Clinic Prep: Elevator Speech

Wowza! So many fantastic and HELPFUL comments for the upcoming clinic- thanks Blog friends!

One of my favorite tips, echoed by a number of comments, is to prep a short, yet insightful, background about Ellie and I.

I figured I'd detail a number of bullets, memorize, and use based on her introductory questions.

Training:
 The Good:

• Building confidence
• Tidy execution- the handier the better
• Improving transitions 

The Gaps:

• Hind end engagement on the flat
• Lateral movements off leg alone 
• Understanding ideal flatwork prep to prepare for jumping
• Rider position up to fences (sitting still)
• Improving pace 

Goals:

• Continue to build confidence over fences
• Division move ups at horse shows 
• Be a clearer and more consise communicator of my aids with Ellie

Usual Warm Up:

• Stretchy walk for 5 minutes
• Warm up trot with loose reins for 5 minutes
• Down to work with lateral movements (leg yields, shoulder/haunch in) and upward and downward transitions to engage the hind end, circles to focus on bend and rein aids
• A few minutes of break where she literally drops her nose to the ground to stretch her back
• Forward canter followed by shortening and lengthening of stride 

About the Horse & Rider:

• Owned for 2 years, horse just turned 9
• Discipline change from Endurance to H/J (not without its trials- ahem right lead)
• Has been to 2 off property horse shows- SUPER STAR
• Is a DIVA

Even coming up with this short list was hard! Right now we're mostly just about jumping all the fences- equitation and everything in between be damned..... we're just about the jumping!