put the horse beneath you. 11. Make the horse “short” (longitudinally). 12. Keep the same percentage of your body on each side of the horse. Anchor both legs. Don’t lean back; stay on top of your seat. 13. Let gravity do it for you. 14. The horse will learn to reach if you close your legs and then soften your contact one-quarter of an inch. At halt to walk, “push” the nose toward the bit. 15. Pushing with the seat only makes the horse hollow his back. 16. Always ride something with a name. Don’t meander aimlessly. Every stride should have a purpose. 17. Take the time to go to the underlying problem and be super clear about what it is you want. Go back to the basics! 18. Ride with heavy elbows and heavy feet. 19. It MATTERS to get to the letter straight. 20. The very best riders in the world spend most of their training on the Basics. I want to give special thanks to my daughter, Alix Polydoros, for her superb management of the clinic on Saturday and Sunday, thereby enabling me to be able to ride on both days, volunteer Lisa Eldracher, and Erika Reyes, Dorie Vlatten Schmitz, and Kasey Reeder for lending their sound systems. Thank you, also, to Janet Ryan for driving Beth. Thank you, Sage Mountain Equestrian Center for the use of your facility for this clinic.
DECEMBER 2021 |THE CENTERLINE | 13
