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Every year, Jennifer Truettescapes Ohio winter tovisit Sandy Howard's farmoutside of Santa Cruz,California for what used tobe called “TeacherTraining” but has morphed into a “Rider BiomechanicsWorkshop”. By inviting students toattend, students can seefirst-hand that everyonestruggles to correct theirbiomechanics and what teachers are looking forwhen they start to makechanges. Lori Aman, DHFBoarder and Student, accompanied Jen this yearand wrote about her

experience on page 12. Back only a few days, Jen is already enjoying using the new techniques and visualizations to help everyone ride with their mind in preparation for both of Mary Wanless’ 3-day Clinics beginning March 17th. This yearly workshop happens around Valentine's Day. If you would like more information or would even like to join Jen next year, be sure to check out www.inbalance.com for details of the program.

Workshop Wows

Dancing HorseNews

SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF EQUESTRIANS AND BUILDING HARMONIOUS HORSE/RIDER PARTNERSHIPS

March 2010 Volume 17

WEIGHING IN... .....4

SPRING FLING.......3

CA DREAMING ......7

GUEST COLUMN ...12

CLASSIFIEDS .......11

Dancing Horse News of 2

In February 2009, Lake ErieCollege (LEC) selected DHFas a model of entrepreneurialexcellence in Ohio's equineindustry! In 2010, DHF continues tooffer educational opportunitiesto local equine enthusiastsand the Riding Schoolstudents. In late February, DHF wasasked to conduct a Seminarand Dressage Exhibition forMount Notre Dame HighSchool’s Equestrian Team. MND is a local private collegeprep school for young women.The organizer, SarahWheeler, is a DHF WorkingStudent, a graduating seniorand co-leader of theEquestrian Team.

Approximately 10 MNDstudents and faculty came toDHF as part of their localhorse farm tour. Thediscussion centered ondressage basics. Jen rodeLori Aman’s Nachtwind DHF(Breezy) to demonstrate someFEI movements like piaffe,passage, canter pirouettesand half passes and the highschool movement, SpanishWalk, at Sarah’s specialrequest. No surprise, Breezythoroughly enjoyed the beingable to thrill her adoringaudience! Continuing the educationtheme, we would like to shareinformation about twoinnovative riding tools: Riding Simulator. As you

will see on pages 7 and12, both Jen and LoriAman found the simulator

to be insightful. In the Inthe Lounge, take a breakfrom the cold and perusethe booklet about theSimulator. For our avidnewsletter readers, thewebsite ishttp://www.alwaysagoodride.com/

Horse Treadmill is still a

viable option if there isenough commitment fromthe Community. Allfeedback from theprofessionals has beenpositive, and with thisendless snow/mud/icerotation it would surelybenefit the horses bodiesand minds!

DHF’s passion for learningand commitment to educatethe equine community will nodoubt allow us to retain thetitle of The Model ofEntrepreneurial Excellence.

Educating Equine Enthusiasts

Saturday March 20th 12:30-1:30

Buckeye Nutrition is sponsoring a Lunch Lecture:"Feeding the Equine Athlete". Presented by John Sylvester, PhD, Director of Research, Development, and Quality, Buckeye Nutrition, MARS HorsecareUS.

RSVP to Jennifer@dancingho

rsefarmoh.com


Set for Spring Fling May 1-2 2010

DHF Spring Fling Weekend

Our annual DressageSchooling and Fun Shows!Saturday will be theDressage show, Sunday allFun Classes!

• The Gymkhana Fun Show classes will be judged by Jen Truett

• Prize Lists posted online

• Schooling show Entry Deadline 15 days prior-new rule this yr make sure the prize list reflects this too

• Show Manager: [email protected]

• Show Secretary:[email protected]

Based on clientfeedback, there’s a new MainMenu item on the DHFwebsite:

“Event Participants.”

From here, eventparticipants or prospectiveparticipants can find DHFevent entry and auditingforms, the ride schedules,visiting clinicians’ “bios”,directions to the farm, and,the much anticipated, showresults. Take a look! Direct Link:http://dancinghorsefarmoh.com

May 1-16* 2010 DHF Equine Art Show

Deadline is March 19 For $25, adults can

enter up to three worksin Amateur orProfessional Painting,Sculpture, Drawing,Mixed Media orPhotography.

Entries juried by “.jpg” –no art needs to bedelivered unless it’saccepted into the show.

