Web site updates

There are several new additions to the site...

• Gallery includes new photos and YouTube videos
• Barn page includes a new Publications link where Timberlane is mentioned
• We have released information on the Winter Pony Camps
• All the blog entries and more can also be accessed on the Timberlane Farm FaceBook page
  

Timberlane Vaulters in Chicago

The Timberlane Vaulters have been invited to march in the 76th Anniversary of the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade, marching down State Street in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th from 9am to 12pm EST. They are meeting up with other Region 10 vaulting teams from all over the midwest, two horses and a float with a barrel. The team has been polishing up singles, pairs and team routines to perform along the parade route.

Look for the Timberlane Vaulters on WGN TV(Dish Network 239) as they broadcast the parade LIVE.

LAURIE: Lendon Gray Clinic Notes

Wow, I have six pages of notes! Lendon is truly a teacher’s teacher. As auditors, Whitney and I left the clinic enthused, inspired and ready to face the winter with energy! Overall, Lendon’s approach is that there are absolutes to this sport. You must be aware of your body. You must be aware of where you are going in the ring. You must know why you are doing a particular movement. You must take responsibility for how your horse is performing. Your horse’s progress is up to you and you must hold yourself to a high standard every time you ride. Her lessons frequently involved bringing the rider to a halt and asking them a question regarding their execution of a particular task or movement. This served to focus them and enlighten them as to how their aids were being perceived by the horse.

I will attempt to put my notes in a digestible size and format.

The horse learns what he practices. Good or bad.

A circle, to be a circle, has to end where it started.

Give! As you whoa. No pulling in the moment the horse makes the downward transition.

Ride meticulous corner. Every corner is a suppling, bending exercise.

Do not ride like you are in the show ring, making the best of what you have. TRAIN HIM!

ON CONTACT

Make the reins feel like the brow band on his head. No matter what his head does or where it moves, the pressure stays the same.

ON POSITION

When posting, feel the knees going up and down in the saddle slightly.

You cannot have an elastic arm with a tight fist.

Let your arms move as a unit. If your horse’s head is swinging right and left, touch your thumbs together to still your hands.

Weight must be in your heels. Go to jumping position to get depth in your leg.

You must have a passive, following position in your body in all gaits before you can have an active position.

Fix your bad positions habits NOW!

ON THE WALK

Ride the free walk marching, with the shoulders swinging and then pick up a PASSIVE contact to medium walk so as to maintain the quality of the free walk.

ON HALF HALTS

A half halt equals an immediate adjustment. The next stride must be different.

(In reference to collecting the canter) Anything you do every stride is not working! Otherwise you are part of the balance –creating the need for a fifth leg.

ON THE CANTER

The best canter/walk transitions come from a very short canter.

When having trouble in canter/walks, practice “not pretty” canter/halts, then at the last minute change your mind and walk.

ON FLYING CHANGES

For a lazy horse, finish the line of tempis faster than what you started.

(In relation to a lazy horse) “They are called FLYING changes!”

ON PIROUETTES

In both walk and canter, start from a shorter stride so that you can ride forward in the pirouette.

First stride must be small.

You must never feel that you can’t get out.

Any next stride must be able to be straight ahead.

ON IMPULSION

There should be enough impulsion that to whoa, fix your arms, to go, follow your arms.

You can only have a good lengthening if you can allow it, not make it.

LAURIE: Updates

The clinic I taught for the MSU Dressage Club on Saturday was great. Thank you to the club for inviting me as their very first clinician!

On a less uplifting note, the Patrick Burssens clinic has been postponed. Patrick is the victim of a major kidney stone attack. Speaking from personal experience, I can say that recovery from such an incident can not come fast enough. Hang in there Patrick!

Friday was the deadline for reserving your place in the Christine Traurig Clinic, taking place December 11/12. I have a few rides open and will be contacting outside riders. If you are planning to ride and have not given me your check, contact me right away.

I hope you are all enjoying the wonderful fall weather! How beautiful it has been the last few days.

Keep your eyes up and your heels down!

Clinics, clinics, clinics...

11/7:
Laurie will be conducting a clinic in Leslie, MI for the MSU Dressage Club at Stapleton Farm

11/14-15:
Patrick Burssens will be visiting Riverwood (AM) and Green Gables (PM) Farms in Caledonia, MI.

Lendon Gray will be conducting the 1st USEF sponsored Youth/Pony Pilot Program Clinic at Winter Spring Farm in Carson City. Robyn Weston and Emma Leestma submitted applications and have been selected as two of the 10 riders.

Auditing fee for this clinic is $50/weekend and it is about one hour northeast of Timberlane. Laurie recommends auditing both clinics, but in particular, Lendon should be quite educational for everyone, not just juniors.

Laurie was a working student for Lendon (25 years ago!) and she is a natural educator.
The schedule for the clinic has an interesting format of two rides per day per rider. There are two group equitation lessons Saturday morning, followed by 40 minute private lessons. Sunday begins with 30 minute private lessons and ends with each rider riding a test of choice.

12/11-12:
Christine Traurig will be back after a year long hiatus! Rides are $250/lesson and the clinic will be on a first come basis. Send Timberlane your checks or drop them to the office as soon as possible to reserve your space. As usual, auditors are welcomed. More about this clinic in the near future.

Media Star: Emma Leestma

Emma continues to rack up appearances in the media. Check out a couple of great pics in the Nov 2009 issue of Grand Rapids Family magazine. Emma is one of several teens interviewed about pursuing passions.

LAURIE: Circles & Half Pass

Wow! I can’t believe it is already November! Though we’ve had the coldest October on record, I loved riding outside all month. The footing has been great and the horses have all been forward and energetic. A couple of themes have transcended most of my lessons over the last couple of weeks.

With regard to circles, ride your circles as though you are constantly expanding them. On a 20 meter circle, you should easily touch your circle points on the rail. Do not defend your circle from a horse falling in over the shoulder. Instead, look up and ride proactively toward your circle line, focusing at least ¼ of the circle ahead of where you are.

The second theme of the past few weeks has to do with the flow of the half pass. We all know that a half pass is nothing more than haunches in on a diagonal line. However, in thinking about the haunches in aspect, do not forget about the forehand. Feel that you can influence the inside front leg to reach forward and point toward that diagonal line. Use your inside leg to create the suppleness through the barrel on your turn preceding the ½ pass, and do not put your outside leg back for the half pass until you have achieved the ability to half halt the energy from the inside leg through your outside rein.