Pat Burgess Clinic Report - May 18 & 19, 2002
Checkmate Farm, Collingwood Ontario

This year's clinic, held at the ever-pleasant Checkmate Farm in Collingwood ON, was another huge success. Despite the best efforts of mother nature to put a damper on the works, Pat radiated enough energy and warmth to keep us going. A full clinic report will follow shortly, but here's a few scenes from the weekend.

 We had to beg, borrow and steal layers of clothing to keep Pat warm. Her memory of how warm it was last year led her to pack lightly!

Once we'd got the layering just about right ....the sun came out!

Pat's idea of warm-up poles takes some orchestrating. Everyone helped out to get the circle of poles, complete with tram-lines, in place. There are 7 poles on the ground 4-1/2 ft apart. The poles on top (tram-lines) guide the horse in a circular shape and can be rolled in on the inside to encourage horses to take longer steps. Working a group of horses on a large circle trotting repeatedly over this exercise helps to activate their hocks and get them focused.

The clinic format includes park-and-talk sessions wherein Pat explains 'RIBS with love from Pat' - the key to remembering the secrets to successful cross-country as well as show jumping."

RIBS wth love from Pat:
(as much of it as I can remember - and I may have taken a little artist's license here because I'm sure there's stuff I've forgotten or misrepresented)

R - Rhythm - it's your job to make sure you've got a good one.
- Ride every stride. Always and everywhere.

I - Intention, Make sure your horse always knows what yours is.
- Impulsion - it's your job to make sure you've created enough of it.
- Imagine what the fence will look like and how it will ride (positive imagery).

B - Balance - it's your job to make sure your horse is balanced in plenty of time before a jump.
- Beam at the jump with your eyes to make sure you get there. Don't take your eyes off the top rail until you feel your horse take-off.
- Breathe - don't forget to. Use long deep breaths to encourage rhythm and focus.

S - Sit-up in front of the jump. The horse must always take-off before you do, and you must sit-up so he can use his shoulders.
- Still your body to allow the horse to negotiate the jump.
- Straight - on every approach and every departure.
- Spirit - your spirit plays an important role in the outcome of the day.  Make sure you are spiritually ready.

w - Wait for your jump.

th - Think about what you're doing. No taking timeout to worry about anything else.

LOVE - Love your horse. Your emotional state plays a big part in what your horse will do for you.

f - Fold over the jumps (push down into your heels, keep your bum close to the saddle and fold from the waist).
- Focus on every moment.
- Forward - towards the jump with intention and impulsion.

fr - Free your horse's head over the jumps as you fold. Push your hands
forward and straighten your arms. Dare to touch his ears.

m - Mind - your mental state plays a big role in pulling it altogether to get the job done.

P.At - Positive Attitude towards getting the job done right!
- Pay Attention to what your horse is telling you and what you are doing.

The circle of poles exercise develops into a grid. The cross-poles become an oxer and the trot poles are replaced with canter poles. The canter poles are 9-1/2 ft apart. The guiding poles are always present to encourage the horses to stay on the circle. Successive exercises include reversing the direction of the poles."

Pat was tireless, teaching 9 hours for 2 days straight, with barely a break. Her Positive ATtitude was truly inspiring.

Another exercise used was a straight grid - complete with lots and lots of guiding poles. One idea to encourage horses to jump straight is to use guiding poles perpendicular to the jump on the landing side because a horse will never know if they are there or not when he takes off. This exercise develops to include a bounce. Bounces are important to teach event horses to 'ping' off the ground with both hind-legs together. At the same time, the rider can practice 'riding down the rapids' - folding/freeing and sitting-up between each element. Once the ping is well-established, the bounce is removed and an oxer added.

Eventing Canada[!] thanks Nicole Parkin and Russell Smith for the use of Checkmate, the clinic partipants and auditors for their tireless ring-crew efforts, Amanda and Jorge Bernhard for their generous offer of an indoor location 'just-in-case', and Whitfield  Farm caterers for the yummy lunch they provided.