Nick Gauntlett

LEC

LEC

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Both SC and I attended a NG clinic yesterday and he was very good. Loads of tools in the box and some really helpful suggestions and a keen eye. Mary King's daughter was in our group and gave me some excellent advice about errant shoulders (one of my xc weaknesses) saying that if you push your pelvis forwards your shoulders will not be so far forwards.

I would definitely go back for more training with him and having watched the other group who were all around intro level grow in confidence as well would think he was suitable for all levels. Both SC came away really pleased that we had improved and that we were more confident.

Sjing I tend to overfold and he told me to think about standing in my stirrups more which also really helped. He also had me riding off my corners really positively as I am a little passive as my horse tends to accelerate in the last few strides instead I was told to ride forwards off the corners so the canter would stay the same. I am sure there are more things and hopefully SC will add!
 
fab, sounds good!
Glad you had a nice time
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ooh interesting...he's doing some clinics and camps up at kelsall near me and i was thinking of booking on one...its £135 forr 2 days- worth it?
 
I thought it was a great pre season session. IF I can reduce the file size I will try and upload the videos....
Rodders was really super I thought, such a handsome boy.
 
It was such a good day. Nick was excellent at confidence-building; I am having SJ nightmares at the moment and he really sussed out how to help me quickly.

In the morning we did a 1hr SJ session, and he spotted that I generate a great canter round the corner then do too much in an attempt to get to the fence at the 'perfect' spot, so he made me come round the corner then be much quieter to the fence. He noticed that I am irrationally terrified and was very good at telling me I was doing a good job and that actually it isn't half as bad as I think it is. The others went round a bigger course at the end, but that's not helpful for me at the moment, so I stuck with the 1m/1.05 one and just did it again.

Then in the afternoon we did a really good set of pre-season XC exercises. SLM had been ultra-helpful and had some portables in the arena, so after warming up over a house and corners etc, we then moved on to some really useful exercises.

First we had 3 fences, a brush, an upright rails and a bounce. We had to ride the first like it was a chase fence, the second like it was the gate into Huntsman's Close and the third like the bounce into the lake at Badminton. I said it was the closest I'd ever get!! That really made us think about opening the canter up to the first, really setting up well to the second and riding the 3rd like a XC bounce not a SJ gridwork bounce. I found the 3rd really helpful, I tend to be too forwards over bounce fences.

Then we worked on curving lines and angles to skinnies, and finished on a fairly long course (if SM does the vid you'll see I forget my way - oops!).

It was probably the best pre-season set-up I've ever had, and I'm going to try and have some more lessons with Nick since he's just up the road from me. It also made me really realise the SJing is all in my head! I was fine even when things went mildly wrong on the XC section, whereas I had a complete melt-down (over smaller, less solid fences) when I made a mistake in the morning! I don't have an answer to this, except to perhaps try going SJ in my bodyprotector?! My riding felt so much more positive and together and confident in the afternoon. I think I need therapy!
 
He sounds excellent- would really like to go and do a clinic with him, he sounds like just what I need.
There are so few trainers out there who can actually analyse exactly what is going wrong...!!
 
Diggerbez - I was eyeing up the clinic at Kelsall too as a birthday present to myself! Only problem is I don't know if my horse will be rideable by then so if she is I might have to beg a late place.
 
I would definitely go to a 2 day session with him that is the kind of money that RC camp and eventers camps tend to be for 2 days with tuition in morning and afternoon on both days. I felt that actually I had been kind of hit over the head with info (not in a bad way but changing bad habits) and feel it will take a few days to digest and work out!
 
I had an email from Kelsall about it. If you PM me your email address I will send it to you. Otherwise if will probably be on Kelsall's website at www.kelsallhill.co.uk. It's £135 for 2 days including stable and lunch which I think is good value.

ETA I've just read the email and there are a few dates including a 1 day clinic which is £70 including lunch.
 
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