Getaways

I am writing to you to say thanks for a most wonderful time (actually 2 times) this summer. I really enjoyed your camps and can really see and feel the difference in my riding and in my horse, too. It is so nice to once again to feel confident enough to trot and canter (yes, canter) outside. My seat is so secure and I move with Blue now rather than bracing and not even really realizing it. Even my saddle has stopped slipping to one side and my knees are no longer sore when I get finished. Thanks again for all your wonderful help and encouragement along the way. Looking forward to even more great times with you and your wonderful family next summer.

Dear Chris

Over the past 20 years I have ridden under
well-meaning instructors while I competed in hunters,
jumpers, 3-day and dressage. I now know that so much
of that right-brained riding that kept me so centered
while I was galloping my ponies through the fields was
my best riding. I rode two days after auditing your
clinic and for the first time since my car accident
two and a half years ago, I had no pain, felt straight,
never had to "nag" this so-called "lazy" horse, and
was truly riding as I did as a child, only so much
better. You have given me ideas and tools for a new
lifetime of communicating with and riding horses.

As I said at the clinic, you are a credit to the equine
profession. As an equine veterinarian with 16 years
of sport-horse experience, and a practice that
currently focuses on dentistry and well care, I think
your training methods are moving in the right
direction. I will be teaching many of your methods to
clients who have performance problems with their
horses, as a compliment to conventional treatments.

You present horsemanship as leadership, not a punish
and reward system.

I can't wait until you come back.

…since your clinic, my sitting trot is sooooo much better but I have to learn posting trot all over again. Thanks again for your wonderful patience….

I don’t know the words to express my gratitude for your wisdom, experience, friendship and family. All of our horses and all of their humans benefit greatly for the generous ways you share yourself with us. Deepest thanks!

First I want to thank you for the excellent clinic you have us in Cornwall. Everyone was so pleased with the information we got.

Yesterday was the 1^st time I rode since the clinic. I did the program with my Andalusian mare. She as never been ridden collected before or just a very few times and not by me and the alternative way (no floating nor dancing).

I did all the exercises on the ground, then got on her back, practiced my position and rode according to your program. She just gave to the halter and got collected. Wow! It was fantastic, even after I released she stayed that way and we even did half a circle. I am surprised to see how little effort (or better no effort) is necessary to have her do that.

First of all, I want to thank you very much for the wonderful clinic you gave us. We are practicing our exercises and our neutral pelvis the way you have taught us. This is not always easy to do it right but when I think of the Beatles music, it makes it easier. I’m glad that you made me realize that I need to work on my abdominals. It will probably help me with the backache that I sometimes have. Hope to see you next year.

I want to thank you for the quality of your education and the invaluable advices. It was a real pleasure…see you next year.

I took the first day of your clinic at Ginny’s. Even though it was just one day, I have noticed my horses responding better by the correction in the way I was sitting!! It is especially noticeable with my younger horses!! Once again thank you and hopefully if you are out this way again I will be able to take in the entire clinic.

Well – I’ve become a bit of a pest around here – I get people to go down on their hands and knees in order to show them the difference a neutral pelvis makes to the horse. People are humouring me. We’ve been having fun – particularly on on stormy day trail riding around home – I believe we were quite connected at times – working mostly at the trot.

Chris has a well developed teaching style. I appreciated the subtlety of her offering of information. It made me reach for the learning, and it insisted that I search within for the realization. I could feel how much more she has to teach!! Thank you for all it takes to provide the work!!!

Excellent instruction! I have great admiration for someone who cares about the horse first, who teaches with fitness, gentleness, compassion and incredible insight.

I have been busy riding and going to different events with Mishchief these last few weeks.

He is really coming along regarding not kicking and starting to relax in public places. That trip to your place was the best thing for him. He also is relaxed in the trailer by himself now too. I just went to an all day

gymkhana on Sat and an all day show and gymkhana on Sun and Mischief was great. People were riding by and around all the time and he never once kicked.

I also got a first in Western Pleasure out of 8 horses so that was kind of neat.

Thank you again for all of your time and attention and support. I had a wonderful time in BC.

Christine is a former PNH Instructor for six years, who in 2001 was privileged to be asked to join the small group of worldwide instructors teaching Connected Riding.

Find out what Connected Riding is all about...for yourself...and for the horse!
Christine put on a clinic here at Four Seasons Ranch in Sept/2002 and shared some insights into becoming a better rider through understanding and applying the principles of the horse & human biomechanics. Its the root of achieving true harmony with your horse, I can't recommend it higher than to say...Christine will truly teach you to dance with your horse!