Prospectus, at:www.TheSculptedHorse.com/prospectus.html

Contact LyndaSappington at 937-687-3151

*May 3rd the art showmoves to Picture ThisGallery

Horses are shedding!! Spring is coming!

Spring means vaccinations!March 8th and 29th LEC will beat DHF for vaccinations andCoggins. If you schedule yourown vaccinations, pleasearrange them to be in the sametime frame. As always, keepKaren Dale, Barn Manager,informed of your plans.

------------------------------------- Horses were wormed inFebruary with the scheduledQuest/Moxidectin. Moreworming information availableon the Health Care Optionspage of the DHF site.

---------------------------- Please extend a warm DHFWelcome to Amy Haering andTommy, a 15 year old Morganwho drives and ridesSaddleseat. They are now tryingdressage! A warm welcome also goes out

to previous DHF boarder andlong-time lesson student,Pam Carter, and her fancynew 3 yo Hanoverian mare,Aria. -------------------------------------

You may notice that we havetwo new staff members!Take a moment to introduceyourself and your horse, ofcourse, to Jenny Diehl andJessica Walden.

----------------------------------- Happy Birthday to you!Happy Birthday to you!Happy Birthday dear…

Sharon Earle January 3 Lorene Hall January 17 Becky Carson February

2 Kerstin Hagemeister

February 23 Lenny Truett February 27 Lori Aman March 20 Katie Lippert March 21

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Mary Wanless arrives in amatter of days! If you are aparticipant, please forwardyour “bio” [email protected]. It doesn’t have to be fancy, norshould it be your life story - just5-7 sentences about your riding,your horse and your goals. Ifthis is a subsequent Mary-experience, please update yourprevious bio with new goals.Deadline is March 8th. ----------------------------------------

The weights are IN…See howmuch each horse weighs onpage 4. A follow-up weight willbe made during Mary’s visit.Was there a difference betweenthis weight and that estimatedby “the tape”?

----------------------------------------

As always, let us hear from you:suggestions welcome!

Barn Banter

May the Luck o’ the Irish be with you for

show season and beyond

Best in Show 2009 “A Feathered Friend”

Deb Flood


Health Care Means Happiness DHF is fortunate enough to have regular access to Nutrition Experts who systematically evaluate the nutritional needs of each DHF horse. Professional advice partnered with experienced DHF Staff ensure each horse in our care has an individual Nutrition Program that is routinely monitored for optimum health benefits.

DHF feeds high quality, grass mix hay four times per day, and typically feeds grain twice per day. A third feeding is available at night check, by request. Clients supply additional supplements and if feeding two or more, clients must provide the supplements in “baggies” or disposable plastic containers. We highly recommend Smart Paks for simplicity (DHF’s Smart Pak Barn Buddy code is: DancingHF).

Our latest research has deemed Buckeye Gro ‘n Win DHF-worthy. A truly iconic Ration Balancer providing the daily nutrition required by your horse without increasing glucose levels.

As you can see from the table of weights measured on Buckeye’s horse scale, DHF horses are healthy athletes! If you do have questions or concerns, the staff at DHF will be happy to discuss individual horse’s needs and how we can provide them with the best nutrition. Karen Dale, Barn Manager can be reached at 513.933.0343 or [email protected].

More information is available at the Boarding/Health Care Program page of our website.

Horse Name Weight w/Scale

Duesen 1750

Chex 1171.5

Ranger 935

Lexie 1570

David 1301.5

Donna 1365

Kars 1314

Pete 1270

Cinnamon DHF 935

Lisa DHF 1170

Snickers DHF 953

Breezy 1247.5

Charlie DHF 1292

Waldo DHF 1080

Teddy DHF 1289

Lueka 1420

Michael 1130

Riley 1268

Danny 1174

Bianca 1220

Ican 1237

Finn 1325

Charlie 1015

Emilion 1150

Pallas 1428

Laddie 1370

Bea 1530

Fancy DHF 635

Lafayette HQ 1300

Sunset N 1150

Jasmine 865

Tommy 1027

Mary Wanless Clinics are

Here! March 17, 18, 20

AND

March 21, 22, 23

Wait List for Riders

Space available for Auditing

Main Contact: Jennifer@DancingHorseF

armOH.com


Stolen Horse Alert

Ginger has been JesseCormett's beloved horse for7 years. He tucked Gingerinto her stall in the barnduring the big snowfall inGratis, OH on February 6,2010. The next morning hefound the stall door openand the big barn door pushed open.

