Sara's notes from Dan T - Thur April 28

Sara Willson Austin


Dan Thompson Clinic notes

1. LBE-make sure to ENGAGE with them. Don’t turn away from them, they want engagement and don’t need confidence (they have enough). Make sure to find THEIR phase 4…it is NOT a phase 4 unless it is EFFECTIVE!

2. For falling leaf- DRIVE the hindend until the front end comes around and lead it to the other direction and then drive the front. This is an engaged maneuver so you do not disengage the hind, you drive it, and make sure to drive it far enough to start to bring the front around.

3. REINS-the right rein controls the right front foot and the left hind foot! WOW, that was big for me…now I am conscious of what I am actually asking her feet to do! Ask one foot to move at a time in the beginning to get a maneuver and speed it up later.

4. LEGS-the right leg controls the right front and right hind.

5. Stick riding-you can actually carry the horse just as much with the stick as your reins-this is what I was doing. SO, make sure to try and keep the stick in neutral as much as possible, only use it AFTER your eyes, seat, legs, and make sure to be effective when you use it-this is a phase 4!

6. There are phases within phases-there is a phase 1-4 within phase 1.

7. Be conscious of that what your horse gives may be what you asked for.

8. If the horse isn’t doing what you want-why? Such as not stopping when you life down-is this a right brain thing (they CAN’T) or are they just ignoring you. In Try’s case, she needed Elizabeth to go with her until it was her idea to stop. Nickers-just wasn’t listening. The hardest part is to be able to read them and see what they need…this is the art. I hope I can get it!

9. Talked to Dan about Summer being impulsive under saddle-wants to go go go. His first question was, does she do this online. The answer-NO. So, his suggestion was to help her go while disengaging until she asks to stop. This is likely her losing confidence under saddle. I need to go slower with her and build her confidence.

10. Match the horses energy! whether it be up or down.