Andrew McLean Clinic

Last weekend was the Andrew McLean clinic for Garbo and I. Garbo didn't like the one hour drive via three motorways very much the first day - he was shaking and sweating a bit on arrival at Ambury Park - but by day two he was much more relaxed about the trip each way, each day. I was really nervous because it was a lot of new things for Garbo and I - an indoor arena, spectators - some serial spectators at that - speaker system! But didn't spook at anything -he was so well behaved - took it all in his stride - even being penned up with hay all day. He had 7 other new horsey friends to chat with and snooze with so he was pretty laid back about the whole thing.

Day One was ground work in the morning - reinforcing the stop and go aids so that they are clear and light - not moving before the horse moves, not stopping before the horse stops - so that they don't just create an association with your moving/non moving legs. This is fine until you need them to stay on a float or stand still while you tighten the girth on the other side.

Then the afternoon we had a group lesson with three others. It was really hot in the arena and I had a terrible head cold, so felt really bad - it was so much harder to concentrate - but we got through. We worked on controlling where Garbo placed his front feet mainly... if you control the location and speed of the feet - everything is calm, Andrews says.

Another thing Andrew says which has really stuck with me is "Motivation of the Aids must be stronger than Motivation of the Environment". This rings true for me having Garbo who is so affected by the other horses, feed buckets, people walking by etc. I tried it out yesterday when riding him into a paddock he decided is scary after last week sniffing the electric fence outrigger - he stalled so I tapped his shoulder two times with the whip and he simply just walked into the paddock. Going to try that tomorrow with the corner poo pile too!

The following day we had another ground lesson and worked on leg yielding. He said horses that have a go problem often have a leg yield problem....turns out horses that fall in and cut corners (Garbo) also have a leg yield problem.

I was the last individual lesson which was kinda good because some of the spectators had left by the time we came to ride. I was still burning up and also drowsy from the pills I took - but we soldiered on - as you do!

Andrew was pleased with our lengthening and shortening of strides, and stops, and transitions so then he asked for leg yield. He asked me to reinforce the aid with a whip tap - Garbo started bucking and leaping but he told me to keep trying. Andrew offered to get on and explain to Garbo that a whip tap does not mean leap (the same leaps Garbo does when stressed at competitions).... and withing three minutes Garbo was leg yielding beautifully across the arena with Andrew on board, with leg back aid only. I was really impressed. Then I got on and no leaping for me either! Yay.

So - we have to practise

• stopping in three beats of the rhythm
• downwards transitions in three beats
• shortening, then lengthening the walk and trot and canter to build topline
• keeping the stop and Go light and instant

He has a series of processes each aid or gait must go through

• Basic Attempt
• Obedience
• Rhythm (cruise control)
• Straightness
  
• Contact

and they must only be done in this order....you cannot ask for straightness without rhythm and so on....

All in all it was well worth while - I just wish I had felt more coherent - but Helen videoed the lesson for me so have yet to sit down and watch that....