RD Clinic Notes

Notes from the USEF Robert Dover Horsemastership clinic (viewable on demand here). I've only had time to watch a couple of the riders each day, but there's been a TON of information I'm wanting to make note of because it's directly applicable to my riding and Bridget's way of going. Apologies, this post is just my own notes for future reference, but I thought I'd put them here in case anyone else gleans anything from them

Re: Energy/Intention:

-Hug the horse's side if you want 'more'. No kicking!

-You should feel like anything can happen from collected gaits. Extended trot, collected canter, halt piaffe, passage, the horse should feel balanced and ready for anything. If you can't get whatever it is you're thinking of next, it's not a collected walk.

-Very fine line between positive and negative tension. Our job is to make the line farther apart.

-Everything has to be in everything else. Ie: In every step of piaffe, the extended trot should be alive, in extended trot, the piaffe should be a thought away. If it's not there, you are not present enough. You need to feel everything, all the possibilities, in all the gaits.

-Don't be afraid to ask for more. If the horse quits or you get a response you didn't want, no big deal, correct and try again. How much/how far can I go? You won't know unless you ask/try, envision the possibilities and opportunities.

Re: Balance:

-Horse's balance: visualize a cat ready to jump up on something.

-Half halt: calling horse to balance and attention. "Wake up!"


Re: Mental game:

-"What artist can create what they can't see in their mind?" Ie you need to imagine how fabulous your ride is going to be, visualize only the best things happening, then create it.

-Connection isn't just your hands and their mouth. It's in the bridge of their back, your brain and the horses brain.

-Good trainers are always thinking. What if I do this? What reaction will I get? Why am I getting this response? Why are my hands moving there when I ask for that?

Re: General riding and training:

-Lots of petting, sugar, and 'good girl!'s. So much verbal praising and communication.

-Again with the collected walk, horse should be pulling and have similar feel in bridle to extended trot. "Can you feel an extended trot in that walk?"

-Collected trot. Is a BIG trot. Think the feel of medium trot.

-Really uses corners, rides into them and uses them to half halt/collect/balance.

-Straightness for suspension. Adding bend can make shoulders 'attached to the ground', create flatter movement. (Discussed on canter circle, in relation to keeping shoulders and neck straight on circle)