Roz Richmond clinic

So today was rather exciting - I went to a Straightness training clinic with Roz Richmond.

We had a bit of theory in the morning, which to be honest didn't really add much more to what I had already learnt in modules 1.1 and 1.2 followed by observing some one to one sessions in the afternoon.

It was peeing down with rain all day today so I was very glade that the clinic was being held in a lovely yard in Hampshire with an indoor school - it was worth the drive.

The first lesson was with a little welsh pony called Star who arrived full of beans and rushed everywhere dragging her owner with her, just as well she was only 13 hands really. It took her a while to settle, forward down was difficult so Roz worked her on the circle and after a bit of ardgy bargy (she would rush and fall in on her shoulder pushing her handler) she worked out that she needed to go slow and relax and bend. It was like a little lightbulb went on in her pretty head. After this she worked pretty well through out the session, until the very end where she was clearly just getting a bit tired.

The second horse was the yard owners. He had a history of being very pushy and difficult to ride, to the point where his owner had turned him away for a year. Fairly early on he put up a fight, invading space and showing his displeasure with biting, but Roz stood her ground and showed him the boundaries and after this he started to soften. He clearly struggled and was not able to give the LFS to the extend of the first pony but he was clearly trying his hardest.

The third horse was a beautiful couloured cob type. He intinally seemed like a quite straightforward horse, but when Roz started on the ground work he started to show that he was worried and rushed, and then pushed during the exercises. I like that straightness training allows the horse to communicate its feelings. Again after a while Roz got him working on LFS but when she handed over to his owner she was really struggaling.

Groundwork is really tricky. Roz managed to make it look straight forward but all of the owners found it difficult. The smallest movement communicates something to the horse and equally you have to pick up on the smallest signals, and you have to do all of this whilst watching three things at once and doing independent movement with your hands, feet and core. A work out all round!

So the clinic was great, but I am a little concerned about going solo with my two. The owners today benefited from an experienced instructor, I am worried that without this I am going to struggle. Still I guess I can just give it a go and see. Perhaps reviewing footage of it will help me. A very short spin on the yard with Sofie seemed OK, though I think she might have been falling out on her shoulder. I'll have to give it a proper go in the school with a camera later in the week.

So all in all and interesting day :)