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Post by Admin on Mar 8, 2009 22:08:37 GMT
Silversand's Steve Halfpenny, who is an INCREDIBLE teacher and horse trainer is coming to Ireland this July, to teach in Dublin and Tipperary. ;D The full details are here: www.irishhorsemanship.com/steve.htmlI'd be hugely indebted if anyone who's near a tack shop or stables, etc, would be able to put up a copy or two of Steve's clinic poster which you can download here: www.irishhorsemanship.com/steve.docThanks A MILLION! Elaine  |
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Post by mariab on Mar 9, 2009 10:19:15 GMT
Done put up in the 2 tack shops in Mallow
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Post by Elaine on Mar 27, 2009 15:04:45 GMT
All the horse places in Tipperary are filled. A few horse places still left in Dublin, or you can put your name down on the waiting list for Tipperary. Thanks |
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Post by Elaine on Apr 6, 2009 11:09:21 GMT
 A photo of Steve at a clinic last year in England.  Steve back home working with a horse.  |
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drifter6
Young horse
Irish Horsemanship trainer
Posts: 69
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Post by drifter6 on Apr 8, 2009 17:05:26 GMT
Now i am excited , i just cant wait to be involved . why cant i have icons here would love to be able to put up a BIG GRIN |
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Post by Elaine on Apr 8, 2009 20:00:04 GMT
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Post by hobbidance on Apr 8, 2009 21:21:33 GMT
I'd love to come to the Dublin one, I can't book it though till I find out whether I can get the days off or not. Hoping I can though!!! Would be great to see other people and meet Steve.  |
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Post by Elaine on Apr 14, 2009 12:05:43 GMT
Write up of Steve in the farming indo today:  |
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Post by Admin on May 7, 2009 20:21:30 GMT
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Post by Elaine on Jun 2, 2009 13:23:07 GMT
Steve's just finished his first clinic in the UK this week, so its been rated as the best camp ever!!  Cannot wait till he comes over here next month!!  |
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Post by Elaine on Jun 3, 2009 7:49:21 GMT
Steve Halfpenny UK clinic late May 2009 review:
"I don't know, they just get better and better. Back from 4 days with Steve Halfpenny, can't wait to see the photos, we had such a good time in the sunshine. Breakfast is a changed man since getting back from the States, which means Zorro needs to be a changed horse, something he's not altogether happy about!
Madcatlady re-learnt that she can work through Lottie's strops and threats and get some fantastic work. Like Tom, Steve said that Lottie was the horse he would want to take home with him. So she's obviously worth the effort.
Kerry with Lollie got her horse thoroughly re-backed by Steve and now knows that, not only is he ready to ride, but she is the person who can do it.
Unicorn and Small danced around the arena showing us how quickly they can "get it" and how huge the potential is in that small pony.
Camilla worked on the bitting issues that are left with Ferram from an unsympathetic breaking earlier in his life. She was also extremely determined when dealing with the separation issues and general scattiness that this big warmblood throws out. Worth it with a horse that is working close to piaffe when he's thinking.
Becky brought her dependable, unflappable Jake, and worked on the contact, also on allowing him to give her so much more when she asked so much less. She won't be wanting to let anyone else ride that horse soon!
Poghag has a pretty interesting Pog to deal with, and she does. It was amazing to see how this big competing horse was actually scared to place his feet around a pole on the ground. Watching Poghag cantering fluidly round bareback was brilliant.
Karen brought her new spanish boy Rui, a stunning young horse. The work there is on getting him listening and allowing him forward, and he was amazing when that balance happened.
Little Celebridee was just cute as a button, and very handsome with a hairdo provided by Unicorn every morning. The most fascinating bit for me was realising that an older riding horse could show himself to be really uneasy when asked to present himself for being mounted bareback. Gave me a real project on the last day.
So, I know without a shadow of a doubt that all the "classical" groundwork can happen in a rope halter using a couple of 12ft lines. With the poll and shoulders lifted and the jaw relaxing. You do not need a bit to relax the jaw and have your horse properly engaged."
