The Clinic
Brandy (Sweet Donna Twist, AQHA) and I made the Heidi Green reining clinic on Saturday. We got there early because I knew Brandy would be wanting to look at everything. Seems most mares are like that. And I was right…after getting tacked up we went and looked at all the spooky stuff, snorted at some things, and squealed to all the other horses.
I started her in the shanked snaffle. Didn’t take long to figure out that wasn’t going to work. With only about 2 weeks in the shanked bit, it was just too much with all the happenings going on. Pulled that off and went back to the plain snaffle. I put the training fork on and everything was back to good. Just things she was more familiar with and more relaxed in.
Then into the indoor arena for the clinic. Only 5 riders, including us. They all had pretty much finished reiners.
We each took turns running a sort of pattern and Heidi gave us some tips and comments. Brandy and I were called upon toward the end and she was getting fidgety waiting. First off we went to lope a right circle. What we really did was buck when I gave her the cue and take off like Secretariat on steroids. Nothing crazy, she actually did do a large, fast circle. Key word here being FAST. So we just kept going in the right circle until she settled down. Only took 3 laps. Then we were fine.
Then the spins. She actually did quite well. As expected, her left spins need work. Heidi noticed some things and gave me some good exercises to work with her.
Then a few rundowns and stops. Sure was nice to be on some good ground. As expected, our rundown was a little squiggly. Only so much you can get done in a month of serious training. But she did real well with her speed build up and the stops were great. I was ready to pull her into the ground, thinking with all the excitement she’d run through the whoa command. Never happened though….just sit on down and say whoa and she put the brakes on. She does have a good natural stopping form and likes to do it. That proved itself when Heidi asked if she was in sliders…and I told she was barefooted…not even regular shoes.
I felt I had a darned good horse under me. The clinic really helped us with some things that are hard to pick up on when your in the saddle and training. And Heidi’s showmanship experience in the reining arena really helped me to show my horse to the judges.
You sound like you’re so good. I’ve been struggling so much with turn arounds. It’s so hard for me. I can’t wait to have Leo back so I can practice more.
Did you learn a ton at the clinic? What were some of the showmanship tips?
Where are the photos? I wanna see photos of you and Brandy kickin’ butt!
02 Aug 2008 at 7:42 am
I pretty much ain’t worth a darn but got lucky enough to get a good horse under me. She’d probably score higher if I turned her loose in the arena and watched from the gate…..
Turnarounds are tough. Go to the Larry Trocha website and get his DVD “Teach Your Horse Rollbacks and Spins” He sells it as a special offer for $9.99. Best 10 bucks you’ll ever spend. It is really a $40 - $60 video…I guess it’s a draw to his other videos which are priced in the more usual price range. While your there get his FREE video, “Training Aids.”
Another “trick” I learned from Larry Rose video….the order in which you train is important. Work on spins first when the horse is fresh and wants to go somewhere. Stops next when he’s tired enough that he wants to stop but still fresh enough he can stop hard. Circles last, when he’s good and tired where he’ll listen and relax.
I learned at the clinic I train too much and don’t show enough….ha. Look up-not at the horse. “Square” the circles. Watch for the markers. When the rules say center of the arena they mean center, not somewhere thereabouts. Give your horse some pre-cues before the center. Look the judge in the eye….let em know your here to give him/her an opportunity to see a good horse. Trust your horse….this is her day, let her show what she’s got and don’t fiddle too much with her.
Great thing is that Chris got to watch the clinic. And now she keeps after my butt to remember this stuff and work it in. Way my memory is it’s a good thing I got a short name sometimes. She’s the one with the eye for details and can absorb things. Sometimes things I’m told get caught up in the hollow wind currents between my ears.
Also learned ……..don’t ever leave the ignition part way on when you shut the truck off. Always carry jumper cables. Also do not accidentally hit the automatic door locks when you get out of the truck. Do not leave the spare set of truck keys in the jeans you wore to the show then throw them in the back seat of the truck when you change into show clothes. A buggy whip will reach down to the door lock switch when you get the top of the passenger door pried open. Do not park your rig in the front row with your ranch name emblazeoned all over it when you are going to do completely stupid things. A raised hood on a truck and two people sticking a buggy whip into the door will attract more attention than a million dollar reining horse. Reining folks are really nice…most waited until they got out of earshot to laugh.
02 Aug 2008 at 6:23 pm
Ha haaaaaaaaa! I just read this. Did the buggy whip survive?
15 Aug 2008 at 9:36 am