Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel
Make the Bit your Horse's Best Friend. This was a recurring theme during the clinic. Felicitas focused on developing a healthy relationship between the horse and the bit, one which allowed the rider to channel the horse's energy through the neck and mouth so that it seeks a steady and pleasing connection. She emphasized proper alignment from shoulder-seat-legs. Where necessary, proper alignment required positioning the rider's body at the rising trot slightly forward and closer to the horse's center of gravity, which encouraged the rider to place her leg directly under her seat.
Felicitas also drew our attention to the Oval of Aids within the Circle of Aids: From the left side of the bit up through the rider's softly closed left hand and soft neutral wrist; through the firm but soft "shock-absorbing" elbow; through the shoulders; and then down the right elbow, hand/wrist, and horse's mouth.
Felicitas on Carl [L], Caper [R], Jaimsie [ML], Panache [MR], .Kartouche [BL], and Pallas [BR].
To encourage Caper to reach for the bit and trust it more, Felicitas had Wendy touch the bit only when Caper released, and to take the rein shorter only during moments of softness.
The analogy used here was visualizing the bit as an expensive bracelet. If contact is too loose, then the bracelet falls into the dust. If it's too tight, the bracelet breaks. Either way, expensive jewelry is lost!
Be Active not Reactive! While this advice was given to all clinic riders, for Jessica it meant playing chess with Kartouche: anticipating her response to each aid and thinking 2-3 aids/steps ahead of her.
Much to her owner and trainer's surprise, Jaimsie took well to a double bridle. The challenge continues to be finding that steady throughness in the connection.
Felicitas had Mauriel work on body alignment, especially her right seat and leg. The analogy she used was to think of your body as a house and, during a bend, put all your furniture in the seat around which the horse is bending.
For Jodie and Pallas, the timing and the combining of aids were crucial to developing a relaxed consistent cadence.
On her young 4-year old, Katy was encouraged to keep the energy flowing from Wesley's hind, so that she had more to work with in the front.
