ICP Dressage Clinic with Stephen Clarke


“Be aware of where you carry the inside hand-an opening hand makes the horse bend from close to the base of the neck. The closer you carry the hand to the wither, the further up the neck the horse will bend. Travers and Half Pass are the same thing - except in half pass only bend enough for the steepness of the angle traveled. Head tilting is proof the horse is not submitting to the outside OR the inside rein.”


On lead changes: “Prepare with proper counter canter: it is most important that the quality and the balance remain the same (as canter): tracking straight with an outside bend. Then, shoulder-in and when the leading front leg hits the ground, give the aid for the change.”


Olympian Karen O’Connor and FEI Grand Prix Dressage rider, Alex Robertson demonstrated canter pirouettes. Even at this level the horses went from good to spectacular. Riders were coached during their warm up to get the horses long and low and relaxed prior to asking them to come on to the bit and into the exercises.


The final pair were rider Pierre St. Jacques on a Grand Prix horse and Sharon Jerdeman-Bates on a Intermediaire 1 horse demonstrating passage and piaffe. Here again the quality of performance was dramatic and the higher quality was achieved without drilling or upsetting the horses .


The late, great Fritz Stecken, the father of American dressage, Olympian, USET coach, trainer of the USET’s Bert DeNemethy and trainer of the first woman to represent the USA in dressage, Marjorie Haines Gill - maintained that all resistance was firstly, rider error and secondly, possibly pain. His horses stayed sound, happy and soft through the highest levels and actually advanced with more quality than horses rushed through the levels. Stephen Clarke’s approach is as close to Stecken’s as I’ve ever seen. If there is another chance to participate in a Stephen Clarke clinic, do not miss it. People from all disciplines will learn something useful.


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CFHJA November


11-13, 2012 28-30, 2012 9-11, 2012


CFHJA December 7-9, 2012 (year End Awards Banquet Is Friday Night Dec. 7th)


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