How to be a good student

Everyone likes to be right 100% of the time. Thus, no one really wants to learn new things if it means feeling they were "wrong" in the past. But dressage is such an evolutionary sport, we might just as well get used to it!

I look at pictures of myself from years ago and thing, "yuck!" And, at the time, I was doing quite well in the show ring and felt very competent. Now, I have evolved and grown as a rider. I wonder what I'll think of today's rides next year or the year after that?!

I have taught clinics where I changed a perfectly competent rider's position, and it didn't go over so well. It's hard to recognize, when you are taking a clinic, that there might be something you've yet to "evolve" to in your riding. And it's important to protect your practice. After all, you've been practicing it! If the clinician is giving you a good answer to your challenge, or a good challenge to your body or your horse, you might just as well try it and see if you can really learn it. Then you can decide if you like it or not.

Or, if you're not sure if the clinician is doing "good" for you and your horse, open your mouth and discuss with the clinician any confusion or different point-of-view you have. I think discussing things is a great way for everyone to learn. If you're mad or frustrated, spit it out and clear the air. It will be for everyone's benefit and the clinician will have an opportunity to make herself clearer and to reach you and the observers with a much better theory session. You won't be the only one that disagrees with that clinician. But you can do everyone a favor by opening a dialogue.