The weekend of November 13-15, I had the opportunity to ride in two clinics.  One clinic was at Tempel Farms with Conrad Schumacher, the other clinic was at Silverwood Farms with Lilo Fore.  Both clinics were fantastic and I learned a lot. 

Pip Piaffing at Schumacher Clinic, Tempel Farms

The Schumacher clinic was great.  Pip felt very good, and we made great strides over the weekend.  Our last ride of the clinics was probably one of the best rides I have ever had.  He was so excepting of the Piaffe and Passage, and by the end of the ride we had very elevated, relaxed, carrying, powerful, passage.  Wow, what a feeling!  A great part about it is I have been able to reproduce it at home!  Always a good thing!

Jamaal Lilo Fore Clinic

The Lilo Fore clinic was so much fun!  I rode my new young horse, Foley the first day.  I sent Foley to Klaus Biesenthal to be started undersaddle, and when he gave me the OK that Foley was indeed broke after a few months, I brought him to Silverwood the first of November.  I was very impressed with Foley, he is only 3, and has only been at Silverwood for 2 weeks.  He handled everything very well, the people coming in and out, the tractor coming through the arena, having our first lesson together, and all I can say is, “good boy Foley!”  I also rode Jamaal in the clinic.  We worked on the flying changes.  He was able to do a clean change from left to right, but from right to left he was always slightly early in front and slightly late behind!  We tried various exercises to try and get it clean, and what seemed to work the best was to ride the canter very forward and have the whip in the outside (or new inside) hand.  I was to create large, jumping strides behind, and then ride forward into the change and tap him with the whip when asking.  We ended the clinic with a very nice, big, expressive and CLEAN change!  woo-hoo! 

Anakin and Kaye-Eileen

Kay-Eileen rode Anakin in the clinic and learned a lot!  Lilo really worked her, and by the end of the clinic she was riding very well!  Denise was also able to brave it out and take a lesson on her horse GiGi with Lilo.  I was unable to see it, as I was riding with Schumacher at the time, but I heard from Lilo that it went very well, and she thought GiGi and Denise were a super-cute pair!

Thank you to Hannah for taking great photos!