Wednesday 17 January 2018

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)


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13 comments

  1. Corners will be the death of me, lol. I'm terrible!!

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    1. I'm terrible for rounding corners, and then getting too deep when I am supposed to be doing a 20m circle!

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  2. lots of good nuggets here - i definitely like the visualizing success one, since it works so well for me. also the points about always being a step away from literally any movement or extension or collection - such a useful way of thinking about it, but so hard to achieve! we sometimes can't even trot and turn at the same time lol

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    1. Right? I'm in the same boat - I was going through show pictures from last year, and for about 50% of them was like "Not buying that one! It's obvious we are not turning/going forward/stopping!" :)

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  3. I think I need to watch this! :) My biggest problem is knowing how much to ask for. I worry a lot about pushing too hard or asking incorrectly.

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    1. OMG - I'm so glad you wrote about this. I watched a lesson last night. Robert Dover is adorable and I like the whole "only envision the right answer" thing.

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    2. I was really enjoying how positive and enthusiastic he was about everyone.

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  4. I watched about half of it, but definitely need to watch the rest! Love all these tips

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    1. I'm only about halfway through, too. I'm trying to watch a lesson or two before bed every night, maybe if I sleep on it the knowledge will stick in my brain? lol

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  5. Ooh, I love the 'trainers are always thinking' questions! Mine would be 'Why are my arms flapping like a bird?' 'If I ask for canter and my horse just trots faster, should I pretend I am asking for extended trot?' :P

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    1. Or, remember what aids you used and make that your new extended trot aid and the canter something different! :)

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  6. I really loved reading through this! Lots for someone like me that's lower level which is awesome!

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    1. I really enjoyed that even though the riders and horses were very talented, everything came back to basic concepts everyone can use.

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