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2016 Region 5 Gifted Recipient: Sarah Lindsten

When I first learned that I was one of the recipients for The Dressage Foundation’s Carol Lavell Gifted Memorial Fund Scholarship, I couldn’t believe it.  What a “gift” it was for me and my horse, Raoul, aka “Cookie,” to have a week of quality time together to focus on our training without the demands of work. Cookie is a 19 year old Dutch KPWN gelding with a personality larger than life! We are currently competing FEI Intermediate B, and schooling the Intermediate II and Grand Prix.

My husband Barry and I live in Cave Creek, Arizona, an ever-growing horse community north of Phoenix. We have two adult daughters, Laura and Taylor, who share my love for horses. I board my horse Cookie at Bellisima Ranch and train with Bobbie Lynn McKee, a wonderful teacher, trainer and friend.

A typical day for me starts at 4:55 a.m. with my multiple alarms going off until I am out of bed by 5:05 a.m. I feed by three Jack Russell Terriers and pack my bag with my work clothes to change into later. I leave the house by 5:50 a.m. and arrive at Bellisima Ranch, aka “The Barn”, at 6:15 a.m.  I begin grooming Cookie in his stall while he eats his breakfast, and then tacking up after Cookie’s “downward dog” yoga stretch.

My lessons are from 6:45 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. We are currently schooling Intermediate II and Grand Prix. After my lesson, the next 45 minutes are a blur of untacking, grooming, icing legs, and taking Cookie out to his paddock. It is then a quick shower; get dressed for work and a 40 minute commute to my job at Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, where I coordinate Continuous Medical Education Courses.

Having an entire week devoted solely to my training and spending leisure time with Cookie was a dream come true.  I do not have a lot of spare time, so this week was very special for me. After my early morning lessons, I was able to spend the time watching my “barn mates” in their lessons throughout the day with my trainer, Bobbie Lynn McKee. This journey called “Dressage” has been such a learning experience, in which Bobbie Lynn has taught me how to ride a FEI horse and achieve my goals. We started a little rough around the edges and are now schooling the Grand Prix! During this week I also was able to observe another trainer at my barn, Beverly Rogers, a USEF “S” Judge.  I am a USDF L Graduate with Distinction; so being able to observe and ask judging questions of a “S” Judge was very educational. Being able to watch lessons without rushing off to work was such a rewarding experience.

Day One – Transitions, Transitions, Transitions:
Today we spent time activating the hind leg in Cookie’s trot and canter. The goal to increase our trot scores 6.5s to 7.0s at our next show that takes place in a week. A lot of active transitions.  Trot - walk; walk - trot; trot -canter; canter – trot. Active, but not quick. Stepping under and maintaining the light connection without disrupting the suppleness of the neck and throughness of the back. Cookie can get a little tight in his neck, so we worked on lifting through the withers while maintaining an elastic connection. Timing of my aids is important. Bobbie Lynn has helped me to be more effective with my aids without losing the quality and balance of the gaits. Bobbie Lynn helped me to be clearer and more precise with the timing of my aids; the result more activity and expression in Cookie’s gaits.

I observed lessons in the morning and then went out for a late breakfast with a few friends from the barn. We watched rider application videos for an upcoming clinic.

Day Two – Snake Day:
Today we had a rather large Bull Snake slither across the arena a few times throughout the morning. Bull Snakes look terrifyingly similar to the venomous Rattle Snake, fortunately, Bull Snakes are quite gentle and not dangerous. The arena must have been cooler than the Bull Snake’s hangout this particular morning. The horses seemed unconcerned about our slithering friend. We worked on transitions again today and some suppling exercises. The rest of the morning was spent watching lessons and taking notes.

Day Three – Freestyle Music:
Trainer Bobbie Lynn rode Cookie first this morning so that I could play some freestyle music selections to see what best matched Cookie’s walk, trot and canter. We tried a number of music selections; my favorite was the music from The Magnificent Seven 1960 original movie soundtrack. The music seems to be made for Cookie. Now the tough part begins: creating the freestyle.

Day Four – One Tempis:
Cookie and I are both learning the one tempis. Cookie is eager and willing to learn the one tempis; I on the other hand am struggling with the aids for the changes. Until today, I had only been able to get three single tempi changes in a row. Today I tried a new way of aiding for the changes; I relaxed my legs and started to swing my legs in rhythm with Cookie’s canter.  Cookie gave me five single tempi changes that were relaxed and fluid. I told anyone in the barn that would listen that “I got five ones today!” My “light bulb” moment was realizing that I was working too hard for the changes. Over the weeks that followed, we were adding two changes to our string of tempis each week until we achieved 13 single tempis.

Day Five – Passage:
We have been introducing the Passage to Cookie over the past few weeks. It has been so much fun to see Cookie process the aids and begin to develop the passage. We make a big deal about his small accomplishments with lots of praise and sugar cubes. Cookie likes this part of the lesson. I end today with a bath for Cookie and extra grazing time.

This week has been an incredible experience and a wonderful opportunity. Thank you to everyone who made the week possible. The Dressage Foundation, Bobbie Lynn McKee, and to my husband, Barry, for the encouragement and support he gives me every day.