Summer Dressage Festival Wrap-Up:
Lendon Gray and Victor Alvarez Clinics Enlighten and Encourage Local Dressage Riders
Dressage Riders and Trainers from as nearby as Fruitport and Whitehall, and as far away as Maryland and Texas, came together at Hampton Green Farm last week to ride and learn from some of the Dressage world’s top teachers and competitors.
US Olympian Lendon Gray began the festival with a two-day clinic. The first day, Saturday, was reserved for Hampton Green horses exclusively, but was open to auditors. Over 40 people came out to watch new HGF riders Maria Lithander and Ana Gilmour, as well as Adult Amateur Champion Janne Rumbough and Working Student Lauren Staley, ride the HGF stallions at all levels, from Training to Grand Prix. The following day was a public clinic that featured a number of different riders—from local professionals to Juniors and Young Riders, all of whom were excited and grateful to work with one of the United States’ most respected dressage coaches.
Lendon’s focus with each rider, regardless of level, was rider’s position and correctness in the saddle and aids. From there, she emphasized the effectiveness of each rider’s aids and the mentality that a rider needs to have in expecting a reaction to commands. She repeatedly spoke of communication from rider to horse being simple and positive, with immediate results. She discouraged nagging negative commands and taught that all commands are to be stated in the positive, i.e., the difference between “don’t slow down, don’t slow down” and “Go!” Some of her best expressions were:
“Does your horse feel lighter now? Well, he isn’t—you are!”
“Always ask for the best work—why practice mediocrity?”
“Always strive to develop lightness and self-carriage. If you don’t teach your horse to be supple, you will teach him to brace.”
Lendon’s clinic was followed by a pair of three-day clinics with Spanish Grand Prix rider Victor Alvarez. Victor had established a following while in Wellington last winter for a USPRE-sponsored clinic, and several riders came long distances this time to work with him for the week. Victor echoed Lendon’s themes of clear commands, forward impulsion, correct position, and requiring results at first request. Victor utilized a number of exercises to supple resistant or nervous horses and within days several of the horses who had come with distinct issues were soft, round, and naturally forward. Victor sat on every one of the horses so that he could best assess the riders’ concerns, and on several occasions schooled young horses so that the rider could be more effective. Victor’s elegant and seamless riding style appealed to all of the riders and auditors and he was appreciated for his gentlemanly manner and kind way of treating the horses. He often spoke of the difference between breeds in dressage training and emphasized the classical training scale from the lowest levels through the FEI.
On Monday evening, the Summer Dressage Festival was highlighted with the Chicks in Spurs Benefit for Lendon Gray’s Dressage4Kids, where 500 people attended a dinner and horse show provided by Hampton Green Farm and visiting riders.
Hampton Green Farm would like to thank all of the people who contributed to making the past week such a success, including HGF Staff, the invaluable and hard-working volunteers, the All Dressage Association, Tru-Cuts Lawn Care Co., the visiting riders and performers, Tom Reed of Medieval Times Orlando and family, the Corporate and Presenting Sponsors, organizers Claudia Kerr, Paulina Lawton and Joan Mack, yummy Chef Frederic, Soprano Alexandra Overbeck and her accompanist, Latitudes Market, Janne Rumbough, Louise St. Amour, Spring Lake Rotary, and all who came out and supported the event.
