Karen O' Connor Clinic

[Kairoshorses]

I went, and it was AMAZING. I learned a ton. I blogged it (long-winded, but sincere):

http://kocclinic.blogspot.com

My competition horse was diagnosed w/ EPM a little over a week ago, so I ended up taking what I call my "husband horse"--the one who you can put a beginner on. He's done some BN, and we've schooled some higher....originally I was supposed to be in the N/T group. Gulp.

I'll just give you an idea of some of the things I learned:

I think my galloping/preparation positions were those I figured out myself, and she had a lot to say about these...I have a lot of work to do "creating a sail with my body" rather than simply sitting up before a fence.

I've been riding XC very much like SJ--and she helped me really see a difference in position and purpose. I need to learn to collect/prepare, slip my reins, then push into the slipped reins before a XC fence. I also need to be a lot more defensive/still with my hands (not "following" like in SJ--at least not as much).

I need a LOT more work over poles, working on adjustability in gaits.

I need to think about when to be busy and when to be calm in my stadium (and in xc, but more so in stadium where I tend to "pick" too much)


I need to ride more positively toward my xc fences. There's that "leg" I keep forgetting.

I need to "row the boat" more consistently.

SOOOOO much more. And probably what I said didn't make much sense. It was hard doing this clinic w/ a wonderful, lovable horse, but not my competition horse. I sure hope I get the chance to work with her again on him.

[Divine Comedy]

What a great blog Kairo! I remember seeing you and Dylan trucking around! I have to admit I only made it to the first session as my allergies killed me on Saturday and Sunday, I could barely make it out of bed. They were awful on Friday, I was the one sneezing every 10 seconds (quite literally I assure you, it was quite miserable) but I was very glad to see the A and B groups showjump! I definitely will try and get to one of the O'Connor clinics at Holly Hill one of these days, although it is always a logistical nightmare with no trailer. :-( And I am definitely going to use that 8-foot canter pole exercise this winter!

By the way, do you have one of those yellow trailer jacks that you simply drive your good wheel onto, which raises your blown wheel? You don't have to unhook your trailer to use it, or your horses. It might be useful if you trailer a lot by yourself.

[sunnycher]

She (KOC) is coming here this summer for a clinic, and I want to go, but have been unsure. I ride novice, school training on my draft cross mare, and have a coming 5 that I want to take BN.

My question for you is this, were there lower levels that she taught. I don't want to go out and be too humiliated!!!

And I know what you mean in your blog - just when I get one thing right, something else falls apart. It is sooo difficult to keep it all together!!!

Anyway, good for you, sounds educational and somewhat fun.

[Kairoshorses]

By the way, do you have one of those yellow trailer jacks that you simply drive your good wheel onto, which raises your blown wheel? You don't have to unhook your trailer to use it, or your horses. It might be useful if you trailer a lot by yourself.

I DO have one of those things, and I can change a trailer tire in 20 minutes, because I have two tires on each side...this was a rear TRUCK tire. Had to unhook on the side of the road to jack up the truck (I don't have a dually). I'm bringing an industrial jack from now on!

[Kairoshorses]

She (KOC) is coming here this summer for a clinic, and I want to go, but have been unsure. I ride novice, school training on my draft cross mare, and have a coming 5 that I want to take BN.

My question for you is this, were there lower levels that she taught. I don't want to go out and be too humiliated!!!

And I know what you mean in your blog - just when I get one thing right, something else falls apart. It is sooo difficult to keep it all together!!!

Anyway, good for you, sounds educational and somewhat fun.

There were both lower level riders (BN and N) and very green horses in some of the groups. So you would be just fine!

I'm going to make a huge generalization, based on seeing Davide O'Connor teach (I audited a clinic w/ him) and being in one with Karen O'Connor (and watching *almost* all of the other groups): Karen has more patience and is GREAT with lower level riders. David is good, too, but Karen's a bit softer around the edged (and, at least in their book In the Galloping Lane, she's had more crises of confidence, so she can empathize).

Trust me; on XC, when I was trying to remedy my form (i.e., keeping my legs more forward and my hands lower than I had been), trying to remember to slip my reins, and so forth, I was having trouble remembering everything. She was great--she wants you to get better, but she does understand that it's hard to do everything at once, esp. if it's new or challenging.

I've been watching videos of her, and she practices what she preaches. So I'm off to practice, too!

[sunnycher]

Well, that makes me feel better!! I am on a 'get fit by July' plan, though, especially if I want to be able to ride 2 horses per day and then show them at the little derby the 3rd day!!! YIKES. I'm so nervous already!

[Jo]

We audited on Sunday until about 1:30 when she broke for lunch. She was AWESOME and super nice when I (dorkily) went up and asked for a picture. :) I'm not an eventer but took a lot of useful tips away with me that I can use.

[Sudi's Girl]

Wow! Amazing job with the blog!!! What great info you got!! (and shared!!) :D

It's funny about some of the things you worked on as I've recently had some similar (although not quite as in depth) XC lessons working on the "rowing the boat" concept, getting my feet out in front of me (you can't really "row the boat" otherwise), and really thinking about "after the jump!" I love the ideas she gave for getting the horse (and rider!) to ask "what now?" after the jump!!

My greenie seems to think a victory dance is appropriate after some jumps (esp. after something he considered scary, and I had to REALLY "row the boat" to encourage him over it), and I have a hard time getting him focused for the next "thing" coming (although maybe I'm doing a mini dance internally too, and it's my fault too for not thinking ahead? hmmm :)).

I can't wait to try some of those exercises! :) Your blog was awesome, and I'm definitely going to reread it to soak up more ideas. :) Maybe I'll eventually start remembering these "mantras" when I'm up in the saddle!

[FlightCheck]

What a GREAT blog!

So many times I read clinic reports and they go something like this..."blah, blah, set up this combination, blah, we were perfect, blah, blah, everything was perfect, blah, blah"

Your blog was MUCH more like my clinic experiences!

[DLee]

Wow, super blog! I am exhausted for you after reading it! I rode with Karen and David a few years ago and hope to again, what a great reminder it all was. And your tire story just had me in agony for you. :( The things we go through. Thanks for the fabulous report. :yes:

[Divine Comedy]

I DO have one of those things, and I can change a trailer tire in 20 minutes, because I have two tires on each side...this was a rear TRUCK tire. Had to unhook on the side of the road to jack up the truck (I don't have a dually). I'm bringing an industrial jack from now on!

That's good, I didn't realize it was the truck tire!

[gully's pilot]

I loved your blog! I laughed pretty hard because partway through a recent lesson I was lucky enough to take with Karen, I said, "I'm sorry, but I think my head's about to explode." It was so much that was so good so fast--yi.

[Kairoshorses]

Thanks, all.

My head really is exploding: I came back to a newly formed class (now online, so all my notes and delivery are changing), a lot of extra administrative stuff, two job candidates to entertain...and my son's VOICE IS CHANGING! It started while I was gone!

How are we supposed to concentrate on the amazing stuff we learn when all this is waiting for us??