Tom & Sarah Widdicombe clinic Ireland Aug 2009

[Elaine]

There will be a Tom & Sarah Widdicombe clinic in Ireland late this summer!!! ;D

Location: Cahir, Tipperary.
Date: 22 & 23, and 24 & 25 August 2009.
Type: Two x 2 day clinics. Everyone gets a private lesson with Tom and Sarah each day, and then in the afternoon you can have a short second lesson as well to practise & recap what you did that morning.
Numbers: Max. 7 riders per clinic. A few spectator places available.
Booking info: visit www.irishhorsemanship.com/tom.html

Tom & Sarah are brilliant teachers of horsemanship, and very nice, and I went to see about 4 or 5 of their clinics over in the UK last year (reports up in the clinics section) so I'm quite excited they are coming over!! Tom & Sarah both have a real gift of being great teachers. They break things down into very understandable and do-able pieces. This then in turn makes life very straightforward for the rider and their horse. I learnt a huge lot from watching these clinics last year as a spectator. Tom is influenced a lot by Mark Rashid and would have quite a similiar way of working with horses.

Tom has written the book 'be with your horse' and Sarah has written the British Horse Society publication 'The BHS Book Of The Natural Horse'. Both books are worth a read to get a flavour of the Widdicombe style.

[Elaine]

Updated:

Location: Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
Date: 22 & 23 August (Sat & Sun)

[Elaine]

This is some feedback from a lovely lady called Susan who I met last year at Tom & Sarah's clinics near Luton. She has a FABULOUS Irish Draught called Flynn

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YUP we did it Dressage placed! April 2009.



Yup I have put a few demons to bed today...

1stly I had an reason for not going to a local place..in hindsight I was daft.
I was losing out on a local place so easy to get to and not spending ooodles on fuel to tow there..and offering just what I wanted to do.. So I decided I need to address this and stop spoiling chances for us and no one else was suffering only me.

2ndly I haven't done any dressage for over 4 years even possibly longer.. may be 5-6 years in fact.

Why you may ask.. well because I was a useless rider and not getting the best from Flynn because of it. I had done too many tests and got demoralized to want to continue.. you know after you hit your head on the wall you start to realise it does hurt and stop doing it.

Well as many read about our journey, we have improved beyond recognition. We are no longer the rubbish rider I was and my horse can and does move beautifully within my own limitations.

So I booked into a simple Walk Trot test.. I chose to only do WT as I wanted to stay in a comfort zone, not feel the pressure of cantering.. and the worry of past tests. I wanted the pressure off and feel we stood a chance of not hitting my head on the wall of the past tests.

I felt sick this morning as I drove to the yard.. I asked myself why? its only 4.5 mins.. its simple walk trot you can do that.. so stop being stupid.
Now as I then drove I imagined myself in the arena and how it was going to go. I rode the test as I wanted it ridden.. I imagined nothing wrong at all. I had it all planned.

I had 2 lovely friends come and help and support me as well, with ones little girl who was so excited for me.

Well the result is ...................

WE CAME 3RD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We got 62.5% from a well known respected judge who doesn't mark particularly high but fair.

WE HAVE QUALIFIED FOR CHAMPIONSHIP IN SEPT!!!!!!!!!!

I am over the moon... I am so pleased with Flynn he didn't put a step wrong.. he was such a super lad..

Comments were
A pleasing test on an obedient horse, just be careful to maintain a "Light" contact in the free walk.
I think I let the reins go too much! nothing he did wrong at all.

We would have scored more if we had a sq halt which we have been achieving.. I bet I didnt allow him..

Straight entries, correct use of arena, good shapes, good lengthening in free walk and stretching, good med walk. A little unsteady in head on one part of trot section.

Well what a brill day even the drizzle all day could not dampen my spirits today. I could have been soaking wet but inside I was beaming.. ;D

You know what my hubby said as I left.Breathe and Enjoy it! and We did...

I would like to say a huge thanks to all my friends who have supported me and a special huge huge thanks to June.. she got me there with her support and her teaching.. backing up all Nicky Smith as done and of course Tom and Sarah for getting me back on the road to self belief.

[cooper69]

congrats

[Admin]

New clinic in Limerick on Aug 24th. More info on main website.

