This message is from: Lori Albrough [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Thanks to Cheryl Beillard of Wake-Robin Farm for arranging the driving
clinic with Olaf Nyby this past weekend held near Ottawa Ontario.
Olaf is one of the top driving trainers in Norway (in Norway he gives over
25 clinics per year). Olaf has worked all over the world including the Royal
palace and he really knows his stuff. This man could take the lines from
any driver and make their horse look better. The clinic horses were 6
Fjords, 2 Welsh Ponies, 1 Canadian horse, and 1 Canadian/Appaloosa cross.
The Fjords present included two 3 year old mares - Julie Will's Silviann and
Cheryl Beillard's Tunica, and three mature mares - Pat McCurdy and BDF
Anitra, Linda Wollowitz and Vesle Blakka, and Lori Albrough with Cindy. Pat
Wolfe drove the stallion Felix.
The horses/drivers were divided into four groups consisting of either two or
three turnouts, based on the combined experience of horse and driver. Each
group had two lessons per day. Every group, including the advanced drivers,
started the day with a long-lining lesson. At noon we had a theory session
on rein- and whip-handling techniques. Later that day, we hitched and worked
on our particular goals. For myself, I wanted to work on getting my horse
more forward, but collected, bending and supple. It was nice to see how much
my horse could do, once I figured out how to ask her for it.
The second day was held outside, and started with long-lining, then moving
on to work in the cart. In the morning Cindy and I worked on driving up into
the bridle, bending, circles, figure eights and serpentines. In the
afternoon Cindy and I drove with Pat and Felix and we did a cones course,
and introduced cantering. Fun!
Throughout the course of the clinic Olaf was making suggestions on changes
to equipment, such as bit, whip, cart, etc, that would improve our
performance. He suggested Cindy might be happier in a bit with a port rather
than a mullen mouth (I found them about the same), a longer whip (this
helped), and raising the seat of my cart (this helped too).
I came away pleased with my mare, and very inpsired to come home and work
with my other horses. For me, it was certainly worth the eight hour drive to
get to the clinic.
The facility at Green Glen farm was wonderful, with a large 90' x 200'
indoor arena as well as outdoor driving areas. The staff was great and
attentive, bedding and mucking out was included and the stalls were kept
picked all day. A variety of food and drinks were available on site.
Attention to detail on the part of the staff was definitely there.
Well done and thanks again to Cheryl and her helpers!
Lori Albrough
Moorefield Ontario
