Category Archives: Training/Clinics

Training/Clinics

Motivation from Moshi, by Jane Savoie

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I really like my barn. It’s so cool with it’s screened-in porch and big air fans. The floor is a cushy rubber brick that absorbs the impact of my steps. There’s a beautiful bowl fountain with an eagle sculpture in the center that’s always full of clean, cool water. I appreciate how spotless the barn folks keep the place, too!

I appreciate that I am fed good quality food on a regular basis. I never go hungry. My water is always full and crystal clean. When I have turn out, I have delicious, fresh green grass to eat.

I also appreciate how much the people around me care about me. I care about them too. Jane, Rhett, the barn folks, and even Indy make my life interesting and worthwhile.

So, what do you appreciate today? I know there are things you’d rather were different, but forget about those for a while. What’s GOOD in your life RIGHT NOW? What situations, people, horses, dogs, experiences, and surroundings can you feel appreciation for today?

Did you know that a feeling of gratitude or appreciation is the HIGHEST vibrating emotion you can feel? It’s even higher than love!

So, if you want to feel good, or even just a little bit better than you feel now, all you have to do is think about something you appreciate. That’s it! Easy as pie. You can do it!

I appreciate YOU today! Thank you for reading my Motivations from Moshi. I like sharing my thoughts with you. Your wonderful feedback makes me feel appreciated. And that feels great!

Love, Moshi

Jane Savoie
1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602
Jane’s Website
DressageMentor.com

Hunter/Equitation, Training/Clinics

It’s Time to Finally Get a Look at the Judge’s Card

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What does a judge need to see to get YOU to the winner’s circle? Now you can find out.

Get a top Hunter/Equitation judge’s point of view on your show round and personal performance tips for a winning ride.

Why Tom Brennan?

Tom Brennan is one of the premier hunter and equitation judges in our country. As an “R” rated judge, he has judged our sport’s most prestigious competitions. In just the past two years alone, he has judged the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Finals, the USEF Pony Hunter Finals, the USEF Pony Medal Finals, Maclay Regionals, Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, and Lake Placid Horse Show, among many others.

How It Works

Each “Judge My Round” video is approximately 8-10 minutes long and has the following parts:

  1. First Impression Commentary: Tom will watch your round straight through the first time the same way he would if he were judging and provide live commentary of what he’s observing exactly as it happens in real time. No pauses and no rewinds (because we don’t get those in the real world either). He will assess your round and you will learn what stands out about your horse and your riding during that short but critical time in the ring that the judge is deciding.
  2. A Closer Look: Now it is time to get into the details. Tom will start the round again at the beginning and this time, he will go through it play-by-play style. Through pausing, rewinds, and on-screen annotation, Tom will point out what you and your horse are doing well, and he will share observations that might help the next ride produce a blue ribbon.
  3. Ask the Judge: When you place your order and submit your video, you can submit 3 judging questions you would like Tom to answer. These could be specific questions about your horse, your tack, your position, our sport — it’s up to you! In this final section of the video, Tom will address the questions that you submitted.

To learn more about how to submit your round for review, please visit our website: https://www.judgemyround.com.

To see examples of other riders’ rounds being analyzed by Tom, please like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judgemyround/.

Dressage, Training/Clinics

Dressage4Kids Tips, by Lendon Gray

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I recommend spending a little time staring at the picture and thinking about where all the joints are and how they move. Check out the website: www.horsesinsideout.com. There is some wonderful educational content there.

One excellent exercise that I think many people do not use enough is the turn on the forehand. For beginners this is a wonderful exercise for learning coordination of the aids – how much leg, where to put the leg, and just enough hand to discourage the horse from moving forward, but not hanging on the mouth. For the green horse, it’s a wonderful way to introduce moving away from the leg as opposed to going faster to the leg. For the advanced horse it can be an excellent tune-up.

Dressage4Kids | graydressage@gmail.com | dressage4kidsorg.presencehost.net

Dressage, Training/Clinics

Dressage4Kids Tips, by Lendon Gray

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I always tell my students that they can’t tell me they can truly do something with their horses unless they do it the best they can do it the FIRST time they do it each day. If you have to practice several times you are still learning it/working on it. So, when you ride today, what can you do the best you are capable of the FIRST time? Sometimes riders just allow themselves to sort of do it and then make it better. Challenge yourself to do “it” the best you can the first time. This could be a walk to trot transition or a schooling canter pirouette.

And if you can’t ride at the moment, sit in a chair and visualize the things you have been working on. Close your eyes and feel yourself on your horse and go through every thought process for every tiny part of doing the movement correctly. Then open your eyes and double check what your instructor has been reminding you – are you doing it the best way you can or the way you tend to do it that is not necessarily your best. Then look at it as the judge sees it – get online and look up tests or tutorials on that movement. Does yours look the same? And if you are riding is there someone who can video just one or two movements that you are doing the best you can the first time?

