Along with 20 auditors from Alabama, Georgia and Florida, I recently attended a symposium hosted by Poplar Place Farm. The clinic featured 8 riders a day; a variety of horses -- Hanoverian, Thoroughbred, Friesian, Dutch Pony - with a wide range of experience. There were 4 year-olds at Training Level as well as more experienced FEI- level mounts. Jan was a perceptive, rigorous, patient, and supportive instructor - with a great sense of humor. Here are some pictures, and some of Jan's thoughts that might interest fellow riders at HPF.

-- Martha Myers

Horses and humans aren't machines. So during training, it's normal to make forward progress, to make no progress, or even to regress. As long as the trend is forward, don't worry about temporary setbacks.

Mistakes are normal. Help your horse learn from his mistakes by repeating the exercise, by giving praise for effort, but not by punishing the horse.

Training takes time, so take your time.

Plan every ride with the training scale in mind as your blueprint. All elements of the training scale are equally important, but always begin with -- and, when necessary, return to - rhythm/tempo, which facilitates relaxation, which in turn facilitates acceptance of the bit.

"Forward to the Rescue." If ever "in trouble" with contact, think forward first, then smoothly restrict/support with outer rein. Forward always comes first, and then you can have an impact on the horse's frame. Forward always comes from one's leg not from throwing the reins away. Forward with your inner leg into a supporting outer rein, then release.

When bending, think of the arc of a banana. Bend no more than is required by the arc. Avoid overusing the inner rein, which results in an overbend in the neck. Keep contact with the inner rein, but keep it more passive and guiding than the active supporting/restricting outer rein.

Keep it simple with your rein aids, which are most effective and pleasing when the hands are low and close together.

Ride a shoulder- in to the corner, so that your horse is not tempted to quit early at a show.

Jan Ebeling on Gucci