When I first got my Icelandics, I subscribed to the only two US Icelandic magazines I know of. I'd had other horses for about 13-14 years by then, and had subscribed to many horsey magazines all that time. I was used to reading "how to" articles - how to help your horse get the right lead, how to get your horse to....whatever - many, many topics over that period. Many magazines, Practical Horseman, Dressage Today, Horse and Rider, and the other one...I can't think of the name, duh...would have major riders or clinicians do monthly articles on such topics. In fact, Practical Horseman has (had? I haven't bought a copy recently) a column on hunter equitation by George Morris, where riders would send pics of themselves for George to critique. He'd usually comment on horse and rider, noting their preparation and talent for the given discipline. George is noted for being blunt and straightforward, but honest. I'm sure his words stung the riders at times, but people learn from such comments. The articles on "how to..." invariably showed some good examples, as well as some of the most common errors. I thought that's how equitation and horsemanship articles were supposed to be presented. They were certainly helpful for me.
When I was at the recent Lynn Palm event here in NC, Jane Savoie gave Lynn a lesson on a young-ish horse for the benefit of the attendees. Lynn rides at a level that I'll certainly never obtain, but even so, Jane gave her some suggestions - no one is perfect, and everyone can use some help. And, no one can see how they look when they are on a horse. We all need feedback. God knows, I do. A good rider or clinician doesn't have to pretend to be infallible. Anyway, what I noticed from the first time I started looking for help with my Icelandics, was that not only are there no articles that show the "do's" as well as the "don't's", but that people often got VERY defensive when someone (often me) would ask a question about some traditional-style trainer. I remember one article in one magazine, showing a particular clinician that everyone was oohing and ahhing over. There was only one picture of the clinician with the article, and the rider was in a horrible chair seat, one stirrup was about two inches longer than the other...there were a couple of other major faux pas too (at least by the way I've been taught) so I immediately thought, "Cool, he's going to explain why you don't do these things." Wrong. It was just a brief article explaining that he was going to be giving a clinic somewhere in the USA, and there were quotes from several explaining how "wonderful" he is. No details on how he taught...no details on his philosophies, and no explanations for the awful riding in the picture. No "do" picture to oppose what I saw as a "don't." In fact, I later gathered that no one had even noticed that the picture showed awful riding. Naively, I asked for an explanation on the lists, and asked for more details about that particular clinician. Whoa! Did I get lectured! I was told that I'd "just have to go see for myself", and there were plenty more raves that he's "just wonderful." It was all just mindless, bland praise, very non-specific, but, no substance, no details. Hmm, he was only going to be giving clinics about 800-1000 miles from me. And I was supposed to drop in and "just see for myself...?" I don't think so. Not long after, there was an Icelander led clinic about three hours from me. I went, and rode someone else's horse. Once again, I was assured that these two clinicians also were "just wonderful", but the clinic was a joke. I was sooo glad that I didn't take Sina - heads would have rolled if someone had tried to treat my beloved pony that way. I have the clinic on video - chock full of "don'ts" but no "do's". Never again... One of the best parts I see in the Parelli "levels" programs is the "what if" sections at the end of each lesson. They made an effort to think of the possible things that the rider/trainer/partner can do wrong...and they have answers for some of the most common mistakes. That is sort of like Jane Savoie asking Lynn Palm to purposely demonstrate something incorrectly, so we can see the difference. To me, being able to isolate and define "wrong" is a large part of getting to "right." It helps to see mistakes...but only if they are noted as mistakes, and not glossed over as "just wonderful." I'm glad to submit videos of me riding or working with my horses, but no way am I claiming to be a "clinician." I may show more don'ts than do's in my riding. But, I really do expect a higher level from professional clinicians, and from riders riding at the international level. I don't collect any money for my clumsy attempts and I don't consider myself a professional by a LONG shot...I just try to do the best I can. It's all I ask of any other non-professional. Try to do the best you can, in a way that is humane and caring to the horses... Anyway, that's how I see things... Karen Thomas, NC
