If you would have told me a few months ago that soon Knight and I would ride two days in a clinic with an Olympic show jumping coach I would have laughed at the preposterous idea. Yet it happened thanks to my trainer who hosted the event. Here I present to you the Rob Gage jumping clinic re-cap for Day One.

Rob owns an impressive riding/training resume such as having jumped 7 foot 1 inches, I believe he said multiple times. He won the Hits Million Grand Prix before it was called that and before it was $1 million. He was at the Rio Olympics with Team Venezuela as their Chef de Equipe. Rob’s also one of the judges who provides jumping and equitation feedback for the site Judge My Ride.

Rob Gage clinci

Before the drama ensued.

Rob’s style is gruff, his use of language colorful, and it took a little getting used to his manner of training during Day One which was a private lesson. For example, this was one of his first questions which I thought rather odd:

“Do you have kids?”

“No.”

“I like you already.”

I told him I was a middle school teacher so technically I had over 100 kids and he said I was brave.

“You’re brave! “I said. Brave for jumping fences taller than himself.

He spent the first few minutes talking about entering the ring at a show, in an under saddle class staying away from everyone else, and he corrected my hand placement–they should be up higher and angled in more.

We trotted around, then cantered and he asked, “What’s a nice lady like you doing riding a horse like this?”

That question hit a nerve and I shot back, “I’m a poor school teacher!”

In hindsight I realize this is partially true. I am technically not poor, but I am not one of those who has the luxury of buying a made show horse with a long string of zeroes at the end of the price tag.

I was ticked off but kept riding.

Spoiler alert: eventually I was more giving with my hands.

How could he disrespect my sweet horse he didn’t even know like that? He didn’t know about Knight not spooking at the helicopter when I first got him or more recently at the peacock we met on trail. He didn’t know this horse has never bucked or reared with me on his back, but in turnout his favorite thing–besides rolling–is to buck and rear.

“Does this horse do flying changes?”

“He does, but I don’t really.” I have a timing problem with lead changes–getting my limbs and weight and all the parts cued together mid-stride. Rob told me go across the arena in a hand gallop, explaining it’s easier for them to change while they’re forward. I barely cued him and Knight got a clean change. (Phew!)

And then the jumping started.

We began with a small single fence on a circle and all was well. Our major problem (my major problem) is Knight likes to overjump and when he does that it is too exhilarating and so I ride defensively, sitting up straight like a dressage rider and my hands get grabby on his mouth.

Rob quoted the late Jimmy Williams who said the saddle was not for sitting–or something to that effect. I tried to hover over the seat instead of making contact.

Then we switched to a gymnastic with an X to a small vertical and a couple of strides away another vertical. I thought, “I can’t remember the last time I did this. Does Knight know what to do? Is this going to work?”

And so Knight stopped at the puny X. He refused an X he could walk over from a standstill.

I fell forward onto his neck in front of the pommel, but was NOT about to actually fall down.

Thankfully Knight stood still, and did not fling me off with the toss of his head. I shimmied back into the saddle, picked up the reins and patted him–patted him for standing still and not dumping me.

(Did I mention there were a ton of spectators at the arena rail? My faithful groupie Carey and her pup Thule came to support me. We gave quite a show. Especially that one time one hand lost the reins at the end of a line and my free arm flew back uncontrollably. My trainer said I looked like a bronc rider.)

“I’m so sick of these spoiled horses!” Rob yelled.

After the refusal, this happened. (Sorry for hanging on your mouth, Knight.)

Circling around to approach it again, I fumed, “He doesn’t even know my horse and that he’s only stopped one other time since I’ve owned him! And that other time was when it was getting dark outside and I don’t think he saw the fence well. This is an honest horse! It’s my fault.”

Something about this adversarial relationship that was developing made me more determined than ever. I wanted to show him–prove I had a good horse.

And so we jumped and jumped and jumped more than I’d done in years. Some of it was good, but some, maybe most was ugly. Rob’s mantra became, “Do it again.”

Eventually I heard, “Why’d you hang on his mouth that time? He was being a gentleman for you.”

At the conclusion of the lesson Rob said he would wait to give me his opinion on my horse until after the second ride, and that he wanted my horse tired–really tired. He also said that Knight takes off from the appropriate spot but then he lands long and that it was something only a trainer at his level could correct. And my interpretation was that he didn’t think it was worth it.

Later in the tackroom Carey, my trainer and I chatted. Carey thinks I should do jumpers–the fun 2 foot classes.

I declared no interest in blazing speed and possessed no confidence I would remember a longer, more complicated course.

“Even if I remembered the course, if I had to do a jump off how would I remember that too?”

They vetoed my concern. “You’ll remember.”

Carey upped the challenge by reminding me that I could wear fun colors of jackets in the jumper ring. She even told me about a pretty berry color she saw recently and said if I showed in the 2 foot jumpers class at The Oaks this summer, she would buy me the jacket.

