Email to the Editor: Dressage “Ride & Review” Clinic

Yes, Dressage…..not dress up! Dressage is the art of riding and training a horse in a manner that develops obedience, flexibility and balance.

Carbon River Pony Club, Enumclaw’s local chapter of the United States Pony Club, recently hosted an open Dressage clinic at the Back Forte Equestrian Center.

The clinic was organized as a ‘ride and review’ learning event. This involved a pair of riders in each group, who first rode a pre-determined riding pattern (called a ‘test’) and received an initial score from a judge. The judge, Allison Cino of Pyramid Equestrian, a well renowned dressage judge and trainer, then gave the pair a 45 minute lesson focusing on their unique areas of improvement. After the lesson, the pair again rode their test and received another score sheet. Both test rides were also video-taped.

“What a great clinic and in such a beautiful setting! I really learned a lot and enjoyed myself immensely.”

A ride and review clinic is a unique learning opportunity for the riders. The format of riding a test and getting real time feedback in the form of a lesson, results in immediate improvement. This instruction, coupled with the opportunity to review the video tape and not only read the judge’s comments, but hear them on the video, helps reinforce the learning with visual reinforcement. The clinic was attended by many members from the Equitese Horsemaster ‘s chapter, called Equimasters as well as a few adults not affiliated with pony club, and all members of the Carbon River Pony Club.

Carbon River Pony Club

Carbon River Pony Club is a non-profit organization providing a program for youth and adults that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies, thereby developing responsibility, moral judgment, leadership and self-confidence.

For more information on United States Pony Club or Carbon River Pony Club membership opportunities please go to this website:
http://carbonriver.ponyclub.org/.