Category Archives: Training/Clinics

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WEG Competitor Tina Konyot to Teach Dressage Clinic at Waterbury Dressage Center

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Dressage rider Tina Konyot will teach a clinic at Waterbury Dressage Center near New York City, December 10-12. (Photo Courtesy of phelpsphoto.com)

Warwick, NY (November 15, 2010) – Dressage rider Tina Konyot, who represented the United States at the 2010 World Equestrian Games on her magnificent stallion Calecto V, will be giving a dressage clinic at Waterbury Dressage Center, a world-class dressage facility near New York City. The Tina Konyot Clinic will be held December 10-12 and room is available for auditors.

“Tina is fabulous and I ride with her every time I get the chance. She has probably trained more Grand Prix horses from start to finish than any other woman in the country,” said Kathryn Theallet, FEI rider, owner and trainer at Waterbury. “Tina is a coach’s coach and she can really teach you how to get the most out of your horse.”

The clinic will feature riders from novice to the advance level, including FEI level dressage riders and trainers Theallet and Katja Eilers who will be participating in the clinic at the Grand Prix level. “Our students will also be participating in the clinic at the FEI level,” Theallet said, adding that an additional strong point of Konyot’s is working with problem horses.

Continue reading WEG Competitor Tina Konyot to Teach Dressage Clinic at Waterbury Dressage Center →

Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Jane Savoie, Training/Clinics

Nine Quick Tips to Help You Sit the Trot, by Jane Savoie

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One of the most frequently asked questions I get is, “Can you help me sit the trot better?” The following tips will help you with this all-too-common challenge:

  1. First and foremost, your horse needs to be on the bit. If his back is hollow, stiff, or tight, you’ll find it impossible to sit comfortably — and, in turn, you’ll make your horse uncomfortable too!
    Continue reading Nine Quick Tips to Help You Sit the Trot, by Jane Savoie →
Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, JRPR, Training/Clinics

Dr. Cesar Parra Fine Tunes His Riding and His Horses in Germany with Hubertus Schmidt

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International Dressage Rider Cesar Parra is currently in Europe training with Hubertus Schmidt.

Wellington, FL (November 12, 2010) – International dressage rider Dr. Cesar Parra, well known for his positive outlook on life and his winning ways in the dressage ring, is currently in Europe training with Hubertus Schmidt. Parra, a superstar dressage rider from Colombia who became an American citizen in December 2008 and now proudly rides for the United States, wowed dressage crowds from Wellington to Devon with his success during 2010.

“I feel very blessed to be training with Hubertus Schmidt,” Parra said. “He has such a fantastic way with the horses and we have a really good relationship working together. We are staying at his barn for a couple of months and hope to fine tune the horses, as well as myself, for the Florida competition season.”

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Training/Clinics

Stable Scoop Episode 117 by Omega Alpha – The Amazing Ivory Pal and the CHA

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Meet Ivory Pal, the bit-less barefoot Tennessee Walker, and find out why he has become a sensation. Plus, we hear from Christy Landwehr all about the Certified Horsemanship Association and Kathleen tells us she is only eight days away from finishing her cross country ride. You won’t believe where she wants to finish the ride.

Stable Scoop Episode 117 – Show Notes and Links:

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Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Equestrian Assistance, Racing Sources, Training/Clinics, Western/Reining

Curb Your Enthusiasm

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Dennis Moreland shows the one-buckle leather curb strap commonly used on snaffle bits.

Curb straps and chains are an integral part of the bridle.

Curb straps or chains send very important signals to the horse. When a rider picks up on the reins, a shank bit will begin to rotate in the horse’s mouth. Then the curb will come up against the horse’s chin and stop the bit action. It says “Whoa.”

Whatever kind of curb you use, it’s important to have it adjusted correctly. If you’re using a curb chain, make sure the links are laying flat. And you’ll want to adjust it so you can get a couple of fingers underneath it. If it’s too loose, the bit shanks will be able to come all the way back before the curb ever touches the horse. And if it’s too tight, it can pull the bit shanks forward.

  1. There are a variety of curbs on the market. The most popular is a two-buckle curb chain with leather on each side. A basic curb chain has stainless-steel buckles and a stainless-steel chain. It’s a good all-around piece of tack and is very easy on the horse.
  2. The “dog chain curb” is also very popular. It’s a small chain with nylon tie strings. It is more severe than the flat curb chain. You’ll fasten these onto the bit with bowline knots, just like you use to tie a rope halter. There is a safety issue with these curb chains; when you put one on your bridle, be sure to check it the first few times you ride. Once the knots are pulled down good, they will be set, but sometimes they’ll slip at first.
  3. The two-buckle leather curb strap is very mild, and a lot of times, people use these on young horses who are just being introduced to a shank bit.
  4. The one-buckle leather curb strap is used on snaffle bits. It actually doesn’t have any curb action and never touches the horse’s chin. Its only purpose is to keep the snaffle-bit rings from being pulled through the horse’s mouth. Make sure the curb strap is put on the bit below the reins. (Note the pieces of garden hose on the reins. I use these as martingale stops.)

