What a Difference a Julio Mendoza Clinic Makes!

After getting 57% at the Fix-A-Test, I took Cruz to a local schooling show for our first outing at Second Level test.

I really wanted to improve our score by at least two percentage points.

Show Number One

We just squeezed into the 60% bracket with our Second Level 1 test – my shoulder-ins were too much like shoulder-fores and received 5s. Then I dipped below that magic 60% in Second Level 2: my sad attempts at travers both received 4s, with the comments ‘not succeeded.’

Ouch!

Then Along Came Julio

However, I was booked into a two day clinic with Julio Mendoza, who’d been invited by a fellow PVDA Calvert Chapter member to visit our humble Southern Maryland area. I am so glad he did. He is a very upbeat, courteous and fun guy who wants riders and their horses to enjoy themselves.

Quick Background

Two days earlier I’d had a second lesson with a new instructor, as my former trainer was getting too busy with her competition circuit to devote regular time to teaching.

We were to ride shoulder-in and travers at walk on a 20 meter circle, punctuating the movements with halts.  This enabled me to concentrate on bending Cruz around my inside leg for the travers, and keeping a strong outside rein for the shoulder-in.

We then graduated to trotting the same exercise, alternating between compressing Cruz and releasing him forwards. His trot improved 1000%.

Back to Julio

So I warmed Cruz up in the same fashion at the clinic, and was thrilled when Julio continued during our session with the same exercises. But he did add some changes.

1. Bit Placement

First, he lowered the bit one hole in my gelding’s mouth. He explained to me that the area of the bar immediately in front of the horse’s teeth is very sensitive. By placing the bit further down, it was now resting on a less touchy part of his jaw.

Cruz immediately began to chew happily (and at our last show was actually foaming at the mouth!).

2. Hand Placement & Rein Function

Julio told me that I keep my hands too far apart. My outside hand should come almost to my horse’s mane and my inside hand should be close to it. The reins should also be held a little in front of the saddle.

One function of the outside rein is to lift the horse - together with the rider’s shoulders, core and lower back. This rein ‘belongs to the rider.’

The inside rein ‘belongs to the horse’ and one of its uses is to relax his top line.

Keeping my hands more together maintains the horse in a more condensed ‘packet.’ Julio had to constantly remind me to do this during the two days of the clinic, but I could feel a huge difference in my horse when I did as I was told.

3. Use of the Reins and Legs

Julio says the inside rein ‘belongs to the horse’ while the outside rein ‘belongs to the rider.’

The outside rein stays constant, supporting - but not holding - the horse. Since the aim is to get the horse to lighten up in front, any time he leans on either rein, release that rein a tiny bit before resuming contact. This takes away the horse’s prop so he has to carry himself.

The inside rein is the more playful rein, which releases as a reward to the horse when he bends, gives, etc. This doesn’t mean constantly messing about with it: just let it be softer/squeezed more than the outside rein so the horse gives to it and bends laterally.

At the same time the inside leg needs to urge the horse forwards and into the outside rein, while the outside leg supports him.

4. Shoulder-In and Travers

In the shoulder-in, I learned to maintain my inside leg behind the girth to keep the horse’s haunches out on the track, while my strong outside rein brought his shoulders in for enough angle. I also learned that I need more forward impulsion to perform a good shoulder-in.

For travers my horse needs to be properly bent around my inside leg, yet not over bent, laterally or horizontally. Again, with correct impulsion, Cruz found it easy to perform a correct travers.

5. Collected Trot

I needed a sharp reminder that ‘collected’ trot does not mean ‘slower’ trot!

My clue to having achieved collected trot was when Cruz moved forwards in a controlled fashion with so much bounce I could hardly sit it out! He became lighter in front, and moved laterally with ease. It was a great feeling. This trot also segued effortlessly into a spectacular medium trot.

The Second Show

Thanks to that clinic, at the following show I got 6s for my shoulder-ins (no more shoulder-fores) and 6.5 for my travers (goodbye to those 4s!).  

With expert guidance from Julio and my current instructor, Cruz and I are on truly en route to becoming a genuine Second Level partnership!

