Here’s a thought - borrow someone elses horse to ride if you are worried about your horse getting hurt or losing out on the opportunity to ride with Richard Spooner. If Chase is in such a strict program with such specific needs, you may not get value from riding him with a new person, especialy if you are concerned about hurting him. Borrow a horse. Work on YOU. Have fun.
Hi guys, long time no talk. I just got back from Italy and have a week and a half to get Chase ready for this clinic. It is at my barn so I couldn’t pass it up even though Chase isn’t ready. If it gets to be to be too much for him I will just stop and watch.
Has anyone done a clinic with him? What should I expect? Is there any advice you can give me for his likes and dislikes? This is my first clinic ever so I want to make it good.
I am obviously going to dress super nice and neat and have my horse groomed to perfection and carry all needed accesories. Anything else?
The clinic still has some openings if anyone is interested. It is on the 4th and 5th of December in Santa Ynez. Email me and I can hook you up with organizers.
His clinics are great. He did a clinic at our barn last year. He doesn’t like stiff “eq” riding. He really emphasizes moving your arms and upper body to bend your horse and get your horse listening to you. I joked that if I did with my hands what he does with his, I’d get major grief away from barn mates who know what’s up. He doesn’t reward or encourage pretty riding as a goal but works towards making you an effective rider and your horse an active listener. Pretty is as pretty does with him. You’ll have a blast. Give us a report.
Chanda, I am not trying to flame you, I am really, really, not, but I just don’t get it. You have the opportunity to have your difficult horse schooled by a master and you’re worried it’s going to stress him out? JUMP at the chance!!! OFFER him to Richard to ride! You have been struggling with Chase for years. Take advantage of a great chance!
If other riders stress him out it’s most likely because you have creatd that situation. I admittedly spoil my horses rotten. When my trainer gets on them, they of course are upset because someone is politely but firmly saying, ‘This is your job and you will please do it.’ Instead of, ‘Oh he is so sensitive, that little bit is good enough.’
As far as Chase injuring Richard, well that’s a chance every rider takes with every horse. I am sure Richard has ridden worse rogues than Chase and better than you, me or 99% of the riding world.
Wow, that sounds awesome. That is exactly the kind of riding I believe in too. I am really getting excited now. This is my first real clinic and it sounds like I picked a good one.
PennyForYourThoughts, I deleted your first post. I’m sure you can find a way to make your point without name-calling.
Be nice, be respectful, be polite. Thank you.
DMK- Are you trying to say that “even a blind squirrel can find a few nuts sometimes?”
Lauriep- Glad to provide a little humor for you. DMK is my idol…The wit, the horses and she lives in GA which I have wonderful memories of.
Seriously, who came up with this womb theory?
This explains why I spend a good part of every day fighting the urge to curl up in a fetal position. I used to think it was stress but now I feel so much better about it!
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Midge:
Holy piling on, Batman!!!
Do I think Chanda is out there as far as her concerns about the clinc? Certainly!!
Do I think she deserves being the butt of some rather cruel jokes? Nope!
I think we should save this amount of cruelty for the people who under serve their horses, rather than over.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I totally agree, Midge! Why don’t those who choose to berate and belittle take their discussion off-line if they feel the need to be so rude? Or at least save it for those who over-work, underfeed, and neglect their animals. Jeez. 
How is Chanda’s protection (or arguably over-protection) of her horse harming you all in anyway?
Back to the topic at hand: Chanda, I do agree that if you feel you can’t give it 100%, and even allow Richard to ride Chase in the rare chance he will want to, I would just audit. Someone also had a great suggestion of borrowing a horse. Is that an option?
I have to say that I think that if you are so closed to the thought of any new idea or any new introduction for Chase that regardless of how much money you are willing to drop on this, this clinic is a waste of you and Mr. Spooner’s time.
Seriously, if your horse is so mentally unstable that you cannot fathom the thought of someone who rides 1000 times better than you ever will riding your horse, then you should just stay at home and train him yourself. Its apparent to me that you dont think you really need his help anyway. If you did, you’d allow him to do what he thinks is best for your horse.
Just my opinion.
Maybe this is why I can never get my horse straight to a fence? And here I thought it was due to my faulty steering. 
Maybe Richard was also crooked in the womb on the opposite side as Chase. If so, he might be able to get on that horse and get a bend that would make Olga Korbut jealous! 
Oooh, I just dated myself…Is anyone else old enough to remember who Olga Korbut was?
Oh, and I hope Chanda knows that some of us are truly just engaging in what is meant to be harmless fun. But if it gets too rough, there is a universal signal that let’s Erin know that the thread needs to be locked…it is “pfffft”.
It seems to work rather well, judging from past threads where it was used to that effect by another poster!
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Yeah, but that was before the ship sunk and he got washed up onto the beach hurting his shoulder, so he could only gallop around the island to the left! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
OMGiH, I think I’m going to pee my pants!!! 
