Skip to main content
MENU

Keri-lyn Thomas: 2016 Aspden Recipient

At the beginning of November, I had the chance to go to Lendon Gray’s Emerging Dressage Athletes Program (EDAP) clinic in Conyers, Georgia. Thanks to The Dressage Foundation’s Cynthia Aspden Grant, I was able to attend one of the most educational events I’ve ever been to. The clinic was two days long with lectures in the morning, at lunch, and at dinner both days. The EDAP clinics were created by Lendon Grey to help young dressage riders.

On the first day of the EDAP clinic, all of the EDAP riders listened to a lecture by Lendon Gray. She introduced us to one another and gave us our packets and EDAP pins. She told us what she would look for during our rides and what she would like us to do during the day.

In my first lesson, I mostly worked on my position (mainly my left leg). Lendon had me ride in jumping position to help stabilize my left leg. I did this in the walk, trot, and canter. We also worked with my horse, San La Rouge, to keep her from leaning on my right rein. She has always done this, but Lendon helped me fix it by giving a tiny half halt in my right hand and then releasing the rein for a stride. Lendon had me do this every couple strides in the walk, trot, and canter.                     
After my first ride, I went to the noon lecture on acupuncture by Dr. Carrie Porter. She told us about the many things can help. These include problems such as allergies, arthritis, muscle soreness, as well as several other issues. Also, I learned about acupoints, which are focal areas underneath the skin. Each point is a concentration of nerve endings, blood vessels, lymph ducts and connective tissues. Acupuncture is a valuable resource because it can treat multiple problems with one treatment and can detect soreness before it becomes lameness.

In the time between the noon and evening lectures, I was able to audit the other rides. I learned so many things just from auditing. For the evening lecture, Ryan Bell talked about his journey from junior to professional rider. He told us how he did it and about the problems he faced, such as people trying to discourage him from achieving his dream. He really made a point about surrounding yourself with the right people that will support you.

On the second day, the morning lecture was given by Lendon Gray. She talked about her life as a child and her lifelong career as a professional. Also she reiterated several times about riders taking the initiative to help themselves, but also appreciating the help they get along the way. She spoke about Seldom Seen, a Thoroughbred/Connemara cross, who she rode all the way to the Olympics. I really enjoyed listening to her talk.

In my second lesson, Lendon Gray had me work on movements from all three First Level tests and a few from Second Level. I worked on movements such as the counter canter loop, leg yields, change of lead through trot, and walk to canter and canter to walk transitions. She had me work on ten and fifteen meter circles at the trot and canter. We did a little work on turn on the haunches as well. I think these lessons will help me as I move up to First Level next year. What I thought would be my biggest problem with my horse, turned out to be not that big of a deal, as Lendon told me that I needed to trust Rouge’s canter more. This was really great to hear!

I learned so much in my lessons and by auditing the other lessons and listening to the lectures. I had so much fun during my time at the EDAP clinic and hope to be able to participate again next year. I am so grateful to The Dressage Foundation for giving me this opportunity. It truly was a great experience and one that I will remember always.