Hello everyone,

Since we have completed the new indoor arena, it will be available for different groups to use.  Charges will depend on the type of event and the labor that is needed from the Stoner Ridge Farm staff.  We are pleased that our first event will feature Gil Merrick, team leader for the Olympic Dressage team that was recently in Beijing .  The schedule and a description of Gil’s talents are listed below.

 

AGENDA – Day 1

 

10:00 – 11:00    Introductions and Basic Principles

• Defining Dressage – Understanding what gymnastic exercises for the horse are, how they make every horse stronger and improve their way of going, and how to present what judges are looking for if one day you compete in dressage
• Creating the correct “shape”of the horse – The difference between ‘Round’ and ‘Hollow’ – the gymnastic effect of tucking in the horse’s nose
• The key to developing strength and flexibility in our horses – riding circles as a gymnastic exercise that improve every horse for every job
• Understanding that we are the personal trainer to our horse and learning how to develop a “Program of Training” that helps our horses progress
• Learning how to build a “Fundamental Base of Athleticism” for our show horse

 Three exercises that will improve every horse for competition:

1. Very small circles in a figure-8 at the walk

2. Round large circles at the gait

3. Round small circles at the gait

 

11:00 – 12:00 – Demonstrations by the clinician on Stormy and Penny

                        followed by a Question and Answer session

 12:00 – 12:30 – Lunch ( Sandwich tray provided)

12:30 – 3:00 – Group 1 (Hands on training with 4 to 6 participants and their horses)

3:00 – 3:30        Break

3:30 – 4:30 – Group 2 (Hands on training with 2 to 4 participants and their horses)

4:30 – 5:00 – Wrap-up Discussion

7:00 – 9:00 – Dinner with participants, hosts and clinician at Migdalia’s Resaurant in Paris .

Gaited Horses and Dressage

 AGENDA – Day 2

 

7:45 – Juice, Coffee, donuts provided

8:00 – 10:00 – Group 1 (Hands on training with 4 to 6 participants and their horses)

10:00 – 10:30    Break

10:30 – 11:30 – Group 2 (Hands on training with 2 to 4 participants and their horses)

11:30 – 12:00 – Wrap up and Q&A

Gaited Horses and Dressage

 

Lyngle and Robert Lawson of Stoner Ridge Farm are pleased to host a 2-day clinic for participants interested in learning more about the gymnastic development of their gaited horse and how that aspect of the sport – as shown in Dressage competition - is developing for the Mountain Horse.

 The instructor for the clinic is Gil Merrick – a dressage rider for over 35 years and professional trainer since 1990.  Mr. Merrick is an acknowledged expert in the sport of dressage and shares his expertise with audiences around the world in all areas ranging from riding at the grassroots level through to competing in dressage at the Olympic Games.  Gil has been the person responsible for all of the United States Equestrian Federation’s dressage programs since 2005 and has served as Team Leader for the US Dressage Team at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen , Germany , the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , and the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong , China .

 The clinic will include a combination of lectures and demonstrations, hands-on training sessions with participants and their horses, question and answer sessions with the clinician and also the opportunity to spend a relaxing and educational weekend with like-minded enthusiasts of the gaited horse.

 Participants in the clinic will learn:

• How to use specific gymnastic exercises to improve their horse, regardless of whether they compete in dressage
• The fundamental difference between the frame of the horse that judges are looking for in a breed class and the frame they are looking for in a dressage class and how that difference in the horse’s frame translates to gymnastic development for every horse
• How to ride their horse in a frame that increases the horse’s physical development and is also suitable for dressage competition
• How to design a program of training at home to improve their horses’ overall athleticism and quality of gait
• How gymnastic exercises can benefit every gaited horse – whether they compete in dressage or not
• Three exercises guaranteed to help every horse improve its strength and flexibility

 

The clinic fee includes a gourmet four-course dinner at the beautiful Migdalia’s Restaurant in Paris, Kentucky and an opportunity to enjoy fine dining and informal conversation with participants, hosts and the clinician on Saturday evening. 

Enrollment will be limited to 10 participants in order to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to receive individualized attention from the clinician and ample opportunity to ask questions and learn.

 

Dates:                    November 22-23, 2008

Times:                   Saturday:               10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

                                                                Dinner from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

                                Sunday:                 8:00 AM to Noon

Location:               Stoner Ridge Farm

                                2469 Clintonville Rd.

                                Paris , KY   40361

Clinic fee: 

1.  $500.00 for participants bringing a horse.  It includes lunch and supper at Migdalia’s on Sat.

2.  Individuals bringing horses, may bring someone to attend with them at no charge other than the cost of supper at Migdalia’s.

3. Individuals may also audit the clinic and be involved in the question/answer sessions.  The cost is $50 per day plus the cost of supper at Migdalia’s.

There will be no charge for lunch (sandwich tray) on Saturday at any level of participation.

                                To register:           Please contact Lyngle Lawson

                                Phone:  859-988-9092