Did Ginger escape or did

she have help? The onlyway to truly know theanswer is to find Ginger.Here’s what you can do:

Print a flyer and post inyour community, church,coffee house, etc.!

If you attend auctionstake them with you and post these flyers.

Watch craigslist,livedeal, twitter, etc. forGinger

Review information at: http://www.netposse.com/stolenmissing/GingerOHfeb10.html.

Contact Jesse [email protected] or 937-830-0356 and let

him know he is not searching for Ginger alone. A few words means more than you know.

Stolen/missing horses could move a long distance in a short time period, especially in the auction circuit.

Please pass this to your associations, groups, council members, and friends. Ask them to do the same. Remember to check NetPosse.com for updates and flyers.

Don't be a VICTIM! Learn how to protect your horses and property from theft. See DHF Management with questions.

Attention Boarders

This is less

than one hour away from

DHF

Please take a look at Ginger

Alex Lynch Credit: A. Lynch

In her own words, Alexexplains her path to DHF andher future goals: “Alex’s search for a barn withinstructors capable of helping her realize her full potentialended when Alex arrived atDHF in August 2009. Sherecently became a workingstudent. From her beginningsat 4 years of age with a $500flea bitten Arabian that thought

it humorous to shake Alex offduring each lesson, she hasemerged as a promising showjumper. She was showing andjumping by 5 and at 6competed in her firstsanctioned event in southernMaryland at the MarylandSaddle Association Series inUpper Marlboro. At 10, Alexwon the title of Captain of her Calvert County MarylandHorse Bowl Team. Alex led herteam to a 6th place finish among a field of 30 countyteams.

Alex hopes to follow in LindsayLechner’s footsteps in herpursuit of a successful careeron horseback. Lindsay hasopened Alex’s eyes to areas inher riding technique requiringimprovement. Alex is

searching for a new partner that can earn a spot on the Otterbein college varsity equestrian teams. Alex is sure that this goal and her longer term goals of becoming a riding instructor and barn manager will be met in large part due to the knowledge and experience she is gaining as a DHF working student.”

DHF Working Student positions are rewarded to dedicated young horse enthusiasts who have compiled a resume, created a video and have been interviewed by Jen Truett or Lindsay Lechner. More information is available athttp://www.dancinghorsefarmoh.com/internAndWorkingStudentOpportunities.html.

A DHF Working Student Profile: Alex Lynch

Please Note:

If you are a Mary Wanless

Clinic participant, your “bio” is requested:

send to Megan@DancingHor

seFarmOH.com.

A simple 5-7 sentence

paragraph will suffice.

Deadline is March 8th.


Sandy Bertacchini Henke &Family write of theirexperience with Jennifer andDHF: “We have all beenbrought together by Sjollingin such a wonderful,serendipitous way...it is thebeginning of my family’sjourney with him, and just acontinuation of all the love &time you both have givenhim. It is testament to thefact that dreams do, indeed, come true when you leastexpect it. And Jennifer Truettof Dancing Horse Farm andKaren Borne of Borne Saddlery are the catalyststhat made it so! My experience from day onewith Jennifer and Karen wasamazing... I will never againembrace the notion that ‘ifit’s too good to be true, itprobably isn’t’!! After manyphone calls, it becameapparent that Sjolling & Imay be a great match.However, I was unable to getto Ohio to experienceSjolling ‘in person’ due tofamily responsibilities & myjob…never entertaining thethought that it was possibleto purchase a horse via theInternet…but I am here totell you of the positiveexperience from start tofinish.

In a way, I was like an untrusting horse asking for reassurance time and time again that this was the right thing for our family & for Sjolling. The hand holding I received from Jen was steadfast & consistent. She walked me through the transaction step by step, with patience ad infinitum! There was no such thing as a ridiculous question according to Jen. :) So the decision was finally made for Sjolling to come to us. When Sjolling stepped off the trailer exactly one week to the day before Christmas, he was simply STUNNING with his beautiful Christmas halter & shimmering Christmas ribbons entwined in his French-braided black mane. We were literally speechless & tearful with joy. I will forever remember that exact moment in time. (Come to find out later that Karen acquired the memorable Christmas halter & Jen spent 2 hours braiding his mane prior to his departure from DHF. What a thoughtful, special gift of their planning & time!) He then looked at all of us one by one as if to announce his

Sjolling is Indeed a “Horse of a lifetime…”

Picture Credit: S. Henke

More beautiful Dance

Partnerships by Jennifer Truett can be

viewed at: http://www.dancinghorsefarmoh.com/dancingPa

rtners.html

Karen Dale, BarnManager, recently lost herbeloved father. It was withgreat strength anddetermination that shecontinued caring for DHFhorses during the mostdifficult days.

