About Clare
I have been an eventing instructor since 1999. I got started teaching with Pony Club, which gave me opportunities to learn tools and improve my teaching skills, as well as providing me with my first students! I have coached students through Preliminary level at horse trials and the HA Certification for Pony Club. I very much enjoy helping my students gain confidence and skill as they move up through the levels.
Cathy Jones-Forsberg has been my teacher and mentor for fifteen years. Cathy has competed through Advanced level and coached riders all the way up to the Five Star Level at Rolex and Burghley. I have also ridden with eventing coaches Lauren Nickolson, Robin Walker, Bill Hoos, Becky Holder, Eric Dierks and Grand Prix Show Jumper Richard Watson. As a Pony Club member, I worked with clinicians and raters Cathy Fredrickson, Kathy Kelly, and Susanne Winslade. Also, I am actively involved in the Instructor's Certification Program through USEA and passed my Level II assessment in October of 2010. I am currently working on my Level III certification.
I believe in a practical, goal-oriented approach to instruction. I emphasize the fundamentals, a rider needs to be in a correct, balanced position and learn tact and feel to communicate effectively with their horse. A horse needs to travel with rhythm and balance - this can be related by correct riding, and in turn, correct movement strengthens correct riding. Emphasis on the fundamentals, dressage work, and a steady progression in the jumping training increases the quality of movement of the horse, and the ability to create this movement by the rider. This is all in an effort to train safe, successful cross country riders, as teamwork, quality movement and communication are of the utmost importance on a cross country course.
Cathy Jones-Forsberg has been my teacher and mentor for fifteen years. Cathy has competed through Advanced level and coached riders all the way up to the Five Star Level at Rolex and Burghley. I have also ridden with eventing coaches Lauren Nickolson, Robin Walker, Bill Hoos, Becky Holder, Eric Dierks and Grand Prix Show Jumper Richard Watson. As a Pony Club member, I worked with clinicians and raters Cathy Fredrickson, Kathy Kelly, and Susanne Winslade. Also, I am actively involved in the Instructor's Certification Program through USEA and passed my Level II assessment in October of 2010. I am currently working on my Level III certification.
I believe in a practical, goal-oriented approach to instruction. I emphasize the fundamentals, a rider needs to be in a correct, balanced position and learn tact and feel to communicate effectively with their horse. A horse needs to travel with rhythm and balance - this can be related by correct riding, and in turn, correct movement strengthens correct riding. Emphasis on the fundamentals, dressage work, and a steady progression in the jumping training increases the quality of movement of the horse, and the ability to create this movement by the rider. This is all in an effort to train safe, successful cross country riders, as teamwork, quality movement and communication are of the utmost importance on a cross country course.
Why Dressage
Dressage is an important part of my training system. All horse and rider teams benefit from Dressage training, no matter the discipline. Dressage work improves the quality of a horse's gaits by building top line muscles, improving balance, and increasing confidence. Riders benefit from dressage because it teaches us the aids needed to create high quality movement and improves our sense of feel and balance.
In eventing, the dressage phase is judging not only the movement of the horse, but the communication between horse and rider. The better the communication and teamwork, the better the cross country course runs!
In eventing, the dressage phase is judging not only the movement of the horse, but the communication between horse and rider. The better the communication and teamwork, the better the cross country course runs!