By Dennis Moreland in America’s Horse

American Quarter Horse Association
1600 Quarter Horse Drive
Amarillo, TX 79104

Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Jane Savoie, Training/Clinics

Motivation from Moshi no. 38, by Jane Savoie

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We’re all different. You know that already, right? I’m a cold blooded Friesian. My next-stall neighbor is a hot blooded Thoroughbred. We think differently, react to things differently, and like different things. Does that make one of us “wrong” and one of us “right”?

It’s a very basic instinct to be attracted to things that are like you. The old “birds of a feather, flock together…” idea. But many of us have advanced beyond such basic programming. Advanced beings learn to appreciate things that are different from what we’re used to.

This can be a very powerful thing when applied to working with horses. We get used to a certain way of doing things, of feeding, of training, etc, and don’t even notice that we’ve developed a habit that might benefit from a bit of tweaking. That’s why we read books, watch DVDs, hire a trainer… so we can learn from the collective knowledge of others.

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, JRPR, Training/Clinics, Western/Reining

New Parelli Education Foundation Offers Scholarships to Parelli Natural Horsemanship Programs

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Carlos Osorio recently purchased Especial through the Parelli Dream Horse Program. The majority of the money from the sale went into the Parelli Education Foundation. (Photo courtesy of Coco Baptiste)

Ocala, FL (October 26, 2010) – Horse enthusiasts with the drive and passion to learn natural horsemanship will now have the opportunity to earn scholarships to study with world-renowned natural horsemanship trainer Pat Parelli. The Parelli Education Foundation will offer students over 100 scholarships during the next year.

Under the guidance of Parelli’s longtime friend Tim Sullivan, the Parelli Education Foundation will offer students from the novice level to seasoned professionals the chance to learn Parelli Natural Horsemanship, the number one horsemanship program in the world. “I have been friends with Pat for over 15 years and have worked with Pat as a musician, singing on his videos and on his tours,” Sullivan said. “I am very excited about the new Parelli Education Foundation. If a person has the desire and ability, we want them to come and study with us and we don’t want money to get in the way.”

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Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Jane Savoie, Training/Clinics

Are You Sitting Straight?, by Jane Savoie

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Even if you’re not a dressage rider, it’s still important to sit straight and square in the saddle. Can you tell if you’re collapsing at your waist and sitting crookedly?

Ask a ground person to stand behind you and have them answer the following questions:

1. Are your shoulders level (i.e., the same height)?

2. Is your seat in the center of the saddle so that each seatbone (the bottom of the pelvic bone; in technical terms, ischial tuberosity) is the same distance from the middle of the saddle?

If one shoulder is lower than the other, then you’re collapsed at your waist and your seat isn’t in the middle of the saddle. Let’s say you’ve collapsed the left side of your waist; in this case, your left shoulder is lower and your seat is off to the right.

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Training/Clinics

Stable Scoop Episode 112 by Omega Alpha – Chris Cox & the Girl Scouts

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Guest Co-Host Jamie Jennings sits in this week as we speak to one of the top horse trainers and clinicians in the world, Chris Cox. Plus, we have a delightful conversation with Amanda Adams about the Girl Scouts horse program. Listen in…

Stable Scoop Episode 112 – Show Notes and Links:

  • Host: Glenn the Geek
  • Guest Co-Host: Event rider and radio personality Jamie Jennings and host of the brand new HRN live morning radio show HORSES IN THE MORNING that will begin November 1, 2010.

  • Guest: One of the top horse trainers and clinicians in the country, Chris Cox.

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Subscribe:

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Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Jane Savoie, Training/Clinics, World Equestrian Games

Keep Your Horse on the Bit during Transitions, by Jane Savoie

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Your horse is perfectly justified in coming off the bit if all you do is give the aid for a transition. To do transitions on the bit, you need to give two sets of aids at once: the transition aid and the aid to tell him to stay on the bit — the connecting aids. When you give these two sets of aids at once, you’re telling your horse to do a transition on the bit.

Essentially, you’ll superimpose the connecting aids over the aids for a transition. That is, you’ll give the connecting aids before, during, and after the transition.

In this case, the connecting aids last several seconds. Apply them lightly before, during, and after the transition so that you “bridge” the transition with your connecting aids.

Continue reading Keep Your Horse on the Bit during Transitions, by Jane Savoie →