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News from Catherine Respess!

Seasons Greetings! There's so much going on that I thought it might be a good time to send my first newsletter! - Catherine 2017 has been a

Can't See This Message? View in a browser Seasons Greetings! There's so much going on that I thought it might be a good time to send my first newsletter! - Catherine   2017 has been a busy year. I've had a lot of ideas brewing, so when someone made an unexpected offer on Catawba, the timing to explore new ventures fell into place.  I'm very proud that Catawba was purchased by the Governor General of Canada for Her Excellency Sharon Johnston. I was able to visit him in June and stay at Rideau Hall - Queen Elizabeth's home in Canada. The gardens were stunning and I felt like a princess! I know Catawba will be treated like a Prince. Can you believe that Red Mare Design will be celebrating a 10 year anniversary soon?   So much has chaged in the online world over the years, and  clients are signing up for a "website modernization."   Most modernizations only cost about $345! Let me know if you are ready for a new look or a quick update.   Recently Updated Websites: In January, at the Charles de Kunffy trainer conference in Wellington, I launched The Equestrian Journal. We are now affiliated with The Dressage Foundation and Dressage4Kids with Lendon Gray - each participant receives their own Equestrian Journal.   The Equestrian Journal sponsored competition awards for NCDCTA, the Atlanta Youth Dressage Challenge and 4 top riders: Jessica Jo Tate, Jillian Kreinbring, Jennifer Flowers, and Megan Compton.     Be sure to check out the 15% off sale on the website - it's a great gift for the holidays! 15% Discount! In May, I created a new online equine directory and marketing machine with my partners Dr. Heike Jung and Dibyasree Deb.    HorseWorldConnect.com is the "All Things Horse" website that lists every horse related businesses worldwide AND allows horse people to connect with these businesses on a personal level and providing equine-related businesses with the marketing help they need! Help us grow by subscribing for free. It's EASY. Just click on this link, www.HorseWorldConnect.com, and fill out the subscriber information. You'll be eligble to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card! New Red Mare Equestrian Clients will Recieve a FREE Regular Membership for One (1) Year! If you refer a new website client, I'll provide your business with a FREE Regular Membership for One (1) Year and the usual $85 credit. Sign Me Up! Upgrade to a Featured Business to give your business more exposure - it is FREE until we have 500 Subscribers! Membership Details Over the summer, I started another project called Equestrian Power with fellow trainer Cerice Berndsen and my student, Alex Grant.     Equestrian Power is dedicated to revolutionizing the culture of equestrian sport. Our approach is four-dimensional with a focus on Mind, Breath, Body, and Passion as key elements necessary to improve and grow as a rider. Here is a preview of the new website - be sure to subscribe!  Sneak Peek Our book is expected to launch February 2018! You've received this email because you are a subscriber of this site If you feel you received it by mistake or wish to unsubscribe, click here

2 cool exercises

Image from JJ Tate Clinic, Thanks Magoo Photography!

I've mentioned Tilly's crooked tendencies to the left and I feel like we are so close to really making a difference and moving on from the issues.  If I let her, Tilly would just jut her neck to the left, avoid the right rein,  and fake roundness by over bending.  Of course, she is not to blame!  There are so many factors that contribute: ME, past injuries, weaknesses.


Here are some cool cues and exercises that are helping me develop Tilly's authentic frame when traveling to the left as well as improving the quality of the gaits.

**Keep the canter between the inside zipper and pocket and out side leg.**
I like this because then I'm not focusing about pressing my sit bone quite so much.  I certainly don't want to cause an inversion but I need to visualize a feel to stay with Tilly's back in canter transitions.  They happen so quickly!!

**Turn on haunches to turn on forehand**
This exercise is fun because it helps me balance Tilly evenly between my legs but it also reminds me to use my hips for lateral work.  Tilly has a tendency to bulge and park her outside hind leg out during the turn on the haunches.  This exercise keeps her softer an more honest in the connection. Really keeps her guessing!  When I applied the aid at first she just kept backing up... I let her know verbally that I was irritated about her response but then I shut my mouth and just kept letting my leg aid breathe on her side... the moment she thought about what she was doing and stopped backing (we went quite a ways!) and then responded correctly by turning instead i paused the aid and praised her:) 

It reminded me of something that JJ said - paraphrasing here - Tilly has to accept the leg submissively and you have to begin treating her like a different horse because she has drastically changed since you began training her.

I still growl at her sometimes when she is naughty because that worked when she was bucking and rearing... but honestly she hardly behaves that way unless its a completely new exercise.  Still, I need to work to move away from that behavior even more.

Staying with the Motion: JJ Tate Clinic

Results are fun aren't' they!?  Those "aha" moments become addictive especially when the horse responds instantaneously.  Though I must admit, in my experience, the horse always seems to be just waiting for me to "get it."   This simple truth keeps me enthralled with horses - what patient teachers!

Last weekend at the JJ Tate clinic, I located a feeling in Tilly's back that I will never forget.  The exercise began with a statement from JJ, "I'm going to change your life..."

Wow, did she!

JJ's advice was to move and swing my hips and shoulders to unlock the hesitation I sensed in my mare's back... just underneath the saddle.  The swing developed a connection that was part half halt and part "hooking" in with Tilly's movement.  We were getting by when tracking right but to the left, we experienced an inversion evasion and a feeling of being "left behind," I'm sure it has to do with my conformation and slightly stiffer and less coordinated left hip.  But I was actually quite stuck in my mid back and this rotation of hips and shoulders within the horse's movement is exactly what I needed!

At first the motion felt mechanical but once I got into "the swing" of things ;) the horse became unbelievably supple and round.  JJ gave me a mantra and I'm certain that this will improve every single movement that Tilly demonstrates.  In fact, the swing seems to correct every single problem we have!  

Our left shoulder-in often has a cumbersome feel... yesterday, I over exaggerated the rhythmic pivot in my left shoulder and left hip to keep supple-ness in the left side while maintaining the lateral motion.  At first, I felt like I was hauling my left shoulder back, while keeping the left hand in place and only moving within in the rhythm of the trot... 1-2, 1-2, left shoulder-2, LEFT!!!!-2.  Then I realized that the motion was also bringing my right leg better into position to support Tilly's problematic shoulder and I allowed myself to move even more.  After a few tries, Tilly melted underneath me and we accomplished (for the first time!!) trot canter transitions with in the shoulder in left!  

There were many exercises learned during the clinic and I look forward to applying them and blogging about our experiences within the coming weeks.  Thanks!!