I enjoyed Christine's clinic a lot. I liked the fact she sent us some homework, and wonder if next time maybe she could give us homework criteria of what was learnt and requirements of sending in a video to her. I know she said we could send in videos, but maybe if it was laid out of what she expected in a video would be helpful, like a written lesson!

Chris, I want to let you know how much I enjoyed attending your Connected Riding clinic at Ginny's in July. I was an auditor for the first couple of days. I've been attempting a few of the exercises I remembered on our horse, and am experiencing positive results.

...now I'm beginning to see what you mean about it comes from the inside to the outside. I've always learned the other way. I think this may be one of those big "AH HA'S!!" Well, good for all those other students of yours. Whether they're getting it right away or going on their experience and faith in you, I'm glad for all those concerned....especially the horses.

Your very special background added to the connected riding is just the best. I personally love the added benefit of all your experience with natural horse stuff. Maybe you would have gleaned all the positives of the natural horse teaching without studying PNH, but I wouldn't have. And your wonderful and deep experience with dance is the cherry on top. I don't get all the groaning about doing the exercises first off in the morning because I really like doing them. So I think you have a fantastic blend of experience and passion to bring to all your students. I feel very fortunate to have found you.

To day, for the first time, I feel the soft contact between my hands and the mouth of Feu-Follet. What nice sensation ! I work in the connected riding with great satisfaction.

I rode a little since last Sunday, it feels better and better. Julie watched me today and she says that I look better in the saddle and more in harmony. I even got a collected (connected) very slow jog yesterday morning, never had that before with my horse!!! Guess it means we're on the right track.

I had a wonderful passenger lesson on my horse yesterday to check if my position was ok or not. My friend... went for a jogging besides my horse. I rode the horse as a passenger,no direction nor speed to worry about, just my position. As my friend and the horse were jogging through a narrow, bumby trail in the forest, it was easy for me to check if I was with my horse movement or not. Lots of fast departures, turns, jumps and stops to push on my sternum and lower back. It was wonderful. Next, I will have to add legs and hands. I'm lucky to have a friend that like jogging and can do it for 45 minutes.

And you were right, my sacro-iliac was blocked. A friend of mine who work in physical readaptation checked that for me. I'm getting beter and better.

By the way, you can't imagine how I am aware of my posture when I ride and also in whatever I do.

Greetings! I have been swamped and haven't been able to tell you how much I enjoyed the clinic.

--I learned a great deal I wish I had learned 30 years ago about how to use core strength...might have avoided those five knee surgeries! I think that neutral/power position should be pre-requisite training for all school sports. You are right that it is the basis for all balance sports, esp. such as yoga. I have found myself working on better body position ever since the clinic...THANK YOU!

--I have continued with the exercises for Kiara and she seems to greatly enjoy them...practically goes to sleep!

--Hope the rest of your trip was successful. I also enjoyed Robin greatly...she is a wonderful young lady and it was a pleasure to see you two working together as a team.

…I am writing with my thoughts about the clinic. I am glad I waited until now to write, because I have needed to get out and ride my horses, with no distractions and my music going and see what sifted down for me. Today I got the chance to do that and the results are that a LOT came down.

A) I am now very aware of my pelvis/lower back and can get to that "pushing" against your imaginary hand as often as I need to, to hold my power position.

B) I am also very aware of not squeezing my legs and therefore lifting my heels. In order to find the le vel of effectiveness I need for Pilgrim and the leg energy thing, I rode him for a good half hour with nothing on his face...so I had ONLY my legs to guide him. We worked through a lot. He's usually pretty good at reading my seat, but I needed the practice at applying my legs right, without losing my seat.

We had a good session and I came back to the barn thinking that you had given me some very big pieces to fit into this puzzle of "learning how to stay on a horse!"

So thank you very much...I enjoyed the exercises, I'm even trying the horse stretches. Interesting that my old Appy roping horse, who has incredible self-carriage, has taught me about those stretches. He does just what you said to look for with every one, so I know where to go when I try them with Pilgrim.

I'll look forward to seeing you again when you get down this way! Thanks again for such an informative two days.

These are my thoughts: It's about becoming one with your horse, like Fred and Ginger...two individuals moving together as if they were one flowing thought...no need for words, just feeling the energy between them, making it a beautiful dance...so light, so free, SO FUN! So, watch (and feel) closely...you just might see your horse smiling. :)

Thanks, Christine, for sharing your intuitiveness, love, and devotion for the horse.

Thanks for clarifying your purpose...I like the fact that you are being versatile!