Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison
Watching training sessions are one of my favorite things. I wrote about it this spring, but it’s worth noting again: for all of the criticism that Uncle Mark gets, he gives excellent lessons and I can tell why so many of the riders enjoy taking lessons with him. He has a great eye from the ground and is really good about tailoring his instruction to the specific horse. Mark’s lesson with Jon today was particularly productive.
With the dressage starting at Morven tomorrow, today’s lessons were about putting the finishing touches on the movements. I enjoy watching these types of lessons the most because there tends to be much more to watch than those hour long 20 meter trot circle collected trot improvement sessions.
Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison started off a little stabbing and quick in the trot and canter work. Downtown Harrison looked wound up, keen, and positive. It wasn’t a negative excited and he looked like he was enjoying himself. Mark worked to relax the gaits by having Jon ride Downtown Harrison more uphill. Counter-intuitively, Mark asked Jon to put his hands down, and lift with his seat and leg, raising the withers and getting him more out front.
When Jon did his first canter to walk transition Mark shouted “No!” He instructed Jon to use less seat and absolutely no rein. Jon was only allowed to use his knees and body on the upswing of Downtown Harrison’s canter to make the transition happen. The next transition was much better and the third was nearly perfect. That instruction probably worked the best of any Mark gave all morning.
After the trot and canter work it was time for the walk. Almost half of Jon’s lesson was spent working on the walk, which I really appreciated. As Jon said in his video interview with us, the walk is an area that can use improvement for Downtown Harrison and I feel like almost all eveners don’t practice the walk nearly enough. The walk is scored just like any other gait and yet I for one always seem to forget to work on it. In the transition from medium to extended walk and back again, Mark insisted that Downtown Harrison was not allowed to stop or change his pace. Consistency was the watchword. For the turn on the haunches, Mark made Jon get Downtown Harrison “through” thoroughly in the preparation, then turn one stride, and then ride forward through the turn. Mark had Jon ride through several full pirouettes, emphasizing no pressure and waiting until Downtown Harrison relaxed. Once he did it was lovely.
Mark asked Jon to finish with one medium trot, which in any lesson with any self respecting trainer is going to mean about 2 to 7 medium trots before you get a perfect one. Downtown Harrison’s first medium was good but the transition back was against Jon’s hand. By the third he was perfect. With a pat the lesson was over.
Kristin and Ballylaffin Bracken–the indoor lighting was less than ideal for photos
Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken worked through a quick but productive lesson. Their lesson was taught at a much higher intensity level and Mark insisted on crisp transitions and big extended gaits. Ballylaffin Bracken has a lot of upside and although they are alternates on the outside looking in for the Pan Ams Kristin and Ballylaffin Bracken certainly look like a pair for future teams. I would imagine that being an alternate is quite hard–you have to prepare for every day like you’re on the team and headed for Mexico but you know that you are probably not. I also want to give a shout-out to Kristin for having her groom video the lesson, that is invaluable for later review and shows how seriously that team is taking the training sessions.
Michael, Hanni, Mark, and Sara Ike
Michael Pollard worked on the connection and contact with the very flashy gray mare Schoensgreen Hanni. Mark stressed that Michael needed to push her through from behind and relax with the arm slightly while keeping her round. Mark was particularly insistent that he didn’t want to see the inside rein loop on the half-pass and he stressed keeping that connection with a firm inside leg. They ended after a short lesson as Michael mentioned Hanni can get a bit dull with too much work.
Buck and The Apprentice
I got a quick glance at several of the riders on their non-Pan Am horses. The Apprentice looked really flashy for Buck. Watching him on the flat combined with how high I know that horse can jump and two recent wins makes me think that this is a great prospect horse for the future for Buck. Michael Pollard schooled Jude’s Law and DV8. Both are horses that Michael started riding earlier this year and both are incredibly nice. DV8 has had some recent top advanced placings, but gun to my head I would say that Jude will turn out to be even nicer in the end. Either way, Michael has one of the best group of horses in the US right now.
A shout-out to Ecogold’s sweet team pads
One thing to keep a close eye on this weekend is the weather. Virginia has gotten a lot of rain this week and the Morven footing is definitely the worse for it. The rain is expected to continue Friday and Saturday and if it does we could see a change or abbreviation for the mandatory outing. The intermediate cross-county at Morven is currently scheduled for Sunday.
My trip to the Mexico consulate for my Pan Am visa was unsuccessful either because 1) I am still not allowed in Mexico after that infamous spring break trip senior year, or 2) they closed at 11:30 in the morning. I’ll have to make the trip back into DC to resolve the situation Friday morning, which means that I won’t be at Morven to start the EN coverage until the afternoon.
Canada’s helicopter spies
Annie will be along later with news and notes. Until then, go eventing.