Chanda, Richard Spooner is a great clinician. I have a friend who was lucky enough to ride with him. I watched her ride in one of his clinics and was quite impressed with his ability to express himself and teach you his way of riding. He has many interesting theories some that make very good sense. Ask questions as his explations are very informative. He is an extraordianry rider and I think you will have a blast.
Explain your horses experience etc. and he will work with your limitations etc. he is very accomadating and you will get your moneys worth. I am so, so jealous.
PS. Do not drool over him as he is too cute for words and very sweet to boot.
OMGIH, I am STILL trying to get my head around the womb theory. I mean: No freaking wonder H/J folks don’t care about breeding (see KWF’s threat), if we are not even sure weather they are going to come out straight!!
Jetsmom:
When is the clinic? If you decide to do it, just relax and have fun. It’s always a plus to hear something from another professional’s opinion. Clinics can be incredibly eye opening.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jetsmom:
Pocket Pony- The ADA, equine division is very clear on the right to equal treatment of handicapped equines.
Rule 6624.3c states- Every qualifying handicapped equine must be permitted access to the same level of training as non-handicapped equines, not limited to: pro-rides (regardless if your trainer fears for their life while on them), clinics, and schooling shows. In the event that it is a clinic or show, allowances must be made to give the handicapped equine equal access to all jumps. This can be accomplished by flowers on both sides of the jumps, invisible poles for those horses that have a jump height phobia, and mandatory clapping of the audience after the handicapped equine completes a round (or a fence or 2) so as not to damage the self esteem of the emotionally fragile handicapped equine.
Rule 6524b-All handicapped equines shall have equal access to turnout as non handicapped equines. While turned out, a single side rein should be used on those equines suffering from “crooked in the womb” syndrome, to prevent the afflicted equine from accidentally bending to the afflicted side and causing further disability.
There are many other ADA rules for handicapped equines, but I’ve only posted the most applicable.
For those of you making fun of the Black Stallion, please be aware that the ADA also is closely affiliated with the NAACE (National Association For The Advancement Of Colored Horses) and prefers not to use the word “Black”. We like to refer to it as Lightness Challenged.
Black has too many negative connotations. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
OH. MY. GOD. That is perhaps the funniest thing I have read since being on these boards.
DMK, girl, your reign as resident cynic is being challenged!!!
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DMK:
…quite frankly most of us ride horses that have holes, need support, aren’t the soundest thing on the planet, and/or have foibles that drive us bat shit crazy. It’s just most of us buck up and deal with it. And push our horses accordingly.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Wait! You just described the horse I currently compete and the two previous ones. Is there a club I can join? Where do I sign up?
Chanda, you remind me of the very first time I rode in a GM clinic many, many (emphasis on “many”) years ago. I took my sister’s grand old horse for the clinic, because I was dying to be critiqued by George Morris. Yet I was worried about the fact that I wasn’t on the most athletic, stylish horse. That he wasn’t 100% sound. That he was sticky on his left to right lead change unless you set him up just so for the change. That he was blind in one eye. And that he would let out a huge, rodeo-style buck if he was compressed between the rider’s hand and leg. But guess what? THAT WAS THE HORSE GEORGE CHOSE TO RIDE for his demonstrations! I wanted to cringe!
But you know what? The transformation in about 3-5 minutes of George Morris riding that horse was amazing… and inspiring. My sister and I will never forget it. Right away, GM could sense and feel so many things about that horse without me even telling him blahblahblah about the horse’s idiosyncracies. My sister and I came away far better horsewomen because we could see what could be attained on a horse that we thought had a bundle of “issues” and quirks.
So I humbly suggest that you either, uh, fish or cut bait: You either ride with gusto and give everything the college try, including allowing Richard to ride Chase if he requests, and keep an open to mind to Richard’s insights. Or leave your horse at home and audit.
As a clinician familiar with the challenges of dealing with a large number of usually totally unfamiliar riders and horses in a concentrated period of time, I’ll weigh in here a bit.
Clinics are not private lessons, nor are they on going help with a trainer/instructor who learns every foible of every rider or horse. They can’t be.
The challenge for the clinician is to provide a new perspective, offer some new experiences and challenges, all while not leaving anyone worse off that they were before.
It is impossible to set every exercise in a way that suits every horse on that particular day. We try to set what will give the maximum benefit to the largest number of participants.
My feeling from scanning these posts is that it might be best to audit the clinic this time. There is so much to be gained from actively listening and learning!
It is distracting to the whole group when a rider (even rightly) asks to have exceptions made for their horse. It is also hard for the rider of that horse to learn much while debating if they should/want to be there at all.
If you go ahead with riding, I’d have a talk with Richard before you get on, tell him (briefly!) why you might feel uncomfortable with some things that might be asked, and request that you be permitted to leave the lesson if you feel it is in the best interest of your horse. Then do so quietly and unobtrusively and audit the rest of the session. Do not discuss it during the session and take up other people’s time. That’s not fair to Richard or the other riders.
This happens occasionally in clinic situations, horses get tired or have something bothering them that they don’t warm out of – make your decision and handle it in a considerate manner and everyone will be happy.
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i think i just pee’d a little
