"Light Bulb Moments for Clinic Riders"

By Patricia Conover

What makes a good clinic? What makes a good clinician? What is a successful clinic experience? These are questions that, when faced with a variety of choices for spending clinic dollars, we as riders assess. Invariably the information is pretty similar, a focus on the basics, rider position, horse forward, these are undeniable fundamentals of the dressage discipline. So what sets one clinic apart from another? From the comments by the riders at the Raphael Heiligers clinic at KGF Farm in Kirkland, it is a lot about how the clinician presents himself to the riders, communicates instruction, and relates with riders and horses.

Raphael Heiligers, (Raf, as he is called by peers and students) a former member of the Dutch National Dressage Team, spent three days tuning up rider positions and building stronger fundamentals in clinic participants. With riders from training level to FEI, Connemara cross, to 18h warmblood, and horses recovering from surgery, Raf, tailored his work with each, reflecting his concern for the wellbeing of horse and rider. As Raf says, “Horses have similar problems, but that doesn’t mean they can all be solved the same, you have to take an individual approach.”

Teaching the foundations as defined by the German method, Raphael assisted one participant with improving the shoulder in as preparation for a pirouette, breaking down the movement into concise pieces. “Instead of thinking about the whole pirouette, if you think about the shoulder in aspect you don’t get overwhelmed with the whole pirouette,” said Brian Beemer, who rode Magic, an Appaloosa Percheron cross. (owned by?) Brian, wanted help with his seat, and Raf provided coaching to avoid tensing up. Brian appreciated Raphael’s reminder of hand without leg and leg without hand, meaning drive (leg) or halt (half halt), but avoid “clashing aids.” “Raf helped me in getting the appropriate amount of forward movement that allows the horse to raise his back and come round,” said Brian. Brian’s expectations for what Magic can do have increased, after watching Raphael ride the horse and create a picture of softness and throughness. “In addition to being a friendly, observant clinician, Raphael rides with a beautiful light hand and quiet leg, very inspiring to watch,” said Brian.

Another clinic participant was apprehensive from a previous clinic experience that did not feel very successful. “I was watching Raphael coach Heather Grassman riding Loki, on flying changes, and I thought, oh, I don’t want to do that. But once in the ring, he worked with me on being relaxed, eliminating the smallest tension, even in my wrists, and it was fine … a very enjoyable, productive experience,” said Laurie Somers who rode her gelding, Kando. Heather’s Loki a Dutch Warmblood, recovering from surgery for a bone chip, mastered his changes, “Loki was tired,” said Heather,” but totally ready to work every day.”

Cinda Peters rode Willi, her 17.3h Oldenburg, who has been returning to work slowly from Wobblers surgery. “I came in with some very specific issues including the physical limitations of my horse. Willi can be heavy in my hand (too darn big for me to carry that head!), on the forehand, unresponsive to the leg, difficult to bend, locked in his jaw, and tends to run off (through the aids) at the canter. I obviously needed help in a big way. Raf respected the limitations of my horse and worked on improvements to my position to make everything easier on both of us. My light bulb moment from the clinic was that when I tip forward with my head/shoulders (lose my position), Willi naturally speeds up and falls on his forehand to try to stay under me. My position was key to so many of my problems with Will. When I kept my center of gravity back and in my seat, he had to stay with me. Raf was very easy to work with, and clearly expressed what was needed and why. He really gave my confidence a boost with Will and made me feel I could be effective in bringing this horse back to some form even with his compromised condition. We made headway, and he gave me insight and tools to apply at home.”

As an auditor, I was able to observe the impact of Raf’s coaching, and of course I also empathized with the riders (What me, tense?). I heard Raf describe to one rider that the “corrections are in millimeters,” i.e,, they are very small, practically invisible, movements. Aha, I said to myself, as if I hadn’t heard that before. I have since had some success with this, thinking to myself as I am riding to try less correction instead of big corrections. Somehow watching a clinic I find perhaps I listen more intently. Another thing I know is that I have to have reached a point in my riding that I am able to even consider that corrections might be small.

Sandra Tillmann, E.I. member and dressage trainer at KGF Farm, sponsored the Raphael clinic. In the mid 1990’s, Sandra met Raf when she was riding and training a very talented , but overly sensitive Trakhener at a facility in Germany. She had looked around for someone who was able to help her with this special horse, heard about Raphael’s approach and called him up. He has been a good friend and mentor ever since.

This was Raf’s 3^rd. trip to the Northwest and part of his spring clinic tour around the United States. We look forward to his return later in the summer.