Upcoming Horse Events in Knoxville: River Glen Equestrian Park
Fall is a great time to ride. The weather is cooler, the bugs are fading away, and this time of year also brings reflections on training goals that have been pursued throughout the year. I think fall is a great time to show, and I can't think of a better local venue than River Glen Equestrian Park. River Glen is hosting their fall "A" Hunter/Jumper show from October 2-5, and again on October 9-12. This is an amazing opportunity to show what you and your horse have been working on throughout the summer. If you aren't able to show, then simply watching can really be of benefit. There are many great classes to watch, and don't forget the warm-up ring--a great place to watch trainers fine tune their clients before the big class. I particularly enjoy watching the hunter divisions and practicing my judging. I bring a piece of paper and pen, and a list of shorthand symbols that represent different flaws or problems that can occur on course. I judge and place the class, and then see how my placings compare to the actual judge. This is a great way to tune your eye. A good resource for folks interested in doing this is a DVD called "The Judges Eye".
Fall is also a great time to set new goals for training over the upcoming winter. I love attending clinics because a new perspective can really rejuvenate your riding. One clinician that has been coming to Knoxville lately is acclaimed dressage trainer Kate Poulin, daughter of the famous U.S. Bronze Medalist Michael Poulin. Kate is a USDFand NAYR Gold Medalist, among other achievements. She has trained horses of many breeds from basic ground work all the way up to Grand Prix. She follows a classically based training program, which appeals to me greatly as I believe in the power of classical riding principals. Her clinics are graciously hosted by Teresa Shafer at her farm in West Knoxville. The upcoming clinic dates are November 8-9. I will be riding my new young horse in the clinic, and two Tralee students will be riding their horses as well. Contact Teresa if you are interested in riding or auditing. Her email is teresaandandy /a/ comcast.net, and her phone number is 865-207-4733. We hope to see you there!