In the end my trainer paid me the highest of compliments by saying I was badass. Followed by, “I think I’ve been babying you too much.”

Carey and I went out to dinner where we debriefed the entire lesson over Brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, and a soft pretzel. I felt proud that I stayed on and apparently rode like a badass, but had a slight sense of dread for the second lesson which was going to be two days later.

Would I fall off for real next time? Would I be the only one in our group who would ride off course? Would Rob insult my horse again?

(Check back for Day Two re-cap tomorrow on the blog).

I heart your comments! What experiences have you had riding in or auditing clinics? Have you ever been insulted which propelled you toward better riding?

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18 Comments

  1. Wendy April 5, 2017 at 9:27 am - Reply

    Badass is right! Good for you for determination to do the thing (I would have probably cried!).

  2. Alex April 5, 2017 at 9:45 am - Reply

    Wow he sounds harsh. And it would totally piss me off if someone like him was dissing my horse. You do not know what its like to not be able to afford a fancy pants horse mister! We don’t all get the cream of the crop bought and paid for! Seriously, some of the top people seem to forget what it was like to start from the bottom.

    • Susan Friedland-Smith April 5, 2017 at 1:46 pm - Reply

      I wasn’t as offended as I was when I had another professional call my horse “unathletic.” Knight is not easy to ride–not like he’s naughty or bad. He’s sensitive (TB) and his gaits are not smooth–very buoyant. He amps up. I’m not excusing his comment, and I still think it’s rude, but it hit a switch inside of me and I dug down and rose to the occasion. Maybe that was his intent?

      • Alex April 5, 2017 at 2:26 pm

        Maybe? I know that is a practiced coaching method but I don’t feel like it’s put to the best use in a short term thing like a clinic. Sure done be easy and give gold stars for everything. But what if you weren’t the person that you are who responds to that kind of challenge. Either way, I’m glad you dug in and got the most out of the lesson as possible.

  3. carey April 5, 2017 at 10:30 am - Reply

    Gruff is a good word for him. I have mixed feelings, BUT he did get you to ride and jump more than you probably thought you could. And I’d say all your trot fences were really nice, and even when Knight got excited in the line he came back to you nicely, and you improved with each fence. So, I’d still put this in the win. It was really fun to watch you be such a badass!

    • Susan Friedland-Smith April 5, 2017 at 1:48 pm - Reply

      Thank you. Really, every time I rode past you and saw from my peripheral vision your bob on the other side of the rail, I felt like, “It’s all okay. Carey’s on my side.”

  4. Heather W April 5, 2017 at 11:16 am - Reply

    First of all, good for you for doing the clinic! I would not have the confidence to do it in the first place. You are truly bad#$ss! That being said, it’s interesting that he took such a harsh stance. Some trainers are like that (not my favorite) but it seems it was effective since you learned a lot. Not ok denigrating Knight though. Talk about me all you want but DO NOT talk about my animals.

    • Susan Friedland-Smith April 5, 2017 at 1:51 pm - Reply

      You know, I don’t think I would respond well to this style of instruction on a regular basis. I’m so glad that my trainer and her assistants are all such kind and encouraging people. I am really grateful for the opportunity, however.

  5. hellomylivia April 5, 2017 at 12:07 pm - Reply

    In general people tend to tell me my horse deserves better, so the other way around haha. That sounds like an ….interesting training approach. I’m really interested to read your recap of the second day.

    • Susan Friedland-Smith April 5, 2017 at 1:52 pm - Reply

      You and Frankie are perfect together! Thanks for reading and I hope I don’t disappoint you with Day Two. 🙂

  6. Olivia @ DIY Horse Ownership April 5, 2017 at 1:24 pm - Reply

    I certainly would not like having my horse criticized by a clinician, but it does sound like it got you to try harder? I dunno. I look forward to hearing how day 2 went.

  7. SprinklerBandits April 5, 2017 at 2:36 pm - Reply

    Yay for Carey! Hope the next day got you some redemption.

  8. kweissc April 6, 2017 at 8:17 am - Reply

    oh my gracious, thank you for sharing. love your blog!!! i hope i have the opportunity to take a clinic from Rob some day, now i’ll be ‘prepared’ for what comes next. looking forward to day 2!

  9. rooth April 6, 2017 at 9:49 am - Reply

    I love how his comments just made you more determined and grittier. Also, what an opportunity to push yourself and I’m so glad you’ve done that as well – your story was definitely a motivator for me!

  10. Alanna April 6, 2017 at 9:30 pm - Reply

    Ummm…no fair to leave us hanging waiting for clinic day 2!

  11. L. Williams April 11, 2017 at 10:04 am - Reply

    I did a clinic with Rob in 2012 with Carlos. It was an interesting experience and I quite enjoyed myself and he and I remain friends to this day. I’m sorry that you had a rough go of Day 1 and I hope Day 2 went much better for you and Knight.

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I'm Susan and this is my horse Knight. We have been a blogging team since 2015 and we're glad you're here. Tally ho!

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