KELSEYVILLE — The white fences of the Highland Springs Equestrian Center (HSEC) was the clue to finding the Alexandra Clerc “Intentional Horsemanship” clinic. Despite the rainy weather, horse trailers, horses and riders showed up to the 23,500 square foot covered area for a recent training.
Owners Paul Marchand and wife/manager Juliana Vidich both attended the clinic, although Marchand had announced he would only stay for the introductions, he got so involved that he stayed the entire day.
Alexandra Clerc, 35, began the clinic by introducing herself and explaining Intentional horsemanship, as “a practice of centering, softening, connecting, blending, redirecting, breathing, compassion, being mindful and intentional, and trying to find balance in what we do, which we bring to our work with horses. Learning how to implement those changes is a daily practice.”
She told of how she learned from taking many clinics taught by Mark Rashid, “an internationally known horseman known for his ability to understand the horse’s point of view and to solve difficult problems with communication rather than force.”
She began the class with stretches, which from some groans of the participants, they stretched muscles that hadn’t been stretched in awhile.
Clerc next worked on a collective balance exercise, with each participant holding on to the shoulders of the person in front of them, except for the first person, the leader, who faced the others, a sort of ‘conga line’ where the group learned to balance using each persons’ core and connection to their centers. One subtle action from the leader would affect the whole line. In translation, the reaction of the group would show them the same connections and balance with their horses.
Clerc spoke about moving the body with balance and refining it and the feel behind the movement, from the center [the core]. “Learning how we can change to help our horse.”
After the exercise India Gomez said, “I love the idea that my body doesn’t have to work as hard to make him [her horse] understand what I want him to do.”
Liz Rohnstock, president of the Lake County chapter of the California Dressage Society, said, “I’m focusing on what I want to happen. Sometimes my horse gets a little high-headed, then I talk to her and she listens.”
Dressage refers to a form of high level horse training as defined by the International Equestrian Federation.
Sharing around the circle of chairs, brought tears from the participants’ past experiences. One woman had fallen twice from her horse, the last fall breaking her collarbone. She came to the clinic hoping to allay her fears of riding.
There was a lot of talk about connecting to their horses, teaching the horses also to feel better. One exercise had two members team up; one to be the human and the other to be the horse. The human was to follow the horse, after being given instruction by Clerc on what the horse was to accomplish, without touching or talking except to say, “Yes” or “No.”
Each team member had to switch and become the horse. The ‘horses’ said they felt good getting the “Yes” from their humans. The humans said they felt good when they successfully communicated to their horses on what they wanted their horses to do. It was a fun exercise, Clerc’s favorite, she said, and from the sound of the groups’ laughter, it was one of their favorites as well.
The afternoon part of the clinic included a one-hour session with Clerc for each participant and their horse, either under saddle or on the ground with their horse.
Rohnstock rode Rosie, 10, who Rohnstock saved from a “kill lot” in Nevada when Rosie was just a year old. Rohnstock wanted to become more in tune and focused with Rosie.
Clerc said, “When we’re more clear [of our intentions], the horse is more clear.”
Hannah Coleman, 10, took the clinic with her horse Luna, 7, who became very anxious in the arena. Clerc took over handling Luna to calm her, which she eventually did, but not enough for Coleman to feel comfortable riding or handling her. Coleman said later, “The clinic helped. Luna has very bad anxiety, but the clinic was really fun. I want to do more clinics and I want to get Luna help.”
Petite Mischell Maldonado rode ranch horse Blizzy, 16, a calm, gentle Quarter horse. Although currently horseless, Maldonado’s goal was to be able to communicate with any horse, using the parameters of intentional horsemanship; breathing, compassion, being mindful and intentional that Clerc explored through the exercises.
Barbara Brown who had broken her collarbone said her issue in taking the clinic was to reintegrate with her horse, Noblessa, 24, in order to ride her. “Facing the fear,” she said, “of falling feels like trying to paddle a canoe through icebergs. I love her so much and I just need to work through this with her.” As she walked Noblessa to her trailer after their private lesson, Brown beamed with happiness rather than wearing the worried look she wore before the private lesson. She even shared proudly that the elder Noblessa was the leader or her four-member herd.
After Coleman’s private session, the 10-year-old cantered and trotted, horse-like at the far end of the arena. She looked like she was practicing what Clerc had talked about “moving the body with balance,” or just having fun.
Contact HSEC at their website at: https://highlandspringsequestrian.weebly.com for future clinics. Contact Alexandra Clerc at: alex.clerc@intentional-horsemanship.com
