In which Iris meets Steve and an era ends...

[glenatron]

Last weekend was our Silversand clinic with Steve Halfpenny for the year. He stayed back in Australia last year, so this was the first time I have been able to ride with him for some time- although I took Cash to a clinic in 2012 he wasn't ridable so last time I actually spent much time horseback with Steve was three years ago

Comments

[_acerbusangelus]

Glad you made it to the clinic. What did you do about your horse float?

[glenatron]

My box is parked up at the side of the yard, I found someone who could drive me over and back for the price that most people charge for a single journey, so that was pretty convenient. Also they have an awesome horse box, so basically while they're around I probably don't need a box of my own.

I am riding another clinic at the start of next week ( pure coincidence that they popped up at nearly the same time ) but I am planning to ride to that one because it's super-nearby.

[clevortrevor]

so glad you made it and had a great clinic! Do you think you could arrange to send me that Dartmoor? I might need that pony (don't tell Chris)

[glenatron]

He is super cute. And also 12hh. For some reason he was the horse on the clinic that Steve didn't ride at all...

[lantairvlea]

Wouldn't your Fjord get jealous? Or pwrhaps he needs a buddy...

[puddleshark]

I'm so glad you made it to the clinic after all the transport woes, and that it was such a positive experience... It's wonderful to see Iris looking so calm and thoughtful.

I thought that Connemara was a Lusitano!

I do think I experienced 'classical' moments with Charm... moments of such lightness and precision, such connection with not just the horse but with the earth beneath us... Almost a religious experience. Though mostly, of course, we just ambled and ate stuff.

[glenatron]

I do actually think most people get to feel some of this stuff, on further contemplation, but it's normally during a spook or anxious moment of some kind when their life comes right up and suddenly you are gliding sideways, but generally we are too busy trying calm things down at times like that so we don't appreciate what we're riding. Having that fluency on cue is something altogether different.

[re_vised]

What a great clinic! Iris looks really nice, and I'm glad Steve Halfpenny liked her! Kind of awesome to have him say that!

[glenatron]

I've been learning with Steve for about nine years now, including spending a fortnight out in Australia with him and Irena a few years back, so I would hope that I could get a horse to a place where he would feel she was working out alright, but it's still really great to have that confirmed.

I feel so inspired now, it has totally reminded me that horses are what I need to focus on.

[re_vised]

Wow! I bet going to Australia to work with him was a lot of fun.

I love walking away from a clinic or lesson inspired. It does so much for your connection to your horses.

[lantairvlea]

One of these days I'd like to get to some more clinics.

Jed, the Percheron gelding we had for a couple years, had a trot that felt like he would keep forever as if you set the cruise control and it also felt like he had power steering in that gait, just the coolest thing, all fluid and grace without a single change in speed or tempo.

[glenatron]

Even just watching is usually inspiring and informative. If they are ever passing your direction you might look out for Lester Buckley and Jeff Sanders- they both seem to be doing very interesting things in their work.

[lantairvlea]

I'll have to look them up, thanks for yhe recommendations!

I have audited a few, the last one being Parelli (I don't know whether to call it a clinic or "event") a little over a year ago. There always informative, even just for seeing different horse and handler pairs working together.

[glenatron]

These days the people I would probably be on the lookout for are either the ones who spent time with Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt ( Buck is the best known but Martin Black, Bryan Neubert, Joe Wolter, Buster McLaury and a few others are certainly on the "worth seeing if you get the chance" list - they seldom visit this country though ) or people quite deep into the kind of vaquero or classical tradition - Jeff Sanders and Lester Buckley more or less fall into that area as far as I know, though they are quite different in what they have to say.