Alex Gingell plans dressage / SJ training and ring craft clinics for 2018.

At least 1 clinic per month will become available across the UK.

I'm looking to cover the UK during 2018 helping people to promote learning / understanding and to improve dressage performances everywhere. The response to my recent FB dressage tips tells me that a lot of people are interested in improving, and I'm keen to help whatever their level.

I'm also keen to help people put to practise the box exercise and help them get the most out of it. So, if your interested, then message me and if you and I can get 8 - 12 people together (whether Hack Up customers or not!) and we'll try organise something.

 

Dressage clinic format (Needs judge and one specified trainer)

Okke Krol, Justine Armitage and I have worked out the 'ideal' format for a dressage training / ring craft session that works a treat!

A test is ridden following a 10 min warm up which is judged (as in a competition). Comments are given for every movement and the comments in the bottom are very thorough. I then talk the test through in detail with the rider and trainer listening and explanation / justification of the marks given, and final %.

Then it's over to the trainer for 20 mins to work on the points raised.

Then the test is ridden again, marked as in competition again. Again, the comment boxes are full and the collectives are thorough. The marks added up and % calculated. Then I go through the test with rider and trainer justifying the marks and give a thorough explanation for their new % mark. Most tests improve by 5 - 8%!!

The rider leaves with the sheets and get's 40 mins of our undivided attention.

 

Jumping

I can carry this out on my own (maybe a pole mover too!)

The box exercise is set up and 2 people at a time work, taking turns, through specific exercises. A 40 minute session covers a multitude of jumping themes and always results in improving confidence and capability of both horse and rider. It helps to have two people who are at a similar standard each time.

Grids and varying them accordingly can also be used and discussed, again 2 horses / ponies at a time.