___________________________________________ More..!  The first thing that was impressed on me was how difficult it is to change our patterns, let alone our horses' patterns. I was working on an exercise which reflects indirect/direct rein work when ridden, and kept lifting my hand in the direct rein stage (or lift to lead in my Parelli training). As soon as I lift my hand to lead the horse I put tension on the rope, as soon as I put tension on the rope I give the horse something to lean on. After much frustrated jumping up and down and a bit of mild swearing, Steve had me anchor the "leading" hand in my belt. So I had to push the shoulder, not pull the head. My plan is to see if I can get this exercise working with the rope actually looped through my belt - then I'll know if I'm pulling or Celeb is leaning for certain.
On a circle, pushing the horse out on the circle, then taking an indirect rein to change direction and circle the other way - this will improve softness and bend. Riding and on the ground of course. When you ask the horse to yield out on the circle you must push from inside into your direct rein, don't pull/lead with the outside direct rein. Once this is established, with a good forward motion, you have the basis to work on a straight line, soften the neck and ask for lateral work.
Stopping from the seat. I've heard so many descriptions of this in the past, it's got kind of confusing. I listened to Steve teaching one of the others and he said "Just stretch down into your stirrup". So did, and stopped nicely every time. It wasn't really a matter of stretching weight down into the stirrup, just thinking it altered my seat to ask Celeb to halt. You also must ride forward into the halt, so get in time with the legs, stretch down and come to a nice neat halt, with the steps clear and precise rather than sort of grinding to a halt.
Lateral work, on the ground or ridden. Lateral moves will not happen correctly unless you first have a really good soft backup, and also a good lateral flexion. Watch for tension in these moves, the neck needs to be softly bent, just as far as you want it, the head not tipped or tilted to one side. If there is tension your lateral work will just lock up and you tend to grind to a clumsy halt.___________________________________________ For me... big things to go away with are the importance of really solid basics... several times Steve and the others mentioned that the good stuff higher up is just the basics done really well.
Pog and I are still very much needing to work on lateral flexions, disengaging, yielding him out of my space... and me trying to improve my effectiveness with regard to his various physical and emotional braces which I've always side-stepped before as I've always been way too nicey-nicey and he's been laughing his head off.
... So now it's finding the confidence through experience of saying what I mean and meaning what I say (to borrow a phrase from another great horsebloke, but I don't like to namedrop)... which I find tricky for now coz I'm not that sure...
Oh it's so exciting though! Watching some great vids one evening on the course and just itching and dreaming of one day having an inkling of what that kind of level of... what?... unity?.... (hey, "fun" could easily be inserted there too!) must feel like.
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Post by Elaine on Jun 3, 2009 15:37:20 GMT
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Post by Elaine on Jun 11, 2009 11:14:24 GMT
Still one or two places left for Steve in Dublin in a few weeks  |
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Post by Elaine on Jun 14, 2009 8:50:37 GMT
I'm just organising the logistics, directions, etc for Steve's clinics now. He's currently doing clinics over in England and everyone is raving about them If anyone needs more into, contact me via email / tel at any stage. See you all in July!! Elaine. |
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Post by Elaine on Jun 14, 2009 12:59:02 GMT
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Post by Elaine on Jun 23, 2009 11:28:52 GMT
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Post by Elaine on Jun 25, 2009 7:45:12 GMT
Only 7 days left and I am currently going to see a man about a set of brown plastic chairs WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO can't wait!! |
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Post by ciarafog on Jun 25, 2009 8:24:01 GMT
i think you are slightly nuts elaine....How excited can you get about brown chairs?!!
*runs away quickly*
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Post by Elaine on Jun 26, 2009 14:03:23 GMT
I suspect you have a point Ciara ! 6 days left and 6 more brown chairs in situ!!!  |
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Post by ciarafog on Jun 26, 2009 14:06:57 GMT
Well enjoy it anyway would love to be going!
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BTW - if you want to do a bit of homework 
before Steve's clinics.... 
