John Lassetter clinic report

It is always exhausting to put on a big clinic. You have the preparation which starts 2 weeks out. Trimming hedges, getting the footing right. General cleaning and arena maintenance. This time I hired a young man to do the heavy trimming. Then there is the more domestic shopping, planning meals and house prep for John. Scheduling the clinic, flyers and emails. Marilee from the Big Island and my parents are the ones who help the most. I could not do it without them. Carole loaned her house right across the street which was a big help.

This time Marilee and John arrived within hours of each other. Perfect timing and no lost luggage for John. The next day John will be teaching. He has been gone from England for weeks teaching in Canada and the US. He has to have clothing for the cold and the heat. He has had no days off.

We have dinner at Mom and Dad's catching up on the past 6 months and laughing. John fades quickly due to the time zone change. In the evening the final arena grooming is done by tractor headlights. The watering of the arena is started. 2 hours this evening.

I am up at 5 am. More arena watering for the next 3 hours right up to the start of the clinic. Set up the chairs, sound system and the arena cones and poles. Marilee is tasked with cooking John's breackfast. She laughs saying "I will give it a shot" as she treks down my hill with a large picnic basket in hand.

I am usually the first to ride but today I trailer Ann from the Horse Center for the first ride. She and Reinbeau have really improved over the last 6 months. They look great. Ann is smiling. The biggest thing I took away from the lesson is the technique John uses on this particular big horse to get the horse forward and reacting to the leg. He does not use it for other horses. You have to be a good balanced rider who is able to ride the big forward gaits you will generate and who will not be afraid and pull back on the reins. He asked no one else to do this ( he did tell me to think about the symbols but I think he knew I was not brave enough yet to do this with Freederic). He wants you to eventually get to the spot where when you just slightly take your leg away the horse will power forward. It eventually becomes a very subtle aid. He attaches the word "Symbols" to this exercise. When you use the symbols in music you take your hands apart and then clap the symbols together when you use them. This is what your legs will be like. If you clap him the first time and nothing happens the next time you use leg and whip. If he reacts great, go forward. Then at next long side try again. If he doesn't react you can use a double clap. It doesn't take long and he is jumping forward when she takes away the leg slightly. "Check the symbols" John says at times through out their work.

Reinbeau is 5 yo, 17h+ This clinic he was doing his counter canter. 10m canter circles where you could really see him sit down. He got more balanced in the canter and had some great extended canters.