Clinic Report: Grant Wilson

Courtney Comeau recently organized a clinic taught by Grant Wilson at Coyote Spring Farm in Lee, NH.  Courtney was kind enough to send us some quotes from the riders, as well as a brief overview of the clinic.  Thanks Courtney!

 

 

Grant_Wilson_Clinic_Photo_by_Courtney_Comeau_(2).JPG

 

New Zealander Grant Wilson is an international show jumper based in Brussels, Belgium. His clients include Belgium Olympic three-day eventer Karin Donckers as well as a member of the Junior Belgium Show Jumping team. He competed as a member of the NZ team at the 2006 WEG in Aachen and has been competing in the international jumping circuit for the last 16 years. He currently runs a private competition and training stable in Brussels.
This is a recent Grand Prix ride for Grant in November 2011 right before his first clinic in New England. http://youtu.be/qMXe1UzUtZw

I began organizing Grant Wilson’s east coast show jumping clinics in November 2011. He recently returned in January 2012 to give another clinic in this cold New England weather! We were welcomed back to the same stables; January 18-19 at Water’s Edge Farm in Concord, MA,  Jan. 21 at Coyote Spring Farm in Lee,NH, Jan.22 at Green Acres Stables in NH and Jan. 23 at the University of New Hampshire.

In November we were lucky to have met eventer Corinne Ashton at Water’s Edge Farm, who invited Grant to teach in Aiken this winter.  With little convincing needed to take a break from the cold New England weather, Grant will be teaching at Jenny Berryman’s Southern Cross Farm in Windsor, SC 29 on January 31 – February 1, 2012.

Grant teaches all levels and ages. Group lessons contain 2-3 riders and are split to match the groups’ level.  Grant emphasizes technique during the lessons and gives great advice whether you are an eventer, show jumper or hunter jumper.

 

Grant starts off his lessons with warm up exercises, for example in January he did a lot of ground pole work. He would have 2 ground poles on a 20 meter circle that were about 8 strides apart. He asked the riders to either lengthen or shorten strides in between the poles. Staying straight and in the center of each pole was a big factor in this exercise. For some of the younger riders, who were just beginning eventing or jumping, he would have them count out loud or in their head how many strides they were getting between the poles. Encouraging a feel for the striding.

Grant then goes through a couple of jumps ending in some courses.
He started off with 5 strides between two cross rails or verticals on one long side. The 5 stride was a good way to start off jumping because most horses were very fresh in the cold weather and some had not been jumping much. So with the five stride, if the horse was a bit speedy, they would have to incorporate a 15 meter circle into the line. Even just to give the horse something other to think about than going right to the next jump – they had to jump, ride a somewhat controlled circle, then go onto the next jump, as well as go on to the next jump in the course. Another main point that Grant emphasized was to keep straight after the jump as well as to approach your jump straight.

 

Grant_Wilson_Clinic_Photo_By_Courtney_Comeau_(3).JPG

 

Here are some thoughts from riders in the January clinic with Grant Wilson:

“The Grant Wilson clinic was educational and systematic for both my young horse and progressive work for my more experienced horse.  Grant’s demeanor and expertise make him one of my favorites and I’m looking forward to more riding opportunities!”
         -Liz Oertel, UNH

“Riding with Grant Wilson was an eye opening experience. I learned what I am capable of achieving, and that with the right training I will be able to reach all of my goals. I am 15, and have been riding for a little over two years, I have big ambitions I would like to reach, and with Grant’s down-to-Earth teaching style I felt as though I have been riding with him for years. He worked a lot on technique and how to efficiently work with my horse, and corrected my mistakes. He encouraged me a lot during my lesson, and brought my confidence up greatly. I really look forward to the spring when Grant will return for another clinic.”
         – Alexandra Fyffe, Coyote Spring Farm

“Grant was so great the way he worked with all levels and ages.  He remembered me and my mare.  And was able to quickly see how we had improved and/or what we still needed to work on.  His lessons are very tough yet he takes time to really explain.   And he was patient, friendly and fun with the girls (Emily and Kate).  He pushed them without scaring them.  And they came away confident and smiling.”
         – Polly Gilbert, Water’s Edge Farm
 
“I loved working with Grant. During my semiprivate he had us work on opening and closing our canter through various jump courses. When I went home with my horse, I was very happy to be able to recreate the same feeling I had during the clinic. I really look forward to attending another of his clinics.”
        – Mary Lee, Water’s Edge Farm

 

 

 

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments