And the rest of the story... Peter Atkins Clinic Follow Up (With Video!)

Moose and I had a great time in Kentucky training with Peter Atkins. The MooseMan was FABULOUS....I was...ME.

Starting with awesome trailer hitching skills...

Damn.

 I ALWAYS lock up...

If you ever lock your keys in your truck in rural Lexington, simply call 253-OPEN.

Note to self -when you do not have 4WD do not park truck and trailer on grass during torrential rains...

 I always do keep a sense of humor -it's that or cry (constantly).

“If this is the worst thing that happens this weekend, I am doing great!” X4 or was it X5?

And yes, the my mental riding game is on par with my vehicular logistics skills.
(I cannot. ride.my.way.out.of.a.paper.bag.so.I.have.cute.pony.to.distract.you.)

This clinic was sponsored by the HJU Ammie Educational Grant presented by ECOGOLD ( you can read my clinic recap for HJU here.)
 

Now for video!

If you are bored have too much free time need to be amused -oh, whatever- all the raw footage of my flat lesson is on  http://www.youtube.com/user/MyMooseontheloose (Raw file 1, 2,3 and 4). Bonus points if you actually make it through and can identify what clip includes Peter's quip, “this video should be on America’s Funniest Home Videos!”

The lesson begins with Peter explaining to keep it simple. Make it simple for the horse to do what you want (i.e. to give the “right” answer).

This applies as he teaches Moose and I the beginnings of lateral work –only ask for the movement when Moose can respond.

Applying the above lessons:

We then moved to working on pushing the nose forward at the trot (in the video above we also work on this at the walk).

Moose’s nemesis has always been the canter. Peter has us work on counter-canter to improve his balance.

Peter explaining counter-canter:

FINALLY getting it!

I don't have video of jumping but I did come away with my favorite picture ever.

Gratuitous Photo Posting. (I am sure you will see it again.)

In the end we had fun, we learned (about riding as well as trailer safety checks, door locks and the need for 4WD). It was also a mini-blogger convention and I enjoyed spending time with Amy and Steady (from 'Slow and Steady Wins the Race'), Karen (from 'CONTACT'). and Kelly (from 'Dressage Pony.'

Great weekend. Thanks to friends (old and new) and family that helped out. And of course super thanks to HJU/ ECOGOLD!

 

Peter Atkins teaching in Kentucky soon!!!!

Ack! Have you heard?! Peter Atkins will be teaching in Kentucky soon (as in May!).

The big thing for me is that he is offering private dressage lessons on the Friday of the clinic. I had a few private lessons on school horses while in Florida and my improvement in riding and understanding concepts was actually exponential in scale. I would love to get a private dressage lesson on Moose (as well as jumping/ xc in the group clinic) to see if I can continue the exponential learning!

(As an aside I do feel I am riding Moose much better since my FL trip-yay!)

Now where is that damn money tree? 

....oh yeah....it paid someone's vet bills (cough, Moosey!).

Here is the info:

Ride with Australian Eventing Team member Peter Atkins at Champagne Run!

May 11-13, 2012 | Lexington KY

Friday, May 11 – Private Dressage Lessons (Peter will be teaching a limited number of private dressage lessons the day before the clinic). Me Want! Want! Want!

Saturday, May 12 – Clinic Day 1 -Stadium: Grid work in groups of four for 1.5 hours.

Sunday, May 13 – Clinic Day 2 -Cross Country: Cross country schooling in groups of six for 2 hours. XC!!!!!! In KY! With Peter!

Peter + XC+ KY+ May!

Dressage: $115 per horse/rider combination

Clinic: $325 per horse/rider combination

Auditors: $25 for the weekend Maybe I can do this

Saturday evening we will host a meet and greet potluck with Peter! What? He doesn't eat....will there be a keg?

Limited overnight stabling is available upon request for $30/night.

Reserve your spot early by returning the clinic form with full payment! If someone wants to do this My name is Amy. My horse is Moose. I can supply the coggins part if you supply the payment part. Deal? OK!

Please return payment and forms early to guarantee participation, as space is limited. Negative coggins and health certificates are required with entry.

No refunds will be given unless your space can be filled from the wait list.

Checks may be made payable to Champagne Run. Your entry in the clinic will not be considered complete until payment in full has been received.

Please complete one entry form for each horse you plan to ride in the clinic.

Return forms to:
Champagne Run Farm
Attn: Peter Atkins Clinic
5991 Old Richmond Road
Lexington, KY 40515
mev.champagnerun@gmail.com
www.champagnerun.com

I truly hope some of my fellow bloggers get to go (and you better blog about it!). I'll be out shaking that money tree....

