Lilo Fore Clinic March 2024 : Making it rideable with the seat.

Link to some of Clinic highlights

Many of my clients probably know that I have worked with Lilo Fore many, many times. I can't remember the first clinic I rode with her in, but I know its been at least a few years that I have been seeking her out at whatever "local" venues she comes to teach at. But for those who don't know too much about Lilo, here is a bit of a biography: 
Originally from Germany, outside Dusseldorf, Liselotte (Lilo) Fore is the owner of "Sporthorse America" in Santa Rosa, California for which she has been honored for her major role in raising the quality of dressage training and horses to an international level. She served as an FEI 5 Star judge; in that capacity she has been a member of the Ground Jury for numerous international competitions such as the World Cup final in Las Vegas, Olympics, Pan American Games, and World Equestrian Games including the WEG in Normandy. She is among the founders and served as chair of the USDF Instructor-Trainer Certification Program. She is continuously involved in many educational programs for Dressage trainers, teachers and judges throughout the United States. Among countless other accolades and awards, in 2017, Lilo was inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame for her contribution to the sport of dressage in the United States. 
Additionally, Lilo Fore was apart of the 2023 Trainers conference -- I hope plenty have gotten to see her excellent teachings as she is a wealth of knowledge with a focus on correct dressage principles. 
We are doing some "test" runs with "princess" Jerry. Ever since a bad night in tent stabling as a 5 year old he has been quite difficult to travel with. He initially was quite scared while trailering-- trembling and sweating even in cold weather. He has mostly gotten over that-- funnily enough the Fenwick Liquid Titanium face mask has been a key buy for his anxiety trailering. Maybe it's just a placebo effect, but it seems to help. But he still becomes quite unsettled in his stall away from home. He does okay in a quiet and settled barn without many loud noises or milling about, but at shows he becomes quite unsettled and will stall weave terribly unless someone will sit in his stall with him. Thankfully this weekend he was quiet the entire time-- it may not be a show, but its progress. 
Jerry was quite the handful for the weekend; being quite spooky and unsettled in certain spots in the arena making me "ride" more than I really prefer too. We also discovered that he has decided he is done borrowing his "brothers"(Lumie) double bridle and that he in fact needs us to find him one of his own that works better for him. 
We used the piaffe to find encouragement and positivity in his spooky/tense tendencies. We have been working hard since the last clinic with Lilo to ensure he is truly stepping forward in the piaffe to prevent pedestalling. Then we touched on the passage-- this is still a work in progress. Lilo had us riding it in a "light" not pushing feeling because he gives enough articulation, but when I add to much energy the steps become uneven. Additionally, Lilo adjusted my bending in both the trot shoulder in and half passes. I am truly guilty of riding too much bend, and while it makes my horses quite supple, it tends to not allow as much flow and cadence within the lateral maneuver. 
The canter was really my(our) focus for the weekend. Jeriah has been tedious in the changes. It's been a number of years to get the single changes consistently through and not tense. The tempi changes are still new and while he is allowing of more rideability in the 4s and 3s, he becomes excited and running from the 2s and 1s. Lilo agreed with me about putting him in a much more compact canter that was a "allow me to ride every stride" feeling until he becomes secure in all the changes(and then we may push for more ground cover). We spent a lot of time working on the canter quality on the long sides and circle to prepare for the 2s. Lilo gave a great 2s exercise where you work on the canter quality through most the circle and on the "open" side of the circle we ride 2 2 tempis and then go back to canter quality focus. It discourages the horse from running due to it being on a circle and the majority being focus on collected canter, while ensuring the horse is truly on the aids. 
We also touched on the pirouettes which are greatly improving week by week. We worked an exercise that had us riding a small(short) half pass in collected canter-- cantering "straight" in preparation for the half pirouette on quarter line- half pirouette with a focus on turning-- then straight again on quarterline to the flying change. Everything is about getting Jeriah to become more rideable off the seat and leg and not being tedious(and somewhat explosive). 
I really enjoy working with Lilo-- she gives not just a judge's perspective, but also can see training for where it is at. Sometimes the neck is too short or deep, or the horse too slow or quick, but she trains the riders and horses where they are at with a focus of improving them as a whole. Obviously, it is certainly helpful to know what we are aiming for in the competition ring as well, but it's just little works in progress.