June 10 - Clinic - Dressage Sportif -- Applied Dressage Riding 
Bob Wood & Lynn Wood

Dressage Sportif is a term used at the French Cavalry School at Saumur. It means the application of dressage principles to field riding. Effective riders in fox hunting and cross country jumping and other demanding sports ride much of the time in the irons, but the key transition, striding, and bends are ridden in a deep seat employing universal dressage principles and techniques. This clinic focuses on Dressage Sportif riding and jumping over terrain. For advanced beginner to intermediate riders.

June 10, 2006 10:00AM – 3:30PM Riders $85 Auditors $15 Limited to five riders, and ten auditors. 

June 17 Clinic - Training Your Horse for Cross Country Jumping
Bob Wood

This introductory horse training clinic is designed for riders who are training their own horse, and who have some experience with jumping, usually in an arena. Cross country jumping requires different techniques than stadium or show jumping. Footing changes, slopes, water and jumps such as ditches and banks are all unique to cross country jumping. This basic clinic is focused on the horse and/or rider who wants to expand their jumping ability to include cross country jumping for eventing, fox hunting, or personal pleasure. Jumps will not exceed 2 feet due to the introductory training nature of the clinic. For advanced beginner to master riders.

June 17, 2006 10:00AM – 3:30PM Riders $85 Auditors $15 Limited to four riders, and ten auditors

July 1 - Clinic - The Traditional Balanced Seat - Cross Country Riding & Jumping 
Bob Wood

The traditional Balanced Seat is the civilian version of the most advanced seat developed by the military for combat conditions. It enables the rider to traverse the widest variety of terrain, footings, and obstacles under a very wide range of weather, light and other variable conditions. It differs from the more common Hunter/Jumper Show Seat in several substantial ways. A great deal of emphasis, for example, in the Balanced Seat is placed in the specific and mindful use of, and the transition between, riding deeply from the seat (i.e. dressage), and from the stirrup irons in appropriate circumstances. Also in jumping, the automatic release is much preferred over the crest release in order that the rider can ride in greater unity with her/his horse to a jump, and accomplish more upon landing. The hallmark of the Balanced Seat is effectiveness without regard for contemporary trends of style and form. Development of a rider in the Balanced Seat requires awareness of the unity that can be achieved between horse and rider through classical techniques and essential biomechanics. For advanced beginner to intermediate riders, as well as master riders in other disciplines such as dressage.

July 1, 2006 10:00AM – 3:30PM Riders $85 Auditors $15 Limited to five riders, and ten auditors. 


July 17 (Monday) Clinic - Teaching the Traditional Balanced Seat 
Bob Wood

This clinic is offered to instructors and future instructors. With the growing interest in eventing, instructors are increasing asked if they teach eventing and cross country jumping techniques. Few instructors today are aware that Combined Training or Eventing was originally called “The Military”, and all the participants rode using the Military or Balanced Seat. With the dismounting of the Army, followed by the rapid growth in popularity of horse shows in the 1970s many of the techniques and teaching methods of the Military or Balanced Seat have been nearly lost and forgotten. While many serious fox hunters, polo players, and combined training enthusiasts have maintained the tradition of the Balanced Seat, the number of instructors with first hand knowledge and experience in these traditional methods is dwindling. This clinic is an opportunity for an instructor to become familiar with many of the original teaching methods that were used prior to the rise of the contemporary Hunter/Jumper system. For instructors, future instructors and parents planning to teach their children riding.

July 17, 2006 10:00AM – 3:30PM Participants $95 Limited to 4 Participants, no auditors

August 12 Clinic - Advanced Fundamentals of the Balanced Seat 
Bob Wood

The greatest challenge for the experienced rider is to make the transition from intermediate riding to mastery in riding. The intermediate level is a vast landscape of skills and techniques with no apparent end to acquiring more. Ironically it is the search for additional skills that very often prevents the intermediate rider from moving forward toward mastery in their riding. This move forward requires a plan that causes the rider to become aware of the essential fundamentals of unity with their horse. Reaching the essential fundamentals in your riding is not a process of acquisition, but rather one of simplification and greater consciousness of your individual seat. We are all very unique combinations of body type, emotional structure, and intellectual application in our riding. Until we inventory these personal elements and understand how the impact our effectiveness as a rider, the acquisition of additional skills will not move us to the next level of riding. This clinic therefore is not so much focused on new skills, but rather on the process of refinement of the rider’s acquired technique so that they can proceed forward with a simpler, more fundamental core skill set and feel in how they ride. For intermediate riders and more advanced riders who may be experiencing a plateau in their riding. 

July 1, 2006 10:00AM – 3:30PM Participants $85 Limited to 4 riders, auditors $15 must be associated with a rider/participant. 

July 10, 11, 12 - Adult 3 Day Mini Camp 
Bob Wood

A three day intensive program for adult riders. Features both riding and horse training sessions for serious students with the goals of (1) accelerated skills development and (2) measurable progress with their horse. Morning and afternoon rides daily, with riding theory education and participant video review lunches. The focus of the camp is individual effectiveness based on Balanced Seat techniques, using traditional Balanced Seat teaching methods. For advanced beginner to intermediate riders, as well as master riders in other disciplines such as dressage. Horses and riders will need to have an appropriate level of physical fitness to benefit for this camp. Limited stabling for your horse, and Triple Creek Farm horses for clinics are available at extra cost.

July 10, 11, 12, 2006 9:30AM – 4:00PM daily Participants $300 Limited to 4 riders, no auditors, lunch included. 


August 21, 22, 23 - Children’s 3 Day Mini Camp

A three day intensive program for advanced beginner and intermediate young riders between 10 and 16 years old with the goal of accelerated skills development. His camp is 100% riding with elements of dressage, stadium jumping, and cross country riding and jumping, as well as an introduction to polo. The focus of the camp is individual effectiveness based on Balanced Seat techniques, using traditional Balanced Seat teaching methods. Horses and riders will need to have an appropriate level of physical fitness to benefit for this camp. Limited stabling for your horse, and Triple Creek Farm horses for clinics are available at extra cost.

August 21, 22, 23 2006 9:30AM – 4:00PM daily Participants $300 Limited to 4 riders, no auditors

Please email horseguy@equineequip.com or call 717-243-8178 for clinic registration form and/or questions. 

*Fall 2006 clinics will be added to the calendar at a later date.