Susan Norman Clinic

Cordia Pearson

Society of Master Saddlers Qualified Saddle Fitter

    Susan Norman Clinic!!!

Susan has studied at the Cadre Noir of Saumur, France and has ridden with Philippe Karl, former Ecuyer of the Cadre Noir.  Born in Yorkshire, England, she became a certified British Horse Society Assistant Instructor.  At the University of Edinburg, she competed in 3-Day Eventing and coached her team to the 1st place at the British Championships.  She trained and taught in France from 1981 to 1984, then in 1991studied at the Cadre Noir.

Since her move to Texas, Susan has worked extensively with Jean-Claude Racinet, the acknowledged Master of French Classical Dressage. 

The French Classical Dressage author and trainer, Jean Claude Racinet

Susan Norman at the Cadre Noir working with Phillipe Karl

Lessons with Susan will be $125 for 45minutes.  Rides are available still on Friday and Sunday.  Lunch will be provided.  Auditors must pre-register to have lunch included in the auditing fee of $25 day.  All three days $50.  Day stalling is $10 and Overnight stalling is $25.  Saturday, Susan will lecture on Riding In Lightness:  The French Philosophy during lunch.  Friday we will schedule eight riders, eight on Saturday and six on Sunday.  Sunday's rides will begin at 8 AM, with the last ride beginning at 12:10.  9 am Friday & sat. 8 am Sunday. 

For more information, call Sue Lein at 651-462-1544.

Riding in Lightness – French Dressage Clinic Report by Ros Randall

Susan Norman recently gave her second dressage clinic in our area. Susan has trained with both Jean Claude Racinet and Phillipe Karl, and brings a wealth of experience in riding in lightness according to the French philosophy. As Susan explained to the riders and auditors, the French method of riding and training dressage is a horse friendly approach that allows, rather than forces, the horse to do something. This way of riding in lightness enhances the posture, gaits and movement of any horse to the best of its abilities. It encourages development of the inner horse to promote the natural talent and beauty of the outer horse. When trained within the French system, lightness becomes the horse’s calling card. 

Susan went through the four main principles to follow every time the horse is ridden or worked:

1. Separation of the aids. Don’t use the leg and hand aids simultaneously. Always open your fingers as you give a leg aid, easing the tension on the rein without moving your hand forwards.
2. Release of the aids. This is very important for the horse. Stop using the aid (leg, hand or seat) as soon as the horse responds correctly. Teach the horse that it’s his responsibility to maintain the gait asked for. The horse will gradually develop self impulsion as a result of the systematic release of the legs, and self carriage from the systematic release of the hand.
3. Moderation of the aids. Use the minimum aid necessary to get the desired response. As training progresses the rider should only need to do half as much, while the horse does twice as much. Always remember that no rein aid should last longer than half a second. Give the aid and release. If it didn’t work come again with the rein aid, and repeat as often as necessary.
4. Optimization of orders. Make sure that the horse is in a good state of balance to carry out the request before you give the aid. A physically unbalanced horse and an untimely demand from the rider results in a virtually zero success rate. The horse should carry out your request without offering resistance, hesitation or contraction.

There were eight riders for each of the four days of Susan’s clinic and every horse and rider pair received individual instruction based on their specific needs, which led to a great auditing experience. Horses were worked on the lunge, in hand and under saddle. Susan’s Lunchtime Lecture was interesting and the questions were thoughtfully answered, as they were during breaks in the lessons. At all times the atmosphere was calm, friendly, and academic.

One of Susan’s major talents as an instructor is to construct exercises that the rider can learn from on their own horse in their own time.  Every horse and rider were given a series of exercises to practice and the results were apparent. Furthermore, each exercise built on the next, and all were clearly explained as to format and with goals visibly achieved.  The major concepts of “Leg without Hand, Hand without Leg”, and how to attain and regain balance through flexions of the jaw, were clearly underlined in the lessons.

As well as individual exercises for the horse, Susan spent time with each rider working on their seat. Use of the hands was a particular focus – the fixed hand in space with the rider feeling the horse in the small of her back, not in the elbow; the fingers giving on the rein the very nanosecond that the horse responds, the rider sitting in balance on the seat bones at all times when riding.  

A very interesting four days – everyone went home with fresh ideas for their riding and training to achieve more lightness with their horse.                                                             

 Photos by Cordia Pearson