“What doesn’t kill you, surely makes you stronger” is indeed the sentiment when one loses a parent. Karen wishes to thank everyone for the condolences, cards,

flowers and donationsin honor of her father. In turn, Karen, the DHFCommunity mourns withyou and will continue tosupport you in this timeof healing.

A Sincere Thank You

Borne Saddles are the only saddles

for Jennifer Truett

FFEEEELL TTHHEE FFIITT

To subscribe to the Borne newsletter

contact Karen Borne: [email protected]

arrival with a ‘So here I am!!!’expression & nickers. Sjolling then had to be unloaded from the trailer ona rural road & walked up anicy, quarter mile driveway tohis new home. He wassurefooted & confident. As for me, I am the motherof a son with autism wholoves therapeutic riding, thewife of a husband withParkinson’s who completely, genuinely supports my loveof horses & I’m crazy aboutdressage. Amazingly, myhusband looks forward tospending time with our BigBoy as much as I do. Thereis no doubt that Sjolling is ahorse with a healing spirit forour whole family. I have now been entrusted tolove and care for this trustysteed named Sjolling whowill make us all laugh &smile while teaching usabout his world & ours. He isthe horse of a lifetime & Icherish each & every minutewith him. Thank you, Jen & Karen, for making life with Sjolling areality. I promise to treasurehim as much as you have.”


I have returned to snowcovered Ohio re-energized from my recentannual Februaryexcursion to SandyHoward's farm outside ofSanta Cruz, California forwhat we used to callTeacher Training that hasmorphed into a RiderBiomechanics Workshop. As always, the feeling ofcamaraderie among theauditor group comprisedof about half teachers andthe other half students isunsurpassed. The qualityof education andexperience that everyoneinvolved brings to theweek can't be matched. Our group consists of pastOlympians, Pan AmGames competitors,USEF short listed ridersall the way to upstartyoung trainers who arejust getting their toes wetin the equine businessworld. The breadth of experience andknowledge in bothteaching and riding is awe-inspiring and the rule is that everyone checkstheir egos at the door andcomes in with open mindsand lots of questions. Every year, we spendthree days watchinghorses and riders of alllevels with the goal ofdeveloping our eyes andvocabularies to bothidentify biomechanical

issues and thencommunicate solutions tothose problems clearly tothe rider in a way they canunderstand and interpretin their bodies to makepositive changes. We also have small groupbreakout sessions wherewe focus on more specifictopic areas and get morehands-on teaching tools. This year we had one ofthe best in-hand trainers in the country, AlfredoHernandez, there showingus how and the benefits ofworking our horses inhand to improve manners,teach lateral work andpiaffe and passage. After three days of this in handwork, my young shiningstar, Sunset, is alreadydoing leg yields, turns onthe haunches andforehand and shoulders inand definitely now has amuch betterunderstanding of wherehis space ends and minebegins. We also were fortunate toget to ride a new, veryfun, mechanical dressagehorse that is connected toa video screen and doeslateral work, flyingchanges, piaffe andpassage. I enjoyed doingflying changes on it andfound it to be a super teaching tool because thetrainer can stand rightnext to their student whiledoing movements at

speed and make biomechanical corrections which, of course, could never happen on a real horse. It has a series of sensors that show where the rider's weight is, if they are pulling too much on the reins, and where their legs are touching or gripping. You can ride dressage tests or hack out cross-country on it!! It's really very ingenious but also costs so much that you could buy a nice FEI horse for the same price!! Of course, the FEI horse comes with feed, vet and farrier bills and this mechanical horse apparently doesn't need its oil changed all that often! I love going every year and taking students with me enables them to see first-hand that everyone struggles to correct their biomechanics and what we teachers are looking for when we start to make changes. If you would like more info on it or would like to join me next year, check out Sandy's web site for more details: http://www.in-balance.com I am enjoying using the new techniques and visualizations I learned to help everyone ride with your mind even better. What a fantastic educational experience!

