So I went to that clinic on the weekend. I did only go for one day, and I learned from watching the clinic with my former (and first) coach, but it really disappointed me. A lot of the riders were suppose to be riding at a very high level, but I watched him fix proper bend though the horses body though a serpentine. A girl in a double bridle couldn't get a canter to walk transition. He was also very judgmental of anyone not doing dressage. He wondered what western people did once they got their horse broke, " I mean you ride them when they are two then they are trained by the time they are three, then what?". I didn't feel like telling him that we still do a lot of the stuff they do, just with a loose rein!
They did A LOT of pushing the horses hips out, which is different from us western people who push the hips in. And despite how 'intimidating' we are to our western horses he admitted to putting horses in their stalls or arena loose bitted up in side reins for them to "figure it out" when he cant get them to do it under saddle. How can you complain about some trainers when you do the same on your own. I don't know. Using side reins, or tying your reins to a saddle (in my case often with more slack then I use with side reins) is ok when used properly and for short periods of time. However I still think that it helps build resistance when used too often or for two long.
In my pony news, Oscars mom had a great vacation and got to ride every day. Chilly is doing well, and doing awesome with the driving. I rode Oscar on Tuesday and Thursday and on Thursday I even got to ride Hottie. Hottie is a 16.2 hh 4 year old that they have been really taking their time with. My friend Melissa rides her most of the time and shes really really quiet, but very green. It was fun to get on a new horse though and figure her out. And my no stirrup work is paying off and I fell more secure on Oscar and on Hottie as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment