Sarah is coming back through town this weekend on her way back from training in Florida.  Her and Waterhouse, her Hanoverian gelding, will be staying overnight.  She will be teaching again on Saturday and Sunday.  No audit fee, please call or email to get the schedule.

20 mph winds plus 30+ gusts on Saturday created some challenges.  Sarah brought a headset so riders could successfully hear.  Auditing, however, was less productive.  We all had a great learning and inspiring weekend anyway.  I didn't hear any complaint, or waver from Sarah's brilliant guidance.  Every horse showed lovely colors in Saturday's insane weather.  Although our ol' reliable Thad showed the most  breathtaking spook, Angie's newly developed strong core prevailed.  Wow.   The pride beams from my heart as I  look back on my students' experiences of the weekend.  Sorette, the newest member, Love her!!   Yeah.  It's called focus.  Ines looks like she is on the beginning of a fun journey.  Mother nature tried to blow down the forrest with sounds resembling the roar of an ocean in a storm, but the beauties under saddle offered the generousity only an equine can....  "I'll bring you through it, we're together"...  
Beautiful Pictures to follow... oh and there will be a next time!

The Spring Clinic With Sarah Geikie has been rescheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, the 25th and 26th.  All auditors are welcome, no charge.  Bring your own chair and everything else you need.   Watch with kind eyes, as this is my first training session since before the surgery and it is also a first time clinic for some of the riders.
Saturday starts at Karver's Creek Farm:
11:45  Jeanne Karver  
12:30  Susan Craft 
1:15  Jeanne Karver 
2:00  Susan Craft
drive to Dana's Farm:
3:15  Robin Brueckmann
4:00  Ines Kausche
4:45  Dana Taylor
5:30  Angie Clark

Sunday starts at Karver's:
9:30  Jeanne Karver
10:15  Susan Craft
11:00  Jeanne Karver
11:45  Susan Craft
Drive to Taylor's:
1:30  Robin Breuckmann
2:15  Angie Clark
3:00  Ines Kausche
Hope you all enjoy!  This is a unique oportunity to see one of USDF's top people in action.  Thank you for tolerance with the tricky scheduling.
My cell number is:  336-337-6894 ... please only call during the clinic for important matters.

Cheers!
It looks like the clinic with Sarah Geikie is in the process for being rescheduled.  There is a fairly strong possibility that it may be this weekend:  Sat and Sun.  Please email me for further info if needed.
Welle is not going to be participating in the clinic due to a mild to moderate injury to her suspensory on her left hind.  She will be on 6 weeks of stall rest and hand walking to start, then another ultrasound will determine the following course of action.

The clinic with Sarah Geikie has been cancelled due to the poor weather forecast.  The reschedule date has not been decided yet.

Sarah Geikie Comes in February.
The date or the clinic with Sarah is confirmed:  Feb 19 and 20 (Sunday and Monday).  Her time on Sunday will be split between Karver's Creek Farm and Hunter's Haven (Dana Taylor's farm).  On Monday, she will teach at Karver's Creek only.  Autditors are welcome, no charge.
Sarah is a USEF "S" judge, FEI "C" judge, USDF Certification Examiner and Grand Prix level trainer.  She is training this winter in Florida with Kathy Connoly on scholarship and will be happy to share her new knowledge and inspiration with the rest of us.

March Magic Opens Feb 7.
I got the email today that the first show of NC is open for entries starting Feb 7.  This year they are trying a new tactic to inspire us to turn in our entries asap:  $20 back upon arrival at the show if you enter the first week of open entries.  Wow, that is next week!

Competition horses are no longer giving lessons.
As the show season is upon us, Welle and Wonder are no longer giving lessons to clients.  When this season wraps up next fall, once again, they will be available to some students again, circumstances apply.

