Clover goes to camp

Emma took Clover to Young Riders camp at Stoneleigh Burnham, after having been awarded one of two scholarships. Jess gave her a wonderfully-eventy-decorated journal to write her experiences in.

Monday
Today we did grid work. Lauren [Hart O'Brien, one of the camp's instructors] told 3 of us to always look at your horse's head, like in between her ears.

Back to the grid work. We had verticals and x-rails set up. After each person went through, she would put another one up. Mostly it was a 1 stride to a bounce all the way down. At the end, there was a max oxer. The first few times Clover would get lazy then bronc after. Lauren told me all the way through to hit Clover's shoulder.

She couldn't stop saying how sweet and precious Clover is. Then later I was walking Clover, watching Caroline's lesson, Lauren said, “Oh, there's my sweet pony!” She really liked her.

I liked Lauren too, although she did tell 3 out of 5 of us to watch our horses' head.

Tuesday
Today we had 30 minute private flat lessons with Lauren. She asked me what I wanted to do, I said I needed to learn how to keep Clover together through transitions.

She had me use an open inside rein with a “taking” outside rein. We were doing leg yields in the circle, then leg yielding back out at the walk, trot and canter. Then we started working on keeping Clover straight and together through transitions.

Later on we went on a hack through the woods (with Nicole, Daisy, Zara, Caroline and Alissa). We went through many water crossings. They were all really nice and fun.

Wednesday
Today we went x-c. First we did the up bank, then back down. Lauren told me not to get ahead of Clover when going up. Then she set up an x-rail after the bank up. It was a 1 stride. Clover was so good over that. Then we went over the x-rail again then down the drop. Then to the bank complex, up then down. Then we went into the water. We trotted around in a little circle in the middle. Clover was unsure about the footing because it was deep and slimy. Finally we were dropping in then jumping out. Lauren set up another x-rail after the bank up. It was a bounce.

Then we moved on to the ditch. Lauren asked me if Clover minded them. I told her I didn't know because usually she's fine with banks, and we had 1 refusal there! She had us do a circle in front of it, getting closer each time we went by, then finally hop over it. [smushed bug guts on page with the words “the jumping bug” pointing at it] After a little while when we were getting comfortable with the ditch, she put a 1 stride to a max vertical. She told me to come at it at a gallop, then Clover would get the stride. Then we turned around and went over the vertical to the ditch. She told me to stay back with my upper body.

Then we went to the log on a very steep hill which was very easy and fun.

Emma and Clover came back on Thursday evening, tired but excited to tell us about their experiences. Clover practically ran back to her pasture, she was so happy to be home again! Thanks again to Barbara Giroux and Warren Smith for funding the Young Riders camp scholarships. We got to meet them at the Groton House II finish line last weekend, and Emma able to thank them personally.