[Elaine]

Tom Widdicombe is around Ireland from Thurs Aug 20th until Thurs Aug 27th. If people want to book a lesson with him at your home / local arena during this time, just email the office. Tom & Sarah have said they want to see a bit of the country!! lol.

[Elaine]

Update from Susan and Flynn who were at a Widdicombe clinic there a few weeks back:

Hi Tom and anyone else who wants to read..

For anyone who isnt in the know with his clinics this year..Tom hit on a method to lift your horse up off his forehand and back onto his haunches to aid his work.(His being the horse of course) push himself around not drag himself around and be ready for any question is the remit..

Well Tom we have stuck with it and when I had my lesson last Saturday with Nicky our RWYM instructor, her first remark was Well he looks good what has changed.. Toms Clinic I said.. OK tell me about it .. so I did brief and showed her how we test the water and see if he is up and soft and can be rocked slightly and off the forehand.

She was amazing at the difference in how he carried himself. Then we asked for trot.. the 1st one wasnt great so I said let me sort this out. Back to soft halt.. lift up test and ask for trot the improvement was really much better.

The last trot we had as I finished our lesson was the BEST!

He was UP soft! and we were totally together.. in fact Nicky remarked that was fantastic Susan the best I have ever seen you two were totally sychronised.. and it felt easier and of course the proof was how Flynn went..

Thanks.. Tom and Sarah..

[kas]

Our clinic in E Sussex starts on the 6th - can't wait!!

[Elaine]

Ooohh!!! Have lots of fun, I can't wait till Tom & Sarah arrive over here either

[Elaine]

Another Flynn & Susan post ;D Flynns latest results.. YEEHAW
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I only went to the show to gain more experience..

no jumping..still work in progress

So I entered Riddden Cob.. as it said could be hogged or plaited or left. I also entered Ridden Hunter if an ID isnt a hunting horse what else is!! born and bred for it..

My god was it hot.. I was melting along with all who attended..worse to have tweed jacket on.. was I mad I thought

Results

Ridden Cob...
Blue One 2nd place.. ( to very nice cob..yes fat but nice all the same and moved well)


Ridden Hunter
Red One 1st............................YEEHAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW


The best was not that rosette but the judges comments..


She said .. Your horse is a TRUE Hunter in all respects.. he is well mannered, sane safe and I would be very very happy to let my own Mum take him hunting.. or out anywhere.. he is what a true hunter should be like.. and a very very nice horse all round!! and she was even still saying it to all as we all came out of the class..

Was I proud or what.. Yes ideal I would have liked him little more forward .. he was lathargic in the heat ( I blame that) more so then normal and apparently many more also like it. Who would balme him, I certainly did not.. he is my soldier...

I went to the show alone in that I had a friend with her pony.. bless 29 years old and a star.. but I had no one to help me. Normally my daughter comes or friend to help groom. Not today tho.
I did the plaiting myself eeek.. not up to daughters standards.. but got him ready and there and into the class myself..

I DID IT and he is MY OWN WORK .. its times like this that you get the pay back...

[Admin]

Two extra days added:

Location: Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
Date: 24 & 25 August (Mon & Tues)

[Elaine]

Is it too early to start the countdown??!!?!! ONLY 40 days to go wwwwwwoooohoooooo!! ;D Tom & Sarah currently doing great work over in their UK clinics I hear

[Elaine]

If anyone can put some some Tom Widdicombe posters in your local area that'd be great!

Click here to download the poster: www.irishhorsemanship.com/tomposter.doc

If you want me to post you out a few, just let me know

[amanda1066]

Well, sadly too far for me to spectate. I know Susan from another board so imo a great recommendation!
I read Toms book some years ago and it's one of my fav books so highly recommend that too.

I've no printer atm but will try sort out some posters though.

[Elaine]

If anyone else could stick up a few posters, I can print out lovely coloured ones for you & post them on thx a million!

[Elaine]

A preview of what you can expect.... less than 20 days left!!!

[moongirl]

Would love to go but can't afford it this time ( theres no crying smiley )

I will get the book instead.

Hope you all have fun.

[Elaine]

Hiya, if you're about that weekend at all Michelle, you should pop up the road to meet them, they're dotes

[Elaine]

16 days left!!!!!!

[Elaine]

15 days left!!! and chairs ALREADY sorted out!