William Fox-Pitt Clinic Live Blog Day 1
If you are just joining us don’t forget to refresh every 15-30 minutes for the latest updates!
5:54 – That concludes today’s event! Come back for tomorrow’s live blog!
5:31 – The riders are going through both sets of cloverleaf jumps and the Liverpool.
5:26 – “I like going cross-country with a lot more bend in my leg and a position that stays with the horse.”
5:24 – Everyone did it one-handed, now the fences are being raised.
5:14 – “Was almost better than when you did it with 2 hands.”
5:13 – Boyd’s turn.
5:07 – William is having them do the cloverleafs jumps one-handed.
4:57 – Now they’re going through the grid one handed.
4:48 – “Once your horse is down and round and through you can bring them up and do anything with them.”
4:47 – “If your horse will come down and relax at the walk there’s no reason they can’t do the same at a canter.”
4:36 – “By combining the sit-sit-rise with alternating bend you stop yourself from perching and relax the horse.”
4:26 – Advanced is doing their warm-up.
4:21 – The Advanced group is in now. It will be interesting to watch Boyd take a lesson from William.
4:01 – William is focusing on the riders’ rhythm and its maintenance throughout the exercise.
4:00 –
3:51 – “When the jumps are smaller be a little bit braver about establishing your rhythm.”
3:47 –
3:43 – The horses are going over the other set of fences now.
3:31 – “With horses who have a big canter and get away from you, you have to get back in the tack after a jump and sit on them.”
3:24 – “You DONT need that stick. Give me the thing!”
3:23 – “The scary ones get to go again.”
3:18 – He’s putting them through the grid now.
3:03 – “When you ask for flexion on your outside rein, if the horse tries to change rein you haven’t been flexing them properly.”
2:48 – Intermediate is warming up. William is telling everyone to half-halt, bend then give.
2:39 – The Intermediate group is starting up now.
2:01 – William now has the riders using their reins with a driving hand (the end of the rein coming out the top of their hand rather than the bottom).
1:21 – “Imagine changing diagonals every step. It’s good for relaxing your back and pelvis as well as relaxing the horse.”
1:17 – The general theme of the day has been getting the horses through, and working from there to accomplish one’s goals.
1:00 – The Prelim group will be starting shortly.
The next session has been pushed back a half-hour to start at 1pm.
12:00 – Breaking for lunch. Be back for the next session!
11:55 – “Ride him like you stole him.”
11:51 – “don’t just let go of your spooky horse. Keep a confident contact.”
11:46 – “If you cut one of your lines, expect to be punished by the next one.”
11:41 – After helping a rider get her spooky horse over the Liverpool, the fences are being raised and he’s planning a new course.
11:30 – William is putting the riders over the Liverpool.
11:16 – The Training riders are going through the grid now.
11:02 – “If you find yourself twisting in your body through the turn, think about keeping your outside shoulder back to straighten yourself.”
10:55 –
10:53 – “When your horse is a little cautious, you need to ride him a little more confidently.”
10:49 – “When you’ve got a horse that’s spooky, just keep him together. Don’t tell him off.”
10:43 – “The best way to get a good score in dressage is to aim for 7’s across the board and try to get the odd 8 or 9 in the movement where your horse excels.”
10:42 – William is welcoming the Training level riders.
10:23 – The Training level session will begin shortly, the last of Novice is finishing up.
10:09 – “Sometimes you’ll be a little bit long, sometimes you’ll be a little bit short, but I want you to be straight.”
10:00 –
9:57 – “In eventing I don’t think there is always going to be that perfect spot for the jump. We get all kinds of spots”
9:53 – When saying whoa “the release is as important as the tug”
9:47 – “Don’t let them drag you through the grid. Just say, ‘I’m not going with you,’ without pulling back excessively on the reins.”
9:42 – The riders are going through the grids now. William wants the riders to let the horses jump their own way, “don’t help them.”
9:35 – “They must be down and through before they can come up and on the bit.
9:29 – “Don’t step around her. If you step around her now, you’ll do it even more as she goes up the levels.”
9:27 – “Sit with confidence. Even if he’s a bit buzzy.”
9:25 – “Don’t half ask”
9:23 – “Don’t be afraid to take a nice feel. Give confidence from the contact.”
9:20 – “This is a perfect stirrup length.”
9:17 – “I like to jump with a shorter stirrup than most people do, so I spend a lot of time shortening people’s stirrups”
9:16 – William is “drilling on the basics”
9:00 – William is talking to the first group now!
8:41 – The grids!
8:39 – Make sure you check out our vendors while you’re here today.
8:30 – William is checking his mic and the PA. Sounds good from the bleachers Will!
8:24 – The grids are coming together and so are the auditors. It’s going to be quite a spectacle today!
8:18 –
8:15 – William is setting up the grids now. We have a great group of volunteers here working hard to help make the next two days go smoothly!
8:09 – It would seem as though William brought some weather from the UK back here with him. The good news is we have a clear forecast and are likely to see some sun this afternoon!
8:01 – Riders and Auditors are checking in. Auditors, please use the main gate. Riders, please use the gate over near the covered arena. We are excited to have you all with us today!
