This video lesson is meant to provide amateur dressage riders an idea of what a sports psychology session is like. Amateurs often spend a lot of time and resources preparing their horses, taking lessons, putting their horses in training, and attending to their horses' physical well-being. Using sports psychology to develop the mental skills for improving one's performance and enjoyment of dressage are not as common for amateur dressage riders.
In this lesson, Eileen Keipper, M.A., M.S., of Mental Edge Consulting, a certified sports psychologist
who specializes in equestrian sports, meets with Maddie, a young rider, and helps her define goals and solutions to specific training challenges she is facing in her riding. The session is abbreviated for the sake of the video and meant to give amateur riders an insight into what an actual sports psychology session is like.
(N.B. This article was originally published in the NCDCTA Newsletter and is republished here with permission.)
Lighten Up Dressage held a very successful schooling show on May 24 at Latta Plantation in Huntersville, NC. This was the first show in their 2008 series, after a very well attended 2007 series. Andre Pool from Greenville, South Carolina, was the judge for the 72 rides. The day began with a bang when a huge gust of wind blew down the side of the ring, just before the first ride of the day. Thanks to quick work by the show management, volunteers and even the judge, the ring was quickly returned to working order and the show was able to begin. Rider Molly Parris rode a very nice test on Dragon’s Lair Le Gacie, even after the auspicious start of the day and the blowing rain. By the end of the day, everyone was finally able to warm up in the sunshine.
(N.B. This article was originally published in the NCDCTA Newsletter and is republished here with permission.)
Jennifer Baumert Clinic: Teaching All Levels of Riders through
Positive and Effective Communication
USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalist Jennifer Baumert gave a dressage clinic at Lisa Gorsuch's Goose
Crossing Farm on May 17 and 18th, 2008. The well attended clinic was organized by Leslie Lytton and Tracy Walling
of Lighten Up Dressage. Jennifer Baumert of Cloverlea Dressage is a USDF Certified Instructor and Trainer through Fourth Level. She has trained with Conrad Schumacher and Henk van Bergen. Jennifer has recently relocated to Columbus, North Carolina and is the resident trainer at Cross Creek Farm .
Recently, I had the opportunity to audit a clinic taught by Axel Steiner. The clinic was hosted by Joe Sandven and Helen Wiest at their beautiful Tantalus Farm in Fletcher, NC. Joe and Helen generously provided lunch for riders and auditors alike both days of the two-day clinic. In addition, NCDCTA sponsored the clinic which meant that members got to audit for free. NCDCTA also provided a dinner on Saturday for everyone in attendance. The gorgeous setting and serene training environment, very friendly group of riders and auditors, and opportunity to watch and learn from Axel Steiner, a world-renown dressage expert, made it a perfect day. On top of everything else, the weather was gorgeous – blue skies and lots of sunshine – making the entire experience hard to beat.
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