The Tom Davis Clinic at Linden Woods Farm

What a beautiful day on Sunday. Sunny, melting temperatures. A short 45 minute drive, with Mindy and the girls. Notice I didnt say snot pickers? Well that is because they were such a big help to me. They got us all situated with tack and the chairs and were always there waiting for anything. I appreciated it. I also didnt realize the farm was that close! Monthly clinics to get Angel out and about would be a good thing. Angel was good ONCE he got warmed up. I was trying not to wake the giant upon mounting, but Angel was gettin' jiggy wit it, and that is all Tom focused on... getting his attention and keeping him quiet. As with all riders that Tom works with during a clinic, there was a major change in horse and rider before exiting the arena, INCLUDING myself. I was appreciative to his insight but dissappointed in my first session ride time because Tom had to spend the whole time instructing me on how to divert Angels attention. IF my first ride was AFTER lunch, that would have given me an opportunity to ride it out before the start of our session.... giving me an advantage to gain more knowledge... NOTE TAKEN! NOT saying I didnt get anything out of what he instructed me to do with him. I gained a new understanding of inside rein, inside leg to push into outside rein that maintains bend and outside leg to push him through. Finding rythm and cadence giving lift to his rib cage and maintaining this structure during our ride. It was hard! That is FOUR seperate instructions at the same time with 4 different limbs. Can YOU rub your belly and pat your head? I CAnT! I was tired after that! I wish I was able to go to the back of the arena and work on it while he worked with another student, then come back to fine tune, but our time was up. I think he knew the other students and therefore was able to do more, than with us, and played it safe not asking too much of us before understanding our riding capabilities. Notice how he breaks down the instruction, but giving tons of detail, and rewarding alot. This video shows what we worked on on the flat in the morning.



By the beginning of next video you can see the end of morning session accomplishments... then the jumping instruction. The jumping session brought more bending and aids but adding a few jumps in between, and maintaining rythm. The first thing he did was stop me after my first jump as I had it all wrong. NO excuse except nerves...I dumped on Angel over the first cross rail and Tom let me know it... he stopped me abrutptly and explained what I had done. One must be ON-time or a little behind the motion over the jump. I KNEW THAT! Why then did I do it? My mind and body are not ONE yet... but I am working on it! 3/4 of the way through that he stopped me again and fixed my frame over the jump. Again... I KNEW THAT! But... nobody is beating me up every day to tell me so I THINK I know but I DONT. DONT I hate that! So he gave me insight of the many things that need fixing from years of bad habits and I sure hope they are fixable! I wonder how much that will cost me? Time and consistancy I hope is the answer. He told me riding an experienced & consistant horse over rails would benefit me in learning the jumping frame and being strong in my jumping frame while getting a good feel. Then I would know what I had to do on a horse that is in training. That makes sense too... I may have to do some research on where and when to try that. I did mention that I would like to attend the Tammarack Farm Eventing Camp and he said that would be a perfect start for us. I was happy to hear that I was qualified enough to go for it... because at this point I feel I KNOW NOTHING! Listen to his instruction as he tries to ride with me every moment before and after the jump.



Great advise over and over again. I hope to sign up for April clinc with him too. What patience he has to work with us all! Thank YOU TOM! Thank you Mom and Vi for supporting me, and feeding me. Thank you Mindy and the girls for coming with me and helping with Angel.