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Report on the Liz Day
Clinic by Cathy Askitis
The understanding of theory and
its translation into a physical act is one of the most fascinating
challenges of dressage – one which Liz certainly mastered in her
seminar.
Everyone sees things differently
and explains them in their own unique words: we need to think no further
than the half halt to see how many different ways people view this
concept. Liz shared her training methods and ideologies with regard to
training and judging. Her direct communication style, professionalism
and touches of humour conveyed her ideas clearly and in an easily
understandable manner. She took time to explain concepts and deal with
questions which provided the audience with many learning opportunities.
Liz worked with a fantastic
range of horses from Prelim to Advanced. Her systematic approach to
training was applicable to all levels – “Is there a rhythm?”; “How
supple is the horse?”; “Is the horse offering a contact or is the rider
taking the contact?”; “What about impulsion, straightness and
collection?” She further addressed some contradictions between riding
and judging: e.g. depending on where one sits, a leg yield can look like
a shoulder in, and a shoulder in can look like it really didn’t happen,
as well as contradictions in training methods: e.g. the use of big
flexions. Liz dealt with all of this in a very informative, clear and
non-dogmatic fashion.
The brilliance of the seminar,
in my opinion and that of my pupils who were present, lay in Liz’s
explanation of what is acceptable for each level. Her application of the
training scales to each level, her blend of Judging (giving marks to
movements) with training (finding techniques for improving marks) was
greatly appreciated as was her explanation of how much more is expected
of the next level.
I certainly feel that there was
something for everyone in this seminar, and to all the missed it, be
sure to catch the next one, which I hope will be soon.
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