Dressage4Kids | graydressage@gmail.com | dressage4kidsorg.presencehost.net

Dressage, Training/Clinics

Dressage4Kids Tips, by Lendon Gray

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I am amazed at how often I have to have riders get off at the beginning of a lesson to adjust their helmets. In brief, your helmet should be steady on your head, not able to wobble (especially if you put your hair under it). The brim should be just above your eyebrows. The chin straps should be just tight enough that if you open your mouth wide it pulls the helmet a bit tighter on your head. There are many online tutorials about helmet fit and the safety of various brands of helmets. Remember they do not last forever and also if you have had a fall where your helmet hits the ground you must replace it. This might also be a good time to look into cleaning the inside of your helmet.

I would love for those of you exercising at home to share your exercise routine with us. Hopefully you are working to strengthen your core, and working on your flexibility and balance. Write us a note or share a video on Facebook.

For those riding

What a great time to do all your riding (except your warm-up) without stirrups (your horse is safe, right?).  Surely I don’t need to talk about the value of riding without stirrups, do I? You should ride without stirrups enough that it is your preferred way of riding. Make sure you aren’t gripping with your thighs and that your legs are hanging long and of course that you aren’t using your horse’s mouth for security. If you’re nervous about cantering, practice at walk and trot. If you are nervous about trotting, practice at walk until your confidence grows.

What happens if while you’re cantering you take your leg off your horse’s side. Does he break? If so that tells you that you are holding hm in the canter. You are using up your leg aid just to keep him going. If this is the case, get your canter, give him a little push forward, and then take your leg away (let your heel down). Two strides later give him another little (big?) push and take your leg away. Gradually you will be able to keep your leg off longer, but even if you have to push him every third side, so be it, but make sure your leg comes off in between. It’s fine to have your leg close at all times, just make sure you’re not clutching. And of course, this is the same at walk, and trot.

Dressage4Kids | graydressage@gmail.com | dressage4kidsorg.presencehost.net

Dressage, Training/Clinics

Dressage4Kids Tips

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Photo credit: Harry Furey.

This suggestion is for those riding and those who are not able to ride. I find it surprising how often I have to teach riders how to shorten their reins. Seems easy, right?

First of all, normally one should not shorten the reins by dropping and grabbing the rein with the hand on the same side as the rein – right hand jumps forward or even crawls forward on the right rein to make it shorter. This causes the contact to be dropped and then often grabbed back or at the very least to wobble. One should reach across with the thumb and top finger of one hand, pull the rein through the other hand – taking the rein on top of the thumb and first finger of the opposite hand. And when you shorten the rein your hand should slide forward on the rein. Usually we do not shorten the rein to make it tighter, but to have the hand further forward. The hands should normally be in front of the pommel. If you hold your hands too wide or too low, this will be impossible to do easily. Your hands should be held near each other.

So my challenge to you is to play with shortening your reins and think carefully about what he horse feels on his mouth; remember the bit at the end of your reins lies on his bare gums. He should not know you are shortening your reins. Those of you in the house, get some narrow belts or twine or reins if you have them, and have someone else hold one end, or tie them to the back of a chair. Now see if you can shorten the reins without the other person feeling it or having the reins get looser or tighter as you do it.

As I was looking for a video to share I was surprised to find people telling you to shorten the reins the way I tell you NOT to – and you can see in the videos how the contact gets tighter and looser as they do it.

This one explains it the way I think you should shorten your reins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUCvR0gIR5E.

Dressage4Kids | graydressage@gmail.com | dressage4kidsorg.presencehost.net

Dressage, Training/Clinics

Dressage4Kids Tips

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Meghan Benge Photography.

If you have your boots at home, check these things out. Look at the wear on the inside of your boots. Are both boots the same? Is the wear on the inside or does the wear go into the seam on the back, which tells you that you probably ride with your leg turned out too much? It means your toes are out, but that most often starts at your hips. If that’s the case, start some hip opening exercises.

A quick thought for those riding

OK – today’s subject is s big one – half halts! But in a nutshell. Half halts are a prompt call to attention and rebalancing or reorganizing. Before you can do a half halt you must have a prompt go from the leg – as in, you say go more with your leg and the next stride is bigger or faster. And you say whoa with your hand/back/weight and the next stride is shorter or slower. Without that quick response you will not have a half halt (I wish that was all there is to it, but first check that out). Then can you make exactly one step bigger/faster and one step slower/shorter. Check that out today and then we’ll add to this.

Dressage4Kids | graydressage@gmail.com | dressage4kidsorg.presencehost.net

Training/Clinics

Motivation from Moshi, by Jane Savoie

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At my barn the white dressage arena fence is about twelve inches high. Around that is a taller fence, about five feet high. Around the perimeter of the property is a dog proof mesh fence that’s six feet high. Wow… That’s a lot of boundaries!

There’s a saying that strong fences make good neighbors. This is true figuratively as well as literally. A strong fence can keep danger out, and/or keep someone safely in. A clear fence line makes a strong statement about where my space starts and yours ends.

