3-D Clinic 2 Recap: Equitation

Our team would like to congratulate the participants on their outstanding and engaged participation in the second of our 3-D mini series, Equitation. We thought this clinic was a good balance of familiarity and challenge—a chance to practice old skills yet work towards new ones. We were impressed by the participants’ willingness to step out and try new things to improve their equitation as well as their connection to their horse. Following is a recap of the content of the Equitation clinic.

We focused on the following skills:

• equitation
• stopping exercises
• control of the horse’s body parts
  • turns on forehand and haunch
  • half passes
  • roll backs
  • counter flex
  • counter canter
  • canter departures
  • flying lead changes
• consistency in all gaits
• building a connection with our horses

Here are a few examples of the “ah ha!” moments in this clinic:

• “I can’t quit thinking and feeling for myself when I am in a clinic or lesson setting.” - Barbie Miller
• “Finding out that Hunter has a ‘color,’ what it was and how very right it is. My ‘color’ is also right on.” - Sue Wyatt
• “Reins=Steering Wheel: Holding reins similar to steering wheel to turn car = to turn your horse.” - Tom O’Brien
• “You have to be able to perform an exercise, (correctly) such as moving the shoulder over, at the walk, trot and lope before trying it with a flying lead change.” - Sue McMurray
• “Turning your wrists makes a huge difference. There is resistance when my wrists are twisted wrong with hands in the right direction.” - Marcie King
• “Open shoulders means soft, sit down, centered, not stiff, tense, chest out.” - Donna Pottenger
• “When ‘sorrel’ and ‘roan’ just aren’t ‘getting it’ - it’s OK to go be ‘palomino’ for a while!” - Terry Maple
• “My horse did not stay as relaxed as I thought he should. But I also upped his stress level. It’ll get better!” - Alice Rockhill

As we approach the third segment of our 3-D program May 21-22, we encourage all riders to build on what they know is successful with their horses and to remember focus on the positive aspects of whatever level they are at, beginning, intermediate or advanced. Part of what we talked about at the Equitation clinic is how to go forward and not allow frustration to set up a roadblock in the path toward better horsemanship. In Training Under Saddle, the culmination of the 3-D mini series, we will apply the tools that we’ve learned so far to improve our training and teaching abilitities. Stay the course with us, and you won’t be disappointed!