With humor and enthusiasm, Jane shared motivational strategies and riding techniques. Her clinic was intensive and filled with specific information designed to reinforce and advance up the Training Scale. Below are some examples of what Jane had to offer.

--Martha Myers

Mental Attitude

Attitude determines Altitude. If your attitude is right, the facts don't matter.
To change your attitude in a flash:

Change your physiology: Pretend or act as if you have a valued trait, e.g., relaxation, confidence, excitement. Then, anchor that feeling with a unique action {e.g., pumped fist]. Later, that unique action will elicit the positive feeling.

Change your focus. Ask high quality questions and you will get high quality answers. NOT: Why do I always do _____ when riding? BUT: What do I need to do to change _____ when I ride?

.General Riding

Ride Every Stride. Either you are training or you are untraining the horse.

Any work done in tension is a waste of time.

The rider must break the cycle of tension.

Relax the horse's body first , and his mind will relax.

Don't make a movement better by riding it. Find the missing ingredients of the movement and fix them.

Half Halts

When riding a test, an amateur asks: "Where are the movements?" A professional asks: "Where are the half-halts?"

Layer your half-halts like coats of paint.

Ride connecting half-halts before, during and after a transition or any movement where the horse might lose his balance.

[Connecting] Half-Halt

To connect the "engine" to the front end:

Close both calves 3 seconds, saying "Add, add, add" aloud to reinforce your movements. You are adding power. Just before the surge.....

Close outside rein. Make a fist to recycle the energy, and create an invisible wall. Just before he counterflexes...

"Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle" the inside rein. Vibrate or squeeze/release inside rein to flex jaw and keep it in #1 position [about an inch to the inside.]

Release. Return to normal position.

When learning the connecting half halt, break its parts into steps separated by time. Step one, close both calves until he is in front of the aids. Step #2: Close the outside rein and vibrate inside rein. If his neck becomes longer or lower, then he's stepped through that invisible wall. Reward him by easing off on the calves. Step #3: Compress the leg and rein aids. Do them all at the same time. Don't wait for the forward, and don't reward him by slowing down.

Always test the connection:

Does he chew the reins slowly out of one's hands?

If you release the inside rein, does nothing change for 2-3 strides?

If he doesn't pass these tests, then vary one of the 3 elements of the connecting half-halt.

Straightness

First Position = leg straightness = 1/100 of a shoulder in.

If you view the horse from the front, outside hind tracks directly behind outside fore, inside hind tracks a half-a-hoof inside of the inside fore.

Except when coming down the centerline, always ride in First position. It is not an exercise.

Axis straightness: on a curve, horse's shoulder, rider's hips, and horse's hips should be aligned.