Winter Lesson Series @ 'His Way Farm'

I'm really excited to be able to offer lessons through the winter near home (6.5miles) for the first time in the 26 years that I have lived at Stone Gate Farm. Beginning on Sat Jan 19th and for the next 1st & 3rd Saturdays through March I will be giving lessons at 'His Way Farm' which is being sponsored by the Bath Pony Club. For those who may not familiar with me and my background you can check out a brief bio here.  'His Way Farm' is a lovely new facility generously made available by the VanScoy family.

For those of you who have not had the opportunity to ride at 'His Way Farm' yet; I would like to share some links with you that will show you the facility, a Google map and a clinic report from an earlier clinic with pics and video. As you can see from the pictures the arena is huge and the lounge very comfy.  This is a wonderful opportunity to get help with honing your skills over the winter months so you'll be ready to go when the competition season arrives.  Even if you don't have any competitive goals; it's still a great opportunity to get out of the house and spend some quality time with your horse and hang out with your horsey friends and perhaps even make some new ones.

This lesson series will have different subjects each lesson. Participants do not have to attend all the sessions but they will be progressive in nature. Since most of people don't have access to an arena of this size all the lessons (with the exception of March 16th) will be jumping with a fair amount of flat work as it pertains to jumping will be addressed during the warm up.  Riders will be grouped together based on the level of the rider and the horse.  The cost of the lessons is $35 each and $20 for the Dressage Lecture / Demo. Groups will be limited to 3 or 4 riders which will limits us to approximately 20 riders / day.

Spots will be assigned on a 'first come' basis and you must use the on-line registration form  All registrations must be received by the Wed before the lesson for scheduling purposes.  Late entries may be accepted if there is an appropriate spot available.

I'm looking forward to work ing with you and your horse.

Jackie

Jan 19th: Gymnastics - there will be 3 different gymnastics set up with something for every rider and every horse no matter the level to help both rider and horse improve their jumping skills.

Feb 2nd: Developing Instincts of both the horse and rider - aka survival skills:  this lesson will be similar to the first day at a Lucinda Green Clinic where a variety of unusual questions will be set up such as narrow faced fences, points, corners, interesting angles and distances where the rider will learn to ride the horse with the correct rhythm, energy, line and balance so the horse can figure out the answer to these questions.  These skills are necessary for riding cross country courses successfully and safely. Even those riders who will never ride a cross country course, these exercises will help to develop the partnership between the horse and rider.

Feb 16th: Course Work - riders will practice developing the 'quality' canter required to jump a course smoothly throughout. Both straight line bending lines practiced before putting it all together in courses.  The courses will vary depending on the level of the horse and the rider.

March 2nd - Combination Lesson - this lesson will contain elements of the first three lessons with a bit of gymnastics, tricky fences and lines and course work

March 16th - Dressage Lessons - a limited amount of 45min semi private dressage lessons will be available before and / or after the Dressage Demystified Lecture / Demo.  Click here to register.

                       From the Point of View of the: Judge, Rider, Trainer and Instructor

              Sat. March 16 ~ 1:00 – 3:00 ??

Do you want to improve your dressage?

Do you want to know what the judge is looking for?

      Do you want to see the correct way to do movements?

      Do you want to see common mistakes and how to fix them?

      Do you want a better understanding of the Training scale?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions; this is the seminar for you!

We hope to be able to address all the above questions and more. Jackie Smith will start off lecture with a Power Point presentation to be followed by demonstrations in the arena with demo riders led by Sue Hines.  Jackie is licensed dressage and eventing judge, rider through the ** level in eventing and 3^rd level in dressage and trainer of horses and riders at the above levels in Eventing.  In addition she is an USEA ICP Level 2 Certified Instructor. Sue has trained multiple horses up through the levels in Eventing which includes a 2^nd place finish in an Advanced horse trials division at Rolex, trained horses through 3^rd level has taught students of all levels.  Sue is an USEA ICP Level 3 Instructor.

Pre-registration is not required but it is encouraged so we can plan accordingly