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CLINIC REPORT
JUDY JONES I
Dedicated to the old Vaquero principles of feel, timing and balance, Ricky Quinn teaches true partnership
n April Ricky Quinn returned to Ireland for the fourth year running to present three days of horsemanship at Creagh Equestrian Centre, Ballinasloe, Galway. The event was attended by 16 riders and was watched by spectators who had travelled from Ireland, the UK and even as far afield as Italy. All disciplines were represented, ranging from western, eventing, endurance, BHS Trec, show jumping and polocrosse, as well as those who simply wanted to work on becoming the best horsemen and women that they could be, in any discipline. Clinic organiser Jane Hedge best explains Ricky’s training philosophy. ‘In a world of quick fixes and fads, Vaquero horsemanship has remained true to the principles of horsemanship that date back hundreds of years to a time when people relied on their horses - the fundamental principles of feel, timing and balance. To that end the relationship had to be based on mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual understanding. This is what Ricky Quinn bases his horsemanship on, and it’s what he teaches.’ At the beginning of the three days Ricky explained that he’d be repeating himself often, and would be talking a whole lot about the feet. He explained that ‘the feet trump everything,’ and that for your horse to be successful at what you ask, you have to be able to control the feet. To a great horseman like Ricky it really is that simple - if you’re having trouble with any manoeuvre, refer back to the feet - get them balanced, moving where you want and when you want. Ricky places great emphasis on ground work, and explains that how your horse leads and how it is to ride will always correlate. ‘If anyone says their horse is good to ride but awful to lead, they’re not seeing the gaps in their horse’s education - they’re just accepting mediocre.’ His aim is to help his students to become problem solvers, to understand the gaps in their horse’s education and do something to bring about change.
The mechanics of what Ricky teaches are what he calls ‘the easy
part.’ He teaches his students to understand the pattern of the feet, to know when to apply pressure and when to release,
BIOGRAPHY
Ricky Quinn travels the United States and Europe helping people with their horses. He carries on the tradition of the Vaquero style of horsemanship and his mentor is Buck Brannaman, who himself learned from the great Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance. Ricky’s clinics are a must for anyone who aspires to excellent horsemanship. The Vaquero style of horsemanship is based on creating a true partnership with your
horse, and Ricky’s passion is to share that way with others. The fact that he was one of the horsemen invited to give a demonstration at the Ray Hunt Memorial in 2010 is a measure of his talent, and also the respect with which he’s viewed by his peers. For more information visit
www.rickyquinnclinics.com
RICKY QUINN
and to not get in the way of the horse but to help him find a place of balance, both mentally and physically. He emphasises the importance of directing a foot to move as it’s about to leave the ground, and setting up your horse to succeed in doing what you want. Over all three days riders worked on developing feel, timing and balance when directing the hind feet and the fore feet in various exercises. He also talks a lot about keeping your horse’s attention and focus, and being the source of support for your horse. Ricky’s not a big guy but his physical presence around the horses is obvious. He explained how important it is for you to mean something to your horse and have his attention at all times. In his own words, ‘You need to have presence. You have to mean something to them. All the time you’re saying - you don’t lead the dance, I lead the dance!’ Now let’s remember that Ricky’s the son of a cowboy, and a working cowboy himself. He views horses as livestock, and doesn’t really have much time for any anthropomorphising and treating them like our children. But his sensitivity towards them, and to their emotional needs, makes a big impression and is very moving. ‘You’re working with a creature that cares and who’s very sensitive,’ he says. ‘There’s no place for frustration. They feel a lot from you. How you present yourself to them is why they react as they do to you. They are what you allow them to be and what you make them. If they’re ‘emotional’ ask what sort of person you’re being to them.’ He also makes frequent references to the need for your horse to be in a good state of mind. ‘Your horse needs to be emotionally healthy, not just getting by. He must be comfortable being with you.’ In his philosophy the human has to give support to the horse for all its needs, and be able to interpret the signs being given. In a particularly lyrical moment he talked about the horse’s eye being ‘the lantern of the body,’ and emphasised that as the human partner, leading the dance, we need to be cool, calm and collected so that our horse knows it can rely on us in a tight spot. ‘You have to be the oak tree, something for the horse to lean on,’ he explains.
May/June 2012
14-17 APRIL
CREAGH EC,
COUNTY GALWAY, IRELAND
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