The fall centered riding clinic is happening today and tomorrow. We have a full roster and many new faces.

Now that the horse shows are behind us, we are looking forward to Elaine Meredith Steele coming back for another Centered Riding Clinic! 

Have you ever wondered how you, as a rider, could make your horse's job easier?  Are you familiar with you psoas muscle?  Have you enjoyed the feeling of thinking of what you want your horse to do and then effortlessly enjoyed your horse being perfect?  All of these questions can be answered through Centered Riding. 

Try this:  As you are sitting at your computer, notice how you are holding your body.  Is your neck leaning forward, straining to balance your head?  Are you breathing into your belly, or more shallowly into your lungs?  Think for a moment about letting the back and top of your skull lengthen towards the ceiling.  Feel your seatbones in the chair.  Breathe into your belly.  Do you notice a difference?  Chances are your horse will too!

So please consider signing up to ride with Elaine, or coming out to watch the magic happen.  It is a lot of fun!

At the fall 2011 Hunter Show.

Anna and Calvin prepare for their ride.

Another great show day at the Riding Centre.

The fall Dressage  Show is happening Saturday, September 10th with the Hunter Show following on Sunday, the 11th. Whether you choose to compete, become a DLSC Sponsor, or simply cheer someone on, we appreciate your support for our local riders and the sport we all love.

We have had a great time with our clinicians this spring!  Here is a photo of Carolyn driving Apollo with Peggy Brown - they went out on the road for a true drive!

The clinic with Elaine was a success!  Many horse and riders were new to Elaine and all were asking when she would be back!  If you are planning on riding in the fall Centered Riding Clinic, you may want to sign up as soon as you can - it will fill up quickly!

Now we are gearing up for the shows!  We have a DLSC Dressage Show on June 4 and a DLSC Hunter Show on June 5.  Also, the daycamp program will be starting up in June and running through August.  We hope to see everyone at the shows and during the (hopefully) cool summer weather!!!

Even though we are in the thick of winter now, we have been working at getting our Centered Riding Clinic schedule together for 2011.  Centered Riding is not a way to ride a horse, so much as a way for an instructor to communicate the feel of riding.  It uses imagery, mental focus and knowledge of self-use to allow riders to move in better balance with their horse.  When the rider is balanced, the horse can perform to the best of it's ability with greater ease.

We are excited to have Peggy Brown coming for one day of lessons on April 17!





 Peggy is a Centered Riding level IV Clinician who is also the 2005 ARIA Instructor of the year.  She has competed successfully in western, hunt-seat, eventing, jumping, dressage and driving competitions.  Learn more about Peggy at her website!

We are also thrilled to announce the dates Elaine will be back in town!  She will be here May 7-8 and October 22-23.  

Elaine Meredith Steele has been coming to the Riding Centre in the spring and fall for 9 years!  Elaine grew up in Dayton.  She knows Centered Riding forwards and backwards and has a wonderful positive attitude.  We love our clinics with Elaine.  Find out more at Elaine's Website!

Auditors are free!  Please stop by to learn more about how Centered Riding can help you.

I know it is not here yet, but these seasonal temperatures lately make it hard to deny that we really are into November.  This week of lessons is the last week before the horses get their well deserved winter break.  We want to thank everyone for taking a part in the Riding Centre community.  It has been a busy fall with the Dayton Local Show Circuit Dressage show, the Ride-a-Thon, the Centered Riding Clinic, and the official Riding Center apparel order form.  If you are looking at this list and thinking you would like to take part in more than you were able to this year, no fear!  We will be having just as much fun staying just as busy next year!  But until then, hunker down, stay warm and send your favorite school horses treats from afar as they enjoy their break too.  We will plan on seeing everyone when lessons start back up in March.