lientje schueler- dressage post, sorry!

I spent a day last week spectating a Lientje clinic at the barn. I say barn but its a little too fancy and beautiful to just refer to it as a barn really! I had a funny conversation with friends of ours the other week, we had all gone into the mountains for a trail ride. Our friends Rick and Sally hadn't ridden before so it was fun to be able to to take them somewhere safe and Ethan also got his first trail ride off the lead rein, anyway I digress. I was telling them all about the wonderful barn, people and horses that are there. The great owners, trainers, riders and the gorgeous dressage horses. I chatted about some of my favorite characters like Biente, Pensamento, Elisa and Piero etc. Nic piped up with a comment which was something like... "Of course, they all have fancy pretentious names, they couldn't just be called Bob, Spotty and Star could they!"

Now, back to the clinic. Some of the information from Lientje to the riders in the clinic is simply not relevant. Im just not good enough to use that information in my own riding, but its amazing to see the transformation in the horses as she uses small tips to help the pairings along their path. However, I did manage to snatch a few little gems during the session. The usual rule applies, FORWARD. Then when you think you have enough, a little more usually! I also picked up a great tip for a inside flexion  and some tips on contact and seat that I run through in my head during the lesson. At some point I would love to get a space on Lientjes clinic, Its myself I need to get over and not worry about the fact she's an immensely talented

rider and Im such a Novice still. She genuinely doesn't care what level you are and is not in the least judgmental.

This week has been ups and downs of riding, generally I feel like Ive really stepped up with my ability and understanding of contact, bend and roundness which is amazing. I also am getting the opportunity to ride bigger moving horses which sometimes goes well, and other times is a little hairy ha ha!

Dressage truly is a love and hate thing, but I do love the bling!