California Dreaming by: Jen Truett

March 8th and

29th LEC will beat DHF for

spring vaccinations and Coggins

Don’t forget:

2010 DHF boarder annual

vaccine and teeth floating contracts held at 2009 prices!


~ Thelwell

DHF Annual Equine Art Show Deadline Approaching

If you’ve ever drawn,painted or sculptedanything with horses in it,this is for you! Dancing Horse Farm’s 4th

Annual Equine ArtShow’s entry deadline isMarch 19! For $25,adults can enter up tothree works in Amateur orProfessional Painting, Sculpture, Drawing,Mixed Media orPhotography. Entries willbe juried by .jpg – no art needs to be deliveredunless it’s accepted intothe show.

We have a Children’sDivision as well. Pleasesee the Prospectus atwww.thesculptedhorse.com/prospectus.pdf fordetails. There is a $100 awardfor Best in Show, andribbons will be awardedfor first to third place inthe Adult division. Eachentry in the Children’sDivision will receive aParticipant ribbon, andribbons will be given forfirst through third placein each category. Bestin Show for the

Children’s Division will bea separate award. The show will be ondisplay at DHF May 1-2during the DHF AnnualSpring Fling showweekend, and thenmoved to the Picture ThisGallery in Lebanon,where it will run until May16. Every effort will bemade to sell your art, soget your entries in soon! If you have questions,please contact LyndaSappington at 937-687-3151.

Dare to Dream Summer Camp Opens Registration

Summer 2009 the DHFRiding School introduced itsDare to Dream SummerCamp. We were immediatelyfilled to capacity, camperscould be seen smiling eachday of camp and the laughtercould be heard for miles! Summer 2010 promises to beeven better! We are offeringthree different camps basedon the riders’ age and ridingexperience: Advanced Rider Camp: Ages 10 and up. Riders mustbe able to walk, trot, andcanter independently, ridersare beginning to jump orhave some skills that arealready developed overfences. Intermediate Rider Camp:Ages 8 and up. Riders thatcan walk and trot

independently, are learningto canter, and aredeveloping skills to startlearning to jump. Beginner Rider Camp:Ages 6 and up. This campis for riders who are eithernew to riding or who havenever ridden before. Duringcamp they will learnnecessary riding skills. Each week will include FUNand a friendly learningenvironment, with horseknowledge, trivia, fun facts,and lots of hands onexperience. Campers willenjoy horse relatedactivities, scavenger hunts,arts and crafts, games andother age appropriateactivities. Campers willgrow while at DHF through

learning, horsemanship,confidence, teamwork, andresponsibility.

2010 Camp Dates

Beginner: June 28 - July 1,July 19-22, and August 9-12 Advanced: June 14-17 Intermediate: July 12-15and August 2-5 Hours: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Please [email protected] for registration. The Summer Camp Dare toDream pagehttp://www.dancinghorsefarmoh.com/summerCamp.html has more information.


Dancing Horse Farm Inspire to ride with deep respect and calm authority

4080 Weisenberger Road Lebanon Ohio 45036 513.933.0343 www.DancingHorseFarmOH.com

Opportunities Heather Blitz and Mary Wanless are DHF 2010 Guest Clinicians

Plus…

Summer Camps Internships Working Students Shows

Boarding Now Available 50+ matted 12x12 and 12x14 stalls, staff live on-site for 24/7care, indoor and outdoor arenas, and ½ mile training track allbeautifully situated on 40 acres

Ph t

Choices The

Outdoor or the

Indoor?

Photo Credits: DHF

Boarding Training Sales Education

Celebrate the joy of horses, the fun of learning, and the camaraderie of a community

