize unless you had an in-depth conversation about a subject. In describing a situation she would mention a horse and student showing at Grand Prix or which ever level, to give you an example. I learned how important rider position is to the horse. if you cant properly get your horse in front of the leg then a rider will get stuck as they move up the levels. How the rider position can really stop a horse's forward movement and although a rider can get a horse to do lateral work it won't be truly thru WITH contact and suppleness. Anything less is like a circus trick, the movements are performed but not truly done due to lack of proper rider position and aids. Judy is VERY particular about this and it was great. She was understanding, but really expected you to rise to the occasion. I learned from her theory and worked on developing an eye for good gaits, correct flying changes, the importance of CORRECT flying changes. How a horse looks in front of the leg and when they aren't quite there, supplying a horse on the lunge & longline..... The list goes on and on. It was amazing and eye opening. I also learned that TO develop a good eye I need to watch good riding and converse with good ground people, if you don't know what good/ great really is supposed to look like then that can cloud what is good from poor. I realized that it takes a lot of WORK to get to where you need to go and there aren't short cuts, you really need to know how to ride and get a horse going in front of the leg, to make sure a rider knows what it really, truly feels like. To do the actual lateral movements, is the "easier" part (although they need to be done correctly!). It was hard to leave at the end of my stay, not because home wasn't missed, which it was, but because I learned SO much and wanted to stay and absorb SO MUCH MORE that I was reluctant to go. The fact that it was 75-80 degrees for most days made it very attractive too! SO life is good, it was a wonderful experience! The Bourgoine's are already to come down too next year so we are planning it all out. Any other takers???? So that is how my month went, after seeing how great the barn looked and how well everyone did, I am so ready to go and learn and see! Hope all are well, Thanks! G * * * For other enteries in Gails Journal: 2006 || 2007 || Current Call 207.564.7046 for more information or email gail@InfinityFarm.US |
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