Thanks again for a great day!!
The Riding With Rhythm facilities are great -- the arena is very spacious and love the open sides. The observation room was much appreciated with the rain, and it was great that we could still hear the clinician. Switching riders and horses went very smoothly, so there were no large gaps between riders. I am very grateful I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Cleon Wingard. He is such a very calm and patient man. The knowledge he has about horses and riding techniques -- it was fascinating listening to him as he instructed me and the other riders.
Being fairly new to riding horses, I realized, thanks to Mr. Wingard, there is a difference between riding ... and riding with an understanding of yourself, in relation to the horse. He explained in detail about the pressure of your legs against the horse, the position of your body, and having a calm, but maybe more importantly, a confident presence. I had never thought of riding horses that way. It was such an "aha!" moment for me! Thank you Shirley and Mr. Wingard!