Dancing Horse News of 10 zJen’s Journal

October 9 While Linda got Gamblervetted, the rest of us wentback to Noerrelund to seeSunset a second time sincethe farm was very close tothe hospital. He wasamazingly even MOREimpressive the second day!His trot more expressiveand canter more balanced.He has a super clear, crispwalk with over a foot overstride! He is elegant, quietand looks like a rock star!Heather said that Sunsetcould really put me on themap as a Pro. We got him out of his stallwhere he quietly munchedhay. The owner had a ridercarry tack over to theindoor and I asked to watchhim at liberty one moretime before we look at himunder saddle. He wasincredible! He didn’tunderstand why the peoplekept chasing him – all hewanted to do was come

visit with us! Heather and Iwere very satisfied withwhat we saw and wereready to see what happenswith tack. The groom put the saddleon and tightened the girthfor the first time in fivemonths and Sunset jumpeda little sideways, but settledright down. Then the youngman got a leg up and hungacross Sunset’s back for acouple of circles. Sunsetdidn’t mind at all! So, heswung his leg over andtightened the girth oncemore and off they went in awalk. Sunset was perfect inevery way. The rider’sassistant had to help withthe lunge whip from theground, but after trotting acouple circles, theyremoved the lunge line andwalked all around thearena. He only cantered onthe right lead as heremembered Sunset found

Jen’s Journalintimately portraysthe road to herperfect Sunset

All Sunset Pictures:DHF

that direction to be easier.He was perfect and hisgaits didn’t change muchunder saddle – surprisinglyso. I couldn’t wait to jump onthis super star baby whowas being ridden for thetenth time in his life and thefirst time in five months! Igot up and he was perfectAGAIN! He walked off andwe got stuck only oncewhen he was not entirelysure of his balance or whatto do. We trotted bothdirections but didn’t canter.I was very impressed withthe feeling of the energy inhis body. He felt like amature, trained horse, nota gangly baby. I love everything about himand wouldn’t changeanything. Now I just haveto figure out how to buyhim! Minor issue, right?

More about Sunset N Next Month!

Dancing Horse News of 11 DHF DHF

New Holland 155 Manure Spreader Price 3,900In good mechanical condition. Has hydraulic end gate,extended height sides, poly floor and new chain andbars. Spare bars and chain links included. Storedinside and used weekly.

Snickerdoodle DHF Price $6,000 Pinto Pony Foaled: 1995 Color: Paint Height: 14.1h Type: Dressage, Jumping, Lesson Horse

Lisalotte DHF Price: $2000 Oldenburg Mare Foaled: 2002 Color: Grey Height: 15.2 hands Registry: Oldenburg/ISR Type: Broodmare and lower-level dressage possibly DHF Contact Information

For Horses:

Jennifer Truett [email protected]

For Barn & Equipment:

Lenny Truett [email protected]

Details online!

www.DancingHorseFarmOH.com

Spotlight Horse for Sale: Fancy DHF

Fancy DHF Price $1,500

Unregistered Welsh Pony Foaled: ~2001 Color: Black with hind socks and a huge star Height: 12 hands Type: Dressage, Lesson Contact: [email protected]

Everyone loves our Fancy Pants Pony!

She is strikingly beautiful, supersweet and has been used in ourlesson program both on and offthe lunge line. We found that she’sso small we don’t get to use heroften enough to justify keepingher. She should be allowed to goto a family to teach children thejoys of having their own pony. Fancy walks, trots, canters andhas started some leg yield work -and jumping. She has a really“fancy”, toe-flicking trot that wouldbe perfect in children’s shortstirrup walk-trot flat classes or

Intro dressage classes. Hercanter has gotten much slowerwith regular work, but canter isnot her most balanced or easiestgait. She is well mannered, but needsto have a small confident ridertune her up to remind her to stayslow. She stands well for farrier,vet, and baths, loves to haveribbons, bows and braids in herhair and she hauls great. For more pictures, see Fancy’spage on our website! She is absolutely adorable…

Special Pricing: 10% off sales price discount is offered to buyer if a DHF-owned sale horse is purchased and boarded at DHF for six months


In late January I made a lastminute decision to accompanyJen to Teacher Training inCalifornia. I have done a fairamount of traveling and it is rarefor me to travel without canceledor delayed flights, missedconnections and lost luggage.Jen assured me that she alwaystravels just fine so it was to be myKarma vs. hers. Both going andcoming back our first flights weredelayed so that we had to run ashard as we could to make theconnections with the door closingbehind us. I didn’t know I couldrun that far. The outcome wasthat Jen’s Karma prevailed so weand our bags arrived at ourdestinations intact and almost ontime.

The Teacher Training was held atSandy Howard’s farm and wastaught primarily by SandyHoward and Mary Wanless. Itwas so very interesting to seewhat our instructors see, andhear what they try to convey totheir students. This group ofinstructors, however, is differentfrom others because theyconcentrate on how to get thepoint across. They don’t tell us“don’t do” they tell us what “todo”. They are searching for theright pictures to put in our headsso we can understand how toemulate their success.

