TWO OF YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HORSEMASTERSHIP CLINIC 2008

Hi, everyone, thank you for all of your interest and continued support! Your questions, concerns, and comments have helped and inspired me to write about my passion; horses, and riding.

Today, I will be answering two of your recent questions, one regarding which individuals were the 2008 Horsemastership mentor grooms and, the second about the specific pointers I received from Mr. Morris during the clinic. Before I go into the topic of the mentor grooms, I wanted to thank and acknowledge the time and commitment given to the program by the equestrian organizations and vendors, as well as the equestrian professionals who volunteered their time. Without their effort, the program would not have been a success.

The mentor grooms for the 2008 program were Margie Engle, Viv Munden, Todd Minikus, Beezie Madden, Frank Madden, Lauren Hough, Melanie Smith-Taylor, and Leslie Howard. The mentor grooms were instrumental in assisting the clinic participants with all aspects of horsemanship.

Mr. Morris was tough with everyone participating in the clinic in his own way – a trait that he and others believe is the foundation of good teaching and coaching. In his speech to the riders, their families and the sponsors at a luncheon on the last day of the program, Mr. Morris remarked how his criticism of the riders was something that he felt was important in helping them to succeed. Mr. Morris was complementary when he felt the riders had done well. When observing my posting trot on the last day of the clinic, he asked me to stop over-posting because it could negatively affect the horses back. His other comments to me were geared toward getting my horse to stop being fresh by repeating segments of the course, circling and repeating the segment again. His lessons were full of information and strategies to prepare your horse for a jumper – type course.

Catch up with me soon for an answer to some more of your recent questions.
Talk to you later!
Maria Schaub