Notes from Janet Foy: Through the Levels

Ok, clinic recap time!! Except - I'm gonna try to manage your expectations a little right off the bat. Namely: this will NOT be my most detailed and thorough recap post ever - I took a lot of notes, sure, but honestly don't think they'll do the clinic justice.

Long story short: If you have an opportunity to audit Janet Foy's Through the Levels series, just do it. Both days.

There is legitimately excellent information to be had for every rider at every level. Ms Foy is witty and gleefully sarcastic; she deftly provides compelling content for auditors as well as riders; and she very clearly loves teaching these clinics.

my notes, folks. here dey is. 

But perhaps most importantly: JF's eye as a judge and trainer is on point. She gave each rider a candid and honest assessment and found new and effective ways for improving everyone's ride. Again - it was abundantly clear that she loves teaching this series, and she obviously has a repertoire of exercises that she purposefully demonstrates throughout the weekend (I say that like I was there both days - alas I was only there for part of one... sorry!).

So while every rider got a lesson tailored to their needs and level - she also provided the audience with a comprehensive and in-depth overview of her most fundamental dressage principals.

my favorite is the center quote: "OMG she's riding GP and she still sucks a little bit!!"
(ed note: rider most definitely DID NOT suck -- but JF has some humor lol)

Ok. Enough jabbering - let's get on with my takeaways. Other bloggers have written extensively about this series and JF before (I'm about 95% sure Britt did an excellent post a while back, and maybe others too? Plus Austen will obvi share her perspective) so I'm going to keep my points to those that stood out specifically to me as a rider.

Point #1: 

-   Whatever your horse does by nature: Change it. That's training. They carry their neck up? Be able to take it down. Big stride? Make it small. Make the horse rideable. That's dressage.

Point #2:

-   One aid, one answer. Forever and ever amen.

Point #3:

-   "I've not felt one thing in dressage that our brain tells us to do that is right."

Point #4:

-   Ask the horse a question. See what answer she gives then either reward or ask again. 

classy pair!

Corners

-   Corners should maintain the engagement created through a movement.
-   It's two straight lines with a turning aid.
-   Walk into corner and horse will turn bc he's not stupid. To improve the corner, ride shoulder fore into halt at the corner. Then apply turning aid and walk out.
-   Repeat at trot. If horse tries to turn before turning aid, quietly halt again then apply turning aids to turn.
-   Do this EVERY CORNER - you must ride every corner the same so that the horse will always trust the aids (again, an aid should have the same one answer always).
-   Don't cut corners, the judge can totally see it (in reference to first level leg yield zig zags)
-   Don't think "leg yield into corner" --> that pushes the horse onto his outside shoulder whereas the corner is supposed to create engagement on the inside hind.
-   Corner can become opportunity to create engagement.

huskieeeeeeessss!

Halt 

-   Like a snowflake, not like an avalanche.
-   A step forward into halt to balance is acceptable to finish the halt.
-   Halt for salute = three seconds. Halt for rein back = "settled," ie: all four legs still and rider in control. Doesn't require 3 second count.

Pulling

-   Pulling is bad, m'kay?
-   Just because you're not pulling as hard doesn't mean you're giving.
-   You can take 100% as long as you give 100% back (quickly!).
-   Inside rein does not come back. It opens.
-   "I'm not going to let go of this; I'm a terrier" -- re: pulling, ironically

developing young horse (i think)

Stretchy Trot 

-   Remember stretch circle should still have bend and a half halt
-   Nose should go between point of shoulder and knee, but is dependent on the horse's conformation
-   If nose goes too low, the horse loses range of motion in shoulder
-   Ultimately the horse must release his back. The location of the head and neck is secondary to this point.
-   Look for "hair gone wild" in the mane - bouncing all over the place. That indicates a relaxed muscle and topline in the stretch.
-   As always, outside rein in charge of frame, inside in charge of bend.

so much fancy!!

Mediums (trot + canter)

-   First ride the corner, then the turn, then a half halt, then the medium. Transition down from medium must happen before horse's nose reaches the letter.
-   Make transitions down from mediums/extensions count.
-   Go and come back; get in and out faster.
-   Think of the "pendulum swing" between extended and collected, and seek multiple 'swings' down a single long side or diagonal - or through figures of eight ridden across the entire arena.
-   Don't go so far into the medium while schooling that the horse gets stiff. The horse must stay supple. Go just far enough to get the medium while maintaining supple, then collect again. Rinse repeat.
-   Too much hand in bringing back to collected and the horse goes on the forehand.
-   Horse must lengthen in front of seat, but keep hind legs underneath the seat.
-   Use whip to 'tickle' for activity behind.
-   You can only extend as much as you can collect.

Transitions in Walk

-   Pick up inside rein first in transition from free walk to medium walk
-   Maintain the inside bend and get the horse "leg yield-able" and THEN pick up outside rein and medium walk

hands on teaching!

Test Strategy (accuracy + points)

-   What are your movements that are going to be a 6 no matter what?
-   Where are the places you can actually really make a difference?
-   Don't leave easy points on the table. Imagine each point is worth $65,000.
-   Circle geometry!!!!! Do not ride a 24m oval!!!
-   Geometry is the single easiest and FREE lesson to learn - you should not be giving away points there.
-   First half of circle is always too big (falling out) and second is always too small (falling in).
-   Know where the points of the circle lie!

Half Halts

-   Must have bend BEFORE movement - to prepare for movement
-   Riding half halt to half halt = riding preparation of movement through to finishing the movement

JF referred to Pig as a 'red headed mare gelding'.... #accurate

Contact / Connection / Application of aids / Position

-   Horse in front of leg, behind hand, and under seat. Test by letting go of reins.
-   Contact should be like cheese cloth - allowing some forward energy - but not like Swiss cheese. And not like a brick wall.
-   Seat takes over for hands and leg as you go up the levels. Hands create shape, legs are the rebar that hold the shape we pour cement into. The seat handles forward and back, it opens and closes.
-   Stop and pat as soon as the right answer is given. DO NOT STOP if the horse makes a mistake. You can only stop if he's running away with you."
-   Body back; hands forward.
-   "Stay in your position and give him a place to come to"
-   Take away impulsion to get submission if needed. 
-   Moving up the levels, we're changing balance from stability to mobility.
-   Quality is more important than accuracy. 
-   Look UP. 

moar fancy ponies!!!!

Quotables

-   "Good Boy, Alpo!!"
-   "Line of travel is sacred"
-   "You're a grand prix rider, you're not in Kansas anymore."
-   "You divorce your husbands but won't sell your horses. I don't get this."
-   "I see this bit {a baucher} and automatically know the rider can't get the horse on the bit."
-   "It's been tried by millions and hasn't worked yet!" re: leaning back
-   "He can be your little lamb 23hrs a day. The other hour he is your love slave."