Warriors in Wellies

07/12/2024

I gave homework on Saturday evening and asked the clinic participants to share the most important things they learned that day.

I will share their responses over the next few days

Doris:
I finally feel 'thigh secure.

Athough I sometimes try to get my thigh 'ON' it was nowhere close to the contact I felt when you {Del} took my feet back towards the horse's rear (translation got her feet off the horse's shoulders and put them underneath her).
Immediately there was a snugness of my inner thigh which I had never before felt and I didn't have to 'try' or put any effort or stress into that new snugness. It was a relaxed-tension because my lower leg behind {under} automatically created it.

More from Doris later. As suspected, she wrote pages. She was excited!

07/09/2024

We couldn't end the clinic without Enegro showing us his other party piece and, to the great delight of Ellen, who now has the wonderful opportunity of showing him this season. Lucky lady.

We ended with a final recap where the participants described their discoveries and their appreciation of the other participants encouragement. It was a well matched group who had been where the others were or had just discovered it themselves. And they all agreed it made it so much easier to understand watching it happen in front of their eyes as I explained how to do it.

I think no one believed they could totally change their position and subsequent security in the saddle, in a weekend and, for the first time truly understand 'real' balance rhythm and riding the whole stride so that they became totally in sync with their horse's natural way of going.

Only Dorris did not get what she hoped to find (sitting trot) but she learned so much more and has since been in touch with me that, although it is still hard riding her little firecracker, she now not only understands the point of the rider being the metronome but every day she gets closer to riding her on the buckle, in balance with no change of rhythm or speed. If she can get that and hold it, sitting it will be a breeze. Remember, it takes two to pull. Somebody has to stop pulling.

Personally, I had such a good time. What a willing group. And they all want to come back! Soon! I would like to start another progressive group so we can have ongoing learning.

The obvious leg and body contortions were inevitable because I have always told my students that, instead of taking 10 years to stretch your body up and legs down, why don't you just get your teeth into it and do it - TODAY? Its just isometrics (a system of physical exercises in which muscles are caused to act against each other or against a fixed object. Also called isometric exercise.) like going to the gym.

So, in order to get their thigh down under them, the lower leg became a tight rubber band that wanted to wrap itself around the back of the rider's neck. Come on, s-t-r-e-t-c-h that calf.

Slave driver. Mumble mumble......

And many thanks to everyone who chipped in to help. Kathy you may just have landed yourself as the clinic videographer, along with Laura. And many thanks to Elaine Owensby for the use of her lovely facility.

Perhaps the best part of all was all the interest from people I have yet to meet and even more so of my old students from over so many years. That was such a thrill for me. Let's stay in touch now.

Bye for now. See you next time.

07/07/2024

With expected temperatures to be near the 100s we could not do too much with Haida and with one rider who could not bring her horse Haida was given a special job before she went home.

Laura was in the pilot seat clinic, a very quiet person who didn't speak much but, when asked a question always got the answer right. It was clear that while she might be shy it was all going in and being retained,

A very anxious rider if a horse caught his toe she would completely freeze and might take few circles to relax. Clearly kid gloves for a while. She felt safer in the roundpen so that's how we spent lessons. The horse was a well educated horse and was very tolerant of Laura. but when she came close to a button he would offer her is complete repetoire, which mystyfied her completely.

Officially she has had around 12+ real lessons and has come so far that I decided to put her on Haida to learn sitting trot. I did not tell her she was going to ride a tall horse that she had never seen before as she probably would not have shown up or arrived in pieces. I did not give her time to think about. Amy jumped off and Laura hopped on and off to work we went. Laura knows her safety, as with all my students, is uppermost in my mind and it was such an honor and gift that she trusted me so completely. This is what we got ...

07/06/2024

Amy brought Caroline's Haida ,a three years old and not long under tack. I have known thousands of horses over the years but never a brain like Haida's. Nothing bothers her and she'll do whatever you ask with a super accommodating attitude. She acts as if she's a hundred years old.

Amy came from the western doctrine; more correctly; Reining so it was normal for Amy to be in the back of the saddle and her feet to be up on the shoulders. Seven lessons after her first lesson this is where she is.

Trying to get her leg to stay under herself was difficult and with stirrups shorter that became more manageable but now more difficult to let her heels down. Rome wasn't built in a day and trying to learn to post while feeling like a pretzel wasn't easy but having risen to the challenge she nailed the posting trot.

07/05/2024

07/03/2024

Because he was so willing to show us his repertoire I decided to let him show off and give his new fan club a treat.
This is what happened.

07/02/2024

A Tremendous Success

Despite the heat, THE SEAT CLINIC, went off amazingly well..
Unfortunately, the venue's owner had tumbled off a young horse the day before and broke some vertebrae so was down for the count and then, her help blew his transmission.

So what did the clinic participants do as they arrived? They jumped in mucked stalls, fed, hayed, brought in and turned out, dumped, scrubbed and refilled water tanks and made the barn spotless. What else would you expect from a bunch of true horse lovers, clinic or no clinic?