Year in review 2011

2011 has been a phenomenal year for Moose Tracks. I love looking back and reminiscing...and look forward to 2012!

In summation we camped, we did clinics, competed a little bit and with the help of hock injections and fabulous instruction improved a bit. 2011 brought many new friends that I am thankful for. It sadly did not bring a saddle that truly fits or a balanced, collected canter-hopefully 2012 will bring that. 2011 also concludes my first year in the blog-o-sphere...I hope to improve that in 2012 as well.

June
I started this blog as informal practice as I will be creating a blog for work. So far it has been fun and at times cathartic. My first post told the story of how I acquired Moose.

July
July was all about Come Again Farm Event camp. From food to fun and new friends-not to mention the valuable lessons learned- my July posts chronicle the event camp adventure. 2012 CAF event camp is definitely a must for Moose and I!

August
No posts in August :(. Bad blogger! So I have no idea what we did but am quite sure I was riding and Moose was eating and "eeyoreing" around!

September
Only 2 measly posts in September but at least I have something posted.
Moose's canter was still an issue...as in we did not have one at all. So off to the vet we went. Though he was technically sound we did stifle and hock injections.While this was no magic bullet it did finally allow us to start to improve...the canter is finally coming!

October

Third!

October was a great, great month for us. With Moose freshly lubed we tackled the Come Again Farm Horse Trials at starter level -daring to canter in public. He did really well finishing in 3rd!

October also found us traveling for the first time to BeaHive Ranch (I hope to go back in 2012-what a special place and rockin' people!). We rode again with Peter Atkins and continued to improve under his tutelage -even jumping a few training level cross country fences. I am still so proud of my horse-what a generous sort he is! If it was possible to make that experience more special my clinic report being published by Eventing Nation did just that!

November
In November I posted about my ongoing saddle drama (STILL ongoing) as well as our visit to the grand opening of Dove Saddlery in IL. I also gave time to give thanks to the many that have helped me along the way and also wrote a bit about my experiences being a working student. I don't think I wrote that particular post well...my intent was to relay that truly anything is possible if you are willing to make the choices to lead you there...and that these choices are often difficult and uncomfortable...but in the end it is up to you.

December
uh-oh. Looks like this is THE post for December. Perhaps my New Year's resolution should be to blog?

The Atkins Diet for Eventers

Moose and I had a wonderful time at BeaHive Ranch continuing our education with Peter Atkins. As I watched other riders adapting to Peter's unique riding theory it made me think of the first time I rode with him.

I rode into my first lesson with Peter in July 2010 as part of Come Again Farm’s first event camp.

Peter Atkins Teaching at Come Again Farm

He watched me ride around a bit and promptly lengthened my stirrups…for a jumping lesson. 

OK, I will admit it. At this point, I figured I had a cook on my hands. Nevertheless, I figured you could learn something from everyone, kept my mouth shut, just lengthened my stirrups and jumped.

Only to be told to “Stand Up”. Huh? What? Clearly, I misunderstood.

“Peter, I’ve been taught to fold my entire life over jumps. Are you saying this is wrong?”

To which he replied emphatically, “YES!”

I was now convinced I had a cook on my hands. But I’d paid my money so I might as well give it a go. It would at least be a fun story to tell. So I tried it. Huh,…that kind of worked for me…let’s do that again…hmm the light bulb was starting to go off.

Peter explained that a horse clears a jump with front end. In jumping in the manner that the American equitation system dictates, we are making the horse’s job more difficult. By standing up over the fence with our leg in front of the girth we are freeing the front of the horse while also cementing our position in the tack.

This was starting to make sense...And then there was this strange flushing sound....the sound of 25+ years of jumping lessons with the red coats of  show-jumping fame, advanced event riders and $100s in well thumbed classic American texts going down the crapper. Best damn day of my riding life.

More was to follow...much more. At the end of my first lesson my perspective on riding theory had been flipped upside down. Since that day I have attended every possible lesson with Peter. I am going to share a few of my favorite 'Peterisms' below...they may sound odd at first (trust me -so been there) but give it a chance. You will be changed for the better.

Peter on Riding

Of primary importance is balance and tempo.

Horse should always be ridden in balance. A balanced horse is happy horse as the horse is a prey animal -their worst fear being unbalanced, falling and thus unable to defend themselves.
Riding the horse round, always in a high quality working gait decreases the load on the joints as the horse uses it muscular strength to support itself. Horses always ridden in this manner stay sounder longer.

The control of balance and tempo is your job as a rider. My mantra as I school at home has become "Who's trot is this?" "Is this a quality canter?"

Peter on Jumping Position

Your stirrups will be lengthened (“ride long, stay on long”). Your leg will be moved forward with the toe out (“imagine hooking your spurs in front of the girth”). Finally, you stand up over the jump –you do not fold.

