Mark Rashid Clinics
May 2002, Scotland
"Brilliant as usual - Mark gives first and last the same attention and feeling - he's an inspiration of what we all would like to be and shows some of it can be achieved. Great facilities - no bad marks at all, gold stars all round!"
"Great tuition; nice thinking; nice wind; great company; nice sing song; great time; nice toilet!"
Jane: "Thank you very much indeed for a most wonderfully organised clinic and a super atmosphere. The weather we hardly noticed! We really did take away an awful lot, our heads were bursting. We enjoyed it very much indeed. Consistency is the name of the, and just thinking things through a bit more, I would just love my brain to click. It really is weird how most of us seem to always find the difficult way around things and yet it still isn't the answer. So it really is refreshing to see Mark in action."
Mette: "Chanter and I were at the Mark Rashid clinic 22nd May and I have to say that we both had such a good time. We were both very shaky on the first day with nerves and stress for Chanter being away from home, and me not managing to leave stress from work behind. But with each day we got more and more coordinated. The best part of the clinic was that I now understand with my body as well as my head what I am trying to do when communicating with my horse, why I am trying to do and the end results that I am looking for. Its taken 3-4 years for the teaching from Mark and others and the ideas I have picked up and read to cook and produce something coherent and it took Marks skill to put the last pieces in this particular jigsaw together. The really funny thing was how my learning has mirrored that of many of the horses we have been watching from no idea, to some idea, to very confused and rather cross, to big worry/explosion, and then on to understanding and contentment. I think my first day at MR's clinic was the equivalent of the horse pitching a big fit before the decision to move forward comes <g>. Anyway since the clinic I have been continuing the work I was doing with Mark concentrating on straightness, working on collection and softness, and having success starting to teach my other ponies too. ...and for those of you who were watching me on the fourth day and are wondering whether I ever did achieve a canter transition ... well it happened the other day, Chanter and I were out for a ride and he offered the nicest transition into canter, smooth, soft and no bucking and we had a nice canter along a grass verge <yippee>."
Rachel: "Hi, I just wanted to put down my thoughts on the Mark Rashid clinic...I watched the whole of the second one. When I came home, my head was full of his voice and sayings and I thought I needed to copy practically everything I saw...it was all so quiet and effective! However, I'm glad to say it's now settled down to a few key things which are really helpful. I think the first arose from Mette's first riding session, when the pony was so "up" and raring to go. The use of the patterns in the riding and then Mark saying "Don't try to stop the energy, re-direct it" is very helpful for me and my impulsive ex-racehorse. I rode her the other day and persisted with figures of 8 until she was really calm. Had a couple of breaks and then was able to go in bigger circles and do some straight stuff. As soon as she got "hairy" again, back into figures of 8 until we were calm. Excellent!
The other thing I'm trying to implant in my brain is a calm and gentle "I can't use that right now...but thank you for offering it." It takes all the heat out of the situation when I tend to get frustrated and reminds me that my horse is trying really hard. All I have to do is stay with the horse until we approach what I want and then reward it. Of course, I may be getting what I'm asking for anyway (rather than what I want!), so it also helps me to think through the situation again...perhaps my position needs adjusting slightly so I don't send a conflicting message. I'm hoping this wonderful phrase will enter my brain next time Toby gets to bucking...can you imagine "I can't use this right now..." Somehow, I doubt it!
The third thing he said was about getting to the inside of the horse, rather than getting an automatic response. "See if your horse can find a way to get the job done" I'm using this in lots of situations. For example, in getting my horse through a gate, I would usually manoeuvre the horse. Now, I just concentrate on opening the gate and it's up to the horse to work out how to get out of the way and then through it. It's much more fun and gives the horses more independence and choices, something I have tried hard to do for their lives, but not really extended to their handling and riding.
The final thing is an observation. Mark did everything with open hands. Every time he held a rope his hands were open. It is a powerful image in my mind and I am trying to practise it all times...tying my shoes with open hands, driving with open hands and leading my horse with open hands. That has been amazing...suddenly you have to have a conversation with your horse. I first tried it with Poppy, our retired and arthritic pony. I was leading her down their steep field and trying to ensure it was the best route for her. She followed happily and it was lovely feeling the rope soft. But when she put some pressure in it, it was fun to go with her in order not to have to close my hands...it was me going with her and keeping the same light contact.
So you can see that I learned loads at the clinic. It's the second one I've watched and I was able this year to make much more sense of it...see the patterns and consistencies in the way Mark works. His ability to teach clearly is second to none and his patience with horses and riders seems infinite.
Thanks very much to him for coming over again and to Trisha and Roberta for their work in organising it. I enjoyed seeing so many nice people again who I'd met last year and meeting new people too. I love coming up to Score Hill as the atmosphere is so friendly and hospitable. Hope to see you all again soon, "
Sally: "I've discovered a lot.
By gettin my intentions out to the Universe I heard about Trisha and her clinics.(fast it was)
By gettin to the LD clinic I discovered a sorta preview unnerstanding of an MR clinic.
By gettin my horse to the MR clinic I discovered we both had unbridled nervousness and it was yuk.
By gettin on my horse I discovered I had leapt off before I knew it myself. (another yuk) By gettin on my horse agin I discovered Mark knew what I had not been wanting to know
By gitten this new knowledge I discovered what could be done in a drought. (eg-boohoo)
By gittin back home I discovered I could now do something about everything myself.
By gettin in my animal communicator friend, Ann Dee I discovered Tuffy was in denial.
By gettin an earful of Tuffy's viewpoints I discovered we were like sistahs.
By gettin in the vet I discovered that she's lucky if she's got one good leg but its ok I've got 2.
By gettin 'In The Now' I've discovered I kin deal with it all and I will. "
