by Brita Barlow
-Johnson
Clinics have long been a popular tool for amateur owners and professionals alike to share ideas and learn from instructors that they may not always have easy access to. The past few years has given rise to more and more of these educational events in the Saddlebred world.
The Penn-Ohio Futurity has sponsored a clinic for three consecutive years. In 2007 they put on clinic with Mitch Clark who discussed starting and training a horse to rack, in 2006 Clem Lee was the featured speaker, and this year was the Bret and Suzi Day clinic.
The clinic was conducted on February 28th at the lovely Champions Center at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Springfield Ohio. Due to a previous engagement, Suzi Day was not able to attend, but that did not put a damper on the day’s events. Prior to the clinic, there was an informal swap meet with about half a dozen tables set up outside the stabling area where people could buy and sell equipment while meeting to catch up on news.
At 12:00, the event kicked off with an informal workshop on tail sets in front of the stalls. This is a subject that perhaps could have gone on all day. Wendy Lewis began by demonstrating how to properly fit and adjust a tail set. Since there were several horses there to participate in the clinic, who were wearing sets, we had no shortage of subject matter. Bret Day chimed in with some very helpful experience. Before we knew it, our allotted time was up. I think the workshop could have gone on all day. There were many good questions which were well answered, and I learned a few new techniques as I am sure did everyone else.
The main clinic kicked off at 1:00. There were many auditors seated on the (rather cold) bleachers. The way the facility is set up, there isn’t a bad seat in the house, and it is easy to ask questions and see what is being demonstrated. Eight horses ranging from three year olds to veterans were brought out one at a time to work with Mr. Day. This year there was a nice mix of long lining and riding. Mr. Day demonstrated how to run the lines and adjust the side check and shared some personal experiences about over bitting and checking that we all learned from. He also brought some bridles from his Grey Ridge Stable, and passed them around as he explained how a to introduce a horse to a curb bit, and how the curb bit functions in the horse’s mouth.
Most of the horses present had only been in a double bridle for a short time. A nice young gaited colt had his curb bit swapped for one that had been brought for demonstration, and we could immediately see the results. Another horse was recently adopted from the Saddlebred Rescue program. There was some discussion about rehabbing a rescue horse, as well as starting an older horse back into the double bridle.
Participants who brought horses were Marcia Belcher, Wendy Lewis, Mary Waickman, Brenda Santenello, Colleen Martin, and Ray & Barbara Blanton.
Before we knew it the afternoon was up. I myself could have gone on listening to Bret Day for awhile longer. I enjoyed his overall philosophy that horse shows, while a highly competitive sport, are supposed to be fun. He also spoke about encouraging a horse to think highly of himself. After all, few humans do well in their work or lives if they do not have a high self esteem, and we should encourage this in our horses as well. He spoke of teaching a horse to respond to his bridle, rather than respecting his bridle. Mr. Day’s training principles do not revolve around dominating the horse, rather working with the horse and doing what we can to make them happy so they will perform for us.
At 4:00, those of us who were getting cold from the aluminum bleachers hurried to the warmth of the snack bar at the Champions Center, while the rest remained to speak one on one with Mr. Day, and to thank him for a wonderfully informative afternoon.
That evening at the same facility was the Ohio Stallion Auction, and many stayed for dinner and a piece of the amazing cake made by April Vercoe. The cake topper was modeled after Undulata’s Nutcracker. What a full day, and a great opportunity not only to learn from one of the best trainers in our industry, but also a great time to catch up with the happenings of the Ohio Saddlebred folks. Many thanks to the organizers Marcia Belcher, Wendy Lewis for another successful Penn-Ohio training clinic.