"Stand Up, Look Up, Kick Up" Note: leg should be in front of the girth #@$!

The effectiveness of this position is illustrated as Peter has riders jump horseless. It is almost impossible to jump the fence folded as the weight of your head and upper body disrupt your balance. The jump is easily cleared when one jumps upright.

This is hard!

A bit easier now!

“Stand Up, Look Up, Kick Up” is the oft repeated phrase.

Sound interesting? Well I'm stopping here-you'll need to ride with the man himself.

In a Peter Atkins clinic you will be treated to a complete education. From appropriate tack, bitting, and whipping technique no topic is left uncovered.

And yes -after my first lesson with Peter I headed to a tack store for a new bit, bridle, reins and spurs. Darn it all it just made so much sense. And darn it all if my little horse did not improve just with the new tack.

Trust me. Find a clinic near you or better yet organize one yourself.

If you are lucky enough to ride with Peter Atkins, a proponent of inquiry based learning, I am going to give you some questions to mull over beforehand. You might be surprised by the answers...but they will make you a better rider.

Q & A with Peter

"What does the horse need to be on the bit?"


"Why do jockeys ride with their stirrups so short?"


"Why do horses not like water"?


"How big a fence is this up-bank?"

And finally, a question you thought you might never hear in a riding lesson;

“How heavy is a bowling ball?”

Good luck to you...and a helpful hint. Guess if you must. NEVER say "I don't know."

Peter Atkins at BeaHive Ranch

October 22 & 23 was spent at the jaw-dropping gorgeous BeaHive Ranch in Springville IN for a Peter Atkins clinic.

BeaHive Ranch

Uhhuh. I brought my unclipped (he lives out all winter) fat pinto camp pony to this place. I was a bit intimidated...until I was greeted with warm smiles, hugs, steaming hot cocoa and welcome gifts. The furry pony was ushered into a freshly bedded stall complete with topped off water bucket. I was made to feel like family and we quickly settled in to enjoy our weekend.

My first lesson was later on Saturday so I spent the morning with a trusty bottle of Miracle Groom getting the beast the Moose presentable. As Moose is not normally stalled BeaHive had kindly provided a guest turnout....it seemed a good idea to let him out for a bit to stretch his legs before the lesson. I left him quietly munching grass only to come back to this:

Iz ready for my lesson now

Not.Enough.Miracle.Groom.In.The.World.

%$#@! We dusted off and got ready to ride. I was looking forward to continuing our education with Peter. Moose and I have worked with Peter since 2010 and under his guidance had been slowly making progress.  Peter took a minute to check on us a few minutes before the lesson started-he of course wanted to see the canter. I think he was pleased (yay!). He gave me some home work (canter-trot transitions every 4 strides as well as walk-canter transitions) and then it was time to start the group lesson.

The clinic began in traditional Peter Atkins style (if Peter had a punch card I could no doubt redeem it for a free lesson or 2!) with riders navigating scattered poles in an exercise I call "pick-up sticks". Moose and I have already done this in previous lessons as well as praticed at home so were able to complete the task now as easily as the "first-timers"...but hey-that's progress!

The pick-up sticks are are systematically removed and jumps added until resulting in a traditional grid.

Through the Grid

I felt Moose and I did well...hell we have had lots of practice at this. However, I did not perform as well as I hoped. Reflecting on this I realized I had not been jumping much at home. Our work has mostly focused on improving that gaits (especially the canter). When I did jump it was through a series of low bounces used to improved the canter (Peter homework from July) so I had not been working on me. Another factor was fitness. I have completely slacked off on the exercise routine as of late. The body control was just not there.

On to Sunday -Cross Country! Moose had recently completed starter at the Come Again Farm Horse Trials and I was ready to work on our improved skills. Apparently so was Peter.

We started out easy enough over some beginner novice and novice type fences. Moose Tracks was jumping great! 

Unfortunately I had the same feeling from the grids lesson -not enough body control and not enough fitness. This became more apparent as the fences got a bit bigger. Poor Moose had never jumped fences like this:

meh, it looked bigger in person

I was now asking him to jump a few training fences for the first time and instead of helping him he had to help me. Good Moosey. Bad Amy.

I came off cross country thrilled with my wonderful, kind, generous horse! And vowed to not do that to him again. I will be fit next time.

Days later I am still replaying how wonderful my horse was for me. Thank you BeaHive for allowing us to use your beautiful property, for stuffing us with goodies and for the very genuine hospitality and kindness. Thank you Peter for sticking with Moose and I as we fumble around the sport of eventing. And thank you MooseMan for taking care of me.

More:

BeaHive Ranch

Peter Atkins

Clinic Photos