Winter Workshop Series with 2* Terri Martinus

Over the winter I have been fortunate enough to be able to take part in a winter workshop series with Terri at Brinsbury College in Pulborough.  To enable me to learn better and not have to worry about emotions I borrowed a lovely mare called Kit that belongs to my friend Gill.  I have been riding and competing Kit on and off for the past 11 years so we know and trust each other well.  She was also Bella's 'nanny' when I first bought her.

Introducing Kit! 14.2hh Connemara x TB Mare 24 years young, RBI mainly, Still teaching us all a thing or two!

I had a few play session with Kit before the clinic to bring her up to speed (Gill has already got her through L1).

In the first Clinic we worked on doing the 7 Games but looking at them with 'Level 3 Eyes'.  Really working on refining and getting better quality in the movements.  We also did a lot of freestyle riding (which is why I brought Kit not Bella!).  It was great to be able to just get on and not have to think about her to much and focus on my body and getting things right so I can make them clearer to her.  We also got her first sideways when ridden which was really cool!

The second Clinic was all about focusing internally and being aware of out energy and how to control it to get the best out of our partners. I found this a challenge at first as Bella is a lot more 'tuned in' to my energy than Kit is but we soon got ourselves sorted and I found it was a great way to block out what was going on around me as I do tend to get distracted by spectators, what other horses are doing, saber tooth butterflies!

The third session was postponed due to snow but will be happening at the end of Jan so will blog about that separately.