I had the wonderful opportunity to ride with Peter Atkins thanks to the Lakeway Pony Club at TriState in Cleveland TN. The week before the clinic I ended up with a grade 3 sprain both high ankle and low (so basically I tore…everything high and low in the ankle…OWW!) but rode anyway with the doctors, if not blessing, at least reassurance I couldn’t do much worse!
I was riding my “baby” horse who is 4 and moving up to Novice, who is a strange mix of VERY forward and VERY quiet. We were in a group jumping lesson with a lovely c1 pony clubber at Novice height. Thanks to reading some, I was prepared for NEVER saying “I don’t know”…I don’t have a thing for being threatened with a whip! He found it highly amusing I spent the summer teaching physiology and asked a ton of great questions that REALLY made my brain work, and really got some concepts in my head with timing, especially with my goober of a horse. Lots of time working on differentiating between the HORSES trot and MY trot, which was hard for me to get, but man…I had no IDEA my horse had such a nice trot in there!
We pretty quickly moved into some simple grids, focusing on where my eye was. He had me try looking down a little more at the spacing as opposed to just eyes up, which had Nacho looking more at his feet and being much more careful and paying attention. Peter also had us drop our stirrups to the point where I barely felt comfortable (it felt WEIRD! I ride short!) but made some valid points by trying to move my leg when it was in a shorter stirrup, versus when I had it longer, and it DID make a huge difference. His mantra “eyes up, stand up, kick up” was really helpful for me, and made a huge difference for Nacho, being more upright. Our grid ended up being crossrail bounce to another crossrail, one stride to an oxer then two strides to an oxer. Very good about ending when a horse and rider have a break through and calling it a day.
Couldn’t have BEEN more fun! LOVED his questions, got my brain working, and loved the atmosphere. Was glad the ankle kept me from having to get off and jump jumps on foot (showing your body position when YOU jump something) because with my luck I’d faceplant! He seemed to LOVE Nacho, and has hilarious overall! Was surprised I knew anatomy and physiology as well as I did, and made my DAY thinking I was a teenager (I’m almost 30) and I was told I wasn’t allowed to answer any more questions!
First clinic I’ve done in YEARS (headed to ride with Stephen Bradley at Full Gallop next month) and I would not HESITATE to ride with him again, it was amazing, and really really beneficial. I don’t have all the pics yet, but the photographer sent me this one of my boy, so…what is a post without pictures!
1/4 freisian, 1/4 hanoverian, 7/16 tb 1/16 cream draft 