CDS East Bay Chapter sent AA Kathy O’Regan as their clinic selection for this years AA clinic with Hilda Gurney. Kathy send this wrap up to share with all of us! Thank you Kathy. We’re glad you learned so much at the clinic!
Thank you to CDS East Bay chapter, Karen Nocket, Hilda Gurney, Michelle Vaughn, and Laurel Smith Videography and all of the clinic attendees for a wonderful, supportive learning experience. As a rider aspiring to show 3rd level, this clinic changed my riding. Some of Hilda’s lessons I made sure to write down were:
– Breaks are what keep the horse sound. I take a break after every three-to-five-minute set.
– Use the outside rein in the corners to keep the shoulder from falling out and half-halt to lower the croup.
– Always start movements in shoulder-fore
– Intermix days of counter-canter with a day of work on flying changes. The horse needs to continue to school counter-canter because the changes are counter-canter.
– If in the canter, the front leg comes behind the vertical, it’s not collected canter
– Your horse is on the bit when you lengthen the reins and they reach for the bit
– When the canter is flat, the changes are hard because they come at a moment of suspension
– Don’t hurry your tempo, the more suspension they have, the better they can do everything.
– The canter half-pass needs bend; your inside leg is in control.
– I’m being really fussy…but judges are.
– Riding is really, really hard. Dressage is an Olympic sport for a reason.
I hope everyone interested gets a chance to attend the CDS adult amateur clinics. I look forward to seeing my new acquaintances at future events and to give back to CDS by volunteering.
– Kathy O’Regan