P.S. On the second day of the clinic, before our session began, a clap of thunder and instant downpour of rain on the indoor arena’s roof freaked Cruz out, and he took off!

When I finally brought him to a standstill, I leaped off and stood shaking while trying to reassure Cruz that all was well.

Julio gave me a kind hug, then hopped on Cruz for a while. It was lovely to see the horse go so well with a great rider! Julio was so calm that Cruz settled straight down to work and I was soon able to resume my lesson on him.

It drummed into me how staying calm oneself is vital to convincing the horse that there is nothing to worry about.

Clinic Notes: Cesar Parra

Cesar Parra came to Sharon Myers’ barn, Chimney Hill, in Upper Marlboro for a clinic on 20th and 21st April. Unfortunately I was only able to watch three horses’ rides. But, as always, I learned a lot in that short time.

Here are my notes - I hope some you find some of them useful.

Specific Issues

First Horse

This was a young horse with lovely movement in walk and trot, but a weak canter.

Improving the Canter

• Cesar told the rider to work on her horse's trot for several months, to strengthen the horse before asking for canter again.

• For homework he told her to work the horse in shoulder-in away from and facing the wall to change his muscle memory. This would enable him to approach canter work afresh.

• He also suggested lungeing the horse before riding.

Second Horse

An established Third Level gelding,

Bending and ‘Giving’

• When bending the horse, the outside rein must remain in strong, steady contact – without moving the hand forward – otherwise the horse won't give into that rein.

• The horse’s head must remain straight in the bend, not tipped to one side. Otherwise it is an evasion and not true acceptance of the outside rein.

• When the horse gives to the outside rein, the rider can give, too. But we need to appreciate the big difference between ‘giving’ and ‘throwing away the contact’. Giving with the hands is a slight easing of rein tension, not a loose rein.

• We should give with our hands every chance we get. When the horse learns to relax - without taking hold - he also learns to accept the giving as a reward.

Third Horse

Working at Prix St. George level.

Canter Pirouettes

The rider was having problems getting her horse to submit to the right outside rein in canter pirouettes.

Cesar had her walk the horse in a 10 meter circle with haunches in, then go into canter from walk, still keeping the haunches in WITH LOTS OF OUTSIDE REIN on the ten meter circle.

(I've watched Cesar giving lessons at his New Jersey barn, and his big issue with canter pirouettes is frequently the rider's insufficient outside rein.)

Tempi

For the flying changes the rider’s legs should move ‘like windshield wipers’ in the moment of change, rather than the huge leg and body movements one sees in some riders.

General Themes/Observations

Emotions

• Don’t take it personally when the horse doesn’t do as you ask.

• Don’t hold a grudge against the horse after corrections. Quickly regain your calm.

Quickness

A theme throughout was that we riders are too slow to react to the horse and make things happen. We need to be much more alert and reactive, without being hurried.

Work Less for More Results

The aim is to work less as a rider for more reaction from the horse.

Forward, Forward, Forward!

This was another constant theme running through the clinic.

• If the horse is sluggish off the leg, take both legs away and kick. Keep doing this until the horse reacts as soon as you simply take your legs off.

• Get the horse moving forward before all else. There is nothing to work with until the horse is doing this.

• Get the horse moving from freer shoulders.

Half-Halts

Get the horse sensitive to the half-halts: be dramatic with them if the horse doesn’t listen. The half-halts must come through!

The Whip

Get the horse to react to a touch of the whip. This way we can use it as an aid, not as a punishment, with just a light request.

Reins First

This is a difficult concept for those of us who were trained in the German fashion which dictates ‘applying as much or more leg as we hold with our hands.’ But most of us aren’t strong enough to do this.

So Cesar advocates getting the horse to come back ONLY WITH THE REINS. Then, when he is light in front, ask him to go forwards off the leg and seat.

This makes the horse much easier to ride.

Constantly Adjust

Keep making little adjustments while riding, testing the horse’s flexibility in the head and neck, or rebalancing him.

Lateral Flexion

Continually test the left and right lateral flexion in the horse, in all three gaits. Make sure the horse is supple and ready for any new movement.

Cruz Bay still looking supple today after working hard!