all my horses. I avoid jumping courses instead of cruising in at the last min- from the very moment he enters the
at home; I wait for the show ring. Even ute. I suggest everyone arrive early if ring to the moment he exits. “Riding
preparing Sapphire for the Olympics, you are riding with Mclain, on-time is a very mental sport”, he commented,
we never jumped a course at home, we is LATE and you better have a really “often the difference between winning
only did gymnastics. Now in this case, good reason for being late! a class and losing is in your head. When
you have a pole in front of the jump, The second day did in fact bring the you enter the ring, I always enter then
so don’t aim for the jump, aim for the difficult exercise back, but in a differ- start cantering, that way I have time to
pole. Get to the pole correctly and let ent context. Mclain asked us all to dis- show my horse the entire ring before
your horse do the rest.” mount and a gang of helpers swarmed the bell. If you trot in, you don’t al-
He goes through the exercise with over to hold our horses. “Today we are ways have time to show your horse the
every rider, and those that need to going to walk a course together and talk whole ring. I always halt my horse and
do it again, again and again, until about strategy.” We back up a few steps before starting.
performed correctly. “More re- This does two things, first, it connects
lease” or “keep your body still” or you to your horse, reminds your
“that wasn’t a great distance but horse to listen. Also, it allows
it worked out, you have a good you a few moments to take
horse” is what we hear from some deep breaths.”
Mclain again and again, always in After hearing this, I realized
a positive manner. Repetition is just why they call Mclain “the
certainly a priority with him. architect”. From the moment
For the next exercise, on one he enters the ring, he is building a
side of the indoor ring, Maclain masterpiece. His thought process
had set up a vertical to vertical is a complete plan and everything
one stride in 24’, 5 or 6 strides is considered, nothing is left to
to an oxer to oxer one stride chance. He builds the entire picture,
in 25’. “We do this exercise then does it.
for adjustability, back and Towards the end of the day, Mclain
forth. That is what we need said something that resonated with
from our horses on courses, our group. “You can either be disci-
adjustability. Do it again till plined or you can be lazy. You can’t
you get it right! Don't settle for be both, so you chose, either be dis-
less!” start- ciplined all the time, or don’t bother.”
There is our end to Day 1, with a part- ed with a small oxer line Mclain meant ALL the details, not just
ing remark from Mclain to the group, to a scary looking blue wall. “So, how the jumps. From the moment you get
“We need to work on this exercise many strides did you count?” “7” one dressed to the start of the course to
more tomorrow, none of you got it just of the riders answered. I thought, "I coming to a halt at the end, he is disci-
right yet.” got 7 and a half, for a first line, I would plined and thoughtful about everything
Day two of the clinic started in the have gone for the 8." It is just the first he does with his horses.
afternoon, which was a nice gift, to not line and already I am wrong! He also strikes me as patient with his
get up at the crack of dawn. My dear The next line was an oxer bending line horses and students, always looking for
groom Paco, who helped me out just to another oxer. “How many strides a better way, and never settling for good
for this clinic, had a habit of being quite did you get?” Mclain asked another rid- enough. "Do it again! Do it again!" Said
the talker. But alas, Paco’s non-stop er. “7” they answered. “It is 7,” Mclain over and over till it gets done right, that
banter encouraged me to hurry up and said, “but a bit direct, you are going I will remember.
get on, and thus be early to the clinic to have to keep coming for this one.” When I reflect on riding in the clinic
the second day. The last line of the course was a repeat with Mclain, I recall how detail oriented
The rest of the riders must have of the exercise we had the day be- he is. How he strives for perfection,
caught on, because every fore. Maclain asked “How many and how that translates into my riding.
rider was 15 min- strides would you do here?” One I feel inspired by this clinic to always try
utes early of the riders answered, “Well, I my best, to pay attention to the smallest
would see what is on the other details, to be disciplined and be correct.
side of this jump before decid- To never settle for "good enough." He
ing.” “Very intelligent answer” has certainly left an impression on this
Mclain replied. rider!
He then talked to us about Time for the next item on my bucket
strategy; how he considers list….
every part of the course
Left: Mclain Ward with
the group.
73
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115