The best riders appear to bedoing nothing, when in fact theyare doing so many things thatthey can’t even tell us fastenough to keep up. The first day Iwrote down, “keeping it right, beproactive not reactive, compress,decompress, over and over.” We

spent a lot of time analyzingthe timing of the rider affectingthe trot. The first third of thetrot is when the foot is pushingoff, this is when the rider canaffect the trot and bring thehind leg under. The secondthird is traveling through the airand the last third is gravity. Ilearned a revolutionaryconcept, “gravity is with you100% of the time,” who knew?When posting, the rider needsto pause at the top and at thebottom. Landing lightly with theseat is the fighting of gravity. Ittakes a lot of strength to do itcorrectly.

There was a demonstrationwith two riders sitting onsaddles on saddle racks. Thiswas very interesting. Theriders showed their particularcrookedness and the teachersanalyzed. One of them (aprofessional) was very close tomy own pattern and this riderhad been told over and over todrop her left hand when herhand was, in fact, a residual ofa much larger problem withher body position. This groupof instructors is impressive asthey strive to get to the rootcause of riders’ deficiencies. Iam not sure whether thismakes me feel better or worse,with the professionalsadmitting that they are stillstriving to overcome their ownimperfect patterns. It is nice toknow that one is not alone, butalso now I know that I will bestruggling with something forthe rest of my riding career.This brings me back to Jen’sadage that it is not adestination, it is a journey; awonderful journey from mypoint of view.

Sandy’s daughter, Anne, is aphysical therapist (and rider)who conducted some excellentsessions with us first timers.She had participants sit in onthe edge of a chair and shepushed down on theirshoulders so the audiencecould see how they squishedand rotated. Then sheadjusted their natural curves in

Striving to Overcome Imperfect Patterns by Lori Aman Dancing Horse Farm

We’re on the Web! See us at:

www.DancingHorseFarmOH.com

4080 Weisenberger Rd Lebanon OH 45036

BARN MANAGER:

(513) 933-0343 [email protected]

DRESSAGE LESSONS:

(937) 532-3108 [email protected]

EVENTING/BEGINNER

LESSONS: (513) 850-9359

[email protected]

BREAKING TRAINER/EXERCISE RIDER:

(937) 532-3108

DHF Show Secretary,

Office Manager and Newsletter Editor

[email protected]

the lumbar and thoracic areasand pushed again and therewould be no squishing orrotating. I am very happy toreport that Anne wasn’t able todemonstrate squishiness onme because Jen and I haveworked very hard on myneutral spine position; I onlyneeded a tiny adjustment inthe thoracic. The naturalcurves make the spinal columnvery strong and stationary. It isthis “neutral spine” that weriders must strive to achievewith seats bones pointingstraight down and the spinestacked up with the propercurves.

Anne also explained to us howage lessens our ability to keepour balance andrecommended some exercisesto help keep our balance moreintact. One is as simple asstanding on one foot (which Ihad learned from Jen earlier),so stand on one foot wheneveryou can, it will strengthen yourankle and your abductormuscles.

The last day we all took turnssitting on a Dressage horsesimulator that reminded me ofriding the coin operated horseoutside the local store when Iwas child, except that it wasmuch more sophisticated. Theflat screen TV showed howmuch weight was being put onthe seat by showing a redspreading circle; mine stayedsmaller than I expected. I rodewalk, trot and canter, althoughit could do more upper levelmovements. Jen got to juststand in one place and holdmy leg in a very painfulposition that had my toe levelwith my heel, and away fromthe side of the horse; I thinkshe really liked that.

I met so many great peoplethat I hope I see again in thefuture and I learned so manymore things than I can put intowords in this article. Thankyou, Jen, for taking me alongon the trip to California and forthis journey of amazingexperiences in the saddle.

Picture Credit: Peter DeMott

Lueka and Kara enjoy DHF even in snowy

February

Credit: K. Mastern

March 2010 Volume 17 Error! No AutoText entry SUPPORTING … · 2018-09-06 · Cinnamon DHF 935...

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Transcript of March 2010 Volume 17 Error! No AutoText entry SUPPORTING … · 2018-09-06 · Cinnamon DHF 935...