| Hi Ericka, I just wanted to let you know how much your clinic has helped Manny and I. I have really been practicing keeping my hands quiet, in the box, and using more leg to direct him. We have been doing figure eights and serpentines so I can try making my wrist straight and I remember to have quiet hands by keeping my thumb on top of the reins. Not only has this helped us in the show ring, but Manny is so much happier! He has his ears forward all the time and is even happy at the lope, which he usually gets quite mad about. I have worked on keeping my eyes up in showmanship and looking down his back instead. I even have gotten my legs in time with his. Yesterday, we went to a horse show at the Oakland county fairgrounds and it went very well. I really wish you could have seen him because he was wonderful. We won first in showmanship, which we did western, and then he moved out beautifully in hunt seat. He even extended his stride and everything! We got fifth in hunt seat equitation because my stirrups were too long and my legs would swing! But, I shortened my stirrups and we won first in hunt seat pleasure. I was just elated since he was so happy and worked very well for me. He even worked better hunt seat at the fairground then he did at my house! Then we won fourth in western horsemanship and third in western pleasure. Western went pretty well, but he was still going slightly fast from hunt seat that morning. I was rather disappointed though because in the western classes, the judge really seemed to like the super slow horses. So in the last class, bareback, we didn't place at all. I thought the show went quite well though and Manny was very well behaved. Thank you so much for all of your advice and I hope to go to another one of your clinics sometime! Tessa & Manny | |