Personal boundaries are like the low dressage arena fence. They may not keep things in or out, but they clearly mark a line that says “do not cross.” You just have to be aware of that line and be willing to respect it. That’s not so easy, because personal boundaries are so, well, personal!

Some people want physical space, privacy, and to take care of themselves. Others are touchy/feely folks who want to hug and snuggle, love to nurture and care for others, like lots of feedback, and get lonely when left alone.

Figuring out someone else’s boundaries can be confusing and painful. For nurturer types, being rebuffed by the strong, independent types can be painful and confusing. Nurturers tend to react to boundaries as personal rejection, and respond by being openly upset or with passive-aggressive behavior. Independent types often get irritated when their boundaries are questioned or repeatedly pushed against, and can become overtly angry or withdraw all together.

The key to maintaining good boundaries and good relationships is to realize that none of this is personal. It’s just different ways of being. Recognizing that others might have personal rules/wants/needs that are very different from your own is vital in understanding and respecting their boundaries. And if you’re not sure what those boundaries are, ASK! Nothing says “I respect your boundaries” more than directly asking what they are.

If you have trouble with other people’s boundaries, it’s likely that you don’t have a good grasp of your own. Take some time to explore where you do things you don’t want to do, say things you don’t really mean, or act in a way that internally feels wrong. That icky, slimy feeling that shows up when you’re violating your own boundaries is your inner self’s way of letting you know to stop what you’re doing. And if you don’t recognize your own alert to boundary violation, you’re really going to have a struggle recognizing and accepting other people’s boundaries.

If boundaries are an issue for you, I highly suggest you get some assistance to explore new ways of being. Horses spend a great deal of their social time exploring herd boundaries, which is why equine assisted counseling is perfect for this. Horses get it, and they can teach you! You can learn more about this kind of personal work at www.CenterforHorsesandHealing.com or by searching equine facilitated experiential learning.

I know Jane doesn’t like it when I push my head into her. Years ago, she set a clear boundary that said banging into her is not okay. So, I don’t do it. Well, unless she’s holding a carrot. Then I may nudge, just a little…

Love, Moshi

Jane Savoie
1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602
Jane’s Website
DressageMentor.com

Dressage, Training/Clinics

Dressage4Kids Tips

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Here is one of my favorite teaching tools off the horse. Your ability to follow the motion of your horse’s head and neck and to separate your arms from whatever your body is doing is extremely important. You can do this with a bridle as I did here or just with lead ropes or even twine. The “horse” (me in the photo) holds the reins on one end and the rider hold the reins in the normal fashion – as if she were riding with elbows bent and very slightly in front of her waist. The “horse” moves the reins forward and back both together and then each independently. If the rider has that teeny, tiny pull that enables her to keep the rein from ever becoming loose, but never tight, just taut, she can keep the same feel throughout. Then the rider walks in place, trots, and canters while the “horse” keeps moving the reins back and forth a bit. We do this on the trampoline for even more difficulty, but it can certainly be done on solid ground. Keep a soft fist. You will find it nearly impossible to do with a tight, hard fist.

A quick thought for those riding

Those of you lucky enough to be riding – first try the exercise above on the ground. Now get on your horse and just walk with long, not loose reins – can you stay with the horse’s mouth with exactly the same pressure throughout the stride? Does your rein get looser and tighter? Can you maintain exactly the same amount of pressure on both reins, so the bit is exactly centered in the horse’s mouth? It doesn’t matter at this moment where your horse’s head is. Just see if you can become part of him without ANY communication with him. Your arm and hand are an extension of his mouth and neck (and back). Some of you may find it very difficult to “do nothing” not fussing with the bit in some way.

Dressage4Kids | graydressage@gmail.com | dressage4kidsorg.presencehost.net

Dressage, Training/Clinics

Motivation from Moshi, by Jane Savoie

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Sometimes our biggest challenges become our greatest successes. As a Friesian, I’m not built for a good canter. My breed was bred for a fancy trot to elegantly and smartly pull buggies and carts. But with determination and proper training, I was able to develop an amazing canter! My ability to do superb one tempis is one of my proudest accomplishments.

Here in Wellington, the Para-Equestrian’s Olympic Trials are being held. Wow! What an amazing bunch of people! These are folks who have physical challenges much harder to deal with than I’ve ever had. They are a brave, talented, and determined bunch, who don’t let their disabilities slow them down. They’ve proven they can do anything they put their minds to!

Is there something in your life you’d like to do, but you don’t have the confidence to try? I suggest you Google para equestrian dressage and take a look at the many videos of what these incredible athletes are accomplishing, with challenges that are probably much bigger than your own. Perhaps it will inspire you to give your dream a shot!

I’ve decided I want to give jumping a try. I’ve always thought it would be too hard for me, but I’ve changed my mind. I’ll start small and without a rider, and see how high I can go. I know if I work at it, I’ll be a success. If I never try, I’ll never know how good I might be!

What can you work on today to move you toward your goals? Do some of THAT!

Love, Moshi

Jane Savoie
1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602
Jane’s Website
DressageMentor.com