Working Student for the summer is needed:
Over the summer months, a position will be available for a student who would like exposure to my horses, career-style, competitions, etc.  in exchange for work around the farm:  primarily grooming, handling, tack cleaning, small amount of barn chores occasionally, and if qualified, lunging and riding horses.  Hours will be 8am - 2pm.  2-5 days per week, depending you student availability.    Please contact me if interested:  karv4@yahoo.com  I am looking for someone who will remain committed to upholding integrity, honesty, transparency, and reliability.

Blog Changes to The News Room
The Blog page from my website is being discontinued.  In its place will be this news and current events page.  Eventually, the name of the page will change from "Blog" to "News".  Comments and questions are still welcome.  Questions might be answered through a different medium.  I hope you enjoy the tidy and to-the-point nature of this page going forward.  Please feel free to offer suggestions.

Question Answered
There was a comment and question posted on the last blog regarding the basic aids for riding horses "The secret to horse training".  I did my best to post a reply.  Click "comments" from that post if you care to read it.
 
Upcoming Clinics
Two clinics are in the works.  The first is a  two day clinic with Sarah Geikie that might be near the end of Feb. I believe
the ride times are full (not sure) but please feel free to audit, rsvp.   The  second is a cavaletti and (low) jumping clinic.  Please respond to let me know  if you are interested in riding or auditing.  If I get enough interest, then I
will let you know suggested dates.

Ines' New Horse
Although Ines' new horse did not arrive in time for Christmas, as originally hoped, she has made it safely to Summerfield.  Sorette is a black Dutch warmblood mare from GA.  Although she currently doesn't have a show record, Ines is happy to develop one for her in time.  I am pleased to be a part in helping these two find each other.  Now the real work begins!

1.  Other people spend a lot of time de-sensitizing their young horses.  I choose to sensitize them to the correct things (like the aids) so I can apply the aids to communicate the security of my leadership.  Thus, in trying times, I keep the horse too busy being sensitive to my aids to be overly sensitive to external stimuli.  I find this reduces shying pretty well, and I like to keep my horses "hot".
2.  The good half halt is done before the horse "needs" it.
3.  When a good opportunity presents itself in dressage take it.  Welcome the work.  Most people say, "I want to be a good rider."  Sure, every rider wants to be a good rider.  But what they really need to be saying is, "Yes!  I want the work on the road to becoming a good rider.  I welcome the work."  It is that person whos "want" will produce the "good". 
4.  When you give the horse a leg aid, frequently people lift their knee or heel when applying that aid.  Do the opposite:  lower your heel thus making your calf more firm.  Every time you give a leg aid firm your calf to do it.
5.  If an "early" rider does not yet have a trained eye, then that person should limit the time watching videos of their own  riding.  It would be more beneficial to spend time watching videos of great dressage masters riding and schooling.  Then, the eye, and more importantly the mind's eye, will become trained.  It is the mind of the rider that ultimately creates the movement in the horse.  Train your mind, create the movement.   A huge, huge, huge mistake a rider can make is to entertain themselves watching you-tube videos of people falling off, horse wrecks, bad rides and the like.  That is a sure way to ruin your riding career.  People have said to me, "Grand Prix doesn't apply to me.  I am not there yet, so
I don't need to watch or study it."  Really?  So you plan to wait till you are "there" and then begin to study it? 
Your mind creates your movement, your movement creates your horse's movement! 
*This is the second blog applied to todays date.  Please enjoy them both.  (See below).