So we just put a half hour delay on day one and a hour delay on day 2 and carried on.
Pretty special group of people as you would not expect that to happen at many clinics.

Because we anticipated triple digit temperatures the class was cut in half and we started at 7am instead of 8 or 9.

Once barn chores were done we began discussing the clinic schedule and what each rider wanted to get out of the clinic and followed it with a discussion about true rhythm and balance and how riders' contortions affected their horses.
We used Charlotte and Valegro as the ideal and, of course, we didn't get too many of those.

Then we began to break down into great detail what each rider was doing and why the horse responded in the way s/he did. What an eye opener.

Then we took a long lunch break to get out of the heat and began again later.

The first to go was Ellen who had ridden for many years but could not sit on a trot. Once it was demonstrated and broken down to where the rider understood the dynamics of a horse with a long stride and how they must ride the complete stride, things changed and suddenly, after 30 years, Ellen could sit the trot and the horse she borrowed (who knew his stuff) to the great glee of the other riders, went into passage. What fun. What a great old horse and what a gift to us all.

Here's a clip of what happened when I was able to get her position balanced and rhythmical. Actually all I had to do was to tell her to lift her left shoulder up and her whole body came into alignment and that was his cue.

06/21/2024

Join us in Aiken for a weekend developing a stronger safer seat

06/05/2024

THE SEAT CLINIC

Designed specifically for Adult Amateur riders wishing to improve and expand their current skills.

This carefully structured progressive program, held within a safe environment, provides the blocks necessary to build a stronger, infinitely more secure and effective seat.

Supported by video and live examples, participants will study the locomotion, rhythm and balance of horses at liberty, on the lunge line, and ridden.

When the rider has developed full understanding of their horse's natural movement, and balance and how the rider's position and motion affects those elements, the rider merges with the horse and communication and trust can begin.

By the end of the clinic, with more security in the saddle, increased awareness and body control, the building blocks will begin to fall into place.

If this clinic sounds interesting to you please text (803) 617 9353, leave a short message, your name and number and we will call you back as soon as possible.

06/03/2024

AND SO, THE ADVENTURE BEGINS...
We are so excited to announce the official beginning of
The Seat Clinic

Del Greenwell, Sport Horse Media Productions and Warriors in Wellies have combined to bring you
a unique program

Many of you know Del as the Video Lady however, behind that lens, is a lifetime of teaching, training, international competition, breeding and unending learning to pass along to those who will literally take over the reins of the next generation of riders.

Recently we ran a small pilot program for The Seat Clinic. It was held over 4 Saturdays to determine interest and who the participants were likely to be.

Although It was designed for Adult Amateurs we made a dispensation for a child who rode at the barn. In the end the age range was
12 years to 81 years! Yes really.

And what a great and diverse group it was.
We had Dressage riders, Reiners, Endurance, hopeful Eventers and Trail Riders
all looking to develop their seats to become better, safer riders and better partners with their horses.

Watch this space for more information and/or go to Warriors in Wellies
and Del Greenwell pages
or, if you just can't wait, text Del at
(803) 617 9353
and she will call you back with details

05/30/2024

Jumping out of my tack I'm so excited about The Seat Clinic

05/15/2024

Let's see how creative you all are.
The best caption wins a prize

05/09/2024

I'm jumping out of my tack I am so excited about THE SEAT CLINIC

02/09/2024

A small smooth coated Jack Russell type was headed along Hatchaway Bridge Rd towards Highway 78 when a lady with a horse trailer cut him off.
He was very scared and would not let her catch him and neither could I.
I put food along Hatchaway Bridge to keep him in a safer spot but he may have left already. Very cute little dog. Please post

12/06/2023

In my many years of life, I have learned that when we have completed our time on earth, we will go, no matter the struggle. No one can stop it. We have one life to live. The material things we invest in are left behind. Memories therefore, are important to me. And so, I'm going to start a "reunion of friends". The idea is to see who reads a post without a picture. If no one reads my post, this will be a very short experiment. But if you are reading this message, make a comment using a single word about how we met. After that copy this message on your wall and I will also leave you a word. Please, don't leave a word and then not bother doing the second thing. Let’s go. Friends are important. Those we see and talk to often and those we think of often. This is especially important because we can lose a friend and not know it before we're gone!

07/13/2023

Will the person involved in media and video who posted in the
Aiken Area and Horse Sport group a few days ago TEXT me at 803 443 3645. Thank you

07/11/2023

look at this. Bee sting venom kills cancer cells in 60 seconds without damaging normal cells

06/03/2023

But got the grace of God...
Be so very thankful for what you have, even if it is little

"This photo is too beautiful not to be seen by everyone. ❤️😍"

05/07/2023

For lease or half lease 16h seasoned event horse. Very quiet, sensible horse to suit someone who wants to start eventing or planning to go Novice. Horse currently not fit enough to go Training.
Perfect ground manners. Very kind, forgiving animal. Has also been used as a school horse. Serious enquiries only. If you are less experienced but willing to take very inexpensive lessons from an Advanced Level eventer then please text (803) 443 3645.