Helping Riders Improve Communication Skills Is Goal of Clinic

Horsemen's Association member Trish Martin leads the adult session around the ring during Susan Bellinger's clinic Monday, August 3. Following her (counterclockwise from right) are Michelle Stuck, Lin Sheppard, and instructor Sue Bellinger. Members of the Mackinac Horsemen's Association got back to the basics Monday, August 3, in a horse clinic with instructor Susan Bellinger. Mrs. Bellinger offered adult group sessions, youth group sessions, and private lessons during her two-day stay on the Island, helping riders improve their form and communication with horses.

"When you're schooling a horse, you've got to get them listening to you," Mrs. Bellinger said. "They have got to be 100% listening to you, and not looking around and seeing the other horses and think, 'oh I'm losing my concentration.' So, that was a lot of it today, a lot of groundwork, pole work, some jumping, and just trying to get them ready for their show."

The youth sessions focused mostly rider balance and position, and flatwork, or nonjumping exercises, particularly working with crossing lowlevel poles at varying paces.

"We did a lot of ground work with them," Mrs. Bellinger said. "Trying to teach them exactly how to give the pace and slow a horse down, or speed it up -- talk to the horse, basically. Through the hands, through the feet, because kids get on a horses and sometimes all they do is pull the reins and they think stop, start. So we did a lot of flatwork, we put them over some holes. We did pole work with the kids, teaching them balance, teaching them to communicate with the horse a little better. We had two groups of children -- the 4-Hs -- in the morning, and they all had fun and I think they all learned quite a bit."

The adult sessions also focused on flatwork, with an emphasis on communicating with the horses and keeping the control.

Mrs. Bellinger has coached the Central Michigan University Equestrian Team for five years, and is certified with the American Riding Instructor Program. This is her second year offering a clinic on the Island, and she saw many returning riders.

"One of the Friesian [horses] was great, because he'd improved so much since I saw him last year. Some of the other ladies had different horses that I hadn't seen before, so it's always kind of fun. I usually end up getting on the horses, as well, just to get a feel for them, how they're listening, and it's kind of fun to ride the big Friesians. I get exhausted after riding them for a little while. I tell these ladies I really admire them!"

The riders faced new challenges during the clinic this year than they did last year, Mrs. Bellinger said, located in their new arena near Wawashkamo Golf Course and the Solid Waste Handling Facility.

"Of course, it's interesting being at the new arena. They've got to contend with a lot of noise from the recycle plant and the seagulls," she said. "Most of the horses were really good. Once they start relaxing and thinking about what they're doing and they get their minds on their work, they really didn't think about anything else.'"

Mrs. Bellinger hoped the clinic helped prepare association members for their annual horse show August 16.

The association has had several clinics this summer, including a clinic with Chrystine Jones Tauber in July and the Helmet and Safety Fitting Clinic and Mobile Confidence Clinics in June. The association's last event for the season will be the annual Labor Day Formal Ride.