Cheers! 
First topic:  My struggle with the new dressage ruling requiring judges to consider the use of half points for everything on the scoresheet. 
Donna Kelly and I judged the early January show in Pinehurst to become, perhaps, the first two judges in this area to use the new scoring system.  Several people have inquired about my opinion of the new system, including show management and the NCDCTA newsletter.  I don't know Donna's opinion at this point.  Personally, I thought it was fairly difficult.  I was trained under the former whole number system and learned how to work in an easy groove.  After the show or at breaks judges can go to the score boards to observe the final placings of their classes.  We like to see that the final placing ended up being what we had designed in our head.  That means our numbers equal our intention.  Historically, I have done pretty well. 
While judging I can generally make a solid, quick decision ( Is it a 6 or 7?) based on what I observed.  However, with the half points, I felt like every score had one additional decision to make.  Instead of deciding between two numbers, I felt like I was choosing between three numbers for the same visual input.  If I were on the fence between a 7 and an 8, suddenly I had to choose between 7.0, 7.5 and 8.0.  For me, that resulted in one more decision per every movement scored.  Since the pace in the judges box is rapid, that additional decision slowed me down enough to knock me off my groove... a little.  Fundamentaly, I think I still found the right marks as per what I saw...  Maybe in the long run, I could learn to like the new system better as the decisions become more routine.  
Scores can be influenced by "modifiers".  They are all the little things that happen in a test to make it either more brilliant or more of a mess.  For example, in first level test 1, you are required to depart into the right lead canter at A. (score the transitition).  Then at E you circle right 15.  That circle is the essence of the next score, but as we know there is a corner between the transition and the circle.  If the horse stumbles in the corner because the rider has left him improperly balanced, then the judge can give a down modifier for the next score.  First, I see the canter quaility as number.  Lets say I am looking at a "7" quality canter (7 = fairly good).  The rider steered a decent round circle but the horse lacked bend as he leaned into his turn.  So, for the Criteria of that circle, (shape and size of circle; bend) I would be satisfied, but definitely not say it is fairly good in the bend department.  Satisfied means a 6.  The stumble in the corner was significant enough to warrent a down modifier.  How much should I modify down?  Previously I had to think in whole numbers, now I can think in halves.  Was it bad enough to warrent a minus 1?  Or should I only reduce it a half point.... hum...  If the stumble was significant enough for a 1 point down modifier, my end formula for that movement is 7 (gaits) and 6 (criteria:  shape, size, bend) equals 6.5 ...minus 1.0 because of the stumble in the corner.   That makes me write down a 5.5 for the score.  Previously, what would I have decided?  Previously, if I was torn half way between two numbers, I would generally lean toward the higher.  Now, I just choose the half point. Perhaps that means my scores will become slightly lower overall, but my placings will remain consistant.  I am not sure how this is going to feel in the long run.
I am interested in hearing about your opinions of the new scoring system.
I think "placing" challenges will always exist.  For example, if there is an elastic, good mover ridden by a sloppy, inaccurate rider competing against a weak, stiff horse ridden by a skilled, accurate rider, which one looks like he should win?  If you stand by the sidelines and watch, most people will be impressed by the fancy elastic mover who appears most "dressagey".  However, if you are sitting in the judges box looking at centerlines, straightness and accuracy, you may end up placing the weak mover with the skilled rider above him.  Then, the lay-person on the sidelines, declares you to be an idiot.  "The other guy was clearly more dressagey.  The judge is blind."  he says.  I don't think half points will change anything here.  People will complain about judging until the sun sets forever. 
As a trainer of some people who enjoy competition, my advice is this:  find a "dressagey" mover that you enjoy, and learn to ride it really, really, really well:  bring to the performance the skilled, accurate rider.   Then the layperson and the judge person may agree on your victory.

Topic two:  
The secret to horse training...  It was perfect weather and a smooth show.  One horse stuck out in my memory.  He was a naturally good mover with attractive presentation.   His rider sat balanced, supple and was well dressed ....  but the requirements of their tests revealed an interesting disconnect between them.  I could see the subtle rider give the horse aids within her tidy equitation.  I could see the beautiful animal "hear" and respond to those aids.  But most of the time his response was wrong.  When she closed her legs he sometimes engaged the muscles in his neck, or scurried his strides, or wiggled, or something else.  When she closed her fingers on the reins he offered a variety of responses too.  The horse did not choose the right response when he felt the "pressure" from his rider's aids.  He was guessing.  He appeared to be trying.   In his training, he had not learned the correct answers.  So, eventhough she appeared to be a tidy rider, her test was sloppy.
Here is the secret:  There are only 4 aids a horse needs to know.  The many applications of those aids create complicated grey areas... and a good rider needs to help the horse stay clear.  Simplify.  Simplify.  Simplify.
1.  The GO aid.  The rider presses the inside of the top of her calf against the barrel of the horse equally on both sides while slightly opening or relaxing the fingers on the reins.  A secondary GO aid is a bump with the calves or a flutter of the whip. 
2.  The STOP aid.  The rider braces her hips/lower back to resist the movement of the horse with her seat.  The secondary aid if the horse is hollow, or otherwise unable to obey the seat, is the tug on the reins by the riders hands.
3.  The LEFT aid.  This is two parts. 
    A)  A left rein pressure takes the horses' head and neck to the left position (lateral yielding to the rein).  There is a leading rein, a direct rein, and indirect rein pressure.  He needs to understand that he should yield to all three.
    B) The rider's right leg pushes the horse to the left (lateral yielding to the single leg pressure).
4.  The RIGHT aid. 
    A) A right rein takes the horses' head and neck to the right position.  (lateral yielding to the rein)
    B) The rider's left leg pushes the horse to the right.  (lateral yeilding to the leg). 

All dressage movements are created by combining the above mentioned aids.  Combinations often create confusion.   Especially if the rider gives the aids with some lack of clarity.  It takes a very balanced, independent seat for a rider to give all the aids with perfect clarity.  How can the leg aids be crystal clear if the rider grips her legs?  Lack of clarity creates resistance.  Resistance is a delayed response, an opposite response, a minimal effort response and the like.  If a horse has resistance, and it is not due to a physical problem or illness, it is because of a misunderstanding or disrespect of one of the 4 aids.  Therefore, the correction for resistance is for the rider to figure out which aid is misunderstood, misinterrpreted, or ignored.  Then, teach the horse the desired response (to a clearly applied aid) using a sensitively applied secondary aid, repeated until his response becomes crystal clear.  Reward!  Make sure you articulate your reward clearly in body language too.
When the horse is honestly on the aids (prepared in his mind and body to respond instantly and correctly to the 4 aids), he is "on the bit" and will demonstrate the attractive, well known carriage as such.  Simply because he is listening.   There is no formula for getting a horse on the bit other than clear training his obedience to the aids.  
A beautiful, balanced, skilled rider cannot mount a wild mustang and use aids to create desired movement no matter how good she is.  Because he would not be clear on the correct responses to her pressures.  But, he can be taught the responses.  Then, when she gives the aids clearly to him,  the horse can comply without resistance.  He will flex his neck in preparation for her lateral aids, he will cadence his gaits in rhythm with her seat as she balances him between stop and go aids.  All the beauty of dressage will appear as if by the horses' will.  It is all because of clarity of the four aids:   stop, go, left and right. 
Train your horse to respond perfectly to these aids given at a subtle volume, and you have created a dressage horse. 
Fuss at him randomly, and you may get the arch of the neck, hit or miss, a good day here, a bad day there.  Teach him to comply with the aids with a ready state of mind, then you can use the aids to bring him all the way through the levels of dressage.  This is why they say dressage is good for all horses:  because all horses benefit from clarity in communication.  Next time you feel resistance, ask:  which aid is most unclear to him at this time. Then stop the exercise you are doing, and re-train the aid that was confused.  Simplify.  Simplify.  Simplify.

Cheers!  Last weekend was fun and filled with horse events.  Saturday was a beautiful riding day ending in a drive to Raleigh to attend the 2012 HOY awards gala.  Then , Sunday morning, an early drive to Pinehurst to judge a show.  This is the first show of the new year to incorporate the half points in the tests.  The show inspired some thoughts I would love to share with you all.  However, that will have to come  a little later because my quick lunch break will not facilitate that much writing.  The sun has broken through the clouds and my fingers are nice and warm again, so I need to get back outside.  For now, here are a few pictures from the Gala 2012 taken by Gavin